The Significance of Seven

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[Full size version](https://images.pottermore.com/bxd3o8b291gf/4Oizhmxk2IuM0IgCauyKyc/2eabdfc3a1ac7ecc25cf3bbb9b07ca50/SignificanceOfSeven.jpg)

[Text version](/about/the-significance-of-seven-text-version)

*Who lost the most house points at Hogwarts? Find out our [handy history of Hogwarts house points.](/features/a-handy-history-of-hogwarts-house-points-infographic "A Handy History of Hogwarts House Points")*

Discover the films

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Ten satisfying moments when wizarding folk got their comeuppance

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## That time Harry was sassy with Rita Skeeter...
‘It was Rita Skeeter. She was wearing acid-green robes today; the Quick-Quotes Quill in her hand blended perfectly against them.
‘Congratulations, Harry!’ she said, beaming at him. ‘I wonder if you could give me a quick word? How you felt facing that dragon? How you feel now about the fairness of the scoring?’
‘Yeah, you can have a word,’ said Harry savagely. ‘Goodbye.’ 
And he set off back to the castle with Ron."

## That time Hermione gave Malfoy exactly what he deserved...
‘She had slapped Malfoy around the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.
‘Don’t you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul – you evil –’
‘Hermione!’ said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.
‘Get off, Ron!’
Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backwards. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.
‘C’mon,’ Malfoy muttered, and next moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.’ 

## That time Professor McGonagall told Dolores Umbridge exactly how she felt about her teaching...
"I’m terribly sorry to have to contradict you, Minerva, but as you will see from my note, Harry has been achieving very poor results in his classes with me –’
‘I should have made my meaning plainer,’ said Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look Umbridge directly in the eyes. ‘He has achieved high marks in all Defence Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher."

## That time Lucius Malfoy lost his power over Dobby... 
‘But Dobby didn’t move. He was holding up Harry’s disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure. 
‘Master has given Dobby a sock,’ said the elf in wonderment. ‘Master gave it to Dobby.’
‘What’s that?’ spat Mr Malfoy. ‘What did you say?’
‘Dobby has got a sock,’ said Dobby in disbelief. ‘Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby – Dobby is free."

## That time Hermione decided she’d had quite enough of unfogging the future...  
"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don’t remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly Mundane.’
There was a moment’s silence. Then –
‘Fine!’ said Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future back into her bag. ‘Fine!’ she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. ‘I give up! I’m leaving!"

## That time Harry declined Draco Malfoy’s offer of friendship... 
"You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’
He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it.
‘I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,’ he said coolly.'

## That time Dumbledore got the better of Fudge in style...
"So,’ sneered Fudge, recovering himself, ‘you intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?’
‘Merlin’s beard, no,’ said Dumbledore, smiling, ‘not unless you are foolish enough to force me to." 

## That time Mrs Weasley took on Bellatrix Lestrange...  
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!’
Mrs Weasley threw off her cloak as she ran, freeing her arms. Bellatrix spun on the spot, roaring with laughter at the sight of her new challenger.
‘OUT OF MY WAY!’ shouted Mrs Weasley to the three girls, and with a swipe of her wand she began to duel. Harry watched with terror and elation as Molly Weasley’s wand slashed and twirled, and Bellatrix Lestrange’s smile faltered, and became a snarl.' 

## That time Dumbledore told off the Dursleys... 
"Dumbledore paused, and although his voice remained light and calm, and he gave no obvious sign of anger, Harry felt a kind of chill emanating from him and noticed that the Dursleys drew very slightly closer together.
‘You did not do as I asked. You have never treated Harry as a son. He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands. The best that can be said is that he has at least escaped the appalling damage you have inflicted upon the unfortunate boy sitting between you." 

## That time Hermione got real with Ron...
"A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech, then Ron said, ‘One person can’t feel all that at once, they’d explode.’
‘Just because you’ve got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have,’ said Hermione nastily, picking up her quill again."


Learn to make bracelets that show off your Hogwarts house colours

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Did the Sorting Hat place you in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Gryffindor? Wherever you belong, these bracelets are perfect for showing off your house pride. And when you’ve made one for yourself, how about using your crafting magic to gift them to the Harry Potter fans amongst your friends and family? 

Don’t know which house you belong in yet? [Visit the Official Sorting Ceremony on our website, where you can be sorted into your house, as well as discover your wand, Patronus and Hogwarts pet!](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register) 

Watch the video below to discover how to make these special Hogwarts-house bracelets… 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7X60eqLuFM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

For more of our arts and crafts videos, [sign up for the Harry Potter Fan Club newsletter today](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)and be among the first to receive the latest Wizarding World news, events, activities, exclusive access and more – straight to your inbox.


Your definitive guide to LEGO Harry Potter in 2020 

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Here’s your rundown of everything released so far, and a few extras to look forward to as we approach the end of 2020.

## 2020 Playtheme sets 

From the Room of Requirement to the Forbidden Forest, LEGO released several iconic locations inspired by the Harry Potter films earlier this year, with each set featuring unique quirks to make each set that little bit more magical. Including...

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Room of Requirement – This set comes complete with a sliding hidden entrance and Harry, Hermione and Luna learning Defence Against the Dark Arts training.

![lego-room-of-requirement](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/6qWZInR0qkERM1aJYLolxp/2dc7c277ba79829514dd6f491dbace03/Room_of_Requirement_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Astronomy Tower – This set shows off Horace Slughorn’s classroom and office, the Ravenclaw dormitory, and many Hogwarts students as mini-figures.

![lego-astronomy-tower](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/kj3I5SjzEynMPJWVVEVTs/9ffa3abbbd98fdd2f6b7fa75ed876e65/Astronomy_Tower_Prod.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Forbidden Forest – This set plays out the moment from Order of the Phoenix where the devilish Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Umbridge meets Grawp and the centaurs.  

![lego-forbidden-forest](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/27F95LOcq5J19l9Q3qvwG6/8b8c618c467cf09113842de438ca2cb7/Forbidden_Forest_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ 4 Privet Drive – This set captures Harry’s Muggle childhood home, along with figures of the Dursley family, Harry, Ron and Dobby.

![lego-privet-drive](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/6Cf5SRTZJDhZZwsINbNSrA/6b190b022385b7479496c0a63ce337b3/4_Privet_Drive_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hedwig™ -  This new mechanical figure represents everyone’s favourite snowy owl. This particular figure is available exclusively from [Barnes and Noble in the US](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-games-lego-harry-potter-hedwig-75979/35400991?) and many other retailers globally.

![lego-big-hedwig](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/3WuE9ijqKyRZrILQymybyR/24e94468db8a566284b149e30bd2d54f/Hedwig_Prod_01.jpg)

*LEGO® Harry Potter™ Attack on The Burrow – This set portrays the moment Death Eaters descend on the Weasley’s family home. The product features minifigures of key characters from the Death Eater collective, some of the Weasley family members, and the Order of the Phoenix. This particular product is available exclusively from [Smyth’s Toys](https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/lego-and-bricks/lego-harry-potter/lego-75980-harry-potter-attack-on-the-burrow-weasley-house-set/p/186943) in the UK and [Target in the US. ](https://www.target.com/p/lego-harry-potter-attack-on-the-burrow-weasley-8217-s-family-dollhouse-building-toy-for-kids-75980/-/A-78930010)

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You can browse the [LEGO website to learn more.](https://www.lego.com/themes/harry-potter)

## LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar

![LEGO-harry-potter-advent-calendar](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/3t60sadH1BU1v1m8iX5iqA/dbd591a0b67e91fb749d244f4523cebf/lego-yule-ball-advent.jpeg)

With Christmas only a few months away (!) LEGO have created a rather unique Advent Calendar for you to make the countdown to the festive season even more exciting. 

