Magical Tours Contest

The chance of a lifetime is here! In association with Magical Tours, MuggleNet is offering a lucky visitor the chance to win a trip to Scotland and England for a Harry Potter theme tour. You can read the itinerary as well as other details here.

UPDATE (4/7/06): After two rounds of a very challenging Harry Potter "online scavenger hunt" sponsored by MuggleNet and Magical Tours, we can announce the winners! Drum roll, please?

GRAND PRIZE: Martha Hayakawa
Martha wins a place on the Enchanted Scotland and England for MuggleNet Fans tour, July 7 - 17, 2006, including airfare.

SECOND PRIZE: Ashley Gale
Ashley wins a beautiful reproduction sword, which bears a very close resemblance to Godric Gryfindor's sword in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

THIRD PRIZE: Keith Wynecoop
Keith wins a British version of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (with Snape's worn potions book on the cover), purchased on Charring Cross Road in London, along with a genuine Gryfindor House scarf.

Congratulations to the top winners, but also to all the contestants who did such an amazing job of tracking down Harry Potter lore hidden in some very difficult photo clues. Thirty-eight entrants made it into the finalist round, but many, many more came very close to getting all the right answers in Round 1. You are true MuggleNet geniuses! To see what the finalists were up against in Round 2, take a look at the pictures and rhyme they had to figure out here. See how well you do before checking out the answers here.

Even though there could only be one free trip awarded, Magical Tours still has a few places available on three of the 2006 Harry Potter theme tours (unfortunately not free). You can check them out here.

Pictures/Answers (Phase Two):

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

• A house in the village of Lacock in Wiltshire, England: How it relates - This is the wooden gate that Voldemort opens to get to Harry's parents' house to kill Lily and James Potter. Film reference - The flashback scene when Hagrid is telling Harry about his parents in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Clue - "Cruel light" refers to the green light from Voldemort's Avada Kedavra curse.
• The Warming Room in the cloisters at Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire, England: How it relates - This room was transformed into Professor Quirrell's classroom in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Film reference - The cauldron that is already in the room had a platform built around it and Quirrell is seen standing on it when McGonagall interrupts his class in order to "borrow Oliver Wood for a moment". Note: this room was not Snape's classroom nor the room housing The Mirror of Erised, though these were locations in the Lacock Abbey cloisters as well. Clue - "sustaining heat". This was the only room where the nuns were allowed to have a fire during the chilly English winters. The cauldron actually located there defines exactly which room in the cloisters is identified.
• An area of the floor in the cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England: How it relates - These cloisters were used for many scenes in the first two movies. This particular picture is of the floor where the filming crew got permission to tape down a huge water container to allow the floor to be flooded in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". When the tape was removed, so was hundreds of years of patina on the ancient floor. Oooops. Film reference - Several scenes showing the flooded floor from water from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom in "Chamber of Secrets". Clue - "Seeping Water" refers to the water seeping from the bathroom and flooding the floor.
• The courtyard of the cloisters at Durham Cathedral, Durham, England: How it relates - This courtyard can be seen in several scenes in the first two films. Film reference - There are several scenes from which to choose. For example, in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" when the Gryffindor Quidditch team confronts the Slytherin Qudditch team; and specifically from the clue, the courtyard is also seen in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" when, in a snow scene, Harry lets Hedwig out to soar over the spires above. Clue - "silent snow": The Harry and Hedwig scene clearly identifies Durham Catheral. There were no spoken words in this beautiful scene, just music.
• Rue Nicolas-Flamel, Paris, France: How it relates - The street sign says "Rue Nicolas-Flamel", and refers to a famous real-life Parisian. Nicolas Flamel, though we do not meet him, plays a very important part "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone". Flamel was a friend and working partner of Albus Dumbledore. He was known to have successfully made the Philosopher's Stone, so important in the first Harry Potter book and movie. Nicolas Flamel, was a real alchemist who lived in France during the 14th century, and is rumored to have actually created a "real" philosopher's stone. Coincidence? J.K. Rowling spent a year studying in Paris. No filming reference. Clues - "Ancient folk we've come to know" and "wide indeed" and "start with root". Flamel was over 600 years old. That's ancient. And: since the photo was not in Britain, "wide indeed" encouraged searchers to look beyond Britain. To find the street sign in Paris one must first start with Flamel, the man, and follow the clues to rue Nicolas-Flamel. Voila! By the way, this same system would have worked for other photos, too.

