THE A TO Z OF HARRY POTTER

Welcome back to A Literary Latte!
So today is July 31st. 31/07/2019. 07/31/2019 depending on where you live.
That means, it’s the birthday of both Harry Potter, and his creator, J.K Rowling. An iconic duo by all means.

I first read Harry Potter as a little 8 (?) year-old, when my older cousin gave me their copy of Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets along with a stack of other books that they no longer needed or wanted.
Who knows why I only had the second book. But I read it nevertheless and I’m pretty sure I enjoyed it.
Then, upon finding out it was in fact a series, I bought the rest of the books. And loved them. A lot. I’ve read them more times than I can count and they’re still my all-time favourites to this day.

So it seems only fitting that I dedicate a post to Harry Potter, on Rowling and Potter’s birthdays – and therefore, without further ado, here is my A to Z of Harry Potter.

*This is also my second time writing this post because I attempted HTML and it went horribly wrong. So it’s taken me about 3 hours to write this post. So please read ahaha.

A is for: ‘Arry Potter

Imagine Hagrid, or Filch to an extent, saying this, and then we’re on to a winner. Sassy Harry Potter in particular, is a winner.
Because the H was reserved for another character who deserves that spot. Sorry Harry.

B is for: Butterbeer

A classic wizarding drink, which isn’t all that great in reality (I tried it at the Harry Potter studios in London – which is all that great in reality).
It was actually a cold drink though in the studios (kind of like cream soda with syrup in it?) but I always thought it was a hot drink from the books?

C is for: Care of Magical Creatures

What I’m sure would be my least favourite class, especially with Hagrid teaching it haha. I would be terrified of the creatures, even the cute ones like pygmy puffs. Which I’m aware you don’t study. But still.

D is for: Daily Prophet

Even in the muggle world, where the news isn’t interesting (you get bored of Brexit after a while, even as someone who likes politics), I enjoy reading the news. Wouldn’t it be even more interesting if it involved magic?? Even if its not the most reliable of sources *cough* Rita Skeeter *cough*.

E is for: Expecto Patronum

Harry Potter’s iconic spell and one I would love to try out and see what animal my patronus takes the form of??
I did the test a while ago but I don’t remember what I got, I think it might of been a hedgehog which is cute but really not that exciting.

F is for: Flourish and Blotts

As a bookworm, we all know as soon as my Hogwarts acceptance letter arrives (Owl Post can be a bit unreliable which is obviously why mine hasn’t arrived yet ;). I’ll be heading straight down to Diagon Alley to buy all the magical books. I’ll have read through Hogwarts A History multiple times before the express even departs from the station.

G is for: Gryffindor

The house being home to the Golden Trio and also the Weasley family – this house is definitely one of my faves, despite me having done the Sorting Hat 4 times and being sorted into every other house at least once. But I digress. The Gryffindor common room is also one of my favourites besides my own with it’s cute and cosy nature, and their head of house Professor McGonagall is also my favourite teacher.

H is for: Hermione Granger

The mystery of why Harry couldn’t take this spot is solved! Hermione is one of my all-time favourite characters (in HP and in general). She’s smart, determined, headstrong and independent, making her, in my opinion, a really important role model.

I is for: Invisibility Cloak

One thing I envy about wizards/witches is that they never have to answer that all-deciding question – if you were a superhero, which power would you choose. They have all of them.
Invisibility ✓ Flying ✓ Mind reading ✓ Teleportation ✓ Time travel ✓

J is for: James and Lily Potter

Kind of cheating but also is it? James and Lily Potter, even though they don’t appear in person and are just minor characters, are important ones nonetheless. Because being the parents of Harry Potter, they’re kind of catalysts for the whole series. They’re also incredibly brave and inspiring characters, despite us barely seeing them.

K is for: King’s Cross Station

The station home to Platform 9 & 3/4 and where the Hogwarts Express departs every year to take hundreds of eager and excited students back to school to study witchcraft and wizardry.
*that was a beautiful description I have to say 😉.

L is for: Lumos

A little spell because I’ve only featured one of them despite the many spells there are. For those who don’t know/remember, lumos is the spell that causes the tip of the wand to light up and which helped the Golden Trio in many a situation.

M is for: Ministry of Magic

The wizarding government whose main role is to keep the wizarding world in order, which they do not always do that successfully. @ Fudge of Book 4 onward.

N is for: N.E.W.T.S

Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. Wizarding exams taken in your final year which are very similar to A-Levels which I’ll be doing next year. Nastily. Exhausting.

O is for: Ollivander’s

The best wandmaker in the UK and believed to be the best in the world. Ollivander is truly a unique character and one that definitely has a lot of skill. Wandlore sounds so interesting and also really difficult??

P is for: Parselmouth

A parselmouth is someone who can speak to snakes. And as I’m not the biggest fan of snakes, this isn’t a trait that particularly appeals to me. But there we go. The only other thing I could think of was polyjuice potion (which also does not appeal to me) or Penelope Clearwater. Whom I know nothing about and who didn’t really feature.

Q is for: Quidditch

The broomstick sport, likened to basketball 50 ft in the air, according to Harry, which I would most probably hate watching and even more probably be awful at.
I have little coordination on the ground. Let alone on a broomstick in the air.

R is for: Ravenclaw

The Hogwarts House I call my own – I’m a Ravenclaw through and through. Although not through and through because I have taken the test 4 times and received Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw. But based on my personality traits, I see myself as a Ravenclaw.

S is for: Slytherin

Fun fact, I’ve now mentioned every house except Hufflepuff and each trio but Ron (which would probably bring back some hard memories for him). I was placed in Slytherin by the Sorting Hat the first time I ever tried the test and though personally I don’t see it, I’m guessing it was mainly due to ambition rather than cunning.

T is for: Time Turner

Being able to turn back time would be so useful?? You could read one book, and then turn back the time, go and sit in a different location and read another book. Without losing any time?? Brilliant.
Or, I’d use it to rewatch a show. I’d pay for my ticket initially, but then rewatch it multiple times afterward with the handy tool that is the time turner.

U is for: Unicorns

I was going to do Umbridge but decided she didn’t have a place in this post of positivity. And we don’t like her – so she can’t sit with us.
So instead we’re going with unicorns, which are featured in the wizarding world although not hugely relevant to HP. At least they’re featured in Philosopher’s Stone due to a certain wizard named…

V is for: Viktor Krum

Jokes we’re not going with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, this is a positive post only you know ;).
Viktor Krum is the keen Quidditch player and Ron’s competition in what critics are calling an epic love triangle. Iconic.

W is for: Wands

A handy tool with which you wouldn’t really get by without, at least in the wizarding world.

X is for: Xenophillius Lovegood

The only wizarding X I could come up with. Don’t know if I’ve spelt it right. Don’t know anything about him other than that he writes the Quibbler which is kind of cool??

Y is for: ‘Yer a wizard Harry

Iconic.

Z is for: Zonko’s

The wizarding joke shop in Hogsmeade. I’m sure it’s not as good as Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes. No shade 😉

And that’s my A to Z of Harry Potter! I hope you enjoyed this post?!

Have you read Harry Potter? What’s your Hogwarts House?

*10 points if you’re Ravenclaw ;).

I’d love to talk in the comments!
Emme x