- Confirmed by JK Rowling
- Very confident in its accuracy
- Moderately confident in its accuracy
- Not very confident
- Confirmed false, but I felt like posting it anyway.
Hanged Man, The - pub in Little Hangleton
- The hanged man is a part of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. It represents the use of the Intuitions, and expresses the relation, in one of its aspects, between the Divine and the Universe. He who can understand that the story of his higher nature is imbedded in this symbolism will receive a great awakening and will know that after the Sacred Mystery of Death there is the Mystery of Life. --From this website.
Hag - often seen in Hogsmeade.
- The hag is a fairy from the British Isles. She is said to be the traces of the most ancient goddesses. The hag is regarded as the personification of winter. In the winter months she is usually old and very ugly looking. As the season changes though she becomes more and more beautiful, and younger. (Encyclopedia Mythica)
Hagrid, Rubeus - Half-giant gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts.
- Ms. Rowling says that if you were "Hagrid" in old English you were having a bad night. She says that Hagrid is a big drinker and often has his own bad nights. (thanks to Kate C).
- "Rubeus" is a homophone of "rubeous", meaning "red" or "ruddy". Steve Vander Ark points out that "a ruddy complexion is often the sign of someone who drinks a lot."
Hand of Glory - admired by Draco Malfoy in a dark arts shop on Knockturn Alley
- Hands of Glory are uncommon but useful (dark) magical items. There is a Hand of Glory story by Seabury Quinn, which I *think* is in one of his Jules de Grandin stories, published in Weird Tales. (Paraphrased from Brooks on HP4GU)
Harry James Potter - See "Potter, Harry James"
Hedwig - Harry's pet owl
- Hedwig was a 12th century German saint. In 1848, she founded a pious association of women and young girls, from which developed the congregation of the Sisters of St. Hedwig, whose chief aim was the education of orphaned and abandoned children. Quite an appropriate name for a going-to-school gift for Harry!
Heliopaths - according to Luna, great, tall, flaming spirits of fire. According to Hermione, they don't exist.
- "Helio" refers to the sun. The "-path" suffix refers to a practitioner of a (specified) system. Therefore, these spirits of fire are skilled in arts related to the sun (and subsequently, fire).
Hengist of Woodcroft - featured on a chocolate frog wizard card
- Hengist is the name of the first King of Kent (from 455-488) He was the first Saxon, with his brother Horsa, brought in by Vortigern to fight the Picts and Scots. I see no connection to magic whatsoever, but oh well.
Hermes - Percy's owl
- Hermes was the Greek messenger god, as well as the god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning and shrewdness. It was his duty to guide the souls of the dead down to the underworld. He was also closely connected with bringing dreams to mortals. Hermes on Encyclopedia Mythica
Hermione Jane Granger - See "Granger, Hermione Jane"
Herpo the Foul - Ancient Greek, first known creator of a basilisk.
- Greek herpeton "reptile", from herpein, "to creep".
Hestia Jones - See "Jones, Hestia"
Hibredian Black - a breed of wild dragon found in Britain.
- The Hibredes are a chain of about 500 islands on Western Scotland in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hippocampus - Half-horse, half-fish.
- Another pre-JKR beast. The hippocampus was a fabled sea animal from Greek mythology. It was found in classical myth. It resembles a horse with the hind parts of a fish or dolphin. The chariot of Poseidon was drawn by a hippocampus. The name comes from the Greek hippos, horse; and kampos, sea monster. Thanks to Encyclopedia Mythica.
Hippocrates Smethwyck - see Smethwyck, Hippocrates.
Hippogriff - One of Hagrid's "pets", used in Care of Magical Creatures.
- A legendary animal, with the hindquarters of a horse and the head, beak and wings of an eagle. The hippogriff is often found in ancient Greek art and appeared largely in medieval legends. It is also a symbol of love. Hippogriff at Encyclopedia Mythica, Picture 1, Picture 2.
Hogwarts - British wizarding school
- "Hogwart" is a type of lily. It's also "warthogs" switched around.
Holly - wood used in Harry's wand (compare with Yew, the wood in Voldemort's wand)
- According to Rita on HP4GU: While holly has much more life-oriented associations. It is a symbol of Christmas, which is not only the birth of their Savior for Christians, but the time when the amount of sunlight in the day starts to lengthen. Holly, ivy, and pine got that Christmas gig because, as evergreens, they are among the few plants still green and visibly alive in the snow. My friend showed me a medieval Tristan and Iseult tale in which King Mark makes a compromise with Tristan: one will have her when the trees are green and the other will have her when the trees are bare. King Mark chooses when the trees are bare, since then the nights are longer, more time for bed fun with his reluctant wife, but Tristan triumphantly points out that Mark NEVER gets her, since the holly and the ivy are NEVER bare.
Homorphus Charm - either forces a werewolf not to change or changes a werewolf back to human. Supposedly used by Gilderoy Lockhart on the Wagga Wagga Werewolf.
- "homo": (Greek) the same + "morph": change shape [force a werewolf NOT to change] OR "homo": L. man + "morph": change shape [force werewolf into human shape] (from Harry Potter Lexicon)
Hooch, Rolanda/Xiomara (Madam) - Flying teacher at Hogwarts
- Hooch: Alcoholic liquor, especially inferior or bootleg liquor. No apparent connection.
- Rolanda (from the Trading Card Game): Of Latin origin, meaning "renowned in the land." Your guess is as good as mine.
- Xiomara (from the Internet Movie Database): Of Teutonic origin, meaning "glorious forest". Ditto.
House Elf - magical creatures used as servants for wealthy wizard families. They can only be freed if their master gives the elf clothing.
- Comparable to the Fenoderee or Brownie. The Fenoderee is not very intelligent, but he is a hard worker who performed labor for the farmers of the Isle of Man. He goes around naked, for the offer of clothes will greatly offend him, causing him to stop working. He was originally very handsome, but after making the mistake of wooing a mortal girl, he was punished and lost his good looks. He turned into the ugly, solitary creature he is now. (thanks to Kat Nicholson for the tip!) Brownies are good-natured, invisible brown elves or household goblins who live in farmhouses and other country dwellings in Scotland. While people are asleep, they perform their labors for them. If offered payment for their services or if they are treated badly, they disappear and are never seen again. Supposedly, a "Dobby" is a brownie that can't do anything right.
Howler - a letter that shouts its message and explodes if unopened. Used as punishment.
- To howl is to cry or wail loudly. Also, a "howler" is slang for "a laughably stupid blunder".
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