415. Mandrakes (Harry Potter)

    Mandrake or Mandragora is a powerful restorative item. It is a vital ingredient in remedial potions which are used to revive those who have been transfigured or cursed. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Mandrakes are used to turn people back to their original state after they have been petrified by the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. The cry of the uprooted Mandrake will kill, however infant mandrakes will only cause a person to lose consciousness. For example, when Hogwarts students studied Mandrakes in Herbology class, Professor Sprout had the students wear earmuffs to protect their ears from Mandrake's cries. 

    Surprisingly, Mandrakes have similar behaviors to humans. For instance, at one point in time, the Mandrake became “moody” and “secretive.” This indicated that they were reaching their teen years. Later on, they threw a loud and rowdy party, which is comparable to humans when they are teenagers. 

Hagrid also mentioned that the Mandrakes had acne. Furthermore, Mandrakes are fully matured when they start moving into each other's pots. When matured, Mandrakes can be cut up to serve as a prime ingredient for the Mandrake Restorative Draught. A Mandrake's scream is very similar to a banshee's scream, which is also fatal. The Dugbog's and Flesh-Eating Slugs are known to like Mandrakes, which leads to Mandrake-growers finding out that their Mandrakes have been eaten by the Dugbog's.

414. Why Do Muggles Need Electricity? (Harry Potter)

Electricity is a form of energy and Muggles need it for just about everything! Almost all of their modern conveniences are electrically powered. Electricity is what lights up their classrooms, heats their homes and lets them listen to their favorite music. Electrical energy is utilized to provide power to homes across the world.

Electricity is the presence and flow of electric charge. Using electricity we can transfer energy in ways that allow us to accomplish common chores. Its best-known form is the flow of electrons through conductors such as copper wires. ... When electrical charges are not moving, electricity is called static electricity.

This is an indicator of how much electricity is important in our lives. Being a universal energy resource, electricity is obtained from methods such as solar power, hydropower, wind power, natural gas, and the like. All devices which facilitate our life and impact a big portion of our life require electricity.

People can plug appliances into outlets to make them operate, and connect electrical wiring within the structure of the home to provide energy for indoor and outdoor lighting. Electricity is the most versatile and easily controlled form of energy. At the point of use it is practically loss-free and essentially non-polluting. 

Electricity is weightless, easier to transport and distribute, and it represents the most efficient way of consuming energy. Electricity helps them in many different ways like for medical purposes, their entertainment, the temperature, climate, education, operate machines, and much more! 

413. How to Read Tea Leaves (Harry Potter)

First, loose leaf tea is poured into teacups and drank until only the dregs remain. Next, the cup is swirled three times with the left hand and turned over to drain. Then the shapes of the leaves left in the cup are interpreted by the diviner. The best shape of the cup to be is one with a wide opening at the top and a bottom not too small. Cups with almost perpendicular sides are very difficult to read, as the symbols cannot be seen properly, and the same may be said of small cups. 

The ritual to be observed is very simple. The tea-drinker should drink the contents of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a teaspoonful of the beverage remaining. He/she should next take the cup by the handle in his/her left hand, rim upwards, and turn it three times from left to right in one fairly rapid swinging movement. He/she should then very slowly and carefully invert it over the saucer and leave it there for a minute, to get rid of all moisture draining away. 

Careful notice should be taken of all the shapes and figures formed inside the cup. These should be viewed in front of different positions so that their meaning becomes clear. It is not very easy at first to see what the shapes really are, but after looking at them carefully they become plainer.

The different shapes and figures in the cup must be taken together in a general reading. Bad indications will be balanced by good ones; some good ones will be strengthened by others, and so on.

412. Spanish 101: Measurements (La Dimension)

411. Spanish 101: Months of the Year (Los Meses Del Ano)