Harry Potter Tidbits

Sources - Chiff, Gryffindor Gazette

Easter Eggs
This was a sweet tribute from J.K. Rowling to a young girl who wrote to her. Natalie McDonald was a real girl who was suffering from a terminal illness; she knew she wouldn’t live to see the end of the Harry Potter series, so she wrote to Rowling and asked how everything would turn out. Rowling, who has a young daughter herself, wrote back to Natalie and detailed the whole remaining storyline for her. Unfortunately, Natalie died a few days before the letter arrived. Hearing of her death, Rowling did an edit on “Goblet of Fire” to include Natalie as a character. On page 180 (of the hardcover edition), you can see where Natalie is participating in the Sorting Ceremony at the start of Harry’s school year. Significantly, she gets sorted into Harry’s house — Gryffindor.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Ministry of Magic Dial-Up. Look on page 125 at the bottom. The quote is: “No, no, I’m sure it’s fine,” said Mr. Weasley, holding the receiver above his head and peering at the dial. “let’s see…six…” he dialed the number, “two…four…and another four…and another two…” The number they dial is 62442. If you look on a standard telephone, there are letters underneath the numbers. What five-letter word would JK Rowling use for the Ministry? MAGIC!


Flying Car
The make and model of Mr. Weasley's flying car is Ford Anglia.

Headmasters of Hogwarts
Before Dumbledore, Armando Dippet was the headmaster.

Names
The last name of Nearly Headless Nick is De Mimsy-Porpington