10 Magical Facts About Harry Potter Only True Fans Will Know

Are you a hardcore fan of Harry Potter? Test your wizarding world knowledge with these magical facts about Harry Potter.

January 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the world-famous Harry Potter films! This iconic book and film franchise is a staple of British culture, however, there are so many intricate facts about Harry Potter, it’s impossible to know all of the details.

If you’ve been living under a rock for the last 20 years and have not seen or read the Harry Potter series, beware, as there are spoilers ahead!

Keep reading to discover 10 facts about Harry Potter that only true fans will know…

1. Dumbledore is named after a bumblebee

The word ‘Dumbledore’ comes from the Old English word ‘bumblebee.’ Author, J.K. Rowling said that she selected it because Dumbledore enjoyed music and she envisioned the wizard humming to himself all the time.

2. Fred and George Weasley were born on April Fool’s Day

It’s no surprise that the menacing and cheeky twins of the Weasley family were born on April Fool’s Day. Fred and George Weasley are known for their pranks and famous joke shop, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

The shop is found in Diagon Alley which was inspired by the unique Shambles cobbled street in York.

It makes sense that they were brought into the world on a day known for tricksters and games.

3. Moaning Myrtle was played by a 35-year-old

We couldn’t believe this fact about Harry Potter either! Moaning Myrtle was played by iconic British actress Shirley Henderson.

During the filming of Harry Potter and The Chamber of the Secrets, Henderson was 35-years-old, whilst her character of Moaning Myrtle is the ghost of a 14-year-old Hogwarts student.

4. Dumbledore could see Harry under his invisibility coat

Dumbledore could see Harry through his invisibility cloak by casting the human presence revealing spell ‘homenum revelio’ without a wand or even pronouncing the words out loud.

In the second instalment, during the scene where Dumbledore visits Hagrid’s Hut, you may catch a glimpse of the headmaster slipping Harry a look, whilst he’s under the cloak!

5. After Harry’s Horcrux was destroyed, he lost the ability to speak Parseltongue

Harry lost the ability to speak Parseltongue after Lord Voldemort destroyed the fragment of his soul, which lived within Harry. This iconic death scene appears in the final Harry Potter film where Voldemort thinks he has succeeded in killing Harry, only to have destroyed his own Horcrux.

6. J.K Rowling turned down Michael Jackson for a musical adaptation

Next on our list of facts about Harry Potter is sure to blow your mind! J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, rejected the King of Pop’s plans for a Harry Potter musical.

When talking in an interview with Opera Winfrey, the author said, “Michael Jackson wanted to do the musical. I said no to a lot of things. I have a say. For me I love the films, I love the books, and there are elements that are really fun around it.”

7. Flying Carpets are the main source of magical transportation in South Asia

Magic carpets, known as flying carpets, are a form of transportation used by Asian countries in the wizarding world.

With the help of Arthur Weasley, flying carpets are now banned as a form of travel for Great Britain’s magical community. This is because the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects labelled them as Muggle Artefacts!

More magic culture and extra facts about Harry Potter are portrayed in the popular Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films.

8. Voldemort was incapable of love

Lord Voldemort’s most notable and fatal characteristic is his inability to love.

According to J.K. Rowling, Voldemort is incapable of feeling love because he was conceived while he was under the influence of a love potion.

9. Nicholas Flamel was a real person

In the first Harry Potter film, Nicolas Flamel is thought to have created the Philosopher’s Stone, an object that grants immortality with its Elixir of Life.

The real Flamel was a French scholar and bookseller who lived in Paris during the 14th and early 15th centuries. Though he may have dabbled in alchemy in his lifetime, the legendary accounts of him as an alchemist who possessed the knowledge of immortality didn’t appear until the 17th century.

10. The original manuscript was turned down 12 times

Last on our list of facts about Harry Potter is the most inspiring of all!

Rowling sent her finished manuscript to 12 publishers, all of whom declined it. A Bloomsbury editor finally bought the book for £1,500. Her editor advised her to get a teaching job, as writing children’s books was unlikely to pay the bills.

After 450 million copies sold worldwide, it became one of the best-selling series ever. Proving that no matter how many times you are rejected and fall down, keep going. Because you never know who is going to pick up your 13th try.

Get cosy and celebrate the 20th-anniversary viewing in style at a cosy winter lodge. Or, browse at these incredible Harry Potter filming locations around the UK and book a holiday cottage nearby these incredible destinations.