Pick Or Pass On These Harry Potter Things To Reveal What Your Love Potion Smells Like
- by Michelle_Sanders
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Harry Potter's magical world made its debut to the muggle realm on June 26, 1997. It's been more than 20 years—Twenty. Years.—since that book series hit shelves. In that time, the books have been made into major motion pictures, and they've even inspired theme park and another series of films (AKA, the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise). In spite of the fact that two decades have passed since it began, we're still as enamored with the Harry Potter series as we ever were—in fact, one could argue that we grow more and more bewitched by it with every passing day.
As with any fandom, Harry Potter devotees have a lot to say about the characters, the storylines and the various magical bits and bobs mentioned in the franchise. These differences in opinion can cause quite the ruckus on social media and fan sites, but it's still fun to discuss them all the same. Every fan has a different take on the books and the films, as well as the various plotlines featured in them, and even though we may not always agree with everyone else's perspectives, they're still valid. Pick or pass on these Harry Potter things, and we'll reveal an alluring Amortentia smell.
Thestrals
Even though these grotesque, reptile-like horses have been around since the very beginning of the book series, Harry only becomes aware of their existence in the fifth book, The Order of the Phoenix. These winged, skeletal, flesh-less beasts are invisible to witches and wizards who have never seen anyone meet their end.
Sorting Hat
First year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are sorted into their houses during the Sorting Ceremony, which happens just before the dinner feast the evening all of the kids arrive at school. How are they sorted? With the Sorting Hat, duh! This magical chapeau examines each student's thoughts and decides where to place them based on their dominant personality traits.
Fluffy the Three-Headed Dog
A three-headed dog that Hagrid says he won off a guy in a pub, Fluffy stands guard on a trap door on the Third-Floor Corridor, also known as the Forbidden Corridor. With a little music, Fluffy goes straight to sleep, which enables Professor Quirrell to sneak in and look for the Sorcerer's Stone.
Transfiguration
At Hogwarts, Transfiguration class is taught by the no-nonsense Head of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall. This branch of magic involves transforming objects into other objects—for instance, with Transfiguration, one might turn a turtle into a dinner plate. This is the branch of magic witches and wizards must study in order to become animagi.
Dragons
Dragons are huge, winged, fire-breathing reptiles. These creatures are hard to conceal from muggles and even harder to try to control, which it's illegal to breed them. These massive beasts are very dangerous, especially females who are trying to protect their eggs, as Harry learns firsthand during the first trial of the Triwizard Tournament.
Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans
What can we say about the wizarding world equivalent of muggle jelly beans? Open up a box of these magical candies and you're in for a surprise. You might get something tasty, like a banana or cherry flavored bean, or you might run into some bad luck with a earthworm or earwax flavored one. It's a crapshoot.
Quidditch
Aside from the whole "they can do magic" thing, witches and wizards really are just like us muggles. They, too, love to spend their free time fangirling/fanboying over sports. Where we non-magic folk have things like baseball, football and basketball, the people of the wizarding world enjoy Quidditch, which is played on broomsticks.
Professor Snape
Professor Snape is a controversial character with *quite* the back story, but the question is, is that back story tragic? Does his past offer him a chance at redemption, or is it a series of unfortunate events that are entirely of his own making? Is Snape a misunderstood good guy, or is he the baddest of the baddies?
Cauldron Cakes
Cauldron Cakes are a staple on the Honeydukes treat trolley that wanders the train cars of the Hogwarts Express, looking for hungry students. These delightful little treats are also available for purchase at the Honeydukes Sweetshop in Hogsmeade just outside the school grounds. So, what's your take on these puppies? Are they good, or not so much?
Patronus
The Patronus is a spell that can only be conjured by powerful witches and wizards, and though it has a variety of uses (for instance, it can be used to send messages across long distances), its main purpose is to ward off dementors. Every Patronus is unique to the conjurer, and takes on the appearance of an animal and/or magical creature.
