Seven Books, Eight Films J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series consists of seven books, but the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was split into two films, making the movie franchise a total of eight films.
Real-Life Quidditch Exists Inspired by the books, fans created a real-life version of Quidditch, played on the ground with brooms between their legs. It's now an international sport with official leagues.
The Names Are Thoughtfully Chosen Many names in the series have deeper meanings. For instance, "Voldemort" is derived from French, meaning "flight of death."
The Idea Came on a Train J.K. Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter while traveling on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990.
Hogwarts Express Is a Real Train The Hogwarts Express scenes were filmed using the Jacobite Steam Train, which runs on the West Highland Line in Scotland.
Invented Words Became Real Terms like “muggle” and “quidditch” became so popular that "muggle" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, meaning a person lacking a skill in a particular area.
The Knight Bus Was Inspired by a Real Experience Rowling thought up the magical Knight Bus when she saw a bus speeding toward her while walking through London.
Hidden Symbolism in the Houses The four Hogwarts houses represent the four classical elements: Gryffindor (fire), Slytherin (water), Ravenclaw (air), and Hufflepuff (earth).
The Series Is Full of Foreshadowing Rowling planted numerous hints throughout the books. For example, the vanishing cabinet in Chamber of Secrets foreshadows its pivotal role in Half-Blood Prince.
Wands Choose Their Owners The idea that “the wand chooses the wizard” was based on the concept of deep compatibility, ensuring that each wand matches the personality of its owner.