With seven books and eight movies in the original series alone, there's quite a lot to keep track of in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe. And given how often characters seem to switch from good to evil—we're looking at you, Snape—we wouldn't blame you for getting confused from time to time. However, if you want to hang with the true Potterheads, then you need to be able to differentiate your muggles from your mudbloods. To help you brush up on your Harry Potter trivia, we've compiled some particularly tricky questions about the Wizarding World. Turn to page 394, and let's get started!
What is the name of Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch's pet cat?
Warner Bros. PicturesArgus Filch and his cat have a bond stronger than blood (or magic).
Answer: Mrs. Norris
Warner Bros. PicturesIn Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Mrs. Norris was the first living creature to be petrified by the basilisk.
In which book do Harry and Ginny share their first kiss?
Warner Bros. PicturesSurprisingly, the Harry/Ginny romance didn't come until later.
Answer: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Warner Bros. PicturesThe two friends kiss while hiding the seemingly cursed Potions textbook in the Room of Requirement.
What does the acronym S.P.E.W. stand for?
Warner Bros. PicturesHint: It's an organization.
Answer: Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare
Warner Bros. PicturesS.P.E.W. was created by Hermione Granger in response to how she saw house-elves being treated at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. Though it wasn't featured in the Harry Potter films, the creation of the club was one of the more endearing parts of Hermione's personality.
What happened to Voldemort's parents?
Warner Bros. PicturesThe antagonist's backstory is extremely tragic.
Answer: His mom died during childbirth and he killed his father.
Warner Bros. PicturesVoldemort's mother died shortly after giving birth. Years later, Tom Riddle—Voldemort's name at the time—killed his father (and paternal grandparents) during the summer between his sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts. He framed his uncle, Morfin Gaunt, for the crimes by altering his memory so he believed he actually committed them.
What is Hermione's patronus?
Warner Bros. PicturesIt is revealed in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Answer: An otter
Warner Bros. PicturesIn 2015, Rowling revealed on Twitter that the otter was "her favourite animal."
What does Romilda Vane ask Ginny about in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
Warner Bros. PicturesIt becomes a bit of a running joke in the book.
Answer: Whether or not Harry actually has a tattoo of a Hippogriff
Warner Bros. Pictures"You'd think people had better things to gossip about. ... Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vanes does is ask me if it's true you've got a Hippogriff tattooed across your chest," Ginny tells Harry in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
What does O.W.L. stand for?
Warner Bros. PicturesNo, not the bird.
Answer: Ordinary Wizarding Level
Warner Bros. PicturesHogwarts students take their O.W.L. exams at the end of their fifth year.
What does Dumbledore tell Harry he sees in the Mirror of Erised?
Warner Bros. PicturesIt's definitely not what you'd expect.
Answer: Socks
Warner Bros. Pictures"One can never have enough socks," Dumbledore says to Harry in the first book. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."
Of course, Dumbledore saw more than just socks. In a fan Q&A in 2007, Rowling explained that his true deepest desire was to see "his family alive, whole, and happy." The assumption is that he told Harry about the socks—which he wished to receive as gifts from his family—to shield him from the knowledge that he too missed his family.
How many Weasley siblings are there?
Warner Bros. PicturesHint: Arthur and Molly Weasley only have one daughter.
Answer: Seven
Warner Bros. PicturesThey are Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny.
What do Hermione's muggle parents do for a living?
Warner Bros. PicturesIt's a rather ordinary job in comparison to everyone else's in the series.
Answer: They are dentists.
Warner Bros. Pictures"They tend to people's teeth," Hermione explains to a bunch of confused wizards who don't understand the term "dentist" in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
In Quidditch, how many points is the Golden Snitch worth?
Warner Bros. PicturesIt's the "most important ball of the lot."
Answer: 150 points
Warner Bros. PicturesWhen the Golden Snitch is caught, the game automatically ends!
What are Dumbledore's siblings' names?
Warner Bros. PicturesHint: He has a brother and a sister.
Answer: Aberforth and Ariana
Warner Bros. PicturesDumbledore's younger brother Aberforth helped Harry and his friends search for Horcruxes.
Who was believed to originally possess the Deathly Hallows?
Warner Bros. PicturesIt's not one person, but three.
Answer: The Peverell brothers
Warner Bros. PicturesAntioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus Peverell are believed to be the inspiration for The Tale of the Three Brothers, which tells the story of the Deathly Hallows.
Which character served as the Quidditch commentator?
Warner Bros. PicturesHe always made the games more interesting!
Answer: Lee Jordan
Warner Bros. PicturesProfessor McGonagall would often yell at Jordan—who was best friends with Fred and George Weasley—for making silly comments.
