3 D's: The most
important points to remember when apparating: Destination, Determination, and
Deliberation.
#12 Grimmauld Place: The former home of Sirius Black
bequeathed to Harry. It was used as a meeting place for the Order of the
Phoenix.
Advanced Potion-Making: A textbook writing by Libatius
Borage that is used for 6th year Potions classes at Hogwarts. Harry's
second-hand copy borrowed from the school once belonged to the Half-Blood
Prince, who had scribbled notes all over the book's pages.
Amortentia: The most powerful love potion in the world,
recognizable by its mother-of-pearl sheen.
Bezoar: A stone taken
from the stomach of a goat that will protect those who consume it from most
poisons.
Borgin & Burkes: A store in Knockturn Alley that
sells sinister objects.
Drought of Living Death Potion: The potion
Harry successfully mixes with the help of the Half-Blood Prince to win a bottle
of Felix Felicis. One of its ingredients is a sopophorous bean that should be
crushed with the flat side of a silver dagger --- according to the Half-Blood
Prince --- stirred into the liquid with one clockwise stir after every seven
counterclockwise strokes. The liquid will change color based on stages, from
black-currant, to clear, to lilac.
Felix Felicis: A liquid luck
potion Harry won in Potions class. Two tablespoons must be taken with breakfast,
and for twelve hours, the person who consumes the potion will succeed in all
his/her endeavors. However, an excess of Felix Felicis will lead to giddiness,
recklessness, and overconfidence. It is a banned substance in organized
competitions like sporting events, examinations, and elections.
Hand
of Glory: A shriveled arm that provides light only to the person holding
it.
Horcrux: Something said to be "the wickedest of all magical
inventions"... Very little is known about them, and a young Voldemort tricks
Professor Slughorn into giving him information on how to create and use
them.
Inferi: Dead bodies that have been bewitched and reanimated
to do a dark wizard's bidding, acting as puppets of sorts. In THE HALF-BLOOD
PRINCE, Voldemort uses them to guard his Horcruxes.
Legilimency:
The act of mind-reading
Levicorpus!: A nonverbal spell invented by
the Half-Blood Prince, handwritten in Harry's Potions textbook; the person on
whom the spell is cast will be hung upside down by the
ankle.
Liberacorpus! will undo this
spell.
Muffliato!: A spell invented by the Half-Blood Prince,
handwritten in Harry's Potions textbook; it fills the ears of anyone nearby with
an unidentifiable buzzing, so that conversations can be held without being
overheard.
Occlumency: The act of mind-blocking, or making one's
mind a clean slate to prevent Legilimency.
Office for the Detection
and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects: A
new office set up by the Ministry of Magic in response to the large number of
faulty charms and spells to protect wizards and witches from Lord Voldemort and
his Death Eaters. This department is headed by Arthur
Weasley.
Sectumsempra!: Another new spell created by the
Half-Blood Prince; it is very dangerous and should be used only on
enemies.
Splinching: A separation of random body parts while
apparating.
The Unbreakable Vow: A spell that binds a wizard/witch
to a promise; when it is made, flames from each person's wand link together like
clasped hands, and a third flame from a Bonder twists around them to bind them
together.
Weasley's Wizard Wheezes: A joke shop in Diagon Alley
owned by Fred and George Weasley; some of the many objects the store carries are
Patented Daydream Charms, Spell-Checking quills, and love potions that seem to
be quite a hit among the female students at
Hogwarts...
Wrackspurts: Invisible spirits that float into a
person's ears and makes his/her brain fuzzy.
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HARRY
POTTER Books 1 through 5
Animagus: A witch or
wizard that can change into animal form.
Apparate/Disapparate: The
ability of a witch or wizard to vanish from one place and appear in another
almost instantly.
Aragog: Leader of the spiders who live in the
Forbidden Forest.
Auror: Dark wizard
catcher.
Azkaban: The wizard prison.
Basilisk: King
of Serpents, snake monster in the Chamber of Secrets. Can kill with its
stare.
Beater: Position on Quidditch team. Beaters keep Bludgers
away from their team.
Beauxbatons Academy of Magic: Another
witchcraft and wizardry school. Competes with Hogwarts and Durmstrang in the
Triwizard Tournament in GOBLET OF FIRE.
Bertie Bott's Every Flavor
Beans: Magical jellybeans that come in literally EVERY flavor, including
spinach and liver.
Blast-Ended Skrewts: Mean-spirited, crab-like
creatures bred by Hagrid, which Harry and his classmates must care for in GOBLET
OF FIRE.
Bludger: A Quidditch ball that flies around the field
trying to knock players off their brooms.
Boggart: A
shape-shifting monster; takes the form of whatever it thinks will frighten those
near it.
Bubotubers: Magical plants that look like slugs. Their
pus has healing qualities, but can also cause painful blisters when it comes
directly in contact with skin.
Canary Cream: Creamy snack that
turns those who eat it into canaries. Invention of Fred and George
Weasley.
