Maybe it is my lack of expertise in Harry Potter, or my general ignorance, but I never realized how much of an effect Scotland had on the book and film series.

JK Rowling had acute depression after her mother’s death and after she divorced her husband, so she moved from England to Edinburgh, Scotland. This was due to Scotland’s more lenient financial aid for living, and she had to escape the bad memories in England. She still lives in Edinburgh to this day!

Walking around Edinburgh’s Old Town gave JK Rowling writing inspiration. She had trouble coming up with original names for characters, so she made frequent visits to the Edinburgh graveyard for ideas. Some names from there are Thomas Riddell (Tom Riddle!) and McGonagall (Professor McGonagall!)

One day, when JK Rowling was taking a walk with her daughter, they passed by a private school called George Heriot’s. Her daughter asked why she could not attend there, and JK Rowling said it was because only witches and wizards could go there. You can guess where that idea got translated into! That school is also divided into four “houses,” but it is more about the students’ expertise, like literature or engineering. The houses in the school also compete against each other, and at the end of the school year they also win a golden cup. Also, Victoria Street in Edinburgh was the inspiration for the Diagon Alley set!

When the Harry Potter series was being translated into film, JK Rowling insisted that some of the scenes be filmed in Scotland, because it was the country that allowed her to get where she was. And if the movies were successful, then people would want to visit the filming sites, bringing tourism to Scotland and a better economy. Well, that idea worked, because look at where we are today.

The three main places I visited where the Three Sisters of Glencoe, Loch Shiel, and the Glennfinnan Viaduct.

A day at the Warner Bros Studio and two days of Scotland really bolstered my interest for Harry Potter. Now I need to reread the books and rewatch the movies. When I have time, of course, because junior year [eek] is starting very soon.

Katie

P.S. My house is Hufflepuff and my Patronus is the black mare, if you want to compare these two things.