30 Harry Potter-related Facts That Even Major Fans May or May Not Have Known

There are tons of fans of Harry Potter all over the world. It's hard not to get interested in the world of witchcraft and wizardry when reading the books or watching the films. According to Reader's Digest, here are 30 facts that fans of the books and novels may or may not know

1. Sirius Black shows up in the first chapter of the book

-In the first installment of the book, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (Philosopher's Stone in other countries, such as England), Sirius Black shows up in the first chapter. He is referenced by Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper and keeper of keys at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He mentions Sirius lending him the motorcycle that was able to get little orphan Harry to his only living relatives after Dumbledore asks him where he had gotten the motorcycle

2. Two father figures to Harry represent opposites

-According to J.K. Rowling, "I named them for the alchemical colors to convey their opposing but complementary natures. Red meaning passion (or emotion), white for asceticism; Hagrid being the earthy, warm and physical man, lord of the forest; Dumbledore the spiritual theoretician, brilliant, idealized and somewhat detached. Each is a necessary counterpoint to the other as Harry seeks father figures in his new world."

-Rubeus (red) and Dumbledore (white) represent the father figures in Harry's world, and from the world of alchemy, red and white are complementary colors but are also opposites

3. The first words Professor Snape utters to Harry reference his mother Lily

-Despite these being books for children, there are a lot of advanced topics both used and referenced in the series. For example, floriography, the language of using flowers to convey messages. It was popular in the Victorian era. In Harry's first Potions class, Professor Snape asks Harry "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Most would think that Snape was trying to embarrass Harry with a potion he has not learned yet. In real life, there is a flower called asphodel. It's a type of lily, whose message says "my regrets follow you to the grave." Snape was once in love with Lily, and by mentioning asphodel, he is telling Harry that he does regret her death. Snape then mentions that adding these two chemicals together would make a sleeping potion so powerful that it is known as the Draught of Living Death

4. The ingredients in Snape's three Potions questions are real

-When Snape goes on to ask Harry his next questions "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" or "Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" These questions sound like complete nonsense to Harry, since he is inexperienced with potion making, these ingredients are not made up at all. They are real ingredients used in potion making. Monkshood and Wolfsbane, according to Snape, are said to be the same plant

-Wolfsbane and monkshood are indeed the same plant. This highly poisonous plant goes by multiple names, including its botanical name Aconite, Devil's helmet, monkshood, wolfsbane, mourning widow, Queen of Poisons, blue rocket, Woman's bane, Leopard's bane. This plant is highly poisonous and can result in gruesome effects, including extreme convulsions, paralysis and death. It earns its nickname monkshood from the fact that the petals of the flower curl in, so as to resemble the cowl or hood of a monk. As for the bezoar, Snape replies that "it is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat." The stones are formed from material in the goat's stomach that form a mass. Snape mentions that a bezoar would save people from most poisons. Ironically, this reference is put to use in the sixth book, Harry Potter and

Wolfsbane. Many names, many symptoms. One deadly result

Bezoar

5. Names reveal the true natures of the characters

-Draco Malfoy and the Dark Lord, Voldemort, take their names from words in the French language. Mal foi means "bad faith" while vol de mort means "flight of death."

6. Names also provide clues to vital plot points

-Names can tell a lot about the characters and important plot points. In the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hogwarts gets a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher named Remus Lupin. The name Remus references the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus, two brothers who were reared by wolves. Lupin was inspired by the Latin word lupinus, translating into "wolfish."

-Ironically, Wolfsbane, the ingredient Snape mentioned in his Potions class, was once used to kill wolves. In the world of Harry Potter, Snape uses this highly poisonous plant to make a potion to ease Lupin's symptoms

7. Lupin's werewolf condition is a metaphor for HIV

-J.K. Rowling states "Remus Lupin's affliction was a conscious reference to blood-borne diseases such as the HIV infection, with the attendant stigma. The potion Snape brews him is akin to the antiretroviral that will keep him from developing the 'full blown' version of his illness." Unfortunately, due to his condition being made public, he has to leave Hogwarts. "The sense of 'apartness' that the management of a chronic condition can impose on its sufferers was an important part of Lupin's character." He often appeared tired and unwell, two symptoms of HIV

