Calling all wizards and witches! Whether you have only just passed your O.W.L.S, or you have been a hardworking member of the Ministry of Magic for years now, behind-the-scenes secrets always make for an enticing read.

Everyone will thoroughly enjoy learning the following facts about the backstage production of the Harry Potter movie franchise, so here goes! (No Muggles Allowed!)

Past Friction Between Bellatrix and Sybill

Gilderoy Lockhart—wonderfully played by Kenneth Branagh—stole the classroom scenes in the Chamber of Secrets, but many people are unaware that he was very much in demand with the ladies in real life.

In the 1990s, Branagh was married to Emma Thompson (who plays Professor Trelawney) until he met Helena Bonham Carter (who plays Bellatrix Lestrange) on a movie set and began an affair—with Thompson filing for divorce from Branagh the following year.

The Cast and Crew Shot Many Deleted Scenes

Frustratingly, just as with any other movie franchise, or even one stand-alone film, for a variety of reasons (although mainly due to duration restraints), the cast and crew created and produced a whole host of now-deleted scenes.

Many of them are available on the deluxe editions of the DVDs and include everything from Dudley apologizing to Harry in The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and a tube ride across London with the Weasleys to Aunt Petunia lamenting Lily’s death.

Next time you are settling down to a Harry Potter movie marathon, make sure you have upgraded your Wi-Fi to a leading New Haven fiber internet provider (or a provider from where you are based), get enough snacks and drinks to keep you going, and see how many of the nineteen hours and thirteen minutes you can watch in one sitting.

Snape was a Sneaky Thief

Beloved actor and national treasure Alan Rickman played Severus Snape across the entire eight-film franchise, and in direct contrast to his on-screen character, Rickman was responsible for many comedic capers over the years on-set.

As well as being the resident comedian, he also became exceedingly adept at stealing props, including a handful of coins from the set of Gringotts’ Bank and several copies of the Daily Prophet (both of which he kept at home).

Some Scenes Were Ad-Libbed

One of the most impressive features of each of the eight Harry Potter movies is the simple fact that the franchise is brimming with accomplished, recognized, and treasured actors—and they are all British (a stipulation that JK Rowling insisted on).

Jason Issacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, for example, was a little dissatisfied with his final scene in the Chamber of Secrets and, in the very first take, ad-libbed the line directed at Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter himself): ‘Let us hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day,’ (much to the director’s delight).

Radcliffe immediately responded with: ‘Don’t worry, I will be,’ and once the director shouted, ‘Cut!’ It was then so popular both with the other actors and the crew, as well as members of the audience in the first viewings, that the scene actually made the official trailer.