Magical Fun Facts
Uncover the enchanting secrets of the wizarding world
Magical Names & Etymology
Discover the hidden meanings behind character names
Voldemort's Name
'Vol de mort' is French for 'flight of death', which foreshadows his fear of death and pursuit of immortality.
Sirius Black
Sirius is a name of the brightest star on the night time sky, also called the 'Dog Star', and quite suitable for a character who can change into a black dog.
Diagon Alley
Say 'Diagon Alley' fast, and it sounds like 'diagonally', which is a brilliant play on words for the crooked wizard shopping street.
Remus Lupin
First and last name are referring to wolves: according to Roman mythology, Remus was suckled by a wolf when he was a baby, and 'lupus' in Latin means wolf.
Magical Creatures
Learn about the fascinating creatures in the wizarding world
Phoenix Tears
Phoenix tears are an incredibly curative magic and the only known antidote to basilisk venom.
Thestrals
Thestrals are invisible winged horses that can only be seen by people who have witnessed death, which makes them mysterious and misunderstood creatures.
Bowtruckles
The bowtruckles are small, mischievous tree guardians and great locksmiths; they are particularly fond of trees whose wood is of wand quality.
Nifflers
Nifflers are treasure-hunting creatures who can sniff out valuable objects and are attracted to shiny things; they can wreak havoc in banks and jewelry shops.
Spells & Magic
Interesting facts about spells and their origins
Expecto Patronum
'Expecto Patronum' in Latin means 'I await a guardian', fitting for the spell's protective nature.
Wingardium Leviosa
This incantation of levitation combines 'wing', flying, with 'arduus', high, and 'levis', light, in an etymological mashup of its purpose.
Avada Kedavra
The killing curse has possible origins in the Aramaic 'abracadabra', which means 'let the thing be destroyed'.
Lumos
This spell of giving light originates directly from the Latin word 'lumen', meaning light.
Hogwarts Secrets
Hidden facts about the magical school
Secret Moving Staircases
Hogwarts's enchanted staircases change their structure 142 times in a day.
Room of Requirement
There have been at least 7 appearances of the Room of Requirement throughout the series, each perfect for whatever it is that the seeker may need.
House Points
The house points at Hogwarts are counted on giant hourglasses that use real precious stones: rubies for Gryffindor, emeralds for Slytherin, sapphires for Ravenclaw, and diamonds for Hufflepuff.
Forbidden Forest
The Forbidden Forest extends over an area of about 6,800 acres, hence making it one of the most extensive magical forests in Britain.