Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a legendary topic in theHarry Potterfandom.Harry Potterfans likely know everything there is to know about the iconic Wizarding school. However, one piece of Hogwarts’ trivia is often forgotten.
‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus' is one of Hogwarts’ most important quotes. Despite its value to school, the quote is rarely spoken aloud, making it a mysterious piece of Harry Potter lore. In the 2001 edition of J.K Rowling’sFantastic Beastsand Where to Find Them,Dumbledore states: “To wizards, I say merely: Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus”. Yet, the quote’s translation is often omitted from theHarry Potterfranchise. This means that fans have often wondered what this Latin phrase means and how it links to the famous school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
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What does ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ mean?
From the Latin, ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ translates to ‘Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon’. This phrase is Hogwarts’ way of saying let sleeping dogs lie. Quite simply, ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ tells students to stay out of trouble and avoid stirring up drama – something which Harry Potter is ironically incapable of doing.
Although the word ‘Draco’ is Latin for ‘Dragon’, fans have often joked howDraco Malfoymust’ve felt a certain air of superiority as a result of having his name included in Hogwarts’ motto.
Why is the quote so important to Hogwarts?
‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ is Hogwarts’ school motto. It can be seen on the bottom of the school’s crest, marking its importance in the Harry Potter franchise.
Dragonsare obviously dangerous creatures; yet they are featured in the famous quote as a metaphor. This means that Hogwarts’ motto is actively advising its students not to seek out danger and involve themselves in unnecessary conflict. Notoriously, Hogwarts is a dangerous school. As audiences have witnessed, students can find themselves in danger when they least expect it – as seen when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are forced to battle a troll in one of Hogwarts’ bathrooms, or when they discovered Fluffy, Hagrid’s three-headed hound, lurking in the school’s chambers. Hogwarts’ motto advises students not to trespass around the school’s forbidden quarters – otherwise they could very suddenly find themselves in danger.
Despite the motto’s sound advice, it is often disobeyed. The Golden Trio’s time at Hogwarts was famously characterized by chaos. From crashing a car into the Whomping Willow Tree, to battling the Dark Lord himself, Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s years at Hogwarts were crammed with trouble. The trio rarely caught a break, which led toProfessor McGonagall’s iconic quote: “Why is it, when something happens, it is always you three?”. In a humorous contradiction to Hogwarts’ school motto, Harry, Ron, and Hermione seemed to be at the root of every drama – much like the Marauders.
James Potter, Harry’s father, also had a drama-filled time at Hogwarts - although this was far more trivial in comparison to Harry’s ordeals. Whilst at Hogwarts, James, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were an inseparable group known as theMarauders. The team of trouble-makers terrorized Hogwarts with their antics and constant mischief-making. It seems like disobeying Hogwarts’ motto was a rite of passage for the Potter family.
Even Hogwarts’ own founders failed to follow this advice. Hogwarts’ founders are notorious for being the most powerful witches and wizards of their time, yet this did not prevent the group from finding themselves in conflict with one another. The founders consisted of Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw andSalazar Slytherin. Whilst the four founders co-existed for harmony for many years, conflict ultimately erupted at the hands of Salazar Slytherin’s prejudiced ideology. Salazar Slytherin only wanted Pure-Blooded students to attend Hogwarts – something which the other founders greatly objected. This dispute resulted in Slytherin’s departure from the school. However, he conventionally left behind his dangerous Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets – another addition to Hogwarts’ hidden dangers.
‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ foreshadows Hogwarts’ dangerous nature. Although the quote urges students to stay away from trouble, Hogwarts’ own history displays the inevitability of conflict.