Complete with 24 special gifts, fans can expect to find minifigures of favourite characters and buildable models, such as a miniature Beauxbaton’s carriage and a rather Christmassy dining table, themed around the Yule Ball. The devil is certainly in the details with this Advent Calendar’s daily surprises, so you’ll have to try very hard not to reveal its secrets all at once!   

## 2020 minifigures 

![LEGO-2020-minifigures](//images.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5y5L9ga6EzxqEAeMU052q0/6ac7d39cccbe9a2988c9c29b972b0594/Minifigures_Prod.jpg)

Luna in her lion hat! Moaning Myrtle clutching Tom Riddle’s diary! The Weasley twins with the Marauder’s Map! The latest round of LEGO minifigures brings together more iconic Harry Potter characters with little props that make them even more unique. The collection features characters you may not have in your collection yet, such as Lily and James Potter holding a photo album and... a very tiny baby Harry. 

## Diagon Alley 

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LEGO recently revealed one of their most exciting Harry Potter sets yet: a huge, multi-faceted Diagon Alley. The recreation of the legendary wizarding shopping district is comprised of over 5000 pieces and was recently brough to life with a special AR experience on LEGO’s official website for fans to explore the set virtually. Learn more about the [Harry Potter LEGO Diagon Alley set here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/lego-harry-potter-introduces-through-the-bricks), with a helping hand from James and Oliver Phelps.

## LEGO Harry Potter Magical Treasury: A Visual Guide to the Wizarding World 

[This visual guide](https://www.amazon.com/Potter-Magical-Treasury-exclusive-minifigure/dp/1465492372/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lego+book+tom+riddle&qid=1600217710&s=books&sr=1-1) will help you navigate through the many exciting LEGO releases of recent times. This official DK compendium features the very best LEGO Wizarding World sets and minifigures for your perusal. Speaking of minifigures, it even comes with an exclusive Tom Riddle to add to your collection. 

For more info on [LEGO Harry Potter, be sure to visit their official website.](https://www.lego.com/themes/harry-potter)

Play our Wizarding World general knowledge crossword

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Today's crossword is purely general knowledge (general Wizarding World knowledge, of course...) so see how quickly you can complete it. 

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*If you're enjoying our puzzles, look out for more in our [Potter Puzzles hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles). [Gold Members](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harry-potter-fan-club) can play regular challenges in our app feed, with a few treats thrown in for free-users too.*

Could Harry and Draco ever have been friends?

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**Spoiler warning: This article contains info on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child**

## Maybe they could have been friends 

Yes, Draco Malfoy was abhorrent at Hogwarts. Yes, he was cocky. Yes, he was awful to Harry, got mixed up in a very dark crowd, and was generally just, as Ron would call him, a git. All of these things are very fair to say. 

However, was all of this behaviour down to influences in Draco’s life? If he’d made better choices, made better friends, could things have been different for him? Could he then have been friends with someone like Harry, if he had the capability of being a better person? If his parents had been kinder, maybe he would’ve been kinder? And maybe then, when he met Harry in Madam Malkin’s shop in Diagon Alley for the first time, would he have seemed more attractive to Harry as a companion?

The signs were there that this could have been. Very much a product of his parents’ making, (just look at how frequently Draco brought up his father...) Draco strutted around Hogwarts with his cronies boasting about how great it was being rich, being in Slytherin, and being pure-blood. But these are all things he was taught to be proud of. Draco’s ideologies were very much passed on by mum and dad, Lucius and Narcissa, who, in turn, absorbed these ideologies from their own families: the Malfoys and the Blacks respectively. 

Both families dabbled in Dark magic and the idea that to be a Muggle, or have non-magical blood, or to be ‘half’ in some way, was wrong. It is no surprise that a lot of family members on both sides were connected to Lord Voldemort. Arguably, Draco was simply too enveloped in this world to think any differently, and within this general mindset, came a lot of cruelty, anger and coldness – which all began to shape his personality.

But what does all of this have to do with being friends with Harry? Well, it was Draco’s general demeanour that repelled Harry in the first place. And there are examples of wizards who came from Dark wizarding families who did choose different company to become better people. Sirius Black is probably the best example of this – running away from his pure-blood loving family that he didn't agree with to find kinder company. Sirius’s bravery led him to the Hogwarts house Gryffindor (the rest of his family were usually Slytherins) and there he found his like-minded friends, James Potter and Remus Lupin. So Sirius broke the cycle of the rest of his family, and spent the rest of his life fighting against the darker side of the Wizarding World, rather than joining it.

Draco could've chosen different friends and a different attitude at Hogwarts, just like Sirius, but Draco was always dogged by fear and insecurity. In later books, we began to learn that Draco was terrified of his Death Eater father’s way of life, despite often bragging about it. Due to Draco’s bravado, which he used as a self-defence mechanism, Harry chose not to be friends with the rude boy he met in Madam Malkin’s, who instantly displayed prejudice towards his half-giant friend Hagrid (something his parents would’ve taught him to feel) and generally exuded bad faith. Even the name ‘Malfoy’ roughly [translates to ‘bad faith’ in French!](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/etymology-behind-harry-potter-character-names)

But it all could have been different. In *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*, [a more wholesome Draco emerged](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-i-learnt-from-draco-malfoy-by-playing-draco-malfoy). In a post-Voldemort atmosphere, no longer surrounded by the toxicity of his parents, Draco was making better choices, such as [marrying someone who did not carry the ideals of his own family](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/draco-malfoy). And then there was his son [Scorpius](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/how-scorpius-malfoy-proved-everyone-wrong-about-slytherin), who was naturally compassionate. This surely shows that Draco, like his son, had the potential to be ‘good’, if only he had grown up without such terrible influences. Maybe a more secure Draco would’ve been a little nicer in Madam Malkin’s, and maybe a braver Draco could’ve rejected his family’s ideals, like Sirius did. If he'd been encouraged to be more open-minded, maybe he would've met people who challenged his viewpoints, rather than Crabbe and Goyle, who simply always agreed with him.

Only a very different Draco could’ve been friends with Harry. But it *could* have been different.

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## No, they could never have been friends

*‘You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’ 
He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it.’*

__Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone__ 

The truth is, Harry was never going to take Draco’s hand on the Hogwarts Express, whether Harry had met Ron Weasley or not. Harry had already got the measure of Draco Malfoy back in Diagon Alley, when Draco had been quick to dismiss Hagrid as a ‘sort of savage’. Hagrid was the first person Harry could really remember being kind to him at all, so that was never going to go down in Draco’s favour when it came to friendship. But there was something else about Malfoy – first in Madam Malkin’s and then later, on the Hogwarts Express, that we argue meant that Harry would never have considered being his friend – Draco liked to make people feel like outsiders. 

During his long years with the Dursleys, Harry had been made to feel like the outsider, the poor relation, every single day he spent in the cupboard, rather than a real bedroom. For so many years, Harry had been the ‘wrong sort’ to the Dursleys, who liked to remind him of it at every opportunity. He knew what it was like to be the person other children were nasty about at school, the way Draco gossiped spitefully about Hagrid in Madam Malkin’s. And he also knew what it was like to be constantly told that some people were better than others. The Dursleys constantly compared him to Dudley and told Harry that his cousin was every bit his superior.  Harry was never going to take kindly to someone warning him not to make friends, ‘with the wrong sort’ because that kind of attitude had meant that he – Harry – had been friendless and miserable in his school and home life for as long as he could remember. 

