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If Harry Potter was a real human being, then he would be celebrating his 39th birthday on July 31, 2019. According to Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, the boy wizard was born on July 31, 1980. Interestingly, the author herself is celebrating her 54th birthday on this date, and we really can't blame her for giving her most famous hero the same birthdate! So anyway, we wish Rowling and Harry Potter Many Many Happy Returns of the Day! Harry Potter-Themed Event to be Host in Potterheads of Jadavpur University.
JK Rowling had her first Harry Potter book, The Philosopher's Stone, published in 1997. By the time, the last main book in the series, The Deathly Hallows, came out in 2007, Harry Potter series had become the best-selling book series of all time, selling more than 500 million copies worldwide and continuing to do so till date.
The books also spawned eight movies (and two spinoffs) that also minted enough money at the box office. While not exactly faithful to the books (and therefore earning the ire of the ardent book fans), Harry Potter movies were enjoyable for both kids and adults. Daniel Radcliffe had played Harry Potter in the movies, with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint taking on the roles of his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively.
On the occasion of Harry Potter's 39th birthday, we look at 15 incredible facts and Easter Eggs that we bet you didn't notice when you watched the movies. All thanks to the eagle-eyed Harry Potter fans who posted on various fan-sites.
#Fact 1 - Did We See Slytherins Much Before Than We Thought?
In the establishing shot of the Reptile House in the first Harry Potter movie, we see students dressed in green uniform coming out of the place. Considering that green is the colour of House Slytherin and the Reptile House has, well, snakes which is the symbol of Slytherin... can't help but make this connection.
#Fact 2 - The Number 7
There is a very obvious fixation of the series with the number '7'. Seven books... seven Horcruxes... Ginny is the seventh Weasley kid...Harry has '7' on his Quidditch robes. As Tom Riddle said, isn't 'seven' the most magical number?
Fact #3 - No Dragons Were 'Hurt'!
Hagrid and any magical creatures lovers out there, don't worry! The makers have added a disclaimer in the end credits of The Goblet of Fire that no dragons were harmed during the making!
Fact #4 The Books Make Cameos
During his accidental sojourn to Knockturn Alley in The Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter is seen passing alongside a shelf that has some books. These books are actually hardcover copies of all the Harry Potter books that had been released by then. Talk about going meta!
Fact #5 - The Leaky Cauldron Has a Muggle-Protection Feature
If you observe closely, the hanging signboard of the famous wizard pub, Leaky Cauldron, only shows the pub's logo when wizards come near. Like, as seen in the first movie, Harry Potter and Hagrid. Otherwise, it is just a blank piece of wood for the rest of us, Muggles.
Fact #6 - What Did Neville Longbottom Forget?
In the first movie, Nevill reveals that he has been sent a Remembrall by his granny, that turns red to remind him that he has forgotten something. While neither the movie nor the book makes it clear what he forgot, the makers of the film added this little detail to give us a clue - Neville is not wearing the black robe that his peers are seen wearing in the background.
Fact #7 - Did Dobby Attend The Quidditch World Cup?
Dobby, the house-elf, was freed by Harry Potter at the end of the second film from the Malfoys' service. During the camping sequence before the World Cup in The Goblet of Fire, a house-elf, looking suspiciously like Dobby is seen passing through riding a llama. Interestingly, Dobby was a major character in the fourth book, though the movie cuts off the character. Not without giving a little nod, though it seems.
Fact #8 - Guess What Dance Step The Bauxbatons Students Are Doing?
During the final task in the Triwizard Competition, the Bauxbatons students are seen performing this dance, which is similar to 'the Macarena'.
Fact #9 - Is Gilderoy Lockhart Bald?
Looks like Harry Potter's Defence Against Dark Arts teacher in his second year was not only a fraud, but also bald. Just look at the wig on his table at the left-hand bottom corner of the above picture.
Fact #10 - What Are Those Kids Doing?
The end credit sequences of The Prisoner of Azkaban is made on Harry's Marauder's Map, in which we often see the footprints of students, kids and even ghosts walking around. Near the end, though, we see two pair of footprints in the corner of a room intertwined in such a way that we don't think they are playing chess. Naughty, naughty!
Fact #11 - Newt Scamander Was Alive During Harry Potter's Time
So revealed the Marauder's Map in the third movie, when the Weasley twins show its magic to Harry Potter. Newt Scamander was the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as the protagonist of the spinoff series.
Fact #12 - The Wizards are Fans of Stephen Hawking
During a scene at The Leaky Cauldron in The Prisoner of Azkaban, a wizard is seen reading Hawking's 'A Brief History of Time'. This is a smart nod to the time travel element in the movie later.
Fact #13 - Professor McGonagall was a Champion Seeker!
In the first movie, Hermione shows Harry his father's Shield in the trophy case of Hogwarts that he won for being an awesome Quidditch player. To its right, we can also make out another familiar name 'MG McGonagall' - the head of the Gryffindor House, which means she is also a good player herself winning the shield in 1971. Which makes sense since it was McGonagall who first recognised Harry's potential as a seeker and inducted him in the team.
Fact #14 - The Hallows Makes Its Appearance Much Before
During a sequence at Dumbledore's office in The Goblet of Fire, we see him peering through a book-shelf and there is an artefact that has a striking resemblance to the symbol of The Deathly Hallows.
Fact #15 - Snape Reveals His True Colours Before His Confession
During the duelling match between Professor McGonagall and Snape in the third act of The Deathly Hallows Part II, he doesn't attack her but looks to deflect her curses to the vicious Carrows behind him. To those who haven't read the books, this was a little nod to the fact that Snape was not a bad guy after all, but in Harry's words ' Dumbledore's man, through and through'.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2019 07:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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