Sit tight Potter fans, because this is going to be epic. Here are 50 Harry Potter facts every fan will love.
A friend of mine who suffers from OHD (Obsessive Harry Potter Disorder), by her own confession, once wrote, “Aliens can’t attack the earth J. K. Rowling dwells upon. War of the Worlds is not coming, all because of her, I kid you not.” I completely agree with her. That makes two incurable OHDs, one inevitably myself.
Here’s the thing, I know we have all Googled Harry Potter stuff when we are happy, when we are sad, when we are bored, when we want to know more Harry Potter stuff, when we are arguing over a Harry Potter fact, when we are looking for Dumbledore quotes – in short, a lot of times.
While doing the same, I came across so many interesting facts. Here is a collection of some of the most amazing facts I met, with my comments in italics. You might have stumbled upon them too. If so, this is sure to be a wonderful trip down the memory lane. If not, it always makes sense to be one step closer to being OHD. (The ultimate happiness in the OHD stage, FYI, would be, when something like this happens – you are gifted handmade snitches and custom made Harry Potter magazines for birthdays and Christmas. That is correct; I have been there, so I know.)
Roll your eyes, nod in agreement, argue over the facts below and have fun! Also let me know when you do that.
1. “Dumbledore” = Bumble-bee
Dumbledore is an old English word for a bumble-bee. JK Rowling says she believes this suits the Hogwarts head because “one of his passions is music and I imagined him walking around humming to himself.” Though it sort of makes you wonder what dear Dumbles would look like in a Bee costume.
2. Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore
While we are at it, here’s more: Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore is Dumbledore’s full name. Dumbledore, like I said, is an Old English word meaning “bumblebee.” Albus is Latin for “white,” and Wulfric was the name of a twelfth-century saint who became a deeply holy man after seeing a homeless man in the street. Percival was a knight at King Arthur’s Round Table and may also mean “pierce the veil,” suggesting an ability to return from the dead. Brian is a Celtic name, meaning “strong.” Good old Dumbledore has a name as meaningful as his words, right?
3. Fred and George’s birthday
Twin jokers Fred and George, the owners of Diagon Alley’s new Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, celebrate their birthday on the stupidest day of the year, April fool’s Day, no joke – seriously.
4. Peeves is NOT a ghost!
Peeves the poltergeist was never a living person. He is not a ghost but an indestructible spirit of chaos, who can unscrew chandeliers, throw walking sticks and generally cause mayhem. I personally think Sir Nick found his dung bombs adorable too. Peeves was like the Weasley twins’ private patron. Isn’t it sad that he wasn’t featured in a single movie?
5. Prof Flitwick’s Charming Height
Professor Flitwick is so short because he has goblin ancestry, probably through his great-great-great-grandfather. Remember the first charms class when Ron and Hermione had a brush off? Vingardium Levi-os-a. Not Leviosar. Charming isn’t it (pun intended)?
6. The Tale of the Dudley Tail
To remove the tail that Hagrid gave Dudley in the hut on the rock, the Dursleys went to a private hospital where the staff were very discreet and said that a wart had gotten out of control. Awkward, I can bet my Leprechaun Galleons. Less is always more when it comes to the Dursleys, or given their sizes maybe I should say MORE is always less?
7. Grindelwald as Bad as Hitler?
A war took place in the wizarding world at the same time as the Muggle Second World War. The evil wizard Grindelwald was finally defeated by Dumbledore in 1945, the same year as Hitler’s downfall. How tragic it is that the only person Dumbledore loved so much apart from his family, was the man he had to fight for the greater good? Even if JKR hadn’t revealed he was gay, this is sad already. Sigh.
8. 37 Year Old Student!
Actress Shirley Henderson, who played Moaning Myrtle, was 37 years old at the time “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” was filmed. She is the oldest actress to ever portray a Hogwarts student. The fact that she was older than a lot of her peers could have helped her get into her role and be sad, couldn’t it? But then she got to see both Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson shirtless in her bathtub. That would make up for that a little, wouldn’t it?
9. What Voldy’s Name Really Means!
Contrary to popular belief, the ‘t’ at the end of Voldemort is silent. The name comes from the French words meaning “flight of death.” Speaking of death, did you too feel that Deathly Hallows part two didn’t do justice to Voldemort’s death scene? I thought the dialogues in the book were grand, and our favourite villain of all time deserved a grander send-off to hell, than he got in the movie.
10. Diddikins Part 2? NO Way.
J. K. Rowling admits that she almost wrote an epilogue with Dudley on Platform 9¾ with a magical child, but decided “a magical gene would never have survived contact with Vernon’s DNA.” Out of curiosity, had that happened, would Dudley (given his future size) have been able to slide through the gateway to platform 9¾?