Draco Malfoy, though he initially offered his hand to Harry, would arguably have been unable to tolerate a friendship with the Boy Who Lived too. It was Draco’s mission in life to tell people how superior he was to them, but that might have become a little tricky if he was best mates with one of the most famous wizards of all time – something even the infinitely humbler, Ron, struggled with. From boasting about his father’s influence at the Ministry to sucking up to Umbridge and [becoming a member of the Inquisitorial Squad](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/importance-of-badges-in-the-harry-potter-books), Draco tirelessly fought to make himself stand out from his peers. But this was something that Harry had never had to work at – the scar on his forehead marking him out as special from the start. We argue this would have been extremely difficult for Draco to maintain a proper friendship with famous Harry Potter – his ego just couldn’t have coped with it.

Given this intrinsic need to distinguish himself from others, it is no wonder really, that Draco would get sucked into Lord Voldemort’s rhetoric of pure-bloods and power; it fed directly into Draco’s need to feel superior. Harry, on the other hand, was never going to befriend a boy who made others feel small or inferior. 

Draco and Harry might have had a shared love for Quidditch, both playing Seeker on their house teams. And indeed, they had a shared experience of being raised by a bully – Lucius for Draco, and the Dursleys for Harry. 

But that was never going to be enough to mean these two would ever be friends.

     ***

So, what do you think? Could Harry and Draco ever have been friends? If you’re old enough, let us know on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/wizardingworld), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wizardingworld) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wizardingworld/).


Harry’s first terms at Hogwarts: ranked

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## Sixth place: First term in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
The first term that Harry ever spends at Hogwarts comes at the bottom of our rankings, mainly because Harry mostly just has a great time and has the opportunity to enjoy the school of magic. Where do we even begin? Harry meets his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he gets sorted into Gryffindor, he rides a broomstick for the first time, plays Seeker in his first ever Quidditch match and he’s given the rare and extremely useful Invisibility Cloak. He’s introduced to Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts and much more, as well as plenty of ghosts. 

Not to mention he sees his parents faces for the first time reflected in the Mirror of Erised. On the adventure-side, he attempts to duel Draco Malfoy, only to find himself wandering the corridors at night pursued by Filch and coming face to face with a giant three-headed dog. Oh yes, and don’t forget that he, Ron and Hermione take on a twelve-foot mountain troll. Now that’s a house cup-winning first term!

## Fifth place: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Whilst still on the Hogwarts Express, Harry is invited to the Slug Club, but on leaving tries to spy on Malfoy and ends up getting attacked by him and trapped in a carriage under the Invisibility Cloak. Eeesh! Not a great start. With Snape appointed as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Harry takes Potions and acquires a copy of Advanced Potion-Making belonging to someone called the Half-Blood Prince, which helps him win a bottle of Felix Felicis. Harry begins private lessons with Dumbledore and they travel into memories of Tom Riddle’s childhood, whilst Harry also captains the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 

On the way back from a trip to Hogsmeade, Katie Bell is cursed by a necklace and Harry is convinced Malfoy is to blame. On the romance side, Harry tries to quell his feelings for Ginny Weasley, and Ron gets together with Lavender, which causes a rift with Hermione. Harry asks Luna to Slughorn’s Christmas party, whilst Hermione attends with Cormac to annoy Ron. There’s plenty of drama inside the party, but outside of it, Harry overhears a conversation between Snape and Malfoy that makes him even more suspicious of Draco. Harry and Ron spend Christmas at the Burrow, but it is interrupted by the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour attempting to recruit the Chosen One’s help. 

## Fourth Place: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
By the time Harry boards the Hogwarts Express in his third year, he already knows that mass-murderer and Azkaban escapee Sirius Black is out to get him. Things get even more grim when Dementors board the Hogwarts Express and Harry passes out with screaming in his ears. On the more light-hearted side, Professor Lupin joins the Hogwarts teaching staff and the third years tackle Boggarts – Neville’s Boggart Snape in his grandmother’s clothes is a real highlight. Within the same term, Sirius Black breaks into Gryffindor Tower and Harry falls off his broomstick in a Quidditch match against Hufflepuff after Dementors come to the game, his Nimbus Two Thousand shattered beyond repair. 

Fred and George Weasley give Harry the magnificent Marauder’s Map and he sneaks into Hogsmeade, only to find out that his parents and Black were friends at Hogwarts, he betrayed them as their Secret Keeper and he is also Harry’s godfather. Things seem to be looking up at Christmas when Harry receives a Firebolt as an anonymous present but Hermione tells McGonagall and it’s confiscated almost immediately. What a term!

## Third place: First term in Harry Potter and the Chamber Secrets 
Harry starts the first term of his second year with an absolutely bang – straight into the Whomping Willow after he and Ron fly a car to Hogwarts. Not long after this he, Ron and Hermione attend Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday party – an adventure in itself – and on the way back to the common room they’re falsely accused by Filch of petrifying Mrs Norris. Throughout the first term the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets grips the school, and Harry becomes the centre of the intrigue after speaking Parseltongue at the disastrous duelling club run by Gilderoy Lockhart. 

Let’s not forget that during this term Ron also ends up vomiting slugs, a rogue Bludger breaks Harry’s arm, and Lockhart makes all his bones disappear. This extremely eventful term is topped off with the Golden Trio brewing up Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, and Hermione getting a tail. Phew. What a term! 

## Second place: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
At the start of term feast in his third year, Dumbledore announces that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts. As if that isn’t enough excitement, the distinguished and terrifying Dark-wizard-catcher, Mad-Eye Moody interrupts the feast by his late arrival – and it isn’t long until he Transfigures Malfoy into a ferret and causes controversy by showing students the Unforgiveable Curses.  The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive and cause quite a stir, but nowhere near as much as Harry does when his names come out of the Goblet of Fire. Harry becomes the fourth champion, and he and Ron fall out until Harry demonstrates just how “not fun” the tournament is when he faces a Hungarian Horntail dragon in the First Task. 

Rita Skeeter is already making a nuisance of herself in the first term, along with Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts. The Weasley twins lighten the mood with their Canary Creams, but things get fraught with the announcement of the Yule Ball. Harry is turned down by Cho Chang, but Hermione surprises everyone by turning up with Viktor Krum, not least Ron… 

## First place: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
And top of our rankings is Harry’s first term in his fifth year. The Hogwarts Express journey in Harry’s fifth year has him meeting Luna Lovegood, as well as the Thestrals pulling the carriages up to the castle. At the start of term feast the Sorting Hat sings a new song about division, and Dolores Umbridge makes clear she’ll be meddling at Hogwarts. Umbridge and Harry soon clash when he insists that Lord Voldemort has returned and he has a detention with a quill that cuts ‘I will not tell lies’ into the back of his hand. As Umbridge is made Hogwarts High Inquisitor, Hermione encourages Harry to fight back and Dumbledore’s Army is formed – though group gatherings are banned soon afterwards meaning the meetings must take place in secret in the Room of Requirement. Hedwig is attacked, Fred and George try out their Skiving Snackboxes, and Ron makes it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Keeper, to Slytherin choruses of ‘Weasley is our King’. 