8. Mirrors are windows to the soul

-It's been said that mirrors reflect what is in one's soul or heart. That is why mirrors figure prominently in the books. In the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Philosopher's Stone), Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised (Desire spelled backwards). This mirror is said to show what is in the viewer's heart, their deepest desires. And when Harry looks at it, he sees his parents. In the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he comes across a Foe-Glass, which reveals enemies near and far. This mirror is in the office of Professor Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody, the school's new professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Sirius gives Harry a two way mirror so they can communicate. It later gets shattered, but Harry sees an eye staring back at him. Harry discovers it belongs to Albus Dumbledore's brother Aberforth, who later helps him to safety using the mirror

9. Bathrooms seem to be required rooms in the books

-It's strange, but it's true (sorry to reference a line from the classic Queen song "I Want to Break Free"). Nearly every book has a scene being fought in the loo (British term for bathroom). Book 1 has a fight with a troll in the girls' bathroom. Book 2 has the Harry, Ron and Hermione brewing Polyjuice Potion in a disused, haunted girls' bathroom. Book 4 has Harry solving a clue for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament using a large bathtub. Book 6 features Harry using a spell from his Potion book on Draco Malfoy. Book 4 also mentions Dumbledore stating that there is a room in the castle that presents itself if one needs it. He mentions needing a chamber pot and it turns into a bathroom. A room he calls the Room of Requirement. The reason there could be an obsession with bathrooms is that prior to the 18th century, witches and wizards seemingly relieved themselves wherever they stood. There were no bathroom facilities

10. Riddle's diary almost never made it to school

-This diary, which belonged to Tom Riddle, who eventually became Lord Voldemort, was slipped into Ginny Weasley's cauldron in Diagon Alley, almost never made it to Hogwarts. The reason being that the Weasley family almost always forgot one thing or another. First George forgets his box of fireworks. Then Fred forgets his broom. Ginny forgets her diary. The diary would never have made it to school

11. Random, seemingly unimportant items end up becoming important

-Sometimes the most random things can prove to be the most important. In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry, Ron and Hermione are cleaning out the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, a place called Grimmauld Place. They come across a locket that was unable to be opened. It later turns out to be a Horcrux, an item in which someone had inserted part of their soul and protected it with Dark magic. According to the book "There was a musical box also a heavy locket that none of them could open, a number of ancient seals and, in a dusty box, an Order of Merlin, First Class."

-In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry's copy of Advanced Potion Making, turns out to be Professor Snape's old schoolbook, with notes and hints he's written to make things easier. And thus Harry starts to follow these tips instead of the book everyone else follows. He hides this book in the Room of Requirement. While the tiara belonging to the founder of Ravenclaw House, Rowena Ravenclaw, is used to mark the spot where it's hidden. "He perched a dusty old wig and a tarnished tiara on the statue's head to make it more distinctive." Throughout the books, vanishing cabinets are mentioned quite frequently. These items are used to secretly travel from one place to another. In The Chamber of Secrets, Harry mispronounces his destination while using Floo powder and ends up in a dark magic shop called Borgin & Burkes. He hides in what turns out later to be a vanishing cabinet. Later on, Peeves the Poltergeist drops one to distract the Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch. In The Order of the Phoenix, Fred and George Weasley force a member of the Slytherin House named Montague into a vanishing cabinet. This ends up backfiring because Montague tells Malfoy about it, giving him the idea to use it to sneak Lord Voldemort's supporters in to Hogwarts

12. Seven is the most powerful number

-Those who study numerology know that the number seven holds a lot of power. This number pops up throughout the series. The Weasley family has seven children. The Quidditch team has seven players. The term at Hogwarts is seven years. Lord Voldemort splitting his soul into seven pieces and putting them into random items that have meaning to him. Thus creating seven Horcruxes. Three also holds a strong power in the series. Three Deathly Hallows. The three-headed dog named Fluffy. Three schools in the Triwizard Tournament. The trio of Ron, Hermione and Harry

