refresher....

ok, so i appreciated this refresher.....from a london paper..release is only a bit more than 24 hours.....i teach sunday school this weekend....i am studying ahead.....so that i can devote as much time as possible to volume 6.....


HARRY POTTER: The son of Lily and James Potter, who were murdered by the evil wizard Lord Voldemort. Voldemort tried to kill Harry as well, but failed, leaving him with a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. At Hogwarts, a school for witches and wizards, Harry is a member of Gryffindor house, where he plays on the Quidditch team. He's constantly threatened by Voldemort and his minion, and knows a showdown is imminent. He's currently reeling from the killing of his godfather, Sirius Black.

RON WEASLEY: Ron is one of Harry's two best friends at Hogwarts. Tall, with red hair and freckles, he is sometimes envious of Harry's fame and is embarrassed by his family's lack of wealth. Ron is deathly afraid of spiders, ever since his older brother turned his teddy bear into one when Ron was a toddler. He's now a Gryffindor prefect, on the Quidditch team and, as always, right there in the thick of things with Harry.

HERMIONE GRANGER: This Gryffindor classmate, Harry's other best friend, is by far the smartest student of her year. With bushy hair and formerly large teeth (she had them shrunk in Book four), Hermione can sometimes be a know-it-all but is always a good friend to Harry. She's despised by some -- especially Hogwarts student Draco Malfoy, who dislikes Hermione because her parents are Muggles (non-magical). She tends to go by the rules and wishes Harry wouldn't be quite so willing to court trouble, but she always has her wand out, ready to do her part when the time comes.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE: Head of Hogwarts. Dumbledore is reputed to be the only wizard Voldemort actually fears. He has been involved in Harry's life from the beginning. It was Dumbledore who decided Harry should live with his horrible aunt and uncle after his parents died; since Harry's arrival at Hogwarts, Dumbledore has kept an eye on him.

LORD VOLDEMORT: The most heinous wizard of recent time, Voldemort had instituted a reign of terror in the magical world. He and his supporters, the Death-Eaters, were responsible for torturing and killing many wizards, which stopped the night he went after the Potters. He killed Lily and James, but when he attempted to curse Harry, the curse bounced back and severely weakened him. He has returned to physical form, sending the magical world into a state of panic.

MINERVA McGONAGALL: A professor at Hogwarts, she teaches transfiguration and is the head of Gryffindor House. She started Harry on his Quidditch career when she saw him fly a broomstick for the first time. She wears glasses that look just like the markings around the eyes of the tabby cat into which she transfigures.

SEVERUS SNAPE: Head of Slytherin House, Snape is professor of potions. But he really wants to be the defence-against-the-dark-arts teacher. From the minute Harry arrives at Hogwarts, Snape detests him -- but he also kept Harry safe his first year at Hogwarts -- an act of honour since James Potter once saved his life. A former Death-Eater, he left Voldemort's service and went to work for good.

RUBEUS HAGRID: Keeper of the Keys at Hogwarts and recently a professor of the care of magical creatures. It was Hagrid, larger-than-life thanks to his giant mother, who turned up on Harry's 11th birthday to tell him about his past. A former Hogwarts student, he was kicked out after he was framed for crimes committed by Tom Riddle, who later became Lord Voldemort. He's besotted by dangerous animals.

DRACO MALFOY: Harry's most detested enemy, at least among Hogwarts students. He's a member of Slytherin House, which generated many of Voldemort's followers. Malfoy considers himself superior to many students, because he comes from one of the oldest and longstanding pureblood wizard families.

THE DURSLEYS: Vernon, Petunia and son Dudley are Harry's nasty, non-magical relatives. Petunia was Lily's sister. The Dursleys, who hate anything abnormal, spent years mistreating Harry. They keep him during his summer breaks, but are extremely glad he spends all his other holidays at school. But Petunia is not as unaware of the magical world as we think.

THE WEASLEYS: Ron's parents, Arthur and Molly, have six other children -- Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and Ginny. Extremely loving and extremely poor, the family lives in a ramshackle house in Ottery St. Catchpole. They've almost adopted Harry, and are all very fond of him.

LUCIUS MALFOY: Draco's father and a Voldemort supporter. He hates Muggles and all those descended from non-magical families. Using his money and power, he tries to influence many things. He's now in prison for being a Death-Eater.