66 of the Best Harry Potter Tattoo Ideas for Any Potterhead

Hoping to get some Harry Potter-inspired ink, but not quite sure what design to choose? You’re in the right place! We’ve compiled the ultimate list of Harry Potter tattoo ideas to inspire you, including symbols, meaningful objects, locations, quotes, and more. Keep reading to find the perfect Harry Potter tattoo for you, whether you’re looking for something small and minimal or a bold and eye-catching HP-inspired tattoo sleeve!

Popular Harry Potter Tattoo Ideas

Lightning bolt scar
Deathly Hallows symbol
Sorting hat
Golden Snitch
Time Turner
Felix Felicis potion bottle
“Happy Birthdae Harry” cake

Section 1 of 9:

Small Harry Potter Tattoo Ideas

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Harry’s lightning bolt scar is one of the most iconic symbols in the entire series, so it’s an excellent choice if you want a small but meaningful Potter-themed tattoo. Since Harry got this scar on the night he survived an attempt on his life by the most powerful dark wizard in history, many people get this tattoo to represent resilience, strength, and survival.
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Harry’s glasses. Another iconic symbol from the series is Harry’s pair of wire glasses with round frames. This tattoo is an amazing option if you want something simple and minimal, but also instantly recognizable to other Potterheads. If you want to add a little extra flair, you can even include a small lightning bolt symbol directly above the glasses as a nod to Harry’s scar!^{[1]
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The Deathly Hallows symbol looks like a triangle with a line down the middle and a circle at the bottom. Each of these elements represents a magical object: the Invisibility Cloak, the Elder Wand, and the Resurrection Stone. In the HP universe, these objects come from the Tale of the Three Brothers, a wizarding fairytale about pursuing wisdom and accepting mortality, so many people get this tattoo to symbolize these ideas.^{[2]
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Platform 9 ¾ sign There’s nothing quite as nostalgic as the first train station scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when Harry finds the magical Platform 9 ¾ with the help of the Weasley family. A tattoo of the circular Platform 9 ¾ sign is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a subtle yet instantly recognizable HP tattoo!
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Hogwarts acceptance letter If you’re like most Harry Potter fans who fell in love with the series at a young age, you probably hoped with all your heart that a Hogwarts acceptance letter would arrive in your mail on your 11th birthday. Capture th8is nostalgic energy with a super cute Hogwarts letter tattoo of your own!
- You can go with a minimal design of just the letter, or you can make things a little more elaborate with a design of an owl delivering the letter.
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HP logo If you want something super simple, consider going with the letters “HP” in the classic font used on the original U.S. book covers (and also the title sequences of the movies). You can make the design a bit bolder by having the letters filled in with black ink or another color of your choice, or keep things super minimal by just having the letters in thin outlines.
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Hogwarts crest All Harry Potter fans hold a special place in their hearts for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, so why not pay homage to this magical school with a tattoo of its crest? The design features the animals of each of the four houses (lion for Gryffindor, badger for Hufflepuff, eagle for Ravenclaw, and snake for Slytherin), so it packs in a lot of symbolism in a small space!
- Like the above option, you can keep things simple with thin outlines, or you can make the design more elaborate by adding colors and shading.
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Sorting Hat One of the most iconic magical objects in the series is the Sorting Hat, which calls out the house of each witch or wizard when it’s placed on their heads on their first night at Hogwarts. A Sorting Hat tattoo is a super fun choice, whether you go with a minimal black-and-white design, or a more realistic, elaborate sketch.