The Harry Potter story might be complete, but fans of the Wizarding World continue to revisit the iconic tale years later. One major reason why rereading the books or rewatching the films is a worthwhile experience is that author J.K. Rowling included so many incredible details that tie the entire franchise together in surprising ways. Many fans quickly point out all the set-up Rowling did early on to make it all come together in the Deathly Hallows.
For instance, Rowling introduced a Horcrux in the second book, but fans didn't learn of the magical objects until Half-Blood Prince. It's common knowledge that the Harry Potter series consists of seven books, but there's another hidden detail fans might not have realized, which relates to that specific number. As it turns out, the number seven is all over the Harry Potterseries. Discover some of the biggest instances of seven in Harry Potter that will likely blow your mind, and why it's important in the Wizarding World to begin with.
Instances of Seven in the Harry Potter Series
Harry Potter Series in Order |
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix |
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows |
The Harry Potter series features seven books, representing how many years a student attends Hogwarts. However, that's not the only major time the number seven appeared in the story. Another instance of the number seven being used in the series for a major plot point related to Voldemort. Toward the end of the series, Harry and Dumbledore uncover that Voldemort created seven Horcruxes to try and become immortal. These seven objects contained pieces of Voldemort's soul. The Weasley family also plays a major role in the Harry Potter series, largely because Ron and Harry become close friends during their first year at Hogwarts. The Weasleys eventually become a second family to Harry, who winds up marrying Ron's sister, Ginny. The Weasleys are well-known for being a large family, with Molly and Arthur having seven children.
Going back to the first book, seven challenges were in place to protect the Sorcerer's Stone inside Hogwarts. In the final book, when the Order of the Phoenix has to transport Harry safely to The Burrow for protection after he turns 17, they use Polyjuice Potion to create seven Harry Potters to throw the Death Eaters off the scent. The number seven is also prevalent in Quidditch since the magical sport features seven players on a team. Harry's number as a seeker was also seven. The iconic location of Hogwarts Castle also featured seven floors and, on the Maurader's Map, seven is the same number of hidden passageways on the grounds. It also requires seven Galleons for Harry to purchase his first wand from Olivander's. Harry's parents, James and Lilly, also begin to see each other during the seventh year at Hogwarts. There are countless other examples of the number seven in the Harry Potterseries, so much so that it's certainly not just a coincidence.
Real Life Instances of Seven for Harry Potter
The number seven has also been used in other aspects of the Harry Potter franchise, outside the story itself.
While these instances are likely more of a coincidence, it's still fascinating to see how the number has become part of real-life circumstances.
The use of seven throughout the Harry Potter series doesn't just lie in the stories themselves. There are also noteworthy, real-life instances of the seven that have occurred, even if they are more coincidental. The first Harry Potter book came out in 1997, and ten years later, the final installment brought the story to an end in 2007. Within the pages of the last Harry Potterbook, Rowling also divided her dedications into seven parts. Another surprising note is that the epilogue in the final Harry Potter book takes place in 2017. On August 7, 2011, the last two Harry Potter films won seven awards at the Teen Choice Awards.
Moreover, the Harry Potter film series featured seven actors in the role of its main villain, Voldemort, at various times. Additionally, Rowling has noted that seven major characters attend Hogwarts, including Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and Draco Malfoy. Behind the scenes, the number seven doesn't just make its way into the Harry Potter series since its Wizarding World prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, took place 70 years prior. Recently, HBO shared that it could end up releasing the first season of its highly anticipated Harry Potter series in 2027, with seven seasons for each book.
Why Is Seven the Most Magical Number?
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Arithmancer Bridget Wenlock discovered the magical properties of the number seven in the 13th century within the Harry Potter canon.
The number seven influenced Tom Riddle to create that number of Horcruxes. The number seven was an accident since it was Harry Potter himself, and it alternated with the events of the Wizarding World's history.
With all the examples, Rowling clearly intended to use the number seven intentionally in the Harry Potter series. She notably decided to write seven books that parallel the length of time students typically attend Hogwarts because that's how many years she spent attending secondary school, and she didn't stop there. There's also an in-universe explanation behind why seven is the most powerful magical number, hence its repetitive use in the series.
"Wouldn't it be better, make you stronger, to have your soul in more pieces, I mean, for instance, isn't seven the most powerfully magical number, wouldn't seven--?" -- Tom Riddle on the number seven in Half-Blood Prince.
During the 13th century in the Wizarding World, Arithmancer Bridget Wenlock invited a theorem that revealed the magical properties of the number seven. A young Tom Riddle referred to this knowledge in Half-Blood Prince when he confronts Professor Slughorn about Horcruxes as a Hogwarts student. The number seven also carries significant meaning in the real world, stemming from beliefs within religion and ancient civilizations. Because seven has so much meaning behind it, it makes sense why it influenced not only characters in the Harry Potter series but also Rowling herself while writing the story.
With so many uses of the number seven in the Harry Potter series, there are more hidden throughout to uncover. It's also important to note that while, in some cases, it could've been a pure coincidence, there are enough examples to justify Rowling's intention to use the number based on the real-world meaning behind it and the desire to infuse it with the Wizarding World. Furthermore, Rowling developed a brief backstory for the number that backs this theory up.
The frequent instances of the number seven in the Harry Potter series is just one of the many ways it's perceived as one of the greatest stories ever told. It's also why so many revisit the story because there are so many other hidden details awaiting discovery that could blow your mind as much as the various uses of a number that carries major weight. These all range from how many books are in the series to Voldemort's grand attempt to remain immortal. The number seven in Harry Potter is far more than an accident, and in some ways, it's magical in its own right since it tied the entire franchise together.
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