J.K Rowling’s Pottermore website has published new information about the history and houses of the American Wizarding school Ilvermorny. We don’t know if the school will actually appear in the upcoming spin-off film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but the film’s protagonist, Newt Scamander, will encounter wizards educated there. Let’s take a deeper look at the new reveals…
The History of Ilvermorny
Illvermorny’s school of witchcraft and wizardry was found by an Irish pure-blooded witch named Isolt Sayre in the early 17th century who stole the wand of her ancestor Salazar Slytherin. She went abroad the Mayflower to settle in America and stayed in the mountains to avoid puritans where she later met her future No-Maj husband and 2 orphaned Wizard boys and together they founded the school with Isolt serving as the first headmistress. The school was originally a rough shack containing two teachers and two students. It has also been rumored that Native American magic was very important for the founding of the school.
By the 1920s, The school has been flourishing for more than two centuries and is widely considered to be one of the greatest magical educational establishments in the world. The school stands at the highest peak of Mount Greylock, in modern day Massachusetts, where it is concealed from No-Maj society by a variety of powerful enchantments, which sometimes manifest in a wreath of misty cloud. The school just like its precursor Hogwarts in Britain has four different houses that sort students into.
The Houses of Ilvermorny: Horned Serpent
The Ilvermorny house Horned Serpent was founded by the Irish witch Isolt Sayre and the house is sometimes considered to represent the mind of a witch or wizard. It is also said that the house favors scholars.
The house’s namesake horned serpent is a magical snake native to the North American continent.
The Houses of Ilvermorny: Wampus
The Ilvermorny house Wampus was founded by the Irish wizard Webster Boot and the house is sometimes considered to represent the body of a witch or wizard. It is also said that the house favors warriors.
The house’s namesake Wampus (also known as the Wampus Beast) is a magical cat native to the North American continent.
The Houses of Ilvermorny: Thunderbird
The Ilvermorny house Thunderbird was founded by the Irish wizard Chadwick Boot and the house is sometimes considered to represent the soul of a witch or wizard. It is also said that the house favors adventurers.
The house’s namesake thunderbird is a magical bird native to the North American continent and is also closely related to the phoenix.
The Houses of Ilvermorny: Pukwudgie
The Ilvermorny house Pukwudgie was founded by the English No-Maj James Steward and the house is sometimes considered to represent the heart of a witch or wizard. It is also said that the house favors healers.
The house’s namesake pukwudgie is a magical creature native to the North American continent. Described as short, grey-faced, and large-eared creatures that are distantly related to the European goblin. They have been known to both help humans as well as play tricks on them.
We’ll learn more about Ilvermorny and the American wizarding world when Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits theaters in November.
