Grand Tour

"I wrote to Albus, describing, perhaps insensitively, the wonders of my journey, from narrow escapes from chimaeras in Greece to the experiments of Egyptian alchemists."

- Elphias Doge recounts telling Albus Dumbledore of his Grand Tour.

A Grand Tour was the term for a trip around the world undertaken by many graduates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was a traditional course of action for students graduating around the late 19th century, though it seems to have remained popular well into the 20th century.

Known Grand Tours
Elphias Doge and Albus Dumbledore had planned to take a Grand Tour together upon their graduation in 1899. However, Albus' mother Kendra died that year, and thus Albus was forced to stay home and provide for his siblings Aberforth and Ariana. Elphias went on the tour alone, visiting such places as Greece and Egypt, and writing many letters to Albus about the experience.

Sometime before taking up the Defence Against the Dark Arts post in 1991, Quirinus Quirrell took a Grand Tour, under the guise of wanting to get more practical experience with the Dark Arts. In reality, Quirrell was seeking out Voldemort, both out of curiosity and the hope of learning powerful Dark magic from him, so that he may be more respected. Quirrell managed to find Voldemort in Albania, however, even in a weakened state, Voldemort overcame Quirrell and turned him into a pawn in his plot to located the Philosopher's Stone.

Behind the scenes

 * In reality, a was the term for a traditional trip taken by young upper-class Europeans, such as British nobility. Unlike the wizarding version, these Grand Tours were generally limited to Europe, and had fallen somewhat out of favor by the 1840s, when the advent of trains made continental travel affordable for those of lower class.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Pottermore