Chamber of Secrets: Hidden chamber within Hogwarts, built
over a thousand years ago by Salazar Slytherin, one of the school's four
founders. According to legend, only Slytherin's true heir can ever open the
Chamber, unleashing a horrible monster that supposedly lives inside
it.
Chaser: Quidditch position. Chasers try to score with the
Quaffle.
Chocolate Frogs: A popular candy among
wizards.
Chudley Cannons: Ron's favorite Quidditch
team.
Cruciatus Curse: One of three illegal Unforgivable Curses.
Causes intense pain. It's used to torture someone. "Crucio!"
The Daily
Prophet: The wizards' newspaper.
Dark Mark: Skull and serpent
symbol that is the sign of Voldemort. It appears in the night sky during the
Quidditch World Cup. It's said that the Death Eaters, Voldemort's followers,
display the sign whenever they have killed.
Death Eaters: Name of
the group of Dark wizards who are Voldemort's followers.
Deathday:
The day when a ghost celebrates when he or she became a
ghost.
Dementor: Dark, cloaked, faceless creatures from Azkaban,
appearing in Book Three (PRISONER OF AZKABAN), where they are guarding Hogwarts
to protect students from Sirius Black. When they get near Harry he gets chilled,
clammy and faints. A dementor's kiss will suck out a person's
soul.
Diagon Alley: Mysterious, magical twisting street of shops
where wizards and witches shop for supplies. Gringotts bank located here,
also.
Dueling Club: Hogwarts club where students pair off and cast
spells against each other, learning how to defend
themselves.
Durmstrang: Another wizarding school in Europe. No one
knows its true whereabouts, but people assume it's in the cold Far
North.
Firebolt: State-of-the-Art racing broom that can even go
faster than a Nimbus Two Thousand. Harry receives one for Christmas in Book
Three (PRISONER OF AZKABAN) but doesn't know who it's from.
Floo
Powder: Magical, glittering powder that, when sprinkled, transports a wizard
or witch from one place to another in a flash.
Flourish and
Blotts: Wizard bookstore in Diagon Alley.
Foe-Glass: A magical
mirror that shows one's enemies. Moody has one of these.
Forbidden
Forest: Forest surrounding Hogwarts. Home to unicorns and other mystical
creatures. Very dangerous; Hogwarts students are told to stay away from
it.
Galleons: Coins, form of wizard
money.
Gillyweed: Magical plant that, when eaten, gives a person
gills like a fish, allowing her or him to breathe underwater.
Goblet
of Fire: A large wooden cup that is filled to the brim with dancing blue
flames. It magically selects the contestants for the
Triwizard Tournament.
Golden Snitch: The most important ball in
Quidditch. It's fast and hard to catch; must be caught by the Seeker to earn 150
bonus points, which usually wins a game.
Gringotts: The wizards'
bank.
Gryffindor: One of four student houses at Hogwarts. Named
for Godric Gryffindor, one of Hogwarts's four founders. This is the house where
Harry, Ron and Hermione live.
Hippogriff: Magical creature that is
half bird and half horse.
Hogsmeade: Wizarding village that
Hogwarts students (third years and up) can visit occasionally on the weekend.
Filled with shops like Zonko's Joke Shop and the Shrieking
Shack.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Boarding school
housed in an old castle where witches and wizards like Harry and his friends
learn their craft --- and much more.
Honeydukes: An amazing candy
store in Hogsmeade.
Howler: A screaming, scolding letter sent by
owl. Ron receives one from Mrs. Weasley after he flies the family car without
permission.
Hufflepuff: One of four student houses at Hogwarts.
Named for Helga Hufflepuff, one of the school’s four
founders.
Imperious Curse: One of three illegal Unforgivable
Curses. When cast, it gives a wizard total control over another person or
creature. "Imperio!"
Invisibility Cloak: A "silvery gray" cape
that makes its wearer invisible. Harry receives it as a Christmas gift in Book
One but does not know who it's from. It arrives with a note explaining that the
cloak once belonged to Harry's father.
Keeper: Player who guards
the goal posts in a Quidditch game.
Killing Curse: One of three
illegal Unforgivable Curses. It will kill a person or creature when cast. "Avada
Kedavra!"
The Knight Bus: Magical bus that serves as emergency
transport for stranded witches and wizards. It picks up Harry in Book Three
(PRISONER OF AZKABAN).
Knockturn Alley: An alleyway of shops
devoted to the Dark Arts. An offshoot of Diagon Alley.
The Leaky
Cauldron: A "tiny, grubby-looking pub" at the entrance to Diagon Alley where
witches and wizards hang out.
Little Hangleton: Town where Tom
Riddle and his family once lived. Many years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Riddle and their
son Tom were found dead in the house.
Mandrake: A screaming plant
that helps "return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original
state." Comes in handy in Book Two (CHAMBER OF SECRETS).
Marauder's
Map: Map showing every detail of Hogwarts castle and the castle grounds. It
magically shows people moving around within the school, too. Also shows secret
passageways to Hogsmeade, the wizarding village.
Ministry of
Magic: Council whose main job is to keep wizards and witches a secret from
Muggles.
