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1. Ilvermorny is the North American version of Hogwarts.
While we were patiently waiting for our letters from Hogwarts, we should've been excited to be accepted into Ilvermorny. It was founded in the early 18th century and is widely regarded as one of the top wizarding schools. I'm still waiting for my acceptance letter...
2. Whoops. We've all been pronouncing Voldemort's name wrong.
Rowling revealed on Twitter that she always intended the "t" in Lord Voldemort to be silent even if she's the only one who pronounces it like that. Maybe he's French? Vol de mort in French means "flight of death." I guess it doesn't really matter since we're not supposed to be saying his name anyway!
3. The history of Azkaban is creepy. Really creepy.
Originally, Azkaban was a fortress, not a prison, and never appeared on Muggle orwizard maps. A sorcerer named Ekrizdis lived on the island and practiced dark magic – and would lure Muggle sailors to the island to torture and kill them. Ekrizdis sounds scarier than dementors!
4. James Sirius Potter's first day at Hogwarts was in 2015.
On September 1, Rowling tweeted that he was sorted into Gryffindor. Like father, like son.
5. Dolores Umbridge is based on a real person in Rowling's life.
Rowling didn't disclose the person's name but revealed that she feels "the purest dislike" for the evil Hogwarts professor. In an essay for Pottermore, Rowling even said that Umbridge is every bit as evil as Voldemort.
6. Professor McGonagall was married to her former boss at the Ministry of Magic.
McGonagall was married to Elphinstone Urquart. Their marriage was a very happy one despite being cut tragically short. Unfortunately, he died from a Venomous Tentacula bite just three years into their marriage.
7. Harry's scar was lightning-shaped because it's cool.
Rowling said that it was a cool shape and didn't want her hero to be sporting a doughnut-shaped scar. Ok, let's be real. That would be an awesome shaped scar too. Just add some sprinkles and you're good to go!
8. Remember that one time when Fred and George threw several snowballs at Voldemort's face?
Yup, it happened! In the first book, the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching snowballs and throwing them at the back of Professor Quirrell's turban.
9. It's pronounced her-MY-oh-knee.
People had a lot of trouble pronouncing Hermione's name before the movies came out, so Rowling had Hermione sound it out for Viktor Krum in the fourth book. Everyone knows how to pronounce it now and it's become a popular girl's name!
10. Hagrid doesn't have a patronus.
It's heartbreaking that one of the biggest animal lovers in the series couldn't conjure up the spell to have a protective charm in animal form. In a tweet, Rowling said that Hagrid couldn't produce a patronus because it's a very difficult spell. I like to think that Hagrid's patronus would take the shape of Fluffy – large, wild-looking, but loving and loyal.
11. Sometimes, the sorting hat has "hatstalls".
In a Pottermore entry, Rowling defined it as a "Hogwarts term for any student whose Sorting takes longer than five minutes." McGonagall and Peter Pettigrew experienced hatstalls. The hat couldn't decide whether to place McGonagall in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, and Pettigrew in Gryffindor or Slytherin.
12. Cue the tears because Dumbledore's biggest dreams had to do with his family.
In the first book, Dumbledore told Harry that he saw himself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks in the Mirror of Erised. Although Dumbledore did have an obsession with socks, Rowling revealed that the headmaster actually saw something else. She stated in an interview that he saw his family alive and reconciled. Someone pass the tissues, please!
13. The Chosen One and the Dark Lord are related.
That's right! Harry and he-who-must-not-be-named are related through the Peverells. Voldemort is descended from Cadmus Peverell who was the beholder of the resurrection stone. Harry is supposedly related to Ignotus Peverell who had the cloak of invisibility. Well that's awkward. Can you imagine being related to your archenemy?
14. Gryffin-who? Hufflepuff won the House Cup and it's time for Hufflepuffs to celebrate!
Ashamed to be a Hufflepuff? Don't be! After it was announced that Hufflepuff won the House Cup in 2015, Rowling chimed in with a tweet saying that "it's the dawn of the Age of Hufflepuff." Plus, you get to say you're in the same house as Newt Scamander and Cedric Diggory!
15. Harry ended up with the flying motorcycle. The same one that belonged to Sirius Black and was used by Hagrid.
After Mr. Weasley fixed it, he gave it to Harry which makes total and complete sense considering his fantastic track record with flying vehicles. Does anybody remember when Harry and Ron tried to fly the car in the second book? Look how that turned out. RIP Flying Ford Anglia.
16. Dumbledore's Army kept their coins and reminded us of #SquadGoals.
Rowling says the members of the DA saved their coins because they are now "badges or medals of honor." All together now... AWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
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