13. Number 13 is unlucky

-This number is considered highly unlucky in the world of numerology. In each of the books, the 13th chapter introduces an evil character or item that contains Lord Voldemort's soul. For example, the diary of Tom Riddle is introduced in Chamber of Secrets. Professor Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody performing magic on a student in the Goblet of Fire. Harry's first detention with Professor Umbridge in The Order of the Phoenix. The unusual Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, references the dark power of the number 13 by refusing to attend a Christmas dinner in The Prisoner of Azkaban. She says "If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!" Her prediction does come true. When Dumbledore rose when Trelawney appears, he dies later on. In the fifth book, Sirius rises from the dining table first and dies later on. In The Deathly Hallows, Lupin rises first to mourn the death of Mad Eye Moody

14. Trelawney's predictions eventually come true

-The unusual Divination professor was known for rambling what sounds like nonsense. When she states she thinks Harry was born in mid-winter, she was wrong. He was born in July. It turns out that it was Lord Voldemort who was born in mid-winter. New Year's Eve specifically. And, as readers later come to find out, the night Harry's parents were killed, part of Lord Voldemort's soul resides within Harry, which explains why Harry can speak to snakes and why anytime Lord Voldemort is near, Harry gets physically affected.

-She predicted Dumbledore's death in the sixth book. "Again and again, no matter how I lay them out, the lightning-struck tower. Calamity. Disaster. Coming nearer all the time." is Trelawney's prediction about the death of Dumbledore. Ironically, he dies that same night, in a chapter called The Lightning-Struck Tower

15. Predictions from Harry and Ron come true too

-In Divination, Harry and Ron make up predictions just to pass their assignments. Unknown to both of them, they actually come true. Harry says "OK...on Monday, I will be in danger of burns." Ron's prediction for Tuesday includes "Why don't you get stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend?"

-They both come true. Unfortunately, it's Harry who suffers from these. He risks burns from a dragon during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. And Ron refuses to speak to him out of jealousy

16. Ron jokes about Tom Riddle and it's accurate

-In The Chamber of Secrets, the diary of Tom Riddle is introduced. During a detention, Ron is assigned the task of cleaning trophies and medals in the Trophy Room. He kept burping up slugs as a result of a backfired spell on a medal for a Tom Riddle, for Special Services to the School. Harry, Ron and Hermione wonder what he did to earn it. Ron remarks "Maybe he got thirty O.W.L.s or saved a teacher from the giant squid. Maybe he murdered Myrtle; that would've done everyone a favor."

-It turns out that Riddle did actually kill Myrtle. He killed her when he opened the Chamber of Secrets and unleashed the Basilisk, who stared at Myrtle and killed her with its deadly gaze

17. Pranks from Fred and George come in handy

-These two were always guaranteed to provide a sarcastic comment or a hilarious prank. Their pranks first start in The Sorcerer's Stone. When they bewitch snowballs to consistently hit Professor Quirrell in the back. Each book involves them and their sarcastic wit and pranks

18. Harry Potter bears a strikingly close resemblance to another person who was a "chosen one"

-The story of Harry pulling the sword of Godric Gryffindor, the founder of Gryffindor House, from the Sorting Hat bears a close resemblance to another "chosen one" of history. That story is of King Arthur. Of him pulling the sword Excalibur from a stone. They both bear similarities. Arthur was an orphan who came from a modest background, who was chosen to possess a sword with massive power and become a leader. Harry is the same way. For Arthur, Merlin, a powerful wizard, would be his mentor. As Dumbledore could be Harry's Merlin

-According to J.K. Rowling "Gryffindor's sword owes something to the legend of Excalibur, which in some legends must be drawn from a stone by the rightful king. The idea of fitness to carry the sword is echoed in the sword of Gryffindor's return to worthy members of its true owner's house." There's another reference to the legend of Arthur and Excalibur in The Deathly Hallows. "There is a further allusion to Excalibur emerging from the lake when Harry must dive into a frozen forest pool to retrieve the sword in Deathly Hallows. In other versions of the legend, Excalibur was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake and was returned to the lake when he died."

