Words: Julianne Doyle

A quick listicle of weird and wondrous wizard facts.

It’s been ten years since the last movie of the Harry Potter series was released but the Hogwarts legacy lives on. In the years since the books and the films wrapped up, tidbits of information about our favorite characters and the wizarding world have been released, keeping our interest vested in our beloved fictional world. If you missed any, we got you covered. Here are ten things about Harry Potter you may not know!

Oh, and just in case- WARNING! Spoilers ahead. 

1) Where is the resurrection stone?

The last time we see the resurrection stone is when Harry manages to get the golden snitch to open in the forbidden forest just before the penultimate standoff with Voldemort and crew. Harry sees his family’s spirits, Remus, Sirus, and his parents Lily and James after turning the stone in his hand three times. 

Harry dropped the resurrection stone on the forest floor upon meeting Voldemort and crew where it would remain and be lost to the Forbidden Forest forever. Harry never went back to search for the stone, indicating that losing it was his intention all along. 

2) Harry’s Parseltongue

Remember everybody’s reaction to Harry’s parseltongue during the duel with Malfoy during defense against the dark arts class? It was no surprise that his motives were questionable to the other students, bit sus to be honest. Well, Harry owes his fluency to Voldemort, the scar was not the only gift he left with the child that night in Godric’s Hollow. 

When Voldemort was defeated during the Battle of Hogwarts and disappeared into the air, so too did Harry’s snake speech abilities. Snake got your tongue, Harry?

3) Wetting Wizards

Though we are all grateful for the release of potter more and its insights into the wizarding world, there are some things that we did not need to know but here we are. I’m talking of course about the “pee thing.”

According to Pottermore, Wizards and Witches didn’t require the use of toilets… No, instead of availing of the privacy of a lavatory, magical folk would just wet themselves and make puddles on the floor that they then cleaned up using magic. Huh, and here we are wasting time going to the toilet like chumps!

4) Umbridge in Azkaban (and rightly so)

Dolores Umbridge. Just the thought of her and her high-pitched squeaks of interference makes my skin crawl. Horror author Stephen King described Umbridge as “The greatest make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lector” and that’s saying something. Many Potter fans expressed that they disliked her more than Voldemort! 

Luckily for Potter fans, members of the Wizarding World, and everyone in general really, Dolores Umbridge was sentenced to life in Azkaban after the Battle of Hogwarts. She was caught attempting to sneak out the back of Hogwarts during the battle and held for charging. In the end, she was charged for her crimes against muggles. Watch out for those dementors Dolores! 

5) Harry Copper

After the dust settled and everything was getting back to normal following the defeat of Voldemort, Harry Potter and the gang were graduating Hogwarts and beginning their adult life together. So what now? It came as no surprise when we found out Harry Potter became, well, a wizard cop! 

Harry went on to become the head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department at the Ministry of Magic. This meant that he oversees every aspect of the law, not just the Aurors like Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks were part of before they passed away. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better job for Harry after everything he has been through!

6) A Doomed Partnership 

How early did you start shipping Hermione and Ron in the series? I saw it coming from a mile away, so when they finally kissed I nearly jumped for joy! I love their relationship, it seems so perfect, opposites attract and all that. However, that may not be the case according to J.K. Rowling.

The author of the Harry Potter series now believes that she made a mistake by putting the two together and that she now believes that Hermione may have been better suited with Harry. She believes that Hermione and Ron would have many marital struggles and that they probably would not have lasted. All I know is, I can’t see it any other way. 

7) The Express

The hallmark of the beginning of a Hogwarts adventure is of course The Hogwarts Express. It has always been that way for us as readers and viewers, but it wasn’t always that way. 

Before the International Statute of Secrecy was implemented in the wizarding world, students of Hogwarts traveled to school on broomsticks, magical creatures, and even apparition. That does sound like a more fun way to travel, but I’d miss the sweet trolley far too much. 

8) Naming Seers

We all remember Professor Trelawny, how could we forget her eccentric ways and her run-ins with Hermione. Many people questioned her sanity at the best of times, but funnily enough, she is always right in her predictions. Divining in itself was not the only job available for those with the gift. 

 Naming Seers were those with future sight who would look into the future to see what a baby’s name would be, therefore deciding for the new parents. Trelawny once turned down marriage because the man’s name was Higglebottom so we know she knows a good name. 

9) Hufflepuff House

The fat lady sings her ear-splitting songs outside the doors to Gryffindor patiently waiting for someone to speak the password to open her door. The entrances to all the housing quarters of Hogwarts are protected against intruders and thanks to Pottermore we finally know the details of Hufflepuff’s security protocol. 

Outside Hufflepuff’s entrance there lie several wooden barrels, they look very ordinary but are of course enchanted. To gain access the barrels must be tapped in the correct order. If the password is entered incorrectly, the barrels will explode, soaking them with the vinegar they have stored inside, very Hufflepuff. 

10) Merlin the Slytherin

Merlin is the name of a very famous wizard who originally appeared in the legend of King Arthur. Everybody knows his name even if they don’t know his story. Throughout the series, Merlin’s name is mentioned multiple times which tells us that Merlin did in fact exist in the wizarding world. 

It might surprise you that Merlin was a Slytherin! But just like other famous Slytherins like Horace Slughorn and of course Severus Snape, he is proof that Slytherin doesn’t produce bad people, there was just that one guy… You know who.