37°F
weather icon Clear
Las Vegas, NV
Life

CLOSING THE BOOK: GLOSSARY

July 15, 2007 - 9:00 pm
 

Avada Kedavra: A curse that causes instant death

Azkaban: The wizard prison

Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans: Like a jelly bean with flavors including everything from liver to peppermint to earwax

Boggart: A magical creature that turns into whatever thing the person who sees it fears most

Chamber of Secrets: A secret chamber buried underneath Hogwarts that is home to the basilisk, a giant monster snake

Death Eaters: Voldemort’s followers

Dementors: The guards of Azkaban

Diagon Alley: A magically hidden street in London filled with shops, restaurants and the wizard bank Gringott’s

Floo Powder: Magic powder that when thrown into a fireplace can transport people to other places

Goblet of Fire: A huge magical goblet that selects the contestants for the Tri-Wizard Tournament

Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin: The four houses at Hogwarts in which students live

Hogwarts Express: The train that takes students to Hogwarts from the secret Platform Nine and Three Quarters at Kings Cross Station in London

Horcrux: An item in which one can store part of one’s soul

House-elf: An elf that is bound to serve one family until death or until granted freedom

Howler: A letter sent by owl that screams the contents to the recipient then bursts into flames

The Leaky Cauldron: A well-hidden pub in London, through the back of which a wizard may gain access to Diagon Alley

Marauder’s Map: A magical map of Hogwarts that shows where everyone is at all times

Mudblood: A degrading term referring to witches or wizards who have Muggle blood

Muggle: A nonmagical person

Order of the Phoenix: A secret society of witches and wizards, led by Dumbledore

Pensieve: A bowl-like object used to store memories that can be viewed later

Pureblood: A witch or wizard of pure descent, coming from one of the original magical families

Quidditch: The most popular wizard sport. It is played by two teams on broomsticks.

Sorcerer’s Stone: A magical red stone that turns anything into gold and creates the Elixir of Life that makes the drinker immortal

Sorting Hat: A wizard’s hat that sorts first-year students at Hogwarts into their dormitories

Squib: Someone born into a magical family who has little or no magical power

Compiled by Adam Zinser

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
MORE STORIES
THE LATEST
Pine trees typically develop taproots for stability and to secure enough water. (Getty Images)
What’s ailing my mature pine trees?
By Bob Morris Gardening

When native pine trees are grown on their own they will develop taproots or sinker roots for stability and to secure enough water.

Because muscle mass begins to decline in most people during their 30s, geriatricians say the be ...
3 key questions if you want to grow old gracefully
By Albert Stumm | The Associated Press

To prevent falls, geriatricians say people should start asking themselves questions about their balance as early as 50 years old.

Belly breathing promotes a sense of calm relaxation. That’s why it’s typically pa ...
Is breathing from your belly beneficial?
By Richard Crockett Mayo Clinic News Network

When it comes to the correct way to breathe, it doesn’t matter whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth. Where you breathe from matters.

A doctor checks the blood pressure of A 94-year-old woman in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Catalonia r ...
What you can do to lower your dementia risk
By Lauran Neergaard The Associated Press

A new study found a higher lifetime risk than previously thought: After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia.

Robbie Williams poses for photographers upon arrival at the European premiere for the film 'Bet ...
Robbie Williams favors ‘raw honesty’ in new biopic
By C.L. Gaber Special / RJ

“Better Man” tells the pop star’s tale through the persona of a monkey. “People found it odd at first, but that’s OK. I’m odd,” he says.

 
FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods
By Jonel Aleccia The Associated Press

U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.