Museum of Science and Industry

Hands-On with Harry Potter™: The Exhibition

Throw a Quaffle

In the Harry Potter films we learn that Quidditch™ is the most popular sport in the wizarding world.  A bit like soccer, it is played on broomsticks – in mid-air – with four different-sized balls:

• 1 Quaffle – which the Chasers try and get through one of the hoops
• 2 Bludgers – which rocket around trying to knock players off their brooms
• 1 Golden Snitch™ – which is bewitched to evade capture as long as possible

There are seven players on each side:

• 3 Chasers – who throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the hoops to score a goal
• 2 Beaters – who use small clubs called ‘Beater’s Bats’ to keep the Bludgers from knocking teammates (and themselves) off their brooms
• 1 Keeper – who flies around their team’s hoops to stop the other team from scoring
• 1 Seeker – who must catch the Golden Snitch and – hopefully – win the game

Harry became the youngest Seeker in a century at Hogwarts™ during his first year when he was selected for the Gryffindor™ Quidditch team.  Ron and his sister, Ginny Weasley™, joined the team in later years, as Keeper and Chaser, respectively.

Perhaps you can’t be a Chaser for Gryffindor, but you can still try your hand at throwing a Quaffle in the Quidditch area of Harry Potter: The Exhibition.

Pull a Mandrake

As seen in the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Herbology Professor Pomona Sprout teaches Harry’s class to re-pot young Mandrakes.  This plant, while useful in potions, will emit a loud scream when pulled from the ground. While the effect of a young Mandrake’s scream may only knock you out, the shriek from a fully grown Mandrake can be fatal.

Find out first-hand what it's like to pull a young Mandrake from its pot when you visit Harry Potter: The Exhibition.

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