For all those who got them all right (27 MuggleNet geniuses), WELL DONE!

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UPDATE (3/11/06): Phase two has now begun! Winners of phase one have been notified and are currently sorting through a batch of five new pictures to correctly identify. Answers to phase one can be seen below!

Pictures/Answers (Phase One):

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

• St. Pancras Station, London: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Ron's flying Ford Anglia is seen soaring in front of this rail station, just next door to King's Cross Station. It is not, as many think, King's Cross.
• Doorway at #7 Stoney Street in the Borough Market area of London: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Entrance to the Leaky Cauldron at the conclusion of the Knight Bus run.
• The Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle (also known as "The Armoury"): Here JK Rowling read a selection from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince after midnight on the morning of July 16, 2005. Her audience was a group of youngsters from different countries who had won competitions to attend the event. By the way, Emerson was there, too. (WooHoo!) Also it is among the influences which shaped the author's image of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not used as a filming location.
• The North Walk Lavatorium at Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Ron and Harry are seen hiding in this alcove when they on the way to try to "rescue" Hermione from the troll.
• Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan Gorge, Scotland: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry. Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. In CoS Ron and Harry fly over this viaduct in the flying Ford Anglia. In PoA the Hogwarts Express stalls on the viaduct as Dementors board
• Steall Falls, Glen Nevis, Scotland: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Clearly seen in the background of the dragon arena in The First Challenge
• Goathland Station, Goathland, England - North Yorkshire Moors Railway: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone The Hogwarts Express arrives at this station, as "Hogsmead Station" on Harry's first journey to Hogwarts. The distinctive arched overhead walkway bridge is the most distinguishing feature.
• Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, England: Filming location for numerous scenes on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's. Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The bronze sculpture of Harry "Hotspur" Percy (the horse is a detail), identifies this location as Alnwick Castle. But the bit of rampart showing is also a clue revealing the castle's unique architecture. Scenes include: Harry's first flying lesson, Harry's first quidditch, instruction by Oliver wood, Harry and Ron discuss Hermione's lack of friends, Hagrid dragging a Christmas tree, The flying car crashes into the Womping Willow, and many more. Any correct scene reference was acceptable.
• The Reptile House at The London Zoo: Filming location on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry first talks to a snake inside this building. Look fast - it appears briefly as Harry and the Dursleys enter the Reptile House. The "1927" relief decoration is above the entrance, over the words "Reptile House". Ooops, looks like we got this one upside down. How careless! Note that the tops of the letters saying "Reptile House" are partially visible.
• King's Cross Station, London: Various scenes in first three movies feature Platform 4. Hagrid takes Harry to the station to catch The Hogwart's Express the first time. Location of "Platform 9 3/4". Any correct scene reference was acceptable.
• Edinburgh, Scotland: Home of J K Rowling, and the city in which much of the first Harry Potter book was written, and where she wrote for later books in the series. This view is from Edingurgh Castle (note the canon barrell) overlooking the Princess Street area. The giveaway is the darkened spire, the Sir Walter Scott monument. Not a filming location.
• Nicolson's Restaurant, Edinburgh, Scotland: J K Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone here (upstairs windows). Every Harry Potter fan should know the significance of Nicolson's in Harry Potter lore. Not a filming location.

  Deadlines:

  Contest begins Sunday, February 19th and ends March 5th. In the event of a second round, those who got past round one will have a one week period to correctly identify additional photos. Winners will be announced within 10 days of the contest closing.

  Rules:

  Participants under the age of 18 will be required to obtain permission from a parent or guardian in order to compete in the contest (this is especially important since the Grand Prize is a 10-day travel experience). Age MUST BE STATED to enter. The minimum age for entering the contest is 14. If the winner is between the ages of 14 and 17, a parent or guardian must agree to work out arrangements for a chaperone, or provide written permission for an adult (18 or older) from the staff of Magical Tours or another tour participant to serve as chaperone. The winner must show proof of a valid passport before prize documentation will be awarded.

  The contest is sponsored by MuggleNet, which is not affiliated with or endorsed by Warner Bros., Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, or Bloomsbury Publishing. Contest rules and selection of winners are the sole responsibility of MuggleNet, the sponsor of the contest, who has the final decision on all issues. Magical Tours is providing all prizes. Those affiliated with MuggleNet, Magical Tours, Your Man in Europe, or other agents of MuggleNet are not eligible to win.