It’s that time of year again, the holiday season is back, and with it, a myriad of gifts for friends and family. There’s still time to start the Harry Potter marathon, as each entry features a wonderful Christmas scene. The aesthetic alone is perfect; an old medieval castle, a roaring fireplace, knit sweaters, and a game of Wizards Chess.
But, when the students go home, what gifts await them under the tree? Whether it’s wands, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, or a new Nimbus 2000, fans would do anything to spend the Christmas season in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. With that, this list is ranking every Harry Potter Christmas present, worst to best.
Homework Planner From Hermione
In the world of Harry Potter, nearly everything is possible with the whip of a wand. But, for academics like Hermione, it’s no surprise her gift to Ron was a homework planner. Simple but helpful for an oblivious student like himself, Hermione’s intentions are genuine. However, waking up on Christmas morning to find a planner rather than toys and clothes is a buzzkill.
By the fifth entry in the series (Order of the Pheonix), you’d think Ron would have his assignments down, but, without the brains of Hermione, it’s likely Ron would have never made it through school. As a core member of the group (even though academics are not his forte), Ron’s love for his friends outweighs his intelligence in school.
Box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans
A must-have for Hogwart’s students and fans alike, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans are a staple of the Harry Potter series. Ear wax, vomit, grass, rotten egg, the list of possible flavors never ends as each consumption brings a surprise. A perfect stocking stuffer, these candy beans are perfect for sharing and even prompts a few laughs here and there. Dumbledore may have gotten earwax upon opening a box, but at least it wasn’t worse like Earthworm.
Christmas Scarves
The house scarves go perfectly with the school robes with each one sporting their respective colors. Adding a bit of flair and color to them breathes life into the head-to-toe black robes, but the ones from Mrs. Weasley are even better.
Her hand-made scarves for twins Fred and George are simply perfect but make differentiating the two even more difficult. Even Mrs. Weasley can’t tell the difference sometimes, but, with gifts like these, she means to show she loves them both the same no matter their name.
Wooden Flute
Not all gifts have to be grand and expensive, sometimes the best gifts are ones that come right from the heart. Especially hand-made ones that take time and effort, something full of love and care. Hagrid’s gift is no exception with the wooden flute he made for Harry in his first year at Hogwart’s. As the groundskeeper of Hogwarts, Hagrid’s usually far from students in his hut. Yet, his three friends mean the world to him no matter where they are. He lets them know how important they are with subtle acts of kindness and gifts like these.
Perfume
One of the most realistic gifts on the list, Ron’s gift to Hermione in Order of the Pheonix marks the beginning of the romantic chemistry between the two. Despite his brief tenure with Lavender Brown, Ron’s heart has always belonged to Hermione.
Though not a poet with words, Ron tries his best to show how much she means to him, even if the scent of the perfume is rather odd (As Hermione notes upon using it). As one of the less magical gifts on this list, it still stands tall as a meaningful gift to a friend whose been by his side since their inaugural year.
Knit Sweater
Ugly sweaters and Christmas go hand in hand with Mrs. Weasley making sure her boys stay warm in the winter weather. Her hand-knitted sweater embroidered with her son’s first initial is one of the cutest gifts seen in the series. Her dedication to raising her children is never doubted with gifts like these reaffirming the endless love she has for all of them (Yes, even Percy). Ron’s and Harry’s Christmas sweaters are a must for every season, sporting them alongside the fire for a game of Wizard’s Chess to celebrate the end of the semester.
Firebolt Broomstick
Quidditch is the sport of the Wizarding world, flown on broomsticks and watched by thousands of spectators. Harry is one the best (if not the best) seekers Hogwart’s has had the honor of hosting, and his broomstick helped him get there. The Nimbus 2000 was the best model a Quidditch player could own, but the Firebolt took it one step further.
The movies certainly do justice in its portrayal of the lighting-fast broomstick as the best in the world. A gift from Sirius Black, this is one of the coolest gifts a wizard can get with hopes of trying it out on the pitch as soon as possible.
Marauder’s Map
Not really a Christmas gift but one given during the Winter season, the Marauders Map from Fred and George is one the most unique artifacts in the Harry Potter series. The map’s ability to track others who wander the castle is not to be taken lightly and could become a weapon if placed into the wrong hands.
In Harry’s hands, he’s able to track Peter Pettigrew on a dark and creepy walk down the halls at night. The product of Lupin, Serius and James, the map is the most powerful gift on this list as it must be used wisely.
Christmas Wreath of Roses
The most heart-warming one on this list, Hermione’s wreath of roses for James and Lily’s grave made fans cry in theatres. Harry’s return to Godric’s Hollow meant the inevitable visit to his parent’s grave. On a cold Winter night with gentle snow falling from above, Hermione’s simple but beautiful wreath is everything Harry could wish for as his parents rest below.
Invisibility Cloak
As one of the best scenes in the series that introduced fans to powers of the Wizarding World, the Invisibility Cloak is the greatest gift Harry received. As a present from Dumbledore, the cloak allows Harry to sneak in and out of places without detection. Not to mention the rarity of these things, an invisibility cloak is on every Harry Potter fan’s Christmas list. After all, invisibility is one of the most common superpowers people wish they had, right next to flying.
