20 Facts That Will Make You Look At "Harry Potter" With New Eyes
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The 20 facts below will give you new understanding of "Harry Potter." Potential spoilers ahead.
1. Voldemort was actually 71 years old, when he died in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Tom Riddle was born on Dec. 31, 1926.
2. Arthur Weasley gets to the Ministry of Magic in the phone booth with Harry in number 62442. The letters beneath those numbers on a standard telephone keypad spell out "magic."
3. Quidditch is the most popular sport among witches and wizards in Europe only. However, the game preferred in America is Quodpot.
4. Track 7 1/2 in King's Cross Station is the departure point for a long-distance train that stops at all wizard-only European villages.
5. Professor Snape is based on J.K. Rowling's old chemistry teacher in large part.
6. After Hogwarts, Hermione worked for the Ministry of Magic to gain more rights for house elves and other magical creatures. Later she changed to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
In 2019, by the way, she will replace Kingsley Shacklebolt as Minister of Magic.
7. Both Harry and Ron became Aurors and completely changed the department.
8. Harry soon became head of the Auror Department and later of the entire Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Also, he gave occasional lectures on Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.
9. Ron later left his job in the ministry and joined his brother George in managing the increasingly successful Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
10. After Hogwarts, Ginny Weasley became a talented Quidditch player. When she later had her first son with Harry, she joined the sports editorial staff of the Daily Prophet.
11. Harry and Ginny named their children after Harry's parents James and Lily, as well as Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Luna Lovegood.
12. George Weasley married Angelina Johnson. They have two children together, Fred and Roxanne.
13. George and Fred Weasley's birthday is April 1st.
14. When he was young, Dumbledore fell in love with Gellert Grindelwald, before he became the most terrible black magic wizard before Voldemort.
15. Harry and Rowling share the birthday July 31.
16. After Hogwarts, Luna Lovegood became a naturalist, during which time she met Rolf Scamander before later getting married. Rolf Scamander's grandfather is Newt Scamander, a hero of film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
17. Rowling modeled the young Hermione more or less on herself. She even gave her her own favorite animal, a Patronus: an otter.
18. J.K. Rowling used her depression regarding the death of her mother as the model for the Dementors and the feeling that they touch in you.
19. When the Horcrux kissing scene by Harry and Hermione was filmed, Rupert Grint had to be sent off the set. Because he couldn't stop giggling.
20. J.K. Rowling rejected a request from Michael Jackson, who wanted to produce a Harry Potter musical with her.