FAQS Thread
***DISCLAIMER*** This is a reworking of, and additions to, all the hard work of Adriane (Figgy). She put this together originally.
Acker kept the thread current until recently. I copied the thread, mostly as a safeguard, to make certain it did not get lost.
Traditionally we repost the FAQ when it becomes less dial-up friendly. Instead of simply repeatedly posting �bump� some of us chat. You are welcome to join in, or if you have a question don�t be afraid to post
A complete version of this thread, covering all films from PoA onwards can be found on the The Harry Potter Board:
http://imdb.com/board/bd0000070/threads/
Obviously, a lot of this information can be found in the books, and as fans we would recommend you read the books. If you�re here you probably already have. Other information comes from a variety of websites:
Sadly some boards are no longer around...they have been noted.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Go to:
www.mugglenet.com
www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/
www.hp-lexicon.org/index-2.html
www.floo-network.org/
www.veritaserum.com/
www.jkrowling.co.uk or www.jkrowling.com
Several quotes are followed by: �(wbd)� this is the world book day interview JK gave - http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrwbd.shtml
GENERAL BOARD INFO:
READ OTHER THREADS BEFORE STARTING YOUR OWN--
It's a small request, but one that would be appreciated by all. Many of the things covered in here will have threads elsewhere on this board where people discuss it in much more detail, with a lot of points for/against different view points. This thread will just give you quick, and in some cases non-committed answers.
EMOTICONS--
To get smiley faces and such: When you are posting a message, there is an area above the box that says "Body Text (markup enabled)" Click on markup enabled, and it will open a new window, where it will show all the emoticons and ways to make your text different colors, bold, italic, etc. For a direct link, click here: http://www.imdb.com/help/boards/markup
Common abbreviations:
PS/SS � Harry Potter and the Philosopher�s Stone/Sorcerer�s Stone
CoS � Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
PoA � Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
GoF � Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
OotP � Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
HBP � Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
DH - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
JK/JKR � Joanne K Rowling; the author.
WB � Warner Brothers; the film company making these movies
AK � Avada Kedavra; the killing curse.
If you notice any typos, please PM me.
If there is anything you�d like added, PM me.
This is a film website, so we�ll start with the film FAQs:
**Contains film and book spoilers**
DIRECTOR
Mike Newell is the Director. He is British and previously made the films Mona Lisa Smile, Donnie Brasco and Four Weddings and a Funeral. He has said he intends to keep the same look as Alfonso Cauron.
CASTING
Full cast and crew credits:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0330373/fullcredits
�DUMBLEDORE IS WRONG!�
The beauty of a book is that we picture things the way we interpret them. Some people think that Michael Gambon is more like Dumbledore than Richard Harris, others see it the other way around.
Yes, he raised his voice. No he did not shove Harry into the trophy case. Harry was backing away, Dumbledore put his hands on Harry�s shoulder. Harry continued into the trophy case. It was Harry�s own movement that caused him to knock the case, not Dumbledore�s.
Some say Dumbledore raising his voice was more realistic and got across the entire book�s character of Dumbledore in one scene. Others think it is blasphemy. Please go to one of the threads to argue your view, this thread is simply for quick info.
�CHO/FLEUR ISN�T DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!�
Beauty is the eye of the beholder. Some people think Clemence Poesy is gorgeous. Some people think Cho is.
Cho was never meant to be drop dead gorgeous, in the books only three boys are shown to be attracted to her. She is described as being popular, but that doesn�t mean she is the most attractive person in the world. Cho is meant to be attractive to Harry, Harry was attracted to Cho in the movie.
This film contains nothing about Veelas. In the film world veelas don�t yet exist, so fleur just needs to be seductive, the boys reactions in the film show she (and all the beauxbaton girls) were seductive.
Personally, I find it rude, disrespectful, and shallow to suggest these girls are not attractive enough. But I guess it�s the world we live in�
HERMIONE�S DRESS
Yes, it�s periwinkle blue in the book and pink in the film. The background of the Yule ball used blue screens, so if she wore a blue dress she would look like a floating head. Plus, the colour of her dress is entirely inconsequential.
Book FAQs
GOF, HARRY VOLDY'S WAND, CEDRIC COMING OUT OF VOLDY'S WAND, & LILY AND JAMES--
In GoF when people are coming out of Voldy's wand, the first edition books have James coming out before Lily. This was a MISPRINT. It was just a mistake.
Cedric came out of Voldemort's wand because Wormtail used Voldy's wand to kill Cedric. (wbd)
THE RIDDLE HOUSE
In the opening chapter of GoF these are the people at the Riddle house:
At the table:
Mrs Riddle (Voldemort's grandmother)
Mr Riddle (Voldemort's grandfather)
Tom Riddle sr (Voldemort's father whom he was named after)
Frank Bryce talks of a 16 year old boy skulking around the house the day of the murder, that was Tom 'Lord Voldemort' Riddle jr.
