11 Harry Potter Facts Only Die-Hard Fans Know

One of the best things about Harry Potter is how the series has kept on going even after it technically ended. While a lot of this involves awesome and sometimes hilarious fan theories, the world of Harry Potter has expanded beyond our wildest dreams mainly thanks to the tireless mind of J.K. Rowling. Ever wanted to know if Professor Trelawney was married? Indeed she was. Ever wanted to know why Professor Flitwick is so short? Goblin blood, my friend! With the advent of Pottermore, we've been given a veritable buffet of delightful information to snack on while we wait for an eighth book that will never come.

How does one filter all of this information? What about the little-known tidbits that have slipped through the cracks? Luckily for you, I've compiled a list of 11 incredibly fascinating pieces of trivia about Harry Potter. These have either been confirmed by Pottermore essays or by transcripts of interviews with Rowling.

1. Remus Lupin's parents met when his muggle mother was attacked by a boggart

Looks like fighting the dark arts was in his blood. And I have to say, kudos to Lupin's mother for being so cool with everything.

2. Students who take more than five minutes to be sorted by the Sorting Hat are called "Hatstalls"

Notable hatstalls include Minerva McGonagall (between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw) and Peter Pettigrew (Slytherin and Gryffindor). The Sorting Hat still maintains that he might the right choice with Wormtail.

3. Neville asked to be put into Hufflepuff because he was intimidated by Gryffindor

In Harry's year, Neville and Hermione were the closest to becoming hatstalls. The hat couldn't choose between Ravenclaw or Gryffindor for Hermione, and was held up by Neville's request to not be put in Gryffindor. Things turned out just fine anyway for good ol' Longbottom.

4. No one found the Resurrection Stone after Harry, because it was stamped underground when the centaurs ran to aide wounded people at Hogwarts

We can all agree that this is probably for the best. But wouldn't it have been nice to at least bring Fred back for a little while? Or to have Teddy Lupin meet his parents?

5. Severus Snape was only picked on by James Potter because James thought Snape had bigger feelings for Lily than he did

James Potter, you are not winning any points with me.

6. Dumbledore was in love with Gellert Grindelwald

This is a fact that I honestly wish had been expanded upon, or perhaps even given its own book. It's like Professor X and Magneto, but with more feelings. Where can that go wrong?

7. A magnificent fountain in the middle of the park at Beauxbatons School is said to have healing and beautifying powers, and is named for Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel

Of course they had a beautifying fountain; they're in Magical France.

8. Apart from becoming an Auror, Ron also helped his brother George at Weasley Wizard Wheezes

George also married Angelina Johnson, one of the incredibly cool Gryffindor Chasers ... but also Fred's date to the Yule Ball. Everything about that loss is still devastating.

9. When Dudley was attacked by the dementor, he saw for the first time the kind of person he really was

This led to Dudley taking steps to become a better person. It's probably one of the only occurrences in the entire series where dementors did something right. Good for you, dementors! Bring that self-awareness!

10. Before it was a prison, the fortress of Azkaban belonged to a terrible dark wizard named Ekrizdis who tortured and killed Muggle sailors

As if Azkaban needed to get any scarier. One does have to wonder, though: Where do wizards go for minor offenses or "white collar" crimes, like tax evasion?

11. Most wizard children are homeschooled before Hogwarts, due to the fact that they can't be trusted with their growing magical powers in a muggle school

This clears up a lot of questions I had about wizard education, but it also reminds us all that Hermione Granger is the true MVP of the Harry Potter universe. Brightest witch of her age? Check. Muggle-born? Check. Never accidentally turned one of her teachers into a frog? Super check. In fact, most muggle-born witches and wizards deserve credit here.

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