19. Dumbledore's password to his office will often be his favorite treat

-The way to access Dumbledore's office was to use a password. It would always be his favorite sweet. In the first book, Dumbledore offers Professor McGonagall a sherbet lemon. He explains that it is a Muggle treat he's rather fond of. That turns out to be the password for his office. When the books were released in America, the word was changed to lemon drop, for fear no one would know what a sherbet lemon is. While in the film, McGonagall says "sherbet lemon" as the password.

-In The Goblet of Fire, Harry needs to speak with Professor Dumbledore. He starts guessing passwords until he gets to Cockroach Cluster. The statue moves and Harry said "I was only joking" as he moves past the statue in amazement

20. Chocolate Frog cards can be spies

-In the Harry Potter world, Chocolate Frogs come with wizard and witch cards. The people within will disappear from time to time. In The Order of the Phoenix, Ron's brother Bill states "Dumbledore says he doesn't care what they [Ministry of Magic] do as long as they don't take him off the Chocolate Frog cards." A fan theory suggests the reason why the witches and wizards disappear is because they are spies. Just like the Chocolate Frog cards, portraits in Hogwarts are living and breathing, their inhabitants disappearing from time to time

21. Aberforth Dumbledore appears before the Deathly Hallows

-The owner of the Hog's Head becomes a powerful member to the resistance movement against Lord Voldemort. The owner turns out to be the brother of Dumbledore, Aberforth. He was first mentioned in The Goblet of Fire, when Dumbledore tries to cheer up Hagrid, who was outed as a giant. "My own brother Aberforth was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms on a goat." Later it's revealed that Aberforth's Patronus charm (to repel Dementors), takes the form of a goat. He shows up in most of the books

22. Dementors are a metaphor for depression

-These black-cloaked figures first appear in the third book, The Prisoner of Azkaban. All throughout the series, they are known as the guards for the prison Azkban, where witches and wizards convicted of crimes are sentenced. These creatures suck the joy and happiness out of anyone. They are said to be a sort of physical manifestation of what one who is suffering from depression is going through. When these creatures are near, someone relives the worst moments of their lives. When they near Harry, he can hear his mother's screams before her death

23. The Marauder's Map contains plot hints

-"I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" These words magically activate the Marauder's Map, a magical map that shows the entire school of Hogwarts and any inhabitant within those confines. The creators of the map are Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. This is a reference to Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and James Potter. Ironically, they died in reverse order. James died prior to The Sorcerer's Stone. Sirius in The Order of the Phoenix. Peter and Remus both in The Deathly Hallows. This map shows up in the third book, also The Prisoner of Azkaban. In the third book, students of Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, the local village, with permission from a guardian. Since Harry did not have his permission slip signed, he is resigned to stay at school. Pranksters George and Fred Weasley have come up with a way for him to get out. It's called the Marauder's Map. It shows, in addition to all inhabitants of Hogwarts, secret exits and entrances to the school

24. The Black family has a theme revolving around the celestial

-Many members of Sirius Black's family are named after constellations. Sirius himself is named after "The Dog Star". It serves as the main part of the constellation known as Canis Major "great dog". Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius' cousin who became an evil witch, takes her name from a star in the Orion constellation, meaning "female warrior." Her sister and mother of Tonks, Andromeda, takes her name from the constellation of the same name, meaning "chained maiden", while Sirius' brother Regulus takes his name from the constellation of the same name, meaning "little king." Their uncle Alphard takes his name from a star in the Hydra constellation meaning "solitary one."

25. The Hogwarts House colors represent the four elements

-Students, upon entering Hogwarts, are sorted into their Houses, which become their family while at school. There are four houses, each with their own colors, resident ghost and mascot. Gryffindor is red and gold with a griffin. Ravenclaw is dark blue and bronze with a raven. Slytherin is emerald green and silver with a snake. Hufflepuff is black and yellow with a badger. If you're interested in the ideas behind the zodiac, you'll realize these house colors have deeper meaning than you thought

-On the Wizarding World site, J.K. Rowling wrote "The four Hogwarts houses have a loose association with the four zodiac elements, and their colors were chosen accordingly. Gryffindor (red and gold) is connected to fire; Slytherin (green and silver) to water; Hufflepuff (yellow and black, representing wheat and soil) to earth; and Ravenclaw (blue and bronze; sky and eagle feathers) to air