Mirror of Erised
Harry encounters the Mirror of Erised in the first book, The Sorcerer's Stone. He stumbles upon the mirror by accident one night when hiding from the school's caretaker, Filch. After looking in the mirror, he sees himself surrounded by his parents. Later, Dumbledore reveals that the Mirror of Erised shows the viewer their heart's deepest desires.
Divination
Taught by the zany, mystical Professor Trelawney, Divination class shows students how to foresee events that lie ahead. There are lots of ways of predicting the future, like palmistry, astrology and reading tea leaves, but those who truly excel in Divination are Seers, that is witches and wizards with the rare gift of prophesy.
Howler
Yikes! This is one letter you don't want to get in the Owl Post. A Howler is a letter in a red envelope that has been enchanted by the writer to read the message in their voice. Ron receives a Howler from his mother after driving his father's flying car to work, and it's, uh...well, it's quite the scene.
Hippogriffs
Proud creatures who can be easily offended if improperly handled, the hippogriff has the head and front legs of a bird, and the back, hind legs and tail of a horse. Buckbeak is the main hippogriff that we see in the series, mainly in The Prisoner of Azkaban, when he and fellow fugitive, Sirius Black, make their getaway.
Professor Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and discoverer of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, Dumbledore is an accomplished wizard, there's no doubt about it. But later in the book series, we realize that he knew all along that Harry was a horcrux, yet kept this information from him. Is Dumbledore a conflicted character who's vastly overrated, or did he just do what he knew was right?
Phoenix
The phoenix is a large, intimidating-looking yet gentle bird, with scarlet and gold plumage. When nearing the end of its life, the phoenix bursts into flames, then rises anew from the ashes. Though these birds rarely fight, Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, saves Harry from the basilisk in The Chamber of Secrets, and heals his wounds, as the tears of a phoenix have healing powers.
Pumpkin Pasties
Another treat offered by the Honeydukes trolley aboard the Hogwarts Express, the Pumpkin Pasty is a baked pastry, much like a Cornish Pasty, but with pumpkin filling rather than meat and vegetables. With a flaky, buttery shortcrust folded into a half-circle and braided at the seam, these hand pies are perfect for on-the-go snacking.
Elder Wand
The Elder Wand was the first Hallow in The Tale of the Three Brothers. The wand was plucked from an elder tree and given to the oldest brother in the story, a man named Antioch Peverell. The Elder wand was said to be the most powerful wand in existence, and could perform powerful feats of magic that would've been impossible with any other wand.
Herbology
Herbology classes at Hogwarts are taught by Hufflepuff Head of House, Professor Sprout, and this branch of magic focuses on growing and caring for magical plants, and it also teaches kids how to prepare these plants for use in potions. One wizard who excelled in this area of magic was Harry's fellow Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom.
Sorcerer's Stone
The Sorcerer's Stone once belonged to alchemist, Nicolas Flamel, who used it to produce the Elixir of Life. This potion enabled him to live well past his expiration date, and was what Lord Voldemort, with the help of Professor Quirrell, sought so desperately in book one of the series, but Voldemort's attempt to get his evil little hands on the stone was foiled by—who else?—Harry Potter.
Merpeople
A far cry from the Little Mermaid of the Disney movie of the same name, the merpeople in Harry Potter are mysterious, elusive and aggressive. Harry comes face to face with the merpeople who live in the Black Lake on Hogwarts grounds in The Goblet of Fire during the Triwizard Tournament, and let's just say they were less than welcoming.
Pumpkin Juice
A juice made from pumpkins (as if you really needed us to explain that one to you), pumpkin juice is pretty much like water for the wizarding world, considering the rate at which they drink it. The perfect accompaniment to any breakfast, lunch or dinner, pumpkin juice is a beverage you've simply *got* to have on your table if you're magical.
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Another class taught at Hogwarts, the position of professor of this class was said to've been jinxed by Tom Riddle when Dumbledore refused to allow him to take the position. Harry and his classmates encounter several DADA teachers, so the curriculum varied greatly from book to book, but in general, these classes taught students about dark magic and how to defend themselves against it. No surprise there.
