The Lesser-known Facts About Harry Potter Series that You Need to Know

Have you watched the Harry Potter Series? If yes, are you a fan of it? The Harry Potter series is one of the best-selling book and film series globally. The franchise has eight films, a video game, and a theme park attraction.

The story follows young wizard Harry Potter as he navigates his way through life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, battles the evil Lord Voldemort, and tries to uncover the truth about his family.

However, even after reading all seven books and watching all eight movies multiple times, there are still some lesser-known facts about the Harry Potter series that you need to know. Here is the list.

Rowling and Harry Potter Share a Birthday

Author J.K. Rowling and her most famous creation, Harry Potter, share a birthday. Both were born on July 31, 1965.

Rowling Gave the Names of Her Characters that Match their Roles

Rowling is a very clever author and gave her characters’ names that matched their roles in the story. When you watch all the Harry Potter movies, you’ll find that this is very true. For example, Hermione’s name comes from the mythological Greek heroine Hesione, who Hercules rescued. Dumbledore is an Old English word meaning “bumblebee,” and Sirius Black is named after the star Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.

The Dursleys Were Based on Rowling’s Own Family

Rowling’s family was the inspiration for the Dursleys, Harry Potter’s terrible relatives. In an interview with The Guardian, Rowling said, “The Dursleys are based on my own family who are not at all like the Dursleys in the books. They are not horrible to me, but they are not a loving family. They are quite strict and critical.”

Harry Potter Was Named After His Great-Grandfather

Harry’s great-grandfather was also named Harry Potter. His son, Harry James Potter, was the father of the original Harry Potter.

The Deathly Hallows are Based on Egyptian Mythology

The Deathly Hallows, three magical objects that make the owner the “Master of Death,” are based on Egyptian mythology. The three objects are the Cloak of Invisibility, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand.

The Magical Plants are From a Real-Life Compendium of Flora

The plants used in Harry Potter’s magical potions are taken from a real-life compendium of flora. The book, called “Herbology: A Compendium of Magical Plants,” was written by Rowling herself.

Dobby the Elf Was Originally Named “Winky”

Dobby the elf was initially named “Winky.” However, Rowling later changed his name to Dobby because she thought it sounded better.

Only One Character is From Muggle history

Only one character in the Harry Potter series, Nicolas Flamel, is from Muggle history. Flamel was a real person who was a French Businessman and Alchemist.

Edinburgh in Scotland Provided a Ton of Inspiration For the Series

The city of Edinburgh in Scotland was a primary source of inspiration for the Harry Potter series. Rowling spent a lot of time in the city while writing the books, and many of the locations that appear in the series are based on real places in Edinburgh.

Hogwarts’ Official Motto is in Latin

Hogwarts’ official motto is “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus,” Latin for “Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.” This motto references the fact that Hogwarts is a school for witches and wizards, which are considered to be like mythical creatures to Muggles.

The Nazis inspired the Death Eaters

The Death Eaters, Voldemort’s evil followers, was inspired by the Nazis. In an interview with MTV, Rowling said that she was inspired to create the Death Eaters after reading about the Nazis in a history book.

Harry Potter Movies Featured an Animal Production Team

The Harry Potter movies featured an animal production team. This team was responsible for training all animals in the films, including Buckbeak, the hippogriff, Hedwig, the owl, and Aragog the spider.

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J.K. Rowling is the Most Translated Author in the World

J.K. Rowling is the most translated author in the world. Her books have been translated into 79 different languages. These languages include Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Japanese.

The Weasley Twins Are Named After a Shakespeare Play

The Weasley twins, Fred and George, are named after a Shakespeare play. The play is called “The Comedy of Errors,” It centers around two sets of twins who are mistaken for each other.

Harry Potter was Almost Named ‘Larry’

Harry Potter was almost named “Larry.” Rowling came up with this name for Harry but decided against it because she thought it sounded too common. Harry Potter is a very uncommon name.

The Leaky Cauldron is Named After a Real-Life Pub

The Leaky Cauldron, the pub that Harry and his friends visit in Diagon Alley, is named after a real-life pub. The pub is called “The Leaky Cauldron,” located in London, England.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of interesting facts about the Harry Potter series that many people don’t know. So, if you’re a fan of the series, make sure to check out some of these lesser-known facts. With the facts, you can watch the series again with a new appreciation for all of Rowling’s details. And, if you’re not a fan of the series yet, then these facts may just be enough to convince you to give it a try.