• Architecture Enormous oak front doors serve as the main entrance into Hogwarts castle (GF28, OP26). Read More
• Character Gamekeeper at Hogwarts during Molly Weasley’s era, probably the man who held the job before Hagrid. Molly seemed to be rather fond of him (GF31). Read More
• Furniture and household items An oil lamp is an object used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source (Wikipedia). Read More
• Character Olive Hornby was a Hogwarts student in the early 1940s. She teased Myrtle about her glasses, but regretted it later when Myrtle was killed and came back to haunt her (CS16). Read More
• Character Oliver Wood is a Gryffindor (1987-1994) and Quidditch team Captain and Keeper 1990-1994 (and possibly earlier). Oliver Wood was the “burly” Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team when Harry arrived at Hogwarts, and possibly the most passionate Quidditch fanatic in the school (PS7), Oliver… Read More
• Source Harry and the Weasleys are late for the Hogwarts Express (again), Harry and Ginny encounter Neville on the train, and they are introduced to Luna Lovegood and her father’s magazine, The Quibbler. Cho Chang makes a brief appearance, and Harry sees what… Read More
• Source The start-of-term feast takes place, the Sorting Hat gives warning in its new song, Harry recognizes Dolores Umbridge as she is introduced as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Harry learns that not everyone believes that Lord Voldemort is back. Read More
• Source Fred and George advertise for volunteers to test their products, the trio discusses their schedules and the upcoming O.W.L.s, Harry has an outburst in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Umbridge assigns him detention for a week, and McGonagall warns him to keep his temper… Read More
• Source Hermione stops the twins from experimenting on first-years, Ron tries to stop unknowing house-elves from taking Hermione’s knitted hats, and Professor Grubbly-Plank teaches Care of Magical Creatures as there is still no sign of Hagrid. Harry serves Umbridge‘s detentions, in which an… Read More
• Source Harry sends a letter to Sirius, he encounters Cho Chang and she calls him brave, and the Gryffindor team’s first practice is less than spectacular.  Percy sends Ron a letter warning him against continuing his friendship with Harry, and Sirius communicates with Harry through the common room fire. Read More
• Source Umbridge is made Hogwarts High Inquisitor, and Harry loses his temper again in Defense Against the Dark Arts, serving another week’s detention. Umbridge observes the professors in class, and Ron and Hermione try to convince Harry to give Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons. Read More
• Article
Posted by in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
In this chapter, things really start heading downhill. Umbridge is appointed to be Hogwarts High Inquisitor — a name reminiscent of the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. She begins harassing and demeaning the rest of the teaching staff immediately. These scenes where she stalks the classrooms of various… Read More
• Source Harry, Hermione, and Ron hold a meeting at the Hog’s Head to discuss with other students the possibility of Harry giving them Defence lessons, and Hermione tells Ron and Harry that Ginny is dating Michael Corner. Read More
• Source The High Inquisitor orders all “Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups and Clubs” disbanded, Harry and Ron learn that boys are not allowed in the girls’ dormitory, Hedwig is hurt coming back from London, and Sirius Black is almost caught by Dolores Umbridge in… Read More
• Source Harry again dreams of the windowless corridor with the door at the end, Dobby tells Harry about the Room of Requirement, and Dumbledore’s Army meets for the first time. Read More
• Source Gryffindor’s Quidditch Team defeats Slytherin, but Harry, Fred and George are given a lifetime ban from playing Quidditch by Professor Umbridge for fighting with Draco Malfoy. Read More
• Source Hagrid returns and tells the story of his journey with Madame Maxime to the land of the giants, where they were unsuccessful in gaining an alliance. Read More
• Source Harry speculates on why Albus Dumbledore will not look him in the eye, Hermione joins Harry and the Weasleys at Grimmauld Place for Christmas, and Percy sends back his Weasley jumper. They visit Arthur in St. Mungo’s Hospital, encounter Gilderoy… Read More
• Source Harry and the Weasley children return to Hogwarts after the holidays and Harry begins Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape, during which Harry sees the dark corridor in the Department of Mysteries that he often dreams about. Read More
