CLOSING THE BOOK: GLOSSARY
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
