In the first months of the current year, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the first movie of our childhood hero, Harry Potter. Whether you’re reading the novel, watching the movie, or maybe both, you’ll no doubt remember the Golden Snitch at those legendary Quidditch matches.
In the Quidditch match, the players of both teams would try to catch this small, winged and very fast ball accompanied by seekers. Those who caught it would earn their team an extra 150 points, ending the game. Although it seems like a requirement to be caught, there is no such requirement. Teams could surrender at any time and finish the match without finding the Golden Snitch. According to some, the Golden Snitch also had a huge impact on Harry Potter’s character development at Hogwarts. Now let’s look at some interesting facts about this ball and get ready to reveal the unknown sides of the Golden Snitch.
Interesting facts about the Golden Snitch:
The real snitch wasn’t a ball, it was actually a bird called the ‘Golden Snidget’
Yes. You heard right. Actually, the original Snitch wasn’t a ball, it was a bird called the Golden Snidget. Witches and Wizards would frantically hunt down the Golden Snidget for the 150 Galleons they gave to the bird’s catcher. The Golden Snidget, which has been used as a part of the sport for years, has been replaced by the well-known Golden Snitch for a number of reasons.
Gold and copper were used to make the Golden Snitch used in the movie.
No wonder the Golden Snitch used in the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone looks beautiful, with both gold and copper added into a metal ball. According to the novel Harry Potter: From Page to Screen, thin ribs were added to a walnut-sized metal ball and took its form in the movie.
A Quidditch foul called Snitchnip can end the whole game
We can say that every wizard in the Harry Potter universe loves Quidditch. But do they know all the rules even though they love it? We think that even those who watch the movie or read the book do not know about the foul we will talk about.
During the game, there are seekers determined by each team. These seekers hover on their broomsticks in search of the Golden Snitch. If he finds it, he wins the match, giving his team 150 points. However, if a player in any role other than the seeker touches or catches the Golden Snitch, the foul called Snitchnip will be triggered. Since the referees are following the game, the team that committed the foul forfeit the game and there is no turning back.
Molly Weasley baked Harry a Golden Snitch shaped cake
July 31 is a day to remember for those who love the Harry Potter universe. So, it’s Harry Potter’s birthday. Here, as we saw in the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when our hero officially entered 17 years old, the spell that had protected him also ended and he became vulnerable to attack. However, this birthday had another meaning for Harry Potter.
Potter received a copy of The Twelve Failed Safe Ways to Attract Witches by Ron, and some gifts from Hermione at Fred and George’s joke shop. To celebrate, Molly Weasley (the mother of the Weasley children) prepared a Golden Snitch birthday cake for Harry.
The Golden Snitch remembers who first captured it
Unlike other balls used in Quidditch, the Golden Snitch doesn’t forget anything, no matter how they cast a spell, it doesn’t forget the slap it ate, even if it has a Golden Snitch match. For this reason, it was necessary to carry it with gloves until the Quidditch match and no one should touch it before the match.
For this reason, a different Golden Snitch must be used for each Quidditch match. Memories of other balls used in Quidditch? Don’t worry they’re not like the Golden Snitch, forgetful ball.
You can win a Quidditch match without catching the Golden Snitch
Any possible Quidditch matches are over the moment the Golden Snitch is caught. Even if the wizards of the Harry Potter universe caught the ball they regarded as a sure win, they could lose due to the difference in points. A similar situation occurred in the game I will talk about shortly.
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry, Ron and Hermione had qualified for the Quidditch World Cup final. There was a fierce struggle between Ireland and Bulgaria. Although the Irish are close to victory, Bulgarian national Quidditch seeker Viktor Krum caught a Golden Snitch. Although everyone thought that Bulgaria would win, the Irish team scored 170 points, outscoring their rival Bulgaria by 10 points and achieved the victory.
Dumbledore left Harry the first Golden Snitch he had inherited
After Dumbledore’s death, Harry had inherited a familiar legacy. Imagine that the bond between you is so strong that the principal of your school keeps the first Golden Snitch you catch and leaves it to you as a legacy. Don’t just call it a small ball, it was bequeathed to Harry by a spell cast by Dumbledore. This spell would only appear when Harry put the Golden Snitch in his mouth and accepted himself as he was.
“I’m about to die,” said Harry, placing the Golden Snitch in his mouth. he said, and the Golden Snitch seemed to open. However, it was not as expected, some letters appeared outside the Golden Snitch and it was written “I Will Open at Closing”. Dumbledore had placed the Resurrection Stone inside the Golden Snitch, but when Harry wanted to defeat Lord Voldemort by fighting, it would kick in and the Golden Snitch would open.
JK Rowling can’t stand this question about the Golden Snitch
On September 9, 2017, Rowling came across a question while scrolling through Twitter. “Let’s say you’re stuck in an elevator with someone. What do you think is the worst way to start a conversation?” Answering the question, Rowling said, “We have a problem with you, my friend. Why is the Golden Snitch worth 150 points? The one who catches it always wins. It doesn’t make any sense.” she said.
It’s likely that JK Rowling has gotten this question so much that she gets angry and tensed every time she hears it. In order for them not to ask this question anymore, he answered this good question and announced it to the relevant people.
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