Welcome to the The Harry Potter Lexicon
The most compleat and amazing reference to the wonderful world of Harry Potter
est. 2000 A.D.
Phase of the Moon: Waxing Crescent
5 GBP = 1 Galleon 
Unbreakable Vow
The Unbreakable Vow creates a magically binding vow between two people. The spell apparently cannot be performed using wandless magic (judging from Snape’s remarks to Bellatrix rather than from the Weasley twins’ underage efforts) and requires that the Bonder’s wand be touching the joined hands of the person administering the vow and the person taking the vow. As each clause… Read More
Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.)
The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, or S.P.E.W, was an organization founded in 1994 by Hermione Granger in response to what she saw as gross injustice in the treatment of house-elves. When she founded the society, Hermione appointed Ron as treasurer and Harry as secretary (GF14). A few people joined, like Neville (GF15), but many including… Read More
What really happened on the night James and Lily were killed? A Timeline and Commentary
This analysis was originally written in 2001, after the publication of Goblet of Fire. It’s still around in its original form (and in the original format of Lexicon pages!). What you will read here has been revised and updated over the years to incorporate much of what we now know about the pivotal events of October 31, 1981. The most… Read More
Magical Transportation
Witches and wizards use magical means to move from place to place. They can use spells, specifically Apparition, and personal devices such as brooms. However, various forms of public transit are also available. All forms of magical transportation, both personal and public, are regulated and controlled by the Department of Magical Transportation. Personal forms of Transportation Apparition (esp. GF6, OP7)… Read More
What is Magical Power in the Potterverse?
We are just two years or less from reaching the end of the Harry Potter series and many essential questions have been answered, either by the books themselves, by J.K. Rowling, or by cunning readers who have racked their brains to work out even the finest details of the universe she has created. But there is an ongoing debate that rather annoys me… Read More
Uagadou Wizarding School
Uagadou is the largest wizarding school in the world and also the oldest school in Africa. It is located in the Mountains of the Moon, in equatorial Africa. The school specialises in Astronomy, Alchemy, and Self-Transfiguration. Students at Uagadou are taught in the traditions of wandless magic which were prevalent in Africa before visiting European wizards introduced the wand. The school has… Read More
The real village of Stinchcombe, where the Potter family originated according to the new information on Pottermore, is just over the hill from the town of Dursley in Gloucestershire. Read More
“I think it’s wrong to think of adult books as ‘real literature’. Real literature can be for people of nine and that’s what I’m trying to write.”… Read More
Latest from the Lexicon Blog
The Cauldron: Where Science and Magic meet
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Character Quotes
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The editor for the Characters section of the Lexicon was Lisa Bunker who was also the founder of Accio Quote. So it was a natural fit for her to collect quotes by and about the main characters in the books as she worked to bring each character’s biography up to date. Read More
The Harry Potter Companion - UPDATE
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Quotes and Mis-Quotes
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We all know the quotes. They’re turned into memes, they’re spouted by cosplayers — they seem to define the characters who said them. Except DID they say them? In many cases, the answer is no. Yes, Quirrel did say “Troll — in the dungeons — thought you ought to know” (PS10)… Read More