The Dictionaries > Places and Things

PLACES AND THINGS

SPECIAL EXTENDED ESSAYS

Ford Anglia. The Weasley car was a real vehicle in the Muggle world. Read about its history and see images of it.

King's Cross Station. Platform 9 3/4 may be fantasy, but this is a real train station in north central London. This article present images and a brief history of the station.

Owls. The letter carriers of the wizarding world have a long association with humankind, culture and witches, as described in Part 1. Descriptions and photos also of the major owl species appearing in the books are in Part 2.

The Philosopher's Stone The title of the first Harry Potter book outside the United States uses "Philosopher's," not "Sorcerer's." The Philosopher's Stone, Nicholas Flamel, and alchemy are based on real history, discussed in this essay.

All About Hogwarts. Muggles and magicians alike, read this essay to learn about the school that trains the witches and wizards of the United Kingdom. Included are a history, faculty, classes and houses.

The Real Magic. A discussion of the real practices that inspired the classes at Hogwarts, such as divination, arithmancy and runes. A special section on the mandrake plant is included.

Diagon Alley. A guide to the shrouded district where the United Kingdom's witches and wizards love to bank and shop. There's an explanation of the Gringotts bank, money, and a business directory.

SHORT DICTIONARY OF PLACES AND THINGS OTHER THAN MAGICAL MATERIALS

BEAUXBATONS. A wizards' school in a secret location in France. The headmistress is Madame Olympe Maxime. The school's name means "fine wands" in French. A delegation of Beauxbatons students and Madame Maxime came to Hogwarts in the 1994-95 school year for the revived Triwizard Tournament.

DURMSTRANG. A school of magic in the cold, northern, forested regions of Bulgaria in eastern Europe. The headmaster was Igor Karkaroff, a former Dark Wizard serving Lord Voldemort. The school sent students, including international Quidditch star Viktor Krum, and headed by Karkaroff, to Hogwarts in the 1994-95 school year for the Triwizard Tournament. Karkaroff fled Hogwarts in 1995 and disappeared after Voldemort's regeneration using Harry's blood (Goblet of Fire). The name "Durmstrang" comes from the German (not Bulgarian!) words "sturm und drang," which mean "storm and strife." This expression originated from a late 18th century literature movement in Germany, and nowadays refers to a great deal of struggle, upheaval and turmoil.

HOGSMEADE. The only all-magical village in Great Britain. The town is located close to the Hogwarts School. Major spots include the Three Broomsticks pub; the Shrieking Shack, alleged to be the most haunted house in England, but really the home of Remus Lupin when he was a werewolf; and Zonko's Joke Shop, a favorite for prankster Hogwarts students, such as Fred and George Weasley.

KNIGHT BUS. An astounding, speedy vehicle. Tourists and residents of London are used to the red double-decker buses that ply the streets of the capital. The Knight Bus resembles them, but the similarities end very quickly. This bus is a triple decker, is "violently purple," and strictly limited to spell-making passengers. There are no seats; instead the inside resembles a dormitory, with beds, curtained windows, candles in wall brackets, and wood paneled walls. Wizards who are lost or need a quick transport to a place take the Knight Bus. With a loud BANG it can travel hundreds of miles in mere minutes. The bus is so fast that houses, trees, light posts, and other objects hurriedly and magically jump out of its way. Like many wizarding items, the Knight Bus is invisible to Muggles because they do not listen or look for it properly.

The Knight Bus, according to the Harry Potter Lexicon, is another of J.K. Rowling's British puns. The "night bus" is a regular service in London. These nocturnal buses are vehicles that run all night, even after the capital city's subway shuts down. Like the Knight Bus, they are there when someone needs them.