• Sentient objects The portrait of Ariana Dumbledore resides over the small fireplace in Aberforth Dumbledore’s sitting room above Hog’s Head. It is a large oil painting of the young blonde girl. Ariana is described as gazing out of the portrait with “a kind of vacant sweetness.” The mirror that once belonged to Sirius sits beneath the portrait… Read More
• Art and Culture Hogwarts is a place of many surprises. Not only are the doors and staircases unusual, but also the paintings on the walls act in ways a visitor might not expect. The paintings are practically full-fledged Beings. They speak and interact, not just with the humans in the castle but even… Read More
• Ministry of Magic A “small, dirty oil painting” of the first Minister for Magic, Ulick Gamp, with his frog-like face and silver wig (HBP1). The portrait hangs in the office of the Muggle Prime Minister at number 10 Downing Street in London, and serves as a liason between the two worlds during… Read More
• Magical objects A magical painting of Sirius Black’s horribly deranged mother, Walburga, resides in his old home at twelve, Grimmauld Place. Often when the doorbell rings, she starts screaming and ranting until someone closes the “moth-eaten velvet” curtains that surround her painting. Read More
• Event J K Rowling’s new website for Harry Potter fans (http://www.pottermore.com) was originally launched in July 2011, with limited access to a group of beta testers. It was opened to all fans in April of 2012. Read More