See the American Hogwarts and Meet the Four New Houses in New ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Feature
When J.K. Rowling first revealed there was an American version of Howgarts, Harry Potter fans in the U.S. collectively freaked out. We too get our own school of witchcraft and wizardry?! Yep, and now we know a ton of new details about the school’s history, houses, and founder.
A new feature from the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes us to the top of Mount Greylock where the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sits. Through animation, reminiscent of “The Tale of Three Brothers” sequence from The Deathly Hallows – Part I, the feature shows a brief history of the American school, which all began with an Irish girl named Isolt Sayre and a “unique” stolen wand.
Along with the feature, the author released new writing on Pottermore about the American wizarding school and its four houses. Say goodbye to Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. At Ilvermorny you’re either a Horned Serpent, Pukwudgie, Thunderbird, or a Wampus. But don’t expect to put on a sorting hat. At Ilvermorny, students stand by a magical wall where an enchanted carving selects their house sigil for them. These are each of the houses respective magical creatures:
- Horned Serpent – a “great horned river serpent with a jewel set into its forehead”
- Pukwudgie – “a short, grey-faced, large-eared creature”
- Thunderbird – a creature that “can create storms as it flies”
- Wampus – a “magical, panther-like creature that is fast, strong and almost impossible to kill”
The new writing dives into the story of the school’s founder. Isolt was a pure-blood girl born in 17th century Ireland. When her parents were attacked and killed (hmm this sounds familiar), she was rescued by her aunt, Gormlaith Gaunt, who turns out to be killer. Eventually Isolt runs away to America, marries a muggle, and starts Ilvermorny as a home school for her children.
It’s unknown how much of these details will pop in up the first Fantastic Beasts, which opens November 18, but there will be at least two more opportunities to adapt Rowling’s writing for the big screen. Until then, us Americans will be waiting very patiently for our Ilvermorny acceptance letter.