As the final "Harry Potter" film "The Deathly Hallows, Part 2" hits theaters this weekend, take a look back at the saga in this A to Z guide!
Harry Potter Guide A to Z
Azkaban: The prison where wizards go when they've violated the laws of the wizardry world.Avada Kedarva: The only curse that can kill you.
Basilisk: A monstrous serpentine creature who lives in the Chamber of Secrets; it is controlled by Tom Riddle.Black, Sirius: James Potter's best friend and Harry's godfather. Sirius was accused of betraying Harry's parents to Lord Voldemort, as well as killing 13 muggles, and sent to Azkaban. But he proves his innocence to Harry when he reveals it was Peter Pettigrew, aka Wormtail, who turned Lily and James Potter over to Voldemort.Buckbeak: A hippogriff (half griffin, half horse) who helps save Harry and his friends' lives in "Prisoner of Azkaban."
Cedric Diggory: This sixth year Hogwarts student is selected as the champion for the Triwizard Tournament in "Goblet of Fire," and along with Harry, the two manage to help each other through the difficult tasks. Unfortunately, Cedric is caught in the middle of a confrontation between Harry and Voldemort, and Cedric is killed by Peter Pettigrew.Chamber of Secrets: A hidden chamber underneath Hogwarts, which was built by founder Salazar Slytherin and is home to an ancient Basilisk. Its purpose was to purge the school of Muggle-born students.
Professor Dumbledore: The headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Witchery and one of the most powerful wizards of all time.Deathly Hallows: The three magical objects — Elder Wand, Resurrection Stone and Invisiblity Cloak - at the center of the last films.Dobby: A house-elf that loves Harry Potter and sacrifices his life to save Harry and his friends in "Deathly Hallows, Part I."Dementors: Demon apparitions who guard the Azkaban prison; they suck all happiness and hope out of their victims.
Elixir of Life: A legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life or eternal youth. It's what Lord Voldemort seeks in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."Expelliarmus: This spell is used to disarm another wizard of his wand, particularly in a wizard duel [picuted].
Felix Felicis: Also called liquid luck, this potion grants unusually good luck to whoever drinks it. Harry uses it in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to procure a memory from Prof. Slughorn.Forbidden Forest: A large, dark forest on Hogwarts school grounds, strictly forbidden to all students — except during Care of Magical Creatures lessons and, on rare occasions, detentions.Firebolt: The fastest flying broomstick on the market; Harry receives one from his godfather, Sirius Black.
Gringotts Bank: the only known bank of the wizarding world and it is operated primarily by goblins.Gryffindor: One of the four houses at Hogwarts, founded by Godric Gryffindor; it values courage, bravery, loyalty, nerve and chivalry. Its mascot is the lion, and its colors are scarlet and gold.
Hagrid: A true friend to Harry and his friends, Hagrid is the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts and later becomes the Care of Magical Creatures professor.Horcruxes: It is a dark magical object, used by Lord Voldemort, to attain immortality. A Horcrux requires one to commit a murder, which, as the supreme act of evil, "rips the soul apart."Hogwarts: Located in England, it's the premier school of witchcraft and wizardry where Harry learns all aspects of being a wizard.
Invisibility Cloak: Renders whoever wearing it invisible. Harry receives it as an anonymous gift his first year at Hogwarts.Imperius Curse: This spell/curse causes the victim to obey the spoken/unspoken commands of the caster.
J.K. Rowling: Author of the "Harry Potter" books.
Knight Bus: A heavily enchanted, purple, triple-decker Regent Three class bus that transports witches and wizards.
Professor Lupin: Remus Lupin is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in "Prisoner of Azkaban" - and one of Harry's favorite teachers until it is discovered Lupin is also a werewolf. He resigns but remains a stalwart member of the Order of the Phoenix. He marries Nymphadora Tonks.Luna Lovegood: One of Harry's courageous friends and a member of Dumbledore's Army; she's considered a little "looney" for her eccentric behavior.Professor Lockhart: Gilderoy Lockhart is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in "Chamber of Secrets" - a narcissistic celebrity wizard who has written many books on his fabulous adventures encountering dark creatures (none of which are true).
Professor McGonagall: Minerva McGonagall is Hogwarts Transfiguration professor and Dumbledore's second in command at Hogwarts.The Malfoys: A family of Voldemort followers, including patriarch Lucius Malfoy. His son, Draco, is Harry's prime nemesis during their years at Hogwarts.Muggles: Non-magical humans.Marauder's Map: A magical map of Hogwarts that shows where everyone is at any given moment. It was created by Harry's father, James, along with Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. The map is handed down to the Weasley twins, George and Fred, who give it to Harry in "Prisoner of Azkaban."
Neville Longbottom: As a Hogwarts student, the usually bumbling Neville's specialty is Herbology. But he soon becomes an invaluable member in Dumbledore's Army and a key player in the final confrontation in "Deathly Hallows, Part II."Nagini: A large snake, Voldemort's special "pet" and one of the evil wizard's Horcruxes.
Order of the Phoenix: Created by Dumbledore, this is the league of witches and wizards who are fighting against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.Owls: These animals are the primary source of relaying communication in the wizardry world.
Patronus: A spell which conjures a protector, usually an animal, against the Dementors.Portkey: A magical object that can transport one from point A to point B.Privet Drive: The street where Harry grew up, with his cruel Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia.
Quiddith: The popular wizard sport, involving two teams of seven players, riding flying broomsticks, using four balls and six elevated ring-shaped goals. The team whose Seeker catches the Snitch first, wins.
Room of Requirement: Located on the seventh floor of Hogwarts, the Room of Requirement appears only when someone is in need of it. To make it appear, one must walk past its hidden entrance three times while concentrating on what is needed.
Professor Snape: He is Hogwarts Potions professor who seems to be an adversary to Harry from the moment the boy wizard enters Hogwarts. Later, Snape becomes Hogwarts headmaster after killing Dumbledore and supposedly joining Voldemort's forces. Snape becomes a key player in the final confrontation between Harry and You-Know-Who.Slytherin: One of the four houses at Hogwarts, founded by Salazar Slytherin; it values ambition, cunning, leadership, resourcefulness, and most of all, pure wizard blood. The house mascot of Slytherin is the serpent, and the house colors are green and silver.
Tonks: Nymphadora Tonks is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and Remus Lupin's wife.Tom Riddle: The younger version of You-Know-Who.
Professor Umbridge: Dolores Umbridge becomes the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor after being assigned by the Ministry of Magic in "The Order of the Phoenix." She's a sadistic woman who forces her students to adhere to her strict rules.
Voldemort: As in Lord, as in He Who Should Not Be Named.
The Weasleys: The lovable magical family that adopt Harry and change his life; Ron Weasley is his best friend, while the youngest Weasley, Ginny, eventually becomes Harry's wife.Whomping Willow: A large, violent tree on Hogwarts school grounds that thrashes its branches at those who approach it. It features significantly in "The Prisoner of Azkaban."
Xenophilius Lovegood: Luna Lovegood's father and the editor of The Quibbler, a magazine that often publishes stories about wild conspiracy theories or research on seemingly non-existent creatures. He tells Harry the story of the Deathly Hallows.
David Yates: The director of the last four "Harry Potter" movies, including "Order of the Phoenix," "Half-Blood Prince" and "Deathly Hallows, Part 1 and 2."
Zonko's Joke Shop: This store has jokes and tricks that can "fulfill even Fred and George's wildest dreams." It closes down in "Half-Blood Prince."