The much anticipated Harry Potter & The Cursed Child has been released, and all of us Potterheads are united in our feverish anticipation for the same. Fishing out the old books, tattered from multiple readings, we are delving headlong into the magical world, once again. Isn’t it fascinating that every time we open those familiar pages, we discover a new fact that blows us away? Apart from those, there are many pre and post Hogwarts battle facts too that Rowling reveals once in a while. Presenting to you, some of these fascinating facts, that will up your potter knowledge by notches.
Tom Riddle and Minerva McGonagall were inspired from tombstones
J.K.Rowling has admitted on innumerable occasions that she derived most of her characters’ names from real life. Same goes for these two characters, which she found on two tombstones named Thomas Riddell and William McGonagall respectively, at the famous Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Evanna Lynch did not land the role because of “the letter”
A particular theory has been doing rounds since long time, which suggests that Evanna Lynch, who plays the role of Luna Lovegood, was offered the role on receiving a letter from J.K.Rowling who said that Evanna can be Luna if she successfully battles anorexia. Well, Evanna did have anorexia, but neither had she written any letter to Rowling, nor did latter have any clue of Evanna auditioning.
Nicholas Flamel existed!
Yes, potteratis! Nicholas Flamel was actually a figure in history who lived during the 1300s, and upon his death, was rumoured to be an alchemist in possession of a stone that could turn lead into gold.
Goblet of Fire could have been titled something else
Actually, there were three shortlisted options for the fourth book; Harry Potter & The Death Eaters, Harry Potter & The Fire Goblet, and Harry Potter & The Three Champions. Well, we wouldn’t have minded the third one, but we love and are content with Goblet of Fire.
We have been pronouncing “Voldemort” wrong all along
This has been confirmed by queen Rowling herself, who revealed that the “t” in the name is supposed to be silent. Well, now we are used to pronouncing it that way.
Elphinstone Urquart
Professor McGonagall was not a spinster throughout. She had been married for a short span of three years, before her husband, Elphinstone Urquart, who was a Ministry of Magic official, succumbed to a Venomous Tentacula bite.
Dumbledore did not see himself holding socks in the Mirror of Erised
This one was disclosed by J.K.Rowling, and even though we had guessed this, it still hurts. The headmaster saw his family, happy and together.
Voldemort and Harry are descendants of the same line
They belong to the lineage of Peverell brothers of The Tale of Three Brothers. While Voldemort was a descendant of Cadmus Peverell, the second brother and the owner of Resurrection Stone, Harry was the scion of Ignotus Peverell, the owner of Invisible cloak, who greeted Death like a long lost friend.
Lily was a Peverell
Contrary to what you might like to believe, Harry’s connection with the Peverell brother came from his mother’s side, and not his father’s. Lily was the last remaining Peverell female, and the line went extinct, as she went ahead and married James Potter.
We are magically stupefied, yet again. Accio Harry Potter books! Let the reading marathon of the seven, begin again.
Author: Kadambari Srivastava