26. Wizards may drink coffee

-On the Black family tree, you might see a logo that looks a lot like the logo for Starbucks coffee. Both the logo and the tapestry reference the same items: a siren, a mermaid-like creature from Greek folklore who had a crown and two tails. They were known for luring sailors to their death with their beautiful songs

27. Nicholas Flamel was a real person

-This person is first mentioned in the first book, The Sorcerer's Stone. He is referenced as working with Professor Albus Dumbledore to create The Sorcerer's Stone. In real life, Nicholas Flamel was a medieval scholar, philanthropist and alchemist who died in 1418. As a cool side note, alchemy is a real thing. It involves taking multiple items, combining them to make new items. It's the medieval grandfather to what we know of as chemistry today. Its practitioners were concerned and fascinated with the idea of experimenting with different elements and items to create new substances. They also were fascinated with the spiritual and mystical side to this process. They were called philosophers which is why the British title of the book was The Philosopher's Stone

28. Mandrakes are a real plant

-These plants make their debut in The Chamber of Secrets. They are the first plant Professor Sprout has the students working with. They'll be repotting these rather unattractive plants. Professor Sprout warns them that they must wear ear muffs to block their cries otherwise the students will be knocked out for several hours. While Hermione states that fully grown Mandrakes can kill with their cries. What some may not know is that mandrakes are an actual plant and the body of the plant does look like a human body

-This plant is native to the Mediterranean region of the world and the Middle East. They go by many names, including Satan's Apple, Circe's plant, manroot. Firstly, they were used for medicinal purposes. But, unfortunately, mandrakes in real life are highly poisonous plants that can result in gruesome results, such as delirium, hallucinations, seizures and death. They contain highly deadly chemicals such as scopolamine, atropine, mandragorin and hyoscyamine. These gruesome effects are the result of ingesting the plant. Luckily, the toxins in this plant can used safely in the world of medicine. Scopolamine is often used to prevent nausea and vomiting and can be found in many motion sickness medications. It's even used in anesthesia. Atropine can be used medicinally for dilating the eyes for eye exams and eye procedures and treating a condition called amblyopia, more commonly known as lazy eye, in children. Also, it can be used to treat bradycardia, or slow heart rate and reducing saliva prior to surgery

29. Dumbledore looks seemingly triumphant when Voldemort returns to power

-A lot of readers are left wondering why Dumbledore would be happy seeing the Dark Lord rise once more. In The Deathly Hallows, when Harry is between life and death, he talks with Dumbledore. He asks him about how he can be alive when the Killing Curse was used on him this time. Dumbledore replies "He took your blood and rebuilt his living body with it! Your blood is in his veins, Harry, Lily's protection inside both of you! He tethered you to life while he lives!" This certainly explains the look of triumphant joy on Dumbledore's face in The Goblet of Fire, when Harry thought he saw a glimmer of triumph in Dumbledore's eyes when he was in Moody's office

30. Platform 9 3/4 may hide a secret meaning

-In the Wizarding world, students and families access the Hogwarts Express through Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station in London. This is a very real place and as such, there is a marker there stating Platform 9 3/4. People from all over the world go in their Hogwarts uniforms to get pictures by this marker. From The Deathly Hallows, readers learn that on October 31, 1981, Harry's parents were killed by Lord Voldemort and Harry got his scar. In The Chamber of Secrets book, Sir Nicholas, known also as Nearly Headless Nick, celebrated his 500th death day. His cake, which looked like a tombstone, stated his death occurred on October 31, 1492. October 31 is Halloween, a rather spooky day. If the math is done right, here's how everything adds up. The first book takes place in 1991 when Harry is 11 while the second book takes place in 1992, when Harry is 12. In the first book, Harry goes to Gringotts on July 31 to get money out and reads about a break-in later on in The Daily Prophet. He exclaims "That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday!" That means that in terms of time, there were exactly 9 and three quarter years between the attack on Harry's parents and Harry finding out he was a wizard when he was 11