Harry has is first kiss with Cho Chang, but continues to be plagued by dreams of long corridors and locked doors, until he sees Arthur Weasley attacked and dreams begin to shade into reality. Dumbledore still won’t look at Harry, and he goes with the Weasleys to Grimmauld Place for Christmas, which includes a visit to St Mungo’s hospital… 
Now that is a first term to write home about!


Which first year Hogwarts subject would most suit you?

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## Transfiguration
__A moment that Transfiguration transfixed us:__

"And now – piertotum locomotor! ’ cried Professor McGonagall. And all along the corridor the statues and suits of armour jumped down from their plinths, and from the echoing crashes from the floors above and below, Harry knew that their fellows throughout the castle had done the same.

‘Hogwarts is threatened!’ shouted Professor McGonagall. ‘Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!"

__Transfiguration would suit you if:__

•	you’re good at understanding complicated diagrams 

•	your mind is more scientific than creative

•	you’re a perfectionist

•	you have excellent concentration

•	you learn and accept that there are limits on what can be achieved – think Gamp’s Law

## Charms
__A moment that Charms charmed us:__

"I can act from here,’ said Flitwick, and although he could barely see out of it, he pointed his wand through the smashed window and started muttering incantations of great complexity. Harry heard a weird rushing noise, as though Flitwick had unleashed the power of the wind into the grounds.’ 

__Charms would suit you if:__

•	you enjoy creativity

•	you’re imaginative

•	you’d be keen for a duel (Professor Flitwick was a duelling champion!)

•	you find it easy to pronounce tricky words and phrases, like Wingardium Leviosa

•	you have a good memory for incantations 

## Defence Against the Dark Arts
__A moment Defence Against the Dark Arts awed us:__

"The Dark Arts,’ said Snape, ‘are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."

__Defence Against the Dark Arts would suit you if:__

•	you have fast physical and mental reactions 

•	you are quick to adapt to new situations and threats

•	you are inventive (just think about all those spells the Half-Blood Prince came up with)

•	you have good defensive instincts – in Defence Against the Dark Arts there isn’t always time for planning

•	you think that ‘know your enemy’ is a good mantra


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## Herbology
__A moment Herbology made us shout hooray:__

"Oh, right!’ said Hermione, and she whipped out her wand, waved it, muttered something and sent a jet of the same bluebell flames she had used on Snape at the plant. In a matter of seconds, the two boys felt it loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unravelled itself from their bodies and they were able to pull free.
‘Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione,’ said Harry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat off his face.'

__Herbology would suit you if:__

•	you like being outdoors

•	you don’t mind a bit of mud and dirt

•	you are patient – just think how long those Mandrakes took to reach maturity!

•	you have a good memory for complicated names, like Mimbulus mimbletonia

•	you are a caring person – we reckon magical plants need a lot of love

## Astronomy
__A moment Astronomy amazed us:__

"I know that you have learned the names of the planets and their moons in Astronomy,’ said Firenze’s calm voice, ‘and that you have mapped the stars’ progress through the heavens. Centaurs have unravelled the mysteries of these movements over centuries. Our findings teach us that the future may be glimpsed in the sky above us –"

__Astronomy would suit you if:__

•	you like maps – both creating them and reading them

•	you prefer night to day 

•	you aren’t afraid of heights – lessons take place up the Astronomy Tower!

•	you have good eyesight – for using a telescope and plotting star charts

•	you like to ponder the wider universe and our place in it

## History of Magic 
__A moment History of Magic excited us:__

"All the copies of Hogwarts: A History have been taken out,’ she said, sitting down next to Harry and Ron. ‘And there’s a two-week waiting list. I wish I hadn’t left my copy at home, but I couldn’t fit it in my trunk with all the Lockhart books.’

‘Why do you want it?’ said Harry.

‘The same reason everyone else wants it,’ said Hermione, ‘to read up on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets."

__History of Magic would suit you if:__

•	you enjoy learning names and dates – especially of giant wars and goblin rebellions

•	you are immune to the sleep-inducing effects of a droning voice (mentioning no names…ehem…Professor Binns!)

•	you wouldn’t mind being taught by a ghost

•	you appreciate that history is inextricably linked to the modern day

•	you like secrets – just look at all the amazing things that Hermione found out from Hogwarts: A History!

## Potions
__A moment Potions impressed us:__

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

__Potions would suit you if:__

•	you like following instructions

•	you have excellent attention to detail 

•	you’re precise when it comes to measurements or amounts

•	you aren’t squeamish – there are often leeches or rat tails involved in brewing!

•	you are patient 

## Flying
__A moment flying made our hearts soar:__
‘He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared, air rushed through his hair and his robes whipped out behind him – and in a rush of fierce joy he realised he’d found something he could do without being taught – this was easy, this was wonderful. He pulled his broomstick up a little to take it even higher and heard screams and gasps of girls back on the ground and an admiring whoop from Ron.’

__Flying would suit you if:__

•	you have good balance

•	you don’t mind heights 

•	you prefer to rely on instinct and feeling rather than facts from a book

•	you enjoy travelling at speed

•	you’re competitive and love an adrenaline rush


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So, which of these subjects sounds most like you? Luckily if you say all of them, you wouldn’t need a Time-Turner quite yet, as they’d all fit on your Hogwarts timetable. But tune in next time to find out which Hogwarts elective subjects would suit you best and build your very own ideal Hogwarts timetable!

An unofficial guide to making friends at Hogwarts

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## DO: share your sweets on the Hogwarts Express
When you meet someone, conversation can be tricky – even for the famous Boy Who Lived. What worked for Harry and Ron was bonding over sweets Harry bought from the trolley on the Hogwarts Express. Forget the weather, chatting about Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans were a great starting point that soon got them talking about their own families and the magical world. 

## DON’T: try to make friends by insulting other people
This was an error made by Draco Malfoy when he tried to befriend Harry Potter on their first train ride to Hogwarts. After insulting Ron and his family, his exact words here: ‘You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’ It didn’t go down well – he really should have offered Harry a Pumpkin Pasty instead. 

## DO: share any knowledge you have about Hogwarts

Starting at Hogwarts is overwhelming for everyone, but particularly for those from non-wizarding families. Sharing anything you’ve heard about the wizarding school is a must when making friends – even if it’s just admitting you don’t know very much at all! Ron often made Harry feel like he wasn’t alone in being a little out of his depth when it came to the Sorting Ceremony or lessons – sometimes it’s nice to go into the unknown together. 

## DON’T: whisper about all the spells you know already 

This is a Hermione Granger classic. We didn’t judge her for learning all the set texts off by heart before she’d even started school – if we could get our hands on Hogwarts: A History, we’d be reading it cover to cover before we arrived too. However, being mindful that others probably won’t appreciate you showing off all your bright, shiny knowledge before the very nerve-wracking Sorting Ceremony, might have got Hermione off to a better friendship start.

## DO: be proud when your newfound friends succeed
Though Harry and Ron found Hermione a bit of a know-it-all at the beginning, they soon learned to be proud of their friend for all the house points she won for Gryffindor, as well as the tight spots she saved them from (ahem Devil’s Snare). And Ron, a huge Quidditch fan – and probably a little bit jealous of Harry making it onto the house team –still put his new friendship first and was prouder than anyone that Harry became the youngest Seeker in a century. 

## DON’T: point out that one of your fellow students is a “nightmare”

This one is a Ron Weasley special. Not only is it unkind to call someone a “nightmare”, in Ron and Harry’s case it had some pretty catastrophic consequences. And sure, taking on a twelve-foot mountain troll finally brought the Golden Trio together, but a lot of that was down to luck! Ron calling Hermione a “nightmare” just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge anyone too early or call them names – you never know, you just might end up marrying them!