The Quibbler
Owned and printed by Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's dad, The Quibbler is a tabloid newspaper that claims to offer an alternative perspective to The Daily Prophet. It's full of conspiracy theories, out-there opinions and odd ideas. The Quibbler does sometimes have useful information, like when it published Harry's interview with Rita Skeeter on the return of Voldemort.
Wizard's Chess
Ron teaches Harry how to play Wizard's Chess in book one, and the skill proves to come in handy in one of the book's later chapters, when the trio of friends encounter a life-sized version of the game when on their quest to get to the Sorcerer's Stone. Wizard's Chess is just like regular chess, except the pieces move on their own and are more violent.
Resurrection Stone
The second of the infamous Hallows, the Resurrection Stone was featured in the story The Tale of the Three Brothers, and was given to Cadmus Peverell, the middle brother from the story. Near the end of the final book, the Resurrection stone is revealed to have been hidden inside the Golden Snitch that Harry caught during his first Quidditch match.
Pensieve
Dumbledore's Pensieve is a shallow stone basin that can be used to view old memories. By extracting a certain memory and storing it in a vial, it can be poured into the Pensieve, allowing the viewer to see the memory from different angles. This comes in handy throughout the series, especially on Harry's quest to destroy Voldemort's horcruxes.
Whomping Willow
Harry and Ron first bump into the Whomping Willow in The Chamber of Secrets, when they crash land Ron's dad's flying Ford Anglia into it. The Whomping Willow conceals a secret tunnel that leads to the Shrieking Shack, an abandoned home on the outskirts of Hogsmeade that was once the place where young student and werewolf, Remus Lupin, spent the night during a full moon.
Chocolate Frogs
A chocolate candy made in the shape of a frog, the makers of these treats place a spell on them causing them to hop around like a real, live frog. These candies also come with collectible cards, perfect for trading with friends, featuring famous witches and wizards, like Nicolas Flamel and Albus Dumbledore.
Acromantula
Hagrid's love for these giant magical spider's is as powerful as Ron Weasely's hatred of them. In addition to their tremendous size, these eight-legged arachnids have eight black eyes, pincers and are covered in thick black hair. The venom of these creatures is very toxic and very valuable, though it can be difficult to obtain due to the Acromantula's aggressive nature.
Time Turner
The world of Harry Potter is full of magic, so it only makes sense that witches and wizards have the power of time travel. Of course, they can't simply cast a spell and go from the present to the past to the future and back again. They can only travel in time with the help of a Time Turner, which Hermione uses to attend all of her classes, and which she and Harry use to save Buckbeak and Sirius Black.
Monster Book of Monsters
The Monster Book of Monsters was on the reading list for the Care of Magical Creatures class, which Harry attended his third year at school. These books were, as their name suggests, monsters themselves, and were aggressive to anyone, especially those who tried to open them up. The trick to calming them down enough to read them? *Hagrid voice* Ya stroke the spine, o' course!
Butterdrink
Butterdrink is frequently mentioned in the Harry Potter book series, and it makes an appearance a time or two in the films. This drink is described as tasting like butterscotch, but less sweet. It can be served hot or cold and has a delicious layer of foam at the top.
Invisibility Cloak
Harry's invisibility cloak was left to him by his father, and was given to him by Dumbledore on Christmas day during his first year at Hogwarts. Most invisibility cloaks were made from the hair of the Demiguise, a magical creature known for its powers of invisibility. Harry's cloak, however, is later revealed to be the last Hallow from The Tale of the Three Brothers, and was given to the youngest Peverell brother, Ignotus.
Marauder's Map
The Marauder's Map was created by Harry's father and his three friends when they were in school. It was later found by Fred and George Weasley, who bequeath it to Harry in his third year at Hogwarts. The map shows all of Hogwarts' locations, including the hidden ones, and even shows the viewer the whereabouts of professors, students and criminals masquerading as rats.
