8 Magical Facts About 'Harry Potter' That May Surprise The Series' Biggest Fans

The world of "Harry Potter" is one that many readers and moviegoers alike are familiar with, but in a universe that is as expansive as this particular wizarding world there are always new and interesting facts to learn. Here, we will take a look at just a few things that make Hogwarts and all who frequent it so incredibly special.

1. Harry would have turned 39 this year

Although fans began reading about the magical world in 1997 when the first book debuted, author J.K. Rowling gave the main character her own birthday of July 31, with a birth year of 1980.

2. The Dementors are based on Rowling's struggle with depression following her mother's death

The author's mother died in 1990, which threw her into a depressive state. "It's so difficult to describe [depression] to someone who's never been there, because it's not sadness," Rowling told Oprah Winfrey in a 2010 interview, adding, "I know sadness. Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it's that cold absence of feeling - that really hollowed-out feeling. That's what the Dementors are."

3. The plant names come from real books

"I used to collect names of plants that sounded witchy, and then I found this, 'Culpeper's Complete Herbal,' and it was the answer to my every prayer: flax weed, toadflax, fleawort, Gout-wort, grommel, knotgrass, Mugwort," the author told "60 Minutes" in 2003. The book, which was written in the 17th century by English botanist and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, can additionally be read online for those who are interested in seeing the full scope of Rowling's inspiration.

4. If Muggles had somehow stumbled across Hogwarts it would not have had the magical appearance that was visible to the wizards

According to the Independent, Muggles would have instead seen a "dilapidated building with a 'Keep Out: Dangerous' sign on it."

5. Alfonso Cuarón, who directed "The Prisoner of Azkaban," asked the trio to write essays about their characters

The director of the series' third film reportedly asked lead actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson to pen essays about their characters from a first-person point of view. According to the Guardian, the cast responded very much in character for the assignment as Daniel, who played Harry, wrote one page, Emma, who played Hermione, wrote 10, and Rupert, who played Ron, didn't write anything.

6. Not all effects in the movies were generated by computers

Not all of the scenes in the films relied on computers to create the end result. Animatronics were used in some scenes that featured baby mandrakes and the Monster Book of Monsters, according to Mental Floss.

7. Dumbledore could see Harry while he was wearing the invisibility cloak

The Hogwarts Headmaster silently cast the human-presence-revealing spell, "homenum revelio," in order to detect where Harry was while he was wearing the article of clothing, according to 22 Words.

8. Hogwarts' official motto was in Latin, just like many of the spells

The motto for the school is "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus," which translates to "never tickle a sleeping dragon," according to Insider.