## DO: remember that there are more important things than books and cleverness

Hermione was very smart, and not just when it came to lessons. She had some words of wisdom for all of us when it came to friendship near the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. 

*‘Harry – you’re a great wizard, you know.’
‘I’m not as good as you,’ said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him.
‘Me!’ said Hermione. ‘Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful!’*

Enough said, we reckon. Thanks Hermione, wisest witch of your age. 

## DON’T: forget to write to your friends over the summer holidays

As Harry found over the years, it’s tough being away from new friends and magic over the long summer holidays, particularly if you live with Muggles like the Dursleys. After an adventurous year, full of fun and friendship, remembering to send an owl or two letting your new friends know you’re still around will really help calm the nerves when September 1st arrives and you need someone to save you a seat… 

## DO: remember to be yourself
Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn’t be more different, but they soon become the closest of wizarding trios. Making new friends is all about being yourself. And even if it takes a while – like Hermione – when you find the right friends, they’ll love you exactly as you are. And that’s pretty – well – magical.

Go Back to Hogwarts with LEGO Harry Potter: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

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Hogwarts Express LEGO 

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## Finding Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

This recreation is particularly poignant around the 1st September. Check out the LEGO steam on the Hogwarts Express!

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters | LEGO

LEGO Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

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Find more animations from our friends at LEGO here! Just click on the video you want to watch and enjoy the magic... But that's not all – we've hidden 7 letters that make up a secret code on 7 of the 9 video pages below. Watch the video and then scroll all the way to the bottom of each page see what you can find. Collect all 7 letters and try to work out the magical word. Then download the Wizarding World App, enter the code and unlock an extra surprise!

[Watch Potions and parties in the Astronomy Tower here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-astronomy-tower)

[Watch the Privet Drive Invasion scene here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-privet-drive-invasion) 

[Watch the Privet Drive rescue scene here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-privet-drive-rescue)

[Watch Harry catching the Snitch scene here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-catching-the-golden-snitch)

[Watch the famous flying car adventure here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-the-flying-car-adventure)

[Watch Buckbeak's rescue here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-buckbeak-rescue)

[Watch the Hungarian Horntail at the Triwizard Tournament here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-triwizard-tournament)

[Watch Dolores Umbridge in the Forbidden Forest here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-the-forbidden-forest)

[Watch the attack on The Burrow here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/back-to-hogwarts-activities-attack-on-the-burrow)

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LEGO have also put together some Back to Hogwarts activities for you to download here to get properly into the spirit with the family. It’s not all about building bricks, you know.

[Identify the magical creatures](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/1DK6pO6SCaoD46Oyn8qqUc/79808977553ac048570aa2cf0022dc47/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_01_FINAL.pdf)

[Spot the differences in this Hogwarts lake scene](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5sL3EAVcrxrQiOUMQszHbj/0f7fe90ed0f83ab59d80f2d7aa7062ff/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_03_FINAL.pdf)

[Phoenix and Basilisk art challenge ](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/50PBi5FYjFMFAGNtPoW0P6/6f3a06c2d6adf7354de26692314a469a/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_04_FINAL.pdf)

[Draw a picture of a Pensieve memory](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/18R2xfINS7Te5qmEwkOZC0/f10e14b2d80fa8387bdb2f990a7d3c9b/HP_at_home_x_LEGO_LEL_A4_05_FINAL.pdf)

See more on [LEGO Harry Potter on LEGO.com or build your own magical Wizarding World adventures!](https://www.LEGO.com/HarryPotter)


Ten things you’d need for your first day at Hogwarts

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## Ticket for the Hogwarts Express
Harry Potter had a bit of trouble with the instructions on his ticket for the Hogwarts Express. Hagrid could have mentioned that the platform wasn’t exactly going to be obvious! But really, everything Harry needed to know was right there on his ticket: ‘take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o’clock’ from King’s Cross Station. No witch or wizard should set off for Hogwarts without their ticket, so we’ve put this at the top of our list!
 
## A Sickle or two for trolley snacks
Harry paid eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts for his Hogwarts Express snacks from the trolley, and he got some of everything: Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands… Some pocket money for the train wouldn’t go amiss for the long journey to Hogwarts, and you never know… you might just make a best friend along the way. 

## A wand 
Now this is an important one. It would be pretty embarrassing to turn up at Hogwarts without a magic wand, and borrowing one wouldn’t be much help since ‘the wand chooses the wizard’ for a reason! So whether wizarding newbies have a unicorn hair, phoenix feather or dragon heartstring core in their wand, it should be one of the first objects to be packed for Hogwarts! Did you know that you can find out which wand would choose you if you become a member of the Harry Potter Fan Club? [Sign up and discover your wand here](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register). 


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## Hogwarts school uniform
With a Hogwarts letter comes a school list setting out all the essentials a wizarding student will need to get before they arrive. First on the list is the Hogwarts school uniform. First-year students require the following:

•	Three sets of plain work robes (black)

•	One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

•	One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

•	One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

And all the clothes need name tags as well, so robes don’t go walkabout! No wonder Hogwarts trunks get heavy… 

## Pet
Students may also bring a pet along with them to Hogwarts. Would you take a visit to Eeylops Owl Emporium to buy a feathered friend like Hedwig? Or would you prefer a toad like Neville’s, Trevor? Or how about a clever cat like Hermione’s, Crookshanks? 
Did you know you can choose your pet on our website? [Register for the Harry Potter Fan Club and pick for yourself](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register)!

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## School books
Since wizarding folk are going to Hogwarts for more than just adventures, remembering to pack those all-important magical school books is a must! Yes, unfortunately, lessons and homework are required (it is a school after all!), and those books are going to weigh trunks down a lot! 
Are you ready for the list? Here they are: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk, A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling, A Beginners’ Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore, Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, and The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble. It’s a good job first-years aren’t allowed a broomstick – there wouldn’t be room!

## Cauldron and other school supplies
A wand alone isn’t quite going to cut it at Hogwarts. For Potions, first-years also need ‘1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)’ and we’re not sure Snape would be very pleased if a student forgot to pack it! Aside from a cauldron, the school list also says:

- 1 set glass or crystal phials
- 1 telescope
- 1 set brass scales

These last three sound pretty breakable, so best pack them carefully!

## Quills, ink and parchment
It isn’t any good just to read the Hogwarts set texts, at some point students will also need to write essays – we’re sure Hermione was absolutely delighted about this. Quills and ink are the order of the day at Hogwarts, and essays tend to be written on parchment. It’s not all work and no play though, these writing tools would come in handy for sending letters by owl post to family or friends. 

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## An open mind and an open heart
Hagrid tells Harry to be himself when he starts Hogwarts and we think that’s pretty good advice. Keeping an open mind when meeting new witches and wizards, as well as which house you’re sorted into would definitely help on that very first day. And we think wizarding newbies should keep an open heart too – it might mean meeting exactly the right friends to help them get through the rest their time at Hogwarts – and it is usually rather eventful! Did you know you can [try the Sorting Ceremony for yourself on our website, find it here...](https://www.wizardingworld.com/register) 

## A little bit of courage
Trying on a tatty old wizard’s hat in front of a whole school of strangers doesn’t exactly sound like a walk in the Hogwarts grounds. Not to mention there are ghosts all over the place – including one who is covered in silver blood, and one who is nearly headless! Magical surprises aside, talking to new people can sometimes require just as much courage as coming face to face with the Bloody Baron! So those starting at Hogwarts would need to be prepared, be themselves and dig deep for that wizarding courage! 