11. JKR caste Mione in her Own Image
J. K. Rowling slightly based 11-year-old Hermione on herself at the same age. She even made Hermione’s patronus her favourite animal, an otter.
12. Books made her a billionaire. Woot.
J. K. Rowling is the first person to become a billionaire by writing books, and I think she deserves every penny given the amount of happiness the series continues to spread even today.
13. Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon
The Hogwarts motto is – Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus (meaning Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon). I bet you agree, Gryffindors don’t seem to pay much heed to this one.
14. Irony, at its saddest
Both Sirius and Fred, Hogwarts pranksters from different generations, died laughing. *And here, the waterworks begin. Make sure there are tissues handy*
15. Ron Would Always Chase Hermione
Ron Weasley’s Patronus is a Jack Russel Terrier, which is known for chasing otters. Coincidentally, Hermione Granger’s Patronus is an otter. Clever foreshadowing, I see.
16. Hitting Voldermort in the Face!
When Fred and George Weasley bewitched snowballs to hit the back of Professor Quirrell’s turban, they were unknowingly hitting Voldemort in the face. Hah!
17. The Case of Nearly Headless Nick
Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington popularly known as Sir Nearly Headless Nick met Lady Grieve on October 30th, in 1492 and tried to straighten her teeth but instead caused her to grow a tusk and was executed for it the following day.
18. What Voldemort Fears
J. K. Rowling has said that Voldemort’s Boggart would take the shape of his own corpse, since death was his greatest fear. But rest assured, Voldemort can’t even come back as a ghost because his soul, or whatever was left of it, was not good enough to turn into one.
19. All seven of Voldemort’s horcruxes were destroyed by different wizards.
1. Harry destroyed Tom Riddle’s diary with the basilisk fang.
2. Dumbledore destroyed Marvolo Gaunt’s ring with the sword of Gryffindor.
3. Ron destroyed Slytherin’s locket with the sword of Gryffindor.
4. Hermione destroys Hufflepuff’s cup with the basilisk fang.
5. Crabbe destroys Ravenclaw’s diadem with fiendfyre.
6. Voldemort destroys the horcrux inside of Harry using the killing curse.
7. Neville cuts off Nagini’s head with the sword of Gryffindor.
20. Snape’s Secret Message!
The first thing Snape asks Harry is “Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” According to Victorian Flower Language, asphodel is a type of lily meaning ‘My regrets follow you to the grave’ and wormwood means ‘absence’ and also typically symbolised bitter sorrow. If you combined that, it meant ‘I bitterly regret Lily’s death’.*wipes away tears*
21. The Mirror of Erised
The Mirror of Erised from Philosopher’s Stone shows a person’s deepest desires. “Erised” is DESIRE spelt backwards. There’s more – the inscription on the mirror of Erised reads “Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafre oyt on wohsi.” Backwards, it reads “I show not your face but your heart’s desire.” What would you and I see? More Harry Potter books.
22. In your face, Twilight fans.
Robert Pattinson openly stated that he would rather play Cedric Diggory than Edward Cullen. No offence, twilight fans; actually no, take all the offence you want.
23. Mooney
“Remus Lupin” can be rearranged to “Primus Lune”, which means ‘Full Moon’. JKR also said he represented people in our society who are ostracised because they suffer from diseases like AIDS. She killed Lupin and Tonks to remind people of how wars can leave children parentless. I am going to stop talking about deaths now, before I am tempted to ditch the article and go to the good and happy parts of the book instead of sinking into a Potter-induced gloom.
24. Death of the Marauders
The Marauders died in the reverse order that their names were printed on the map.
25. The Patronus Charm
Expecto Patronum literally translates to “I await a guardian” in Latin.
26. Voldy died at 71
Voldemort was 71 years old when he died on May 2, 1998. Had he not gone about his dark business he’d have lived longer, duh, and peacefully too. But as Ollivander said, Voldy was meant to do great things- terrible, but great.
27. Dobby 🙁
The first and last words we hear Dobby say are “Harry Potter”. Dobby shouldn’t have died. Period.
28. Find: Harry Potter; Count: 16,956
The name Harry Potter is mentioned 16,956 times in the series.
29. Brand New Lover.
Lavender Brown is an anagram of “brand new lover”. Won-won would know that.
30. Things that aren’t meant to be.
The only time Fred and George Weasley ever saw each other as old men was when they put their names in the Goblet of Fire. I swear that wailing sound isn’t just my cries.
31. Mum and Dad at King’s Cross
J. K. Rowling’s parents met at the King’s Cross Station. Appropriate, yeah?
32. Wand Cores United
Harry, Hermione and Ron unite the three Ollivander wand cores: Harry – Phoenix tail feather, Ron – Unicorn hair and Hermione – Dragon heartstring.
