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10 Harry Potter Movie In-Jokes That'll Blow Your Wizarding Mind

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The wizarding world of Harry Potter is so big it makes your head spin, but hidden within the movie universe are countless in-jokes, easter eggs and treasure troves of trivia to be discovered. Did you spot these 10 mind-blowing Harry Potter secrets?

Harry Potter and the chamber of breakfast

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We don’t really know much about the food the Hogwarts canteen staff serve, but eagle-eyed viewers watching ‘Order Of The Phoenix’ might have spotted that branded cereal is not off the table. However, even the breakfast goods served up to Harry and friends are magically-themed: the prop department knocked up boxes of 'Cheeri-Owls’ and 'Pixie Puffs’ which you can see on the tables. Quite how Nestle and Kellogg’s feel about this remains to be seen. Can you sue a fictional house of wizards for copyright infringement?

Dobby appears in 'Goblet Of Fire’

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Poor old Dobby the House Elf put in a strong showing in JK Rowling’s books, but only managed two movie appearances throughout the franchise. Or should that be three? Because 'Goblet Of Fire’ just might be hiding a sneaky Dobby cameo. When we pan through the crowds at the Quidditch World Cup, you can just about spy two house elves on horseback, including one which looks a LOT like Dobby. See for yourself.

Hogwart students’ cheeky feet

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Alfonso Cuaron’s Potter instalment 'Prisoner Of Azkaban’ was the most adult entry to date in the franchise, but the end credits contained an easter egg that might have been lost on younger viewers. Via the Marauder’s Map, we see the footprints of dozens of Hogwarts students, but look closely and you’ll see two pairs of feet in the corner, one on top of the other, that look like they’re engaging in some extra-curricular activity, if you get what we mean.

Dumbledore’s door

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Did you ever notice that the giant golden entrance to Dumbledore’s office was a touch opulent for such a down-to-earth character? It’s no mistake: the giant golden revolving bird through which Harry travels to get to Dumblefore is actually a griffin – which makes it a 'griffin door’. And obviously 'Gryffindor’ was one of the houses of Hogwarts, where… yes, obviously you already knew that. Just checking.

The number 7 is special

Rowling’s writings clearly state that the number seven is magical and powerful, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the number features strongly throughout the movies – but did you realise just how prominent the number 7 is throughout? For example… Voldemort’s soul is split into seven horcruxes. Harry wears the number 7 shirt in Quidditch, in which teams are comprised of seven players. Barty Crouch Jr’s chest had seven locks. There are seven Weasley children. The Chamber of Secrets has seven snakes on its door. And of course, there are seven books. There would be seven movies too, but… y'know. Money.

Voldemort painting

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Could it be possible that He Who Shall Not Be Named made an appearance in the Harry Potter movies before his eventual debut in 'Goblet Of Fire’? As Harry and friends climb the stairs in Hogwarts in 'Prisoner Of Azkaban’, you can see a series of moving portraits on the walls, including one to the right that looks an awful lot like the Dark Lord himself. Bald head? Check. Black cloak? Check. Theatrical wand waving? Check. No nose? Hard to say. It’s definitely not Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of Mr V but the portrait looks way too similar to be a coincidence. Could it have been an early costume test snuck into the movie?

PETA’s dragon

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If you cherish all animal life, including fictional or fantasy animals, then you’ll have been pleased to see the line snuck into the end credits of 'Goblet Of Fire’ that states “No dragons were harmed in the making of this movie”. The talented stuntdragon that smashed painfully into the Hogwarts bridge in the chase scene is obviously a very talented professional and dragons watching at home should not attempt any similar tricks.

Trelawney was right all along

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We don’t see much of Emma Thompson’s batty Professor Sybill Trelawney, just glimpses in movie 3, 5 and 8, but she certainly makes a lasting impression on Harry. Firstly, she suggests that his birthday is Mid-Winter; Harry’s birthday is actually in July, but she was detecting the presence of Voldemort inside Harry, she just didn’t know it. Then, Trelawney refused to sit at the table as she’d be the thirteenth person to do so, meaning the first seated person to stand up would die. Cobblers! Except in 'Order Of The Phoenix’, Sirius Black is sitting at a table of thirteen people, and he’s first to rise…

An early hello to the Deathly Hallows

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Here’s a cool bit of foreshadowing of the final chapter that took place before JK Rowling had even finished writing the book. The symbol for the Deathly Hallows – a line within a circle within a triangle – wasn’t revealed until the seventh book was released in 2007, but 2005 movie 'Goblet Of Fire’ has a huge hint at its eventual form in Dumbledore’s office. Old Albus even seemingly comments on its inclusion as he stares straight through the symbol: “I’ve searched and searched for something. Some small detail… something I might have overlooked.” You don’t know the half of it, pal.

Return of the Chocolate Frog

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Here’s a neat nod in the last movie way back to the very first movie that was so subtle we’ll wager lots of you didn’t catch it the first time around. Remember when Harry first rode the Hogwarts Express and his Chocolate Frog escaped out the window? Well, when Harry’s kids ride the same train in the last scenes of the last movie, you can see a Chocolate Frog climb up the window and jump into the carriage. It’s not the same frog – we doubt it survived several decades without melting – but it’s a nice touch of symmetry all the same.

Read more:
Rik Mayall’s Harry Potter Role That No-One Ever Saw
Fantastic Beasts: What’s Going On In The First Trailer?

Watch the trailer for the new ‘Harry Potter’ prequel ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’ below.

Picture credits: Dorkly, Whatculture, YouTube, Warner bros., Reddit, wesharepics.com