• Source There is a mass breakout from Azkaban, a Ministry worker dies under suspicious circumstances, and Umbridge bans the teachers from giving students information unrelated to their subjects. Harry and Cho go on a date to Hogsmeade, and Hermione and Luna Lovegood arrange for Rita Skeeter to interview Harry, with his… Read More
• Article
Posted by in Harry Potter Lexicon Minute
Chapter 26 of Order of the Phoenix is completely packed. I mean it, this chapter is like a rich tapestry. I’ll just wander through the text, pointing out things here and there. It starts with Hermione’s delightful explanation for Harry of Cho’s behavior during their disastrous date, which includes… Read More
• Source Hermione gives Harry advice on his love life, Gryffindor continues its losing streak at Quidditch, and Harry’s article is published in The Quibbler – which is quickly outlawed at Hogwarts by Professor Umbridge. Harry has another disturbing dream from Lord Voldemort’s point of… Read More
• Source Harry and his classmates have their first Divination lesson with Firenze in a new classroom, Marietta Edgecombe tells Professor Umbridge about the meeting of Dumbledore’s Army, but suffers the effects of Hermione’s jinx, Dobby warns Harry that the D.A. has been found… Read More
• Source Dolores Umbridge replaces Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts, the students (with the help of Fred and George’s inventions) rebel while the staff sit back and watch, and Umbridge tries to get Harry to tell her where Dumbledore is hiding.  Harry confronts Cho Chang… Read More
• Source Harry tells Ginny Weasley of his desire to talk to his godfather Sirius, and receives careers advice from Professor McGonagall. He breaks into Professor Umbridge’s office to use her fireplace on the Floo Network to talk to Sirius about his father, and… Read More
• Source Harry recalls the dream again, the Gryffindor Quidditch team plays Ravenclaw for the final match of the Quidditch season, and Hagrid introduces Harry and Hermione to his half-brother, Grawp, making them promise to look after Grawp if he has to leave the school. Read More
• Source Harry and Hermione tell Ron about Grawp, the fifth years take their O.W.L.s, Hagrid is sacked, McGonagall is stunned, and Harry dreams that Sirius is being tortured. Read More
• Source Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna help Harry break into Umbridge’s office, Kreacher leads Harry to believe that Sirius is at the Department of Mysteries, and Hermione tricks Umbridge into taking her and Harry into the Forbidden Forest. Read More
• Source Hermione and Harry lead Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest, Umbridge insults the centaurs and they take her away, Grawp rescues Harry and Hermione from the centaurs, and Ron rejoins them with Neville, Ginny, and Luna, who insist on helping them in their fight. Luna suggests using the thestrals to get… Read More
• Source Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood fly to London on thestrals. They are allowed access to the Ministry of Magic through the telephone booth, and they enter the Department of Mysteries – specifically the room containing… Read More
• Source Harry has his final outburst in anguish over Sirius’ death, and Dumbledore tells him everything – about why he must return to the Dursleys every year, about the prophecy, about how Voldemort marked him as his equal, about how it could as easily have been Neville, and about how either… Read More
• Source Ron and Hermione are recovering from their injuries. Fudge publicly admits to Voldemort‘s return, McGonagall returns from St. Mungo’s, and Harry asks Nearly-Headless Nick about ghosts. Harry rides home with Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna on the train. Moody,… Read More
• Hogwarts academics O.F.T. (Outstanding for Trolls) is a grade that a troll would achieve if it managed to use a computer and take the W.O.M.B.A.T. test.  … Read More
• Timelines and calendars Ancient Egypt and Greece – 3000 BC through 100 AD This is an era of Muggle/Wizard cooperation; many political and religious leaders were witches and wizards. Growing distrust and prejudice – 100 – 1692 AD Muggles begin to fear wizards. Some try to manipulate their magical bretheren for their own… Read More
• Creatures' homes, lairs, and territories • Hogwarts castle and grounds The Owlery, where the school owls and the owls belonging to students live, is a drafty round stone room located on the top of West Tower. There is no glass in the windows and straw, owl droppings, and skeletons of the owls’ prey cover the floor. It houses several hundred… Read More