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And for more Back to Hogwarts fun, check out our [Back to Hogwarts hub here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/back-to-hogwarts), where you can play quizzes, learn about start of term traditions. 

Everything you need for your Hogwarts trunk: Your Back to Hogwarts shopping guide for 2020 

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## The Harry Potter x H&M kidswear collection
This new clothing and accessories collection from H&M could certainly rival Madam Malkin’s in Diagon Alley! Aimed at newborns to young teens, this Harry Potter-inspired collection will get your youngsters Hogwarts-ready, even if they’re not quite old enough to receive that all important letter yet! From Hogwarts house-themed hats to Hedwig sweatshirts, the H&M Kidswear Harry Potter capsule collection has something magical to inspire every child. And it’s available now! [Click here to check it out](https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/kids/shop-by-feature/4042c-harry-potter-x-hm-kids.html). 


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## Harry Potter-inspired charms from Pandora
Like us, we’re sure you love carrying the magic of the wizarding world with you wherever you go. So… we are beyond excited that Pandora, have recently released six – yes six! – new Harry Potter-inspired charms so you can do just that! Their Hogwarts Acceptance Letter and Sorting Hat charms will really get you in the Back to Hogwarts spirit, and we know you’ll love all the others too. See how many you can spot in the image below! And then check out the new charms, as well as the rest of the beautiful [Harry Potter x Pandora collection here](https://uk.pandora.net/en/jewellery/harry-potter-collection/?ps_kw=&cid=sem:branded:e:en_gb::adwords:XSA360TEST_UK_EN_Search_DSA_AllCategories_AllGenders_2018_:spri19:te:::epiphany&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-af6BRC5ARIsAALPIlVdQ0-DvxRmfYGh0tUik43EBLiYfk8NBf6RYmGd1vQh1tRAO2m5qfcaAjhmEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). 


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## New collectible range of pins from the Harry Potter Fan Club
How about celebrating Back to Hogwarts by showing off your house pride? These first pins are all about the Hogwarts houses. So, be you Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff, your enamel pin set of choice is perfectly catered to the iconography and colours of your house. [Take a look at the collection so far here](https://explore.wizardingworld.com/pins) and learn how you can start your own pin seeking journey. 

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## More exciting products for fans based in the US...
We would certainly recommend US-based fans checking out [the recent Vera Bradley x Harry Potter collaboration](https://verabradley.com/pages/harry-potter) – amongst many other exciting products, they have beautiful backpacks with dedicated wand pockets! The [Wizarding World baby carrier range from ErgoBaby](https://ergobaby.com/catalog/category/view/id/128) is also well worth a look, so you can start their magical journeys early… 

Plus, there are more Back to Hogwarts treats available than on the Hogwarts Express trolley, at the [US Wizarding World online shop](https://shop.wizardingworld.com/). We’re sure you’ll love this [Personalized Hogwarts Acceptance Letter](https://shop.wizardingworld.com/collections/home/products/personalized-hogwarts-acceptance-letter-chromaluxe-panel), as well as [exclusive house apparel and accessories](https://shop.wizardingworld.com/collections/clothing-and-accessories). Something no Hogwarts student should be without is a [house crest scarf](https://shop.wizardingworld.com/collections/clothing-and-accessories/products/harry-potter-house-crest-gryffindor-scarf) to wrap up for the castle in winter! 


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## Get Back to Hogwarts-ready with Platform 93/4
UK-based shop, Platform 93/4 will help you celebrate the 1st  September in style this year with its Back to Hogwarts range. Platform Nine and Three-Quarters tickets, House Quidditch jumpers, and beautifully designed stationery are just a few of the Back to Hogwarts delights you can purchase from this special collection. And from September 1st you’ll be able to buy their brand-new Back to Hogwarts trunks. These new trunks are packed with goodies, themed on Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff house. Which one will you choose? Get a sneak peek below! [And you’ll find more information and more exciting products here](https://www.harrypotterplatform934.com/).


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Don’t forget that Gold Members of the Harry Potter Fan Club can enjoy a 20% discount at the Wizarding World online shop. [Find out more about the benefits of Gold Membership here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/about-gold). 

And once you’re done with your wizarding shopping spree, Platform 93/4 have got some Harry Potter-themed games and puzzles for you to play:

•	[Download and print a Chocolate Frog puzzle here!](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4uh71gs2nygF6tQDRcUMgG/6d6f2672cf33309c32d3f70d92b4cf5a/BTH_Frog_Puzzle.pdf)

•	[Find a colouring activity here!](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5N1K9TFPYSzby00nPkKyK7/d64a74a5454c8a5d4f35d5a9d848c3f2/BTH_Colouring_Page.pdf)

•	[A Back to Hogwarts wordsearch here](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4M1F3jiCExYIjKmskOZh82/7c03fb1155fc53110cb4c24b78529e6f/BTH_Word_search.pdf)! [And answers here.](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/42NGZQvvih4mPQDXW9HrC/8a16b9962a4c72428600791f32a0c70d/BTH_Word_search_Answers.pdf)

•[Download and print a Platform 93/4 shop puzzle here](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/2G64QU44PDwqFa6FTS6DY4/75dace2acb4f57d96115a6a977a0cf8f/BTH_Logo_Puzzle.pdf)!

That’s it for now, but keep your Spectrespecs nearby because there is plenty more fun to be had on 1st September!

In the meantime there’s plenty more start of term fun to be had with the [Back to Hogwarts hub here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/back-to-hogwarts), where you can play quizzes, learn about start of term traditions, or revisit our [Harry Potter At Home series](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters), where we invited a number of famous friends to read every chapter of the first Harry Potter book.


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Wizarding World fans get into the Back to Hogwarts spirit with Harry Potter inspired crafts and recipes  

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## Universal’s Shepherd’s Pie from @mommynamedapril 

We start with food blogger Mama Loves Food, who has brought a British favourite to life: a lovely shepherd’s pie. The recipe comes from Universal Studios, which is served at The Three Broomsticks pub for fans visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. In the Harry Potter books, Harry and his fellow students loved a bit of shepherd’s pie every now and then while dining in the Great Hall. 

Shepherd's Pie recipe from Universal | By Mama Loves Food

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## A papercraft Platform Nine and Three-Quarters from @wight_noize 

Marvel at this amazingly detailed piece from Instagrammer and graphic designer wight_noize (aka Thomas Wightman) who has reimagined Platform Nine and Three-Quarters entirely out of paper, complete with suitcases and flying owls. 

Papercraft Platform Nine and Three-Quarters | By @wight_noize 

@wight_noize video

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## Sorting Hat cupcakes from @priyaoshea

And now for pudding! Food vlogger and Great British Bake Off alumni Priya O Shea has created these delicious Sorting Hat cupcakes for your entertainment, with the help of her son! We love the fact you have to eat them to discover which house you truly belong to. 


Sorting Hat cupcakes | Priya O' Shea

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## Quidditch match from @Notsofunnydad 

Content creator, Nigel, AKA NotSoFunnyDad, along with his family, have recreated a good old fashioned Quidditch match, and created the illusion of his children actually flying! You can visit Notsofunnydad’s Instagram to see the behind-the-scenes journey of how he brought it to life, with the help of a bit of camera wizardry. 