The Mirror of Erised: A mirror that Harry discovers in a
hidden room at Hogwarts. Whoever looks in the mirror sees his or her greatest
desire reflected back at them.
Mudblood: A mean name to call
someone who is Muggle-born (born to non-magical parents, like
Hermione).
Muggle: A non-magical person. Examples: the Dursleys,
and most of you reading this glossary....
Mungo's Hospital for Magical
Maladies and Injuries: Where wizards can recuperate and receive
treatment.
Nagini: Gigantic 12-foot female snake whose venom is
used as food by Lord Voldemort as he regains his strength and
body.
Nimbus Two Thousand: The super-duper, fast-flying broomstick
that Harry receives as a gift. It helps Harry become an ace Quidditch
player.
Number Four, Privet Drive: The address of the Dursleys,
Harry's Muggle family.
Omnioculars: Magical binoculars that have
instant replay and slow-motion features.
O.W.L.s: Ordinary
Wizarding Levels. Exams Hogwarts students must take at age 15 (fifth
year).
Parselmouth: A witch or wizard who can talk to (and
understand) snakes. A talent that Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of
Hogwarts, was famous for. Harry is a Parlsemouth.
Patronus: An
"anti-dementor," it guards a person from dementors.
Pensieve:
Magical basin that stores a persons thoughts and memories. Dumbledore has
one.
Pigwidgeon: Tiny gray owl belonging to the Weasleys. Delivers
most of Ron's mail.
Platform nine and three-quarters: The magical
platform (invisible to Muggles) at London's King's Cross station where Hogwarts
students board the Hogwarts Express train to school.
Pocket
Sneakoscope: A tool that lights up and spins whenever someone untrustworthy
is near.
Polyjuice Potion: Changes a person into someone
else.
Portkey: Object (which usually looks like trash to a Muggle)
that can transport wizards from one place to another at a specific, prearranged
time. Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys travel this way to the Quidditch World
Cup in GOBLET OF FIRE.
Quaffle: A ball used in Quidditch to score
goals.
Quick-Quotes Quill: Magical quill that writes by itself.
Used by nasty Daily Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter.
Quidditch:
Wizard sport played up in the air on broomsticks. A bit like soccer. Harry is
the best player on his house’s team.
Quidditch World Cup:
Championship tournament like World Cup Soccer. Each country has a team; a world
champ is determined in a final playoff. Harry, Hermione and most of the Weasleys
attend a final match between Ireland and Bulgaria in GOBLET OF FIRE. The game is
attended by 100,000 witches and wizards at a magical stadium unseen by
Muggles.
Ravenclaw: One of four student houses at Hogwarts. Named
for Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the school’s four
founders.
Remembrall: A glass marble ball that turns red when held
by its owner if he or she has forgotten something.
Secrecy Sensor:
Tool that vibrates when it detects concealment or lies. Moody has
one.
Seeker: The key position on a Quidditch team. The Seeker must
catch the Golden Snitch before the other team’s Seeker does. When the Snitch is
caught, the match ends. Harry plays Seeker for Gryffindor.
Shrieking
Shack: A house in Hogsmeade commonly believed to be the most haunted
dwelling in Britain ... but is it?
Slytherin: One of four student
houses at Hogwarts. Named for Salazar Slytherin, one of the school’s four
founders.
Snitch: See "Golden Snitch".
Sorcerer's
Stone: Special stone that can change metal into gold and produces the Elixir
of Life, which makes the drinker immortal.
Sorting Hat: Tattered,
talking wizard's hat, which, when tried on, tells first years which house they
will live in at Hogwarts.
S.P.E.W: Society for the Promotion of
Elfish Welfare. An organization started by Hermione to get fair treatment for
the hard-working house-elves.
Squib: Someone who has no magical
powers even though he or she was born into a wizarding family.
The
Three Broomsticks: Pub in Hogsmeade, where wizards congregate and Hogwarts
students go to drink butterbeer.
Time-Turner: An hourglass-like
tool that allows a witch or wizard to travel back in time.
Ton-Tongue
Toffee: Magical toffee invented by twins Fred and George Weasley. It makes
one's tongue swell to a giant size.
Triwizard Tournament:
Year-long magical tournament between three European wizarding schools ---
Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. One student from each school is chosen to
compete, their names selected by the ancient Goblet of Fire. The tournament is
held at Hogwarts in GOBLET OF FIRE; it has not been held for centuries, because
the death toll was too high.
Unforgiveable Curses: Three cruel
curses illegal in the wizarding world. Includes the Imperious Curse, the
Cruciatus Curse, and the Killing Curse.
Veritaserum: A powerful
Truth Potion.
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes: Charmed joke items that
Fred and George Weasley have invented and want to sell.
Weird
Sisters: Band that plays at the Yule Ball, the Hogwarts school
dance.
Whomping Willow: A type of tree on the Hogwarts grounds
that has the ability to attack with its branches.
Wronski Feint:
Daring Quidditch move; on flying broomstick, a player goes into a fast, steep
dive.
Yule Ball: Christmas dance held at Hogwarts for fourth-years
and older.
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