The film version of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows will be released in two parts.
JKR's Writing
With the publication of DH, the story of Harry Potter is complete. Rumor has it that JKR is working on one of two projects at this time. She may/may not be working on a Wizarding World Encyclopedia which may/may not be named "Hogwarts: A History". She also may be working on a book about Harry and Ginny's children.
Note: Both of these are unconfirmed rumors.
New Information
Book Titles
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone / Philosopher's Stone (US/UK)
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
GENERAL INFORMATION
RELATIONSHIPS--
Although JKR loves the ships, she did document what the final results are.
Harry and Ginny are Married and the parents of three children, James, Albus, and Lily.
Ron and Hermione are Married and the parents of Rose and Hugo.
MOONY, WORMTAIL, PADFOOT, AND PRONGS--
Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were all in Gryffindor. JKR said so. (wbd)
THE LOCATION OF HOGWARTS--
This passage is in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
"Rumours that a colony of Acromantula has been established in Scotland are unconfirmed"
Under this, the word 'unconfirmed' has been crossed out and there is a note that says: "Confirmed by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley".
JKR has also confirmed this in a chat after PoA came out. When asked if the Hogwart's Express was heading north from London, she responded with a "yes" and also added that it, Hogwarts, is in Scotland.
PREQUELS-
JKR has stated she will not write any prequels. (wbd)
No, no prequels here. You won't need them by the time I've finished, you'll have all the back story you'll need!
This did not stop her from writing an 800 word 'prequel' featuring James and Sirius for the charity publication "What's Your Story:The Postcard Collection". It finishes with a one line sentence "From the prequel I am NOT working on - but this was fun!"
HARRY'S CAREER-
After DH both Harry and Ron joined the ministry as Aurors.
CHARACTER AGES-
Bill and Charlie. This one is asked a lot. Bill is 2 years older than Charlie. Charlie is 3 years older than Percy. Percy is 2 years older than Fred and George. Fred and George are 2 years older than Ron. Ron is 1 year older than Ginny.
This can be found on JKR's website under the FAQ section.
WIZARDING SCHOOL-
Wizards & witches either go to primary school or are educated at home before they go off to Hogwarts (or whatever school they go to). (wbd)
CONVINCING MUGGLE'S TO ATTEND SCHOOL--
In the case of Muggle parents, special messengers are sent to explain everything to them. But don't forget that they will have noticed that there's something strange about their child for the previous ten years, so it won't come as a complete bolt from the blue.
(wbd)
ANIMAGUS-
When you turn into an Animagus, you cannot choose the animal you become; you become the animal that suits you best. (wbd)
HOUSE ELVES APPARATING INSIDE HOGWARTS-
House-elf's have powers wizards do not have (and vice versa). (wbd)
MIDDLE NAMES-
Harry James Potter. Ron Bilius Weasley. Hermione Jane Granger. Ginny Molly Weasley. Remus John Lupin. And Sybil Patricia Trelawney.
NOTE: In book seven JKR changed her previous announcement of 'Jane' for 'Jean' as Hermione's middle name. Her name is Hermione Jean Granger.
HEADS OF HOUSES
The head of Ravenclaw House is Professor Flitwick
The head of Gryffindor House is Professor McGonagall
The head of Slytherin House is Professor Snape
The head of Hufflepuff House is Professor Sprout
PUREBLOODS, HALF-BLOODS, SQUIBS etc.
A pureblood is someone who�s entire lineage is fully magical. Both parents were magic, both members of both sets of grandparents were magical, both members of all four sets of great-grandparents were magical, etc.
A half-blood is anyone who has a muggle in that lineage. The wizarding world does not do quarter-bloods, or 1/8ths blood. If one of your parents or grandparents is a muggle, you are a half-blood.
A mudblood, is an offensive term for half-blood that is predominantly used by Voldemort and his deatheaters. It is also used by backward thinking wizards who refuse to move with the times. The wizarding world is embracing those who are not purebloods, but there are those that hold onto beliefs that the purer your blood the better a wizard you are.
For people like Voldemort, there is little difference between being a half-blood and being a muggle. Both are no where near as important or powerful as a pureblood wizard (or witch). Which is most likely why Voldemort refers to Harry�s mother as a muggle in the Goblet of Fire movie.
A squib is someone born to two magical parents, but who has no magical abilities themselves.
A muggle is a non-magical person like you or me� Well, like you. [ [] ]