≡Harry Potter: movies, books, and the new series — how much do you still remember?
From books to films — and now with a new series on the way from HBO — Harry Potter continues to grow and captivate new generations. But with so many stories, characters, and details spread across this universe… do you really remember it all?
Why test your knowledge?
Testing your knowledge improves memory, quick thinking, and the ability to make associations, as well as being a fun way to learn while competing with other people.
The new Harry Potter series
The new television adaptation of the Harry Potter universe aims to retell the original story in a more faithful and expanded format for streaming.
What the new series is
A full reboot of the original book saga
Each season is expected to adapt one book
Focus on deeper storytelling than the films
What the series will explore
The show is expected to dive deeper into:
Life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry’s full journey across the books
Subplots not shown in the films
How the Ministry and Hogwarts hide from Muggles
The universe of Harry Potter is full of protective systems designed to keep the magical world hidden from “Muggles”.
The secret code to enter the Ministry of Magic
During a visit to the Ministry of Magic, Arthur Weasley uses a very unusual access method.
He dials the code 62442
On a standard phone keypad, it spells “magic”
This acts as a secret trigger for the magical elevator system
How Hogwarts appears to Muggles
The school Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is protected by powerful concealment spells.
To ordinary people:
The castle is not visible as a school
It appears only as an old ruined building
A warning sign is placed nearby
Why these enchantments exist
These protections were created to:
Keep the magical world secret
Prevent contact with Muggles
Protect witches and wizards
Discover some interesting facts about Harry Potter
Who was Natalie McDonald in Harry Potter?
The story of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire contains one of the most emotional real-life tributes created by the author.
Who Natalie McDonald was
Natalie McDonald was a real girl from Toronto, Canada.
She was 9 years old
She was battling leukemia
She was a fan of the Harry Potter series
👉 Even during her illness, she remained deeply connected to the story.
The letter she wrote to J. K. Rowling
Before she passed away, Natalie wrote a letter to J. K. Rowling.
She asked what would happen in the next books
She knew she might not live long enough to read them all
She hoped to receive a reply
👉 A heartfelt message from a devoted young fan.
A tragic coincidence
The story took a heartbreaking turn:
Natalie died one day before the reply arrived
The author’s response never reached her in time
👉 A moment that deeply affected J. K. Rowling.
The tribute inside Hogwarts
To honor her memory, Rowling included her in the story:
She created a character named Natalie McDonald
A first-year student at Hogwarts
Sorted into Gryffindor
👉 She became part of the magical world forever.
A personal visit to the family
During a promotional tour in Canada:
J. K. Rowling visited Natalie’s family
She paid her respects personally
She acknowledged the girl’s impact on the series
J.K
J.K. Rowling almost played the role of Harry’s mother, Lily Potter, on screen but decided not to because she didn’t believe she had acting talent. The author and her creation share the same birthday, July 31st. She created a world full of enchantment and magic, where witches and wizards exist. When asked by a fan, she revealed that her favorite character was Dumbledore.
Why didn't Robin Williams play Hagrid?
The casting process for Harry Potter followed strict rules that ultimately prevented a major Hollywood actor from joining the franchise.
Robin Williams’ interest in playing Hagrid
Robin Williams was a big fan of the Harry Potter novels.
He expressed interest in playing Rubeus Hagrid
He wanted to be part of the film adaptation
His interest was genuine and enthusiastic
The casting rule set by J. K. Rowling
The author J. K. Rowling established an important condition:
Only British and Irish actors could be cast
The goal was to preserve cultural authenticity
The rule applied to the entire cast
Why Robin Williams couldn’t be considered
Despite his interest, there was a clear limitation:
Robin Williams was American
This made him ineligible for casting
No exceptions were allowed
How Emma Watson was chosen for Hermione
The casting process for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone involved an extensive search across British schools to find the young leads.
The search for the main trio
The production team visited several schools in the United Kingdom to discover new talent.
The goal was to find young actors with little or no experience
Hundreds of children auditioned for Harry, Ron, and Hermione
The selection process was highly competitive
Emma Watson’s anxiety during auditions
Emma Watson had never acted before when she auditioned.
She found herself among around 20 girls competing for Hermione
She felt nervous and intimidated
The other candidates seemed more experienced and confident
Believing she was right for the role
Despite her insecurity, Emma had a strong sense of confidence:
She felt a natural connection to Hermione Granger
Believed the character suited her personality
Continued through the audition process with determination
👉 That belief played a key role in her casting.
How owls and letters came to life.
Bringing the world of Harry Potter to the big screen required creative solutions to make magic feel real.
The challenge of training owls to deliver mail
One of the biggest production challenges was working with real owls on set.
The production team trained owls for months
Some were taught to “deliver” messages to actors
The goal was to replicate the magical postal system
👉 A huge effort to make the wizarding world feel authentic.
Handwritten Hogwarts letters
Another key detail was the creation of the acceptance letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
All letters were handwritten
This included the letters sent to the Dursleys in the first film
Every detail was designed to enhance realism
👉 Small touches that helped build the magic of the story.
Why these details matter
These production choices show that:
The magical world needed to feel believable
Physical props increased immersion
Every scene was crafted with attention to detail
👉 The magic of Harry Potter was also built behind the scenes.
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