‘Harry Potter’ Fans Rejoice: Four New Wizarding Schools Have Been Revealed By J.K. Rowling

If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you don’t follow the Pottermore Twitter account, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Mixed in with the usual marketing a powerful branding that Harry Potter carries on its social media channels are plenty of notes and nuggets about the wonderful wizarding world that we embrace so dearly (like alliteration). To kick off Universal Orlando’s “Celebration of Harry Potter” three day event down in Florida, Harry Potter actress Evanna Lynch revealed that yes, there are four more wizarding schools around the world. That news alone is pretty sweet, but while astute fans know that there will be an American school featured in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this information reveals the locations of all, and throws us some details on the schools themselves.

First up is Japan’s school, Mahoutokoro.

J.K. Rowling herself penned a brief description of the school:

This ancient Japanese school has the smallest student body of the eleven great wizarding schools and takes students from the age of seven (although they do not board until they are eleven). While day students, wizarding children are flown back and forth to their homes every day on the backs of a flock of giant storm petrels. The ornate and exquisite palace of Mahoutokoro is made of mutton-fat jade, and stands on the topmost point of the ‘uninhabited’ (or so Muggles think) Volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima.

Wait – ELEVEN schools? We only know of five. Spill the magic beans, lady! Ugh, you can read more about Mahoutokoro here.

Then we head to central Africa where Uagadou has been operating for over a thousand years:

Although Africa has a number of smaller wizarding schools (for advice on locating these, see introductory paragraph), there is only one that has stood the test of time (at least a thousand years) and achieved an enviable international reputation: Uagadou. The largest of all wizarding schools, it welcomes students from all over the enormous continent. The only address ever given is ‘Mountains of the Moon’; visitors speak of a stunning edifice carved out of the mountainside and shrouded in mist, so that it sometimes appears simply to float in mid-air. Much (some would say all) magic originated in Africa, and Uagadou graduates are especially well versed in Astronomy, Alchemy and Self-Transfiguration.

Read more about Uagadou here.

The next school, Castleobruxo revealed was in Brazil, that is hidden from those dirty muggles (if I ever find out that there is really a world of witchcraft and wizardry I’m going to be so sad) as an Amazonian ruin.

The Brazilian school for magic, which takes students from all over South America, may be found hidden deep within the rainforest. The fabulous castle appears to be a ruin to the few Muggle eyes that have ever fallen upon it (a trick shared by Hogwarts; opinion is divided on who got the idea from whom). Castelobruxo is an imposing square edifice of golden rock, often compared to a temple. Both building and grounds are protected by the Caipora, small and furry spirit-beings who are extraordinarily mischievous and tricky, and who emerge under cover of night to watch over the students and the creatures who live in the forest. Former Castelobruxo Headmistress Benedita Dourado was once heard to laugh heartily, on an exchange visit to Hogwarts, when Headmaster Armando Dippet complained of Peeves the poltergeist. Her offer to send him some Caipora for the Forbidden Forest ‘to show you what trouble really is’ was not accepted.

Read more about the school that I have to assume practices jiu jitsu as well here.

And finally, the American school that we will likely see in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Ilvermorny. Located in the northeast, it’s… Oh wait. TEASE! TEASE!

As for Ilvermorny… All of you eagle-eyed fans had an inkling that word was going to mean something special, and Pottermore will bring you more writing by J.K. Rowling on this magical school soon.

Oh J.K., you just love to announce a bunch of information then say “JK”. Alright, bad joke, but seriously – we need more information. Why does Ms. Rowling have to be such a great writer and leave us wanting more?

(Via Mashable)