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 ## Floating Hogwarts letters from @myharrypottercorner 

Getting the big, important Hogwarts letter is a huge moment for a budding witch or wizard, which Instagrammer @MyHarryPotterCorner, aka Hector, has paid homage to in this magical photoshoot. Here, Hector has perfected the moment where Harry is engulfed in his own flying Hogwarts letters. We love that Hector has stayed true to his Slytherin roots with a little homage to his house in the corner. 

Hogwarts letters | By @myharrypottercorner 

@myharrypottercorner hogwarts letters photoshoot

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Feeling inspired? Check out our [Back to Hogwarts hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/back-to-hogwarts) for more Wizarding World activities to get stuck into. 

And to look at all of our [brilliant Back to Hogwarts contributors, check out our Instagram Story round-up. ](https://www.instagram.com/wizardingworld/?hl=en)

Create your very own Hogwarts castle

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is one of the most magical places in the whole wizarding world. Eleven-year-old witches and wizards lucky enough to receive their Hogwarts letters, board the Hogwarts Express, disembark at Hogsmeade, and sail across the lake to get their first glimpse of the twinkling lights and towering turrets belonging to one of the best schools of magic in the world. 

We’re celebrating Back to Hogwarts this year, by teaching you how to build your very own castle! But don’t worry, we’ve got three video tutorials that’ll help you create Hogwarts at home. 

## Hogwarts Castle Build Part 1: The Great Hall

The Great Hall at Hogwarts is a very special place, because it’s where the Sorting Ceremony happens for first years when they arrive at the school. Once the ceremony is over, the feast begins, and Dumbledore makes his start of term speech – which is bound to be a little wacky! 

Here’s how to build the Great Hall section: 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EPwpD2JScnE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[You can download the instructions for Part 1 here!](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/2bQbWyOvu7y4bCha1OVT4m/5ead31d3b771dffeae4c9e9715efdca9/Video_1_The-Great-Hall_Instructions.pdf)

And if you want to find out which house you would be sorted into in the Great Hall then you can take the Sorting Ceremony on our website here.

## Hogwarts Castle Build Part 2: The Grand Staircase Tower

The towers are a particularly iconic part of the Hogwarts castle. In this video you’ll be giving the castle it’s unique look, adding the Headmaster’s Tower that houses Dumbledore’s office – a place Harry Potter visits on many occasions!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i6jnuldXJ8c" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[You can download the instructions for Part 2 here!](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/5TbOSKeEDpXdM76FIVZAVL/462caa91c80efecdbdb6074228c8715d/Video_2_The-Grand-Staircase-Tower_Instructions__2_.pdf)

## Hogwarts Castle Build Part 3: Paper Mache and Paint

The Hogwarts castle was home for Harry Potter, who never really felt like he belonged with the Dursleys – even before he found out he was a wizard! This is the final video where we teach you how to put the finish touches – including adding a base – to your Hogwarts castle creation! We hope it brings a little magic and helps you dream of going back to Hogwarts. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rUtl1S5bN9I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[You can download the instructions for Part 3 here!](https://assets.ctfassets.net/usf1vwtuqyxm/4wnmzXlZGHBekhjg0IPfqA/8407514e2d4d922903ec93de2ab02af9/Video_3_Paper-Mache-and-Paint_Instructions.pdf)

Be sure to check the #BackToHogwarts hashtag across [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wizardingworld/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wizardingworld), where you can share your Hogwarts castle creations, as well as get the latest updates, and to see how fellow fans are celebrating this year!

And for more Back to Hogwarts fun, check out our [Back to Hogwarts hub here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/back-to-hogwarts), where you can play quizzes, learn about start of term traditions, or revisit our [Harry Potter At Home series](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters), where we invited a number of famous friends to read every chapter of the first Harry Potter book.

But that’s not all! For more of our arts and crafts videos, check out our [Crafting Magic page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/crafting-magic), as well as our [Wizarding World YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPRO1CB_Hvd0TvKRU62iSQ).


Wizarding fashion icons: ranked

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## 10 – Dolores Umbridge

We’re putting her at the bottom of our list. Because she deserves it. Always dressing in different shades of insipid pink is not fashion forward or imaginative – frankly, it’s just boring, and it makes us feel a bit ill. It’s almost as though someone once said, ‘gosh, Dolores. Pink really suits you,’ and she’s just run with it ever since. There are other colours, Dolores! And by the way, having your office and clothes match. Too far. It’s not stylish – it’s lazy.
<br>


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## 9 – Ron at the Yule Ball

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear. If we’d opened a parcel, as Ron did in the film of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and identified an item of clothing that would make us look like our Great Aunt Tessie, then we think we might have attended the Yule Ball in Harry’s Invisibility Cloak. The lace sleeves and old-fashioned pattern were not a good look for the youngest Weasley brother. And his date, Padma Patil, didn’t seem to appreciate his fashion choices one bit, or his unwillingness to dance. And this unusual outfit didn’t even come with a red handbag for comedy value, so Ron slides into second to last place.
<br>


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## 8– Hagrid in his furry suit

Well… at least Madame Maxine seemed to appreciate it. But we can’t say we’re huge fans of the hairy ensemble Hagrid wore to the Yule Ball. Each to their own, we suppose, but wouldn’t that suit have itched something chronic? A few points for individuality, but this outfit certainly doesn’t get any bonuses for comfort.
<br>
## 7 – Bellatrix Lestrange

You might be surprised to find Bellatrix Lestrange on this list, but although there isn’t an awful lot of variation to Bellatrix Lestrange’s wardrobe, we have to admit that the darker shades really do match her personality. And does wearing black ever really go out of fashion? Though we’re pretty sure she gave up brushing her hair in Azkaban…
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Bellatrix casting a spell and holding the Sowrd of Gryffindor 

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## 6 – Harry at the Yule Ball

Harry’s dress robes, as opposed to Ron’s, were actually rather fetching on the Boy Who Lived. We would have loved to see him dancing in his glad rags with the girl he actually wanted to go to the Yule Ball with though… What a shame he waited too long to ask Cho Chang out and had to spend the evening miserably watching her dance with Diggory. We reckon Ginny was admiring him from afar though…
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Harry and Ron left out at the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire 

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## 5 – Rita Skeeter

So, Rita Skeeter wasn’t exactly the nicest witch in the wizarding world, but she did have a very unique sense of style. From her jewelled spectacles to her crimson-painted two-inch nails, you’ve got to admire the boldness with which Rita dresses given how many people are probably trying to get revenge on her for something awful she’s written about them. Pair Rita’s unapologetic dress-sense with the acid-green Quick-Quotes Quill she carries about in her handbag, and this dubious journalist really is a bit of a style icon – even if her words are pure poison.
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## 4 – Gilderoy Lockhart

He might have been a dunce when it came to Defence Against the Dark Arts, but Gilderoy Lockhart did know a thing or two about fashion. Whilst Lockhart could have pulled off Great Aunt Tessie’s least favourite outfit, he didn’t take any shortcuts when it came to his appearance. Take the book signing where Harry first meets him as an example: he was ‘wearing robes of forget-me-not blue which exactly matched his eyes’. Perfection. He might have won Witch Weekly’s Most-Charming-Smile Award five times in a row, but he wouldn’t have looked out of place on a wizarding catwalk either.
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## 3 – Hermione at the Yule Ball

