“So, it’s true, what they’re
saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts.”
Draco Malfoy
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
Today’s Dedication
I would like to say thank you to Bethan for being your beautiful self and enjoying the world of Harry Potter so much. I am proud to be your fellow Potterhead.
Hi guys,
I hope you are well.
It’s been a while.
Now anyone who has read my blogs before joining me in my new Reading Corner knows I love the Wizarding World. Today we will be discussing Tom Felton’s autobiography Beyond the Wand which tells his readers about how his life changed when he became Draco Malfoy.
Before we get to that though I have been doing lots of other fun things. I have been on holiday with my family to France and been to Devon with a friend from Treloar College… but that will all be covered in our next few chats. I promise!
Who wants to see some magic?
Everybody say “Lumos”. Wands at the ready there’s no telling who, or what we may come across.
Now anyone joining from my previous chats before Hatty’s Reading Corner knows I love all things Harry Potter and I have been to the Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour multiple times. Well it may not come as a surprise to know we have been again… twice.
Do you want to see pictures from our May 2023 trip? You do! Strap yourselves in. it’s going to be a bumpy ride!
Bethan and I before we left for the Wizarding World
Before I take you any further I think it is worth noting that we had a selfie stick with us so we took photos at every opportunity. We even had videos!
Us arriving
Us outside the Studios
Us with a Dragon above our heads
On our way in
Hagrid and I
The Cupboard Under the Stairs
Us with Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody
Some of the Harry Potter film timeline
The Great Hall
Hogwarts mini Model
Costumes from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the Yule Ball
Some of the wigs
The Harry Potter Studios map
More wigs
Paintings
The Prefect bathroom taps
Professors’ Flitwick, Mad-Eye Moody, Trelawney and Slughorn
The Gryffindor boys dormitory
Dorm door
Magical objects
A little bit of Potions with Snape
Trophies
Video 1 – – Pan of the Gryffindor boy’s dorm
Potions with Slughorn
The Triwizard Cup
The Slytherin common room
Wand wheel
The Gryffindor common room
The Fat Lady portrait from the first film
Professor McGonagall as a cat painting
The Mirror of Erised
Ginny’s bed in the Gryffindor girl’s dormitory
The two faces of Professor Quirell
Neville Longbottom lifted by Pixies
Professor McGonagall’s beautiful robes
Us about to enter Professor Dumbledore’s office
A part of the storyboard for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
A cupboard in Dumbledore’s office
Dumbledore by his desk
Phoenix by the fire in Dumbledore’s office
Dumbledore’s office fire
Fawks the Phoenix
Past Heads of Hogwarts
Me looking into the Pensive
In the Pensive
Tom Riddle’s ring
Hogwarts Quidditch House flags
Paintings
Quidditch robes
Video 2 – Me learning to fly
Now there will be more Harry Potter pictures from this trip, but I want to make it feel like the films and the books. I want to spread the magic across more chats. Believe it or not me and Bethan even went this year! We aren’t called Potterheads for nothing.
May 2023 to be continued….
I just want to say wands up to the wonderful Professor McGonagall played by the powerhouse that is/was Maggie Smith. Thank you for the decades of magic you brought to my life.
Maggie Smith 28th December 1934-27th September 2024. Rest in peace Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Let’s go from a National Treasure to one of her fellow actors in Harry Potter, Tom Felton.
Book Review
Book Title: Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard
Author: Tom Felton
Publishing House: Penguin Random House
Imprint: Ebury Spotlight
Review
My rating
*****
I loved this book. After having read Beyond the Wand I have found a respect for Tom Felton that I did not have before. There is definitely an element of Slytherin mischief maker Draco Malfoy in him. Behind the young Wizard there is just a gentle soul. Tom tells some really wonderful stories about working alongside golden actors and actresses like Alan Rickman, Helen McCory and Dame Maggie Smith. It felt for me as if I was given a glimpse of magic coming to life.
I want to thank Tom for also being so honest about his mental health struggles after ten years at Hogwarts. It must have been hard to go from Wizard acting to the acting of a Muggle. From Peagreen in The Borrowers to Draco Malfoy, Tom Felton is well known for being able to find the humanity in Harry Potter’s arch rival. He has gone from a small character to an iconic Wizard. I can’t wait to see what he does next in his career.
Pegreen Clock
To
Draco Malfoy
I hope you enjoyed this one guys. I don’t know if I will get the chance to see you until 2025. If I don’t, keep sending me book/recipe recommendation and have a Happy Christmas!
Mischief managed.
Knox
Xxx
Hatty’s Reading Corner 
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