33. Case of Sirius’ Vault
The seemingly random number of Sirius’s vault, 711, is also the number of the page on which Sirius falls through the veil in the British version of the Order of Phoenix. I wish we had more scenes involving Sirius so we could know him more. I have always felt he was a character that could’ve been explored more. Also, Harry needed him!
34. Always.
The last words we hear both Lily Potter and Severus Snape say are “always”. We will remember that, ALWAYS. Despite all the sadness imbued throughout the book, isn’t it amazing we love it every time we read it, and it leaves us smiling in the end?
35. Glitch in the movie. Oops.
Cho Chang was shown to still be attending Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows Part 2, as she was wearing her robes and standing with her fellow Ravenclaws, when in fact she was a year older than Harry and had already completed her seventh year. However, in the book she had been called to the fight using Hermione’s fake Galleons like other students who had already left school.
36. EVERY 30 SECONDS. Magic happens.
Every 30 seconds, somebody starts reading Harry Potter. Hexes, jinxes, curses and oh… charms.
37. Not just Master of Death
Harry Potter is the only wizard who has had all three Unforgivable Curses cast on him, and still survived. We know he paid more than enough of a price for those, and it was so much more than just the scar. *wipes away tears again*
38. 700 ways to commit a foul in Quidditch
There are 700 ways to commit a foul in Quidditch, all of which were committed in the Quidditch World Cup of 1473.
39. The Starry Family
Most Black family members are named after stars or constellations. For example, the star Sirius is in the constellation Canis major (the Dog). Another example is Bellatrix, the third brightest star in the constellation Orion, which is also the name of Sirius’s father and Bellatrix’s uncle. Cygnus, Andromeda, and Cassiopeia are also constellations and Regulas, Alphard and Arcturus are stars as well.
40. Why Snape hated Neville
Snape hates Neville so much because Neville could have been the other Chosen One, meaning Lily would have survived.
41. Scent of Ron Weasley’s hair
Once, in an online chat with fans, JKR revealed that the third scent Hermione could smell emanating from Amortentia (love potion) was that of Ron Weasley’s hair.
42. 5800 times scarred
Harry’s scar has been applied by the makeup department 5800 times (approximately 2000 times on Daniel Radcliffe; the rest on his stand-ins and stunt doubles).
43. Why Dumbledore Came to Be
Richard Harris only agreed to take the part as Dumbledore after his granddaughter threatened to never speak to him again. That is the most adorable granddaughter ever, and wherever you are, we thank you.
44. Dumbledore Died at 150
Dumbledore was 150 years old when he died (witches and wizards have longer life-spans than Muggles.) We now know the secret behind the length of his silvery grey beard.
45. I open at the close.
JK Rowling published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone in 1998. The final battle between Harry and Voldemort ends in 1998. Hence the phrase, I open at close on the snitch becomes starkly relevant.
46. Symmetry
Here is an amazing image I came across that shows the story of Harry Potter is symmetrical!
47. All things Weasley
Some Weasley (read: red haired freckled) facts: Ginny Weasley’s first name is Ginevra, and she is the first female Weasley born for “several generations,” says J. K. Rowling. Arthur Weasley has two brothers. Molly Weasley’s maiden name is Prewett. The infamous Weasley cousin who was cut from the books was named Mafalda. She was in Slytherin. The names of all seven Weasley siblings are the names of different kings and queens of England.
48. Luna in Real Life?
A young girl was disappointed that she would miss the book release of ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix’ as she had been hospitalized. However, the hospital released her the morning of the launch for a few hours and the local bookstore arranged for her to have a signed copy by J.K. Rowling. She showed up wearing a Harry Potter T-shirt and blue nail polish that had “Harry Potter” on every other nail, and a Golden Snitch on the rest. She also had painted on Harry Potter glasses and had written “I love Harry Potter” written down her arms. J.K. Rowling said that if she beat anorexia she could play Luna. And she did.
That was the story of Evanna Lynch.
49. Graphics that depict the future of HP family
A picturesque look into the future – find
– with no touch of Professor Trelawney’s divination classes.
50. Years later.
And one last thing to break your heart: There will never be another Harry Potter book released. JKR is done telling the story of Harry. But she knows, and so do we, that it will be told and retold, as long as Dumbledore’s portrait continues to smile with the twinkling eyes behind the half moon spectacles in the headmaster’s office in the Hogwarts Castle.
Note: I did not come up with all that on my own, obviously. Regardless of what I wish, no magic involved. These facts are collected from the first few pages you get when you Google search for these facts and hence I am not mentioning the links.