In third place, it’s Hermione Granger in her Yule Ball outfit. This dress was more than just a dress – it let Hermione say something about herself that she hadn’t been able to before. She could be geek and chic. She could brew up Polyjuice Potion one minute, and come to a ball the next, and look elegant, feminine and breathtakingly gorgeous. Of course, we always knew Hermione was beautiful – inside and out – but it never hurts to get a bit of appreciation, especially from an international Quidditch player…
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Viktor Krum and Hermione Dancing at the Yule Ball

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## 2 – Albus Dumbledore

There are some wizards who struggle to pull off the long cloaks and quirky hats expected of magical folk, but Albus Dumbledore is not one of them. Intelligence, impeccable taste, and a sprinkle of eccentricity combine to adorn the Hogwarts headmaster with some of the most fashionable outfits in the castle and beyond. And those half-moon spectacles that highlight his twinkling blue eyes? The perfect, practical accessory to match every one of his dashing outfits.
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Dumbledore smiling from the Philosopher's Stone 

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## 1 – Boggart Snape/Augusta Longbottom

In the top spot it’s Augusta Longbottom’s wizarding style modelled by Severus Snape. The green dress is a classic, but the accessories make this outfit what it truly is. That red handbag is truly inspired, and if you look carefully, you’ll spot some lacy black gloves. It’s the comedy value that really allows this outfit to pip Dumbledore to the post. And a special shout out must go to good-old Snape, who pulled the look off effortlessly – well Neville’s Boggart did…

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Snape dressed in Nevilles grandmothers clothes

The importance of badges in the Harry Potter books 

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Badges are often worn to celebrate your tastes, your interests, or maybe something you really strongly believe in. They can be symbolic of status, of what you represent, or maybe just your little way of wearing your passions in life with pride. 

At Hogwarts, we saw badges of honour and badges of dishonour, depending on who was in charge of them... cough, Malfoy. Take a look at all the times they cropped up in the stories, and what we learnt about the characters that donned them! 

## Prefect badges 

Of course, the most obvious badge that may leap to mind is a prefect badge, a hugely emblematic moment for any ambitious student. And who do you think of when you think of a prefect badge? Percy Weasley, of course, who was rarely seen without his from the moment we first met him. In fact, so enamoured with his position as a prefect was Percy, that his brothers Fred and George delighted in hiding it, or ‘amending’ it on a semi-regular basis, and this only escalated when Percy upgraded to a Head Boy one. 

> Fred and George were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron’s room in the search for his badge. ‘We’ve got it,’ Fred whispered to Harry. ‘We’ve been improving it.’ 
> The badge now read Bighead Boy.<br>
> Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

Beyond Percy, we also saw Ron and Hermione pick up their prefect badges in their fifth-year, which spawned a profound reaction in Harry, one of burning jealousy, and for Ron, a sense of shock. After all, a prefect badge meant power, success and a sense of authority, something Ron never felt he had before, and there’s a sweet moment where Ron can’t help but admire his reflection wearing something with so much meaning. Harry even had a dream about the whole thing, where Hermione and Ron were wearing a different status symbol... crowns!  

## Harry’s Quidditch captain badge 

‘That gives you equal status with prefects!’ cried Hermione happily. ‘You can use our special bathroom now, and everything!’
‘Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these,’ said Ron, examining the badge with glee. ‘Harry, this is so cool, you’re my captain – if you let me back on the team, I suppose,
ha ha …’
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

Harry finally did get a shiny badge to don, when he was dubbed the new Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor. Interestingly, Harry reacts quite calmly to what must have been a dream come true – clearly the ascent of Lord Voldemort the year before gave him a fresh perspective on things. 

## Hermione’s SPEW badges 

> Inside were about fifty badges, all of different colours, but all bearing the same letters: S.P.E.W.
> ‘“Spew”?’ said Harry, picking up a badge and looking at it.
> ‘What’s this about?’
> ‘Not spew,’ said Hermione impatiently. ‘It’s S – P – E – W.
> Stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.’<br>
> Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

Sometimes a badge simply represents something you passionately believe in, or a cause you want to fight for. For Hermione, in her fourth year, that passion became S.P.E.W., her self-created society raising awareness for the way house-elves were continually mistreated in society. Although she was met with a lot of derision (notably from Ron, who eventually learnt to care about the house-elves as much as Hermione did) she stayed true to herself and true to the cause adorned on her badges. By wearing her message proudly, Hermione taught us all a great lesson in standing up for what is right, even if it wasn’t easy. 

## Cho’s love of the Tutshill Tornados   

Sometimes a badge can be a conversation starter, which was the case when Harry, Ron and Hermione bumped into Cho Chang. Although, admittedly, not a fun one.

> ‘Is that a Tornados badge?’ Ron demanded suddenly, pointing to the front of Cho’s robes, where a sky-blue badge emblazoned with a double gold ‘T’ was pinned. ‘You don’t support them, doyou?’
> ‘Yeah, I do,’ said Cho.
> ‘Have you always supported them, or just since they started
> winning the league?’ said Ron, in what Harry considered an unnecessarily accusatory tone of voice.
> ‘I’ve supported them since I was six,’ said Cho coolly. ‘Anyway … see you, Harry.’<br>
> Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

Oh dear. This led to Ron arguing with Hermione about Cho not wearing her badge authentically – like the Muggle equivalent of wearing a band t-shirt and not knowing their songs, perhaps? Either way, it stopped Harry from getting to talk to his crush at the time, so well done Ron, but it did show us just how much Cho liked Quidditch – one of the things Harry fancied about her.

## The Weasley is Our King Badges 

What is it with Draco Malfoy and badges? In *Half-Blood Prince*, once again does Malfoy employ the use of a badge to torment others. This time, it was poor Ron who suffered Malfoy’s badge-making wrath, with the Slytherins devising the cruel slogan “Weasley is our King” to taunt Ron’s Quidditch skills during matches. There was a sarcastic, crown-shaped badge. There was even a song. Thankfully, the Gryffindors turned the song around when Ron helped his team win the Quidditch cup. Where’s your badge now, Malfoy? 

## The Inquisitorial Squad

Malfoy crops up again on the subject of badges when Dolores Umbridge created a new hierarchy at Hogwarts: the Inquisitorial Squad. And, of course, they had their own badges. 

> ‘The what?’ said Hermione sharply.
> ‘The Inquisitorial Squad, Granger,’ said Malfoy, pointing towards
> a tiny silver ‘I’ on his robes just beneath his prefect’s badge. ‘A
> select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of
> Magic, hand-picked by Professor Umbridge...’<br>
> Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

Like a twisted version of a prefect, a member of Umbridge’s exclusive group could dock house points from students – something Malfoy indulged in quite frequently. 

## The infamous Support Cedric Diggory/Potter Stinks badges 

Perhaps Draco's cruellest usage of badges was in Harry's fourth year. If Harry wasn’t having the most miserable time anyway in *Goblet of Fire*, having been mysteriously picked for the Triwizard Tournament and falling out with Ron in the process, Malfoy made things all the worse when he conceived enchanted badges that flashed two messages: “Support Cedric Diggory” and “Potter Stinks”. A testament to Draco Malfoy’s maturity, we don’t think. 

Interestingly, this badge cropped up again for Harry as he was packing his trunk to leave Privet Drive in *Deathly Hallows*. The badge is described as ‘flickering feebly’. After everything Harry had been through, it was quite poignant seeing how a once-horrible memory was reduced to a simple afterthought: a sign of how much Harry had grown up.

We now have our own selection of badges, or should we say pins, for you to collect! [Go back to the pins hub for further info.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-pins) 