River Thames

"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really exists), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.

River Thames is one of the largest rivers in the United Kingdom, flowing through southern England. The Thames runs through London, dissecting the city into two parts. A number of bridges span the River, and there are lots of riverboats, such as the Golden Salamander and the HMS Belfast.

History

1993

During the summer of 1993, Harry Potter caught the Knight Bus to travel from Little Whinging, Surrey to Diagon Alley, in London. The bus swerved the wrong way acoss a bridge over the Thames, and squeezed past two double-deckers coming the opposite direction.

1995

During the summer of 1995, the Advance Guard escorted Harry Potter to 12 Grimmauld Place, and flew over the Thames on the way.

1996

During the 1995-1996 school year, Harry, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood flew across the Thames on thestrals to get to the Ministry of Magic.

"The police are continuing with the investigation into the cause of the Millennium Bridge disaster. River traffic has been halted as police search for survivors. The surrounding area remains closed. The Mayor has urged Londoners to remain calm..."

—A Muggle radio broadcast^[src]

In the summer of 1996, the Millennium Bridge was brought down by Lord Voldemort's Death Eater forces. The collapse of the Millennium Bridge had serious consequences in both the Muggle world and Wizarding world. Shortly after it, a police investigation took place and river traffic was halted while the police searched for survivors of the disaster. The Mayor of London spoke to the population, urging them to be calm.^[1] The collapse of the Millennium Bridge was most likely also a contributing factor for the replacement of Cornelius Fudge by Rufus Scrimgeour in the post of Minister for Magic.^[2]

Behind the scenes

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Advance Guard, while escorting Harry Potter to 12 Grimmauld Place, flies a low height over the waters of the Thames before landing in Grimmauld Place, Islington. In the novel, the Advance Guard flies high above, at cloud-height, and only descends directly onto Grimmauld Place.

Appearances

Notes and references

↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) - Chapter 1
↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1 (The Other Minister)

[HBPf1-0] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) - Chapter 1

[HBP1-1] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1 (The Other Minister)

[1]

[2]

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