Harry Potter trivia for treasure hunt
March 26, 2016 11:25 AM

I want to use obscure Harry Potter trivia to make an Easter morning treasure hunt for my daughter. She has read the books so much that I say she's working on memorizing them. What difficult trivia questions could lead to answers of things that we might have around the house?

I've found sites with trivia, but it's hard to see how those might work into a clue for a household object.

Help me come up with some fun clues to lead to her Easter basket!
posted by Margalo Epps to Writing & Language (11 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
Rather than specific trivia questions, how about something like, as if Mr. Weasley had written the clues? He gets so excited about Muggle things, maybe you could describe Muggle treasure locations through his excitable wizardly lens.
posted by tomboko at 11:30 AM on March 26, 2016


Touching this item transported Harry and his friends to the Quidditch World Cup. A: a tire.
posted by Night_owl at 11:33 AM on March 26, 2016


What time does the Hogwarts Express leave--for a clock!
posted by leesh at 11:34 AM on March 26, 2016


- which part (section, compartment) of the house would Dobby the house elf love best? (Sock drawer)
- where was the boggart in 12 Grimmauld Place hiding? (Writing desk/desk)
- what does the head of a garden gnome look like? (Potatoes)
- what did Harry give Mr Weasley for Christmas one year? (Screwdrivers)
posted by Aravis76 at 12:17 PM on March 26, 2016


Hermione's parents would tell you to use this every day: toothbrush or toothpaste

Neville (or Professor Sprout) might do a good job of taking care of one of these: houseplant

Ron is terrified of these: something with a spider

Ron once had one of these that his brothers turned into a spider: teddy bear

Hermione brought everything they needed to look for Horcruxes in one of these: handbag, preferably a dressy one

Professor Trelawney has her students look into one of these to see their futures: teacup

Dumbledore's favorite candy: lemon drops/lemon sherbets

Neville's mum gave him one of these at the hospital: gum wrapper

Hagrid's wand is concealed in this: pink umbrella

Hermione used these to make clothing for elves: knitting needles/yarn

Mrs. Weasley makes these for everyone in the family at Christmas: sweaters

List of patronuses, in case you have any items with these animals

Dobby wore this before he was granted freedom: pillowcase

(These aren't terribly obscure, but I don't have the books with me to verify the answers to really obscure questions...and I know better than to tangle with Harry Potter fans when it comes to inaccuracy!)
posted by corey flood at 12:28 PM on March 26, 2016


A place to use dragon's blood in a muggle home (oven - one of the 12 uses of dragon blood is as an oven cleaner).
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:30 PM on March 26, 2016


What does Dumbledore claim* to have seen in the Mirror of Erised? (Socks)

Hermione carried this to avoid death by Basilisk (A mirror)

What does Lupin give Harry after he sees the Dementors? (Chocolate)

These aren't super tricky pieces trivia, but they do correspond well to household items.

Along the lines of the patronuses, here's a list of Horcruxes and a list of animagi (wizards turning into animals). You may find the Harry Potter wiki that I linked to generally be a good source of additional trivia.

*I used "claim" because even at the time, Harry suspects Dumbledore is not being truthful, a fact confirmed by the seventh book.
posted by litera scripta manet at 2:33 PM on March 26, 2016


I did this last fall! Some of the clues I used:

Dumbledore once happened upon the Room of Requirement when he was in need of this.

Arthur Weasley wrote a loophole into the law regarding the ownership of charmed Muggle objects to allow himself to modify this.

Buckbeak was hidden near these before being rescued.

House-elf heads were mounted here at 12 Grimmauld Place.

Where the Weasleys kept their brooms.

Vernon Dursley placed bars here to prevent Harry from escaping.

Cedric Diggory opened his golden egg here.

The mother of the author of this book was an enthusiastic Hippogriff breeder.

The Weasley’s one-handed clock is in this room.

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's 500th Deathday Party was lit with these.

The Black family crest and china were kept here.

The ghoul in the Burrow loudly banged on these when it felt things were too quiet.
posted by metasarah at 2:49 PM on March 26, 2016


metasarah -- what are the answers?
posted by Margalo Epps at 4:11 PM on March 26, 2016


I'm not metasarah, but I'll answer:

Dumbledore once happened upon the Room of Requirement when he was in need of this.
The toilet

Arthur Weasley wrote a loophole into the law regarding the ownership of charmed Muggle objects to allow himself to modify this.
The Ford Anglia (his car)

Buckbeak was hidden near these before being rescued.
Pumpkins (I believe)

House-elf heads were mounted here at 12 Grimmauld Place.
Stairs to the upper floor (on the walls)

Where the Weasleys kept their brooms.
A stone outhouse in the backyard that served as a broom shed

Vernon Dursley placed bars here to prevent Harry from escaping.
Harry's bedroom window

Cedric Diggory opened his golden egg here.
In the bath (it was an ornate bath tub in the prefects' bathroom, the trick was to get the egg underwater)

The mother of the author of this book was an enthusiastic Hippogriff breeder.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Newt Scamander's mom)

The Weasley’s one-handed clock is in this room.
Living room

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's 500th Deathday Party was lit with these.
Jet-black candles with bright blue flames

The Black family crest and china were kept here.
Dresser in the dining room

The ghoul in the Burrow loudly banged on these when it felt things were too quiet.
Pipes in the attic
posted by divabat at 7:17 AM on March 27, 2016


Thanks, everyone, this was fun. My daughter actually had to search through her books for "what did Harry give Mr Weasley for Christmas one year?" It was great to slow her down just a little. We also used "Hagrid's wand is concealed in this," Hermione's patronus, "Dumbledore once happened upon the Room of Requirement when he was in need of this," and "Cedric Diggory opened his golden egg here." Mr. Epps wrote them out in fancy handwriting.
posted by Margalo Epps at 7:42 PM on April 5, 2016


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