Books

What We Learned About The Wizarding World In 2016

by Charlotte Ahlin

2016 was a hard year for a lot of us. Brexit. The presidential election. J.K. Rowling deciding that she should just go ahead and write The History of Magic in North America without first googling the year that the United States of America was founded (seriously... I'm supposed to believe that the Magical Congress of the USA started 83 years before there was a USA??). But, love it or hate it, 2016 was the year that we learned a whole lot more about the Wizarding World. Need a brush up? Here are a few key things we learned about Harry Potter and friends in 2016.

MAJOR SPOILERS for Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts, because this was one hell of a year to be a Potterhead.

Now, look, I know that our beloved Jo Rowling has made a few people angry with her endless George Lucas-ing of her own books. People were hurt by her ignorance in appropriating Native American cultures. People were not happy to see Johnny Depp cast as Dumbledore's ex-boyfriend, Grindelwald. Delphi exists.

But many people also loved to see Hufflepuffs take the limelight in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They were thrilled to see Noma Dumezweni as Hermione in Cursed Child. And some people were even happy with their Pottermore-assigned Patronus.

So, no matter how you feel about the Trolley Witch, here are the updates to the Potter-verse from 2016:

1American Muggles are called “No-Majs”

Look, I don't *love* the word "No-Maj," but I do love Jacob, so... it evens out.

2Ilvermorny is the American Wizarding school

It was founded by the Irish witch Isolt Sayre, who came to America on the Mayflower. Ilvermorny is located on Mount Greylock somewhere in Massachusetts, hidden from prying No-Majs eyes, and it accepts students from all across North America.

3Ilvermorny's houses are Thunderbird, Wampus, Pukwudgie, and Horned Serpent

Each house is named after a magical creature from Native American folklore. And don't try to figure out which Hogwarts house they each correspond to because they are *supposedly* unrelated.

4American Wizards are ruled by the Magical Congress of the USA, founded in 1693

...even though the term "United States of America" was not used until 1776. Oh, well. Apparently the Salem Witch Trials of the 1600's were such a tragedy that American witches and wizards decided to form this governing body almost a hundred years before No-Majs declared their independence.

5Newt Scamander is a Hufflepuff

This was the Hufflepuffs' time to shine! Newt is an awkward, adorable Hufflepuff with a bunch of pets he keeps locked in a suitcase.

6No-Majs and Wizards can't date

Apparently, even in the Wizarding World, America has some pretty old fashioned politics. The Magical Congress does not allow witches or wizards and No-Majs to hook up, or even be friends, under any circumstances.

7Gifted wizards can fly without brooms

We already knew that Voldy could fly without a broom, but apparently any talented wizard can do it. So then... why didn't Dumbledore float around the hallways at Hogwarts all the time??

8Repressed baby wizards can create an Obscurus

An Obscurus is a powerful force of dark magic that can explode out of the child, wreaking destruction. That's totally what happened to Dumbledore's sister, right? Maybe? Probably.

9Rowling feels bad about killing Lupin

We're sad too, Jo. But where was Teddy in Cursed Child, huh?

10Hermione became Minister of Magic

Of course she did. We always knew that Hermione was going to grow up and take over the government. Plus, Harry becomes Head Auror (you'd think he'd want to take a break?) and Ron helps run the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, because of course he does.

11Ron and Hermione are still in love in every parallel universe

Take that, haters. Even in the weird parallel universe where Ron is married to Padma, they're totally still into each other. Also, apparently Time-Turners can create parallel universes? ...even though in The Prisoner of Azkaban, they are very clearly operating in a closed-loop timeline? Ok.

12Albus Severus and Scorpius are Slytherins

Sorry, Albus. Apparently everyone with a dorky name is indiscriminately sorted into Slytherin. But Albus and Scorpius become friends and destroy the fabric of space-time together, so it works out in the end.

13Rowling’s Patronus is a Heron

Pottermore debuted their Patronus quiz this year! Now if only they could make a "Which Weasley Should I Date?" quiz, because I really can't decide.

14Nifflers are pretty cute

Not how I *personally* imagined them, but still... very cute.

15Grindelwald was messing around in America at some point

I don't really know how this hottie aged into a white-haired Johnny Depp, but sure. Either way, Grindelwald was clearly up to something in America, and his obsession with Obscurials just maybe has something to do with Dumbledore's little sister??

16Harry is scared of pigeons

Yup, Harry Potter is scared of pigeons. That's official now, according to his confession to Albus in Cursed Child. Harry Potter, pigeon-hater.

So... I guess those are all the major things we learned about Harry Potter this year... was there anything else?

17Voldemort And Bellatrix Had A Child

OH YEAH. So Voldemort and Bellatrix had a baby. Which means they hooked up. You can come at me with your fan theories about how they used magic to knock her up or whatever but... c'mon. Let's be real. Bellatrix was super into him. He was super into having a powerful... wand. That's definitely what went down. And now I can't un-see it.

Well... here's to more magic in 2017! (And hopefully less information about the Dark Lord's sex life.)