Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry ...
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How did the basilisk get enough food?
This is related to "How did the Basilisk survive for a thousand years?" The basilisk in "Chamber of Secrets" is shown to eat small mammals and reptiles, from the skeletons that are discovered. I ...
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Are there any official statements about Hogwarts during Harry's absence to search horcruxes?
I'm asking this out of love for the Harry Potter series, of course, and because I want to write a fanfic that takes place at Hogwarts during Harry's (absent) seventh year.
There's only very little ...
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What are Hermione's parents' REAL names?
So, we know they're dentists and that their aliases (after Hermione modifies their memories) are Wendell and Monica Wilkins.
But have their real names ever been divulged? If yes, what are they??
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How did the Basilisk survive for a thousand years?
The lifespan of a Basilisk might be thousands of years, but how can one survive without eating anything for thousands of years?
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Are all the ghosts at Hogwarts former students/teachers?
There are a number of other ghosts at Hogwarts who aren't the well-known "house" ghosts, such as Professor Binns and Moaning Mertle. We know there are a lot more, as a lot turn up to Sir Nicholas' ...
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Why does Peeves listen to the Bloody Baron?
Peeves the poltergeist very rarely takes commands from anyone. However, he does listen to the Bloody Baron. What's the story behind this?
Let me summarize some of what we know about Peeves.
We ...
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What was Dolores Umbridge's blood status?
Dolores Umbridge's dislike of Muggles, Muggle-born witches and wizards and half-breeds is quite obvious. In Order of the Phoenix she takes a particular dislike to Hagrid due to his giantess mother ...
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Why Wasn't the Resurrection Stone Destroyed Along With the Ring Horcrux?
Dumbledore destroyed the Horcrux element of Marvolo Gaunt's Peverell ring with the Sword of Gryffindor, splitting the Resurrection Stone portion of the ring in half in the process.
Harry noticed a ...
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Would Muggle chocolate work on the effects of Dementors?
I'm not sure this is ever addressed in the books, but would chocolate made by Muggles work against the effects of Dementors, or would only wizard/witch produced chocolate have an effect? Why or why ...
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Why was Dumbledore's portrait not given a more extant role in the story?
Dumbledore's portrait was in the office, Harry could have interacted with it. McGonagall would have allowed him private conversations with it if necessary. Even if it was just an imprint, it would ...
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Did Dolores Umbridge Get a Headmaster's Portrait?
In Order of the Phoenix, when Umbridge is headmistress of Hogwarts, she is carried off into the Forbidden Forest by the Centaur herd. Later, she's in the hospital wing mute, but reacts with agitation ...
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How to explain multiple copies of Harry and Hermione?
When Harry and Hermione go back 3 hours, Prof Lupin and Prof Snape fail to see the two sets of the H&H characters. How can this be explained?
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Is there any canon proof that Elder Wand actually works as reputed in a duel?
There seems to be a lot of power attributed to the Elder Wand by various sources in Deathly Hallows.
However, looking at it soberly, there doesn't seem to be almost any actual evidence to support ...
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Do the other familiars in HP have special skills?
Owls in Harry Potter carry the mail. Do rats, cats, and toads have any specific function?
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Was Mundungus Fletcher a Full Member of the Order?
The Death Eaters have full members (those with the Dark Mark) and affiliates (Fenrir Greyback, Scabior, etc) -- is it the same for the Order?
I'm wondering if Mundungus "Dung" Fletcher was actually ...
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Are there practiced religions in the wizarding world?
The question of why is there religion in Harry Potter made me wonder as to whether wizards, any of them, do practice religion. Whether there be magic-person only religions or shared muggle faiths, I ...
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What holidays do wizards celebrate?
We've seen two of the holidays that the students of Hogwarts celebrate, as far as I remember; Halloween and Christmas.
Are there any others? Or do they follow whatever muggle traditions are closest ...
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What is the nature of Christmas observance in the Potterverse?
Every winter, Hogwarts students return home and celebrate Christmas with their families. However, given their extensive use of magic, it does not seem likely they'd understand Christianity the way ...
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Is the world doomed?
In answering a question about Dementors having magic, David Stratton referenced a J.K. Rowling quote, included below.
Cornersoul: So what happens to all the dementors where will they go
will ...
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Do Dementors Have Magic?
Are Dementors magical creatures with inherent magical powers?
Or do their powers of despair, depression, cold, and hopelessness come from their eternally soulless existence?
Do we ever see Dementors ...
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Did Harry Owe Draco Malfoy a Life Debt?
I know it's not the same as Harry saving Draco from the Fiendfyre in the Room of Requirement in Deathly Hallows -- Draco's, as JKR puts it¹, ‘Hi. It's so embarrassing, you saved my life. No ...
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Why was Ron Weasley permitted to bring a rat to Hogwarts?
Ron Weasley has his pitiful pet rat Scabbers with him from almost the get-go. This rat is brought with Ron to Hogwarts for multiple years, and presumable Percy would bring Scabbers to Hogwarts when he ...
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What Is a Dragon Heartstring?
Dragon Heartstring is used for wand cores by both Ollivander and Gregorovitch. What part of a dragon's heart do the Heartstrings come from? Do Heartstrings come from an entirely different part of the ...
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Why Was It 'Essential' That Voldemort Kill Harry Potter?
‘So the boy ... the boy must die?’ asked Snape, quite calmly.
‘And Voldemort himself must do it, Severus. That is essential.’
Deathly Hallows - page 551 - UK Hardcover - chapter 33, The ...
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Why Does Ollivander Use Only Three Wand Cores?
As Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will attest, there are plenty of amazing magical creatures and it would seem many of them would be well suited to provide some pretty formidable wand cores. ...
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Did all Headmasters get a portrait in Hogwarts?
Throughout the Harry Potter series, we see that deceased Headmasters of the school get a semi-sentient portrait of themselves in the Headmaster's Office, at the service of the current Headmaster. Do ...
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How did the House Elves become so adept at magic?
How did the House Elves become so skilled at magic? Was there a training program, or....?
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Where do the other platforms lead?
In the Pottermore article on Platform 9 and 3/4 it's mentioned that other fractional platmorms exist (7 1/2 for instance). Is it ever stated elsewhere, where these platforms lead? Perhaps you could ...
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Why was Quirrell appointed DADA Professor?
Quirrell was a nervous and "fragile" student (reference).
This seems to be someone qualified to may be study Charms, but had I been in a position of authority, he shouldn't have been allowed anywhere ...
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When was the first unabiguous proof that Ron realized he was attracted to Hermione?
At which point in Harry Potter books was it clear with no ambiguity that Ron himself (as opposed to Harry, Hermione, or Rowling) is aware that he is romantically attracted to Hermione? I would prefer ...
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Is the Hogwarts Express visible to muggles when it travels across Britain?
Can non-magical persons see the Hogwarts Express during its journey to and from Hogwarts?
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Is the Hogwarts Express a muggle train with enchantments, or an enchantment that simulates the functions of a train?
Is there a canon answer that explains how the Hogwarts Express was put into service?
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What Is the Difference Between Wizard and Warlock in Potterverse?
One of Dumbledore's titles is "Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot".
What is the difference between a Wizard and a Warlock in Potterverse? As we don't see the term Warlock used often in the books, my ...
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Barring legal issues, why aren't portkeys used more often?
Of all the modes of transportation in the Harry Potter universe, portkeys often seem to be the best option. They're as fast as apparition without the age restrictions or danger of splinching or ...
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How did a muggleborn get to Hogwarts before the Hogwarts Express?
We've more or less asserted why the Hogwart's express exists, but at some point in Hogwarts history it didn't. No problem I though, everyone just apparated with their children to Hogsmeade, no problem ...
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Where did the other students escape to?
During the Battle of Hogwarts, the students were given the choice to leave or stay and fight. I remember reading somewhere that most of Hufflepuff stayed and fought, more so than any other house. This ...
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How far can you persuade the sorting hat?
Several times we are led to believe the sortee has some control over the house they are sorted into, in the Harry Potter series. Most famously, Harry Potter turns down his chance at being in ...
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How was Moody captured?
I had always assumed that it was a struggle to capture Mad-Eye Moody, one of the most powerful and paranoid ex-Aurors in the history of the Ministry.
Following on from this answer it seems like ...
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Were all the Hogwarts Professors former Hogwarts students?
According to the Harry Potter book series, was being a former Hogwarts student a prerequisite for a Witch or a Wizard to become a Professor at Hogwarts?
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Was the PM of England the only muggle, in authority, to know about Wizards in Harry Potter?
I know in Harry Potter they said that the PM was notified of Sirius Black's escape. Was he the only muggle, in authority, to know about the wizarding world? What about the USA President or World ...
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Which House Was Gilderoy Lockhart In?
. . . And don't automatically say Slytherin just because he was a huge ponce. ;)
Seriously, though, using canon as a guide, what house would Gilderoy Lockhart have been Sorted into? He certainly had ...
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Why would Voldemort spare Lilly?
In one of Harry's dementor induced flashbacks, he presumably hears his mother protest against Voldemort:
Harry was falling again through thick white fog, and his mother’s voice was louder than ...
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How could the Marauder's Map plot Hogwarts?
According to the Marauder's map entry on Harry Potter Wikia,
The Marauder's Map is a magical document that reveals all of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not only does it show every ...
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Why did Harry hear his parents when influenced by the Dementors?
In the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter falls under the draining effects of the Dementors (or Boggarts pretending to be Dementors) more than once. Each of these times Harry hears voices: his mother's ...
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How Did Dumbledore Know to Summon Winky Before He Knew Barty Crouch Jr's Identity?
In Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Jr, impersonating Mad-Eye Moody, strong-arms Harry from the Triwizard maze against Dumbledore's orders that Harry remain near Dumbledore until he was able to fully ...
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Why could Dolores Umbridge conjure a Patronus?
There have been quite a few questions recently regarding Patronuses, and who could summon one, and why. The general consensus seems to be that Death Eaters could not summon Patronuses, since they are ...
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Was Voldemort able to make a Patronus?
Inspired by this question I wonder if Voldemort could make a Patronus. It seems a basic spell of protection which he would have needed to have at some point with all of the dark things he sought out ...
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Did Voldemort know Snape could generate a Patronus?
Can somebody provide a canon answer regarding if/when Voldemort knew Snape had the ability to create a Patronus? Seems like "he who must not be named" would stop trusting anybody that could make one ...
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If it wasn't for his love for Lily, would Snape have a Patronus?
If Snape didn't fall in love with Lily, or "got over" it, would he still be able to summon a Patronus or would he then become a run of the mill Death Eater?
According to J. K. Rowling, Snape is the ...
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What Do the Gringotts Goblins Do With Muggle Money?
‘But you’re Muggles!’ said Mr Weasley delightedly. ‘We must have a drink! What’s that you’ve got there? Oh, you’re changing Muggle money. Molly, look!’ He pointed excitedly at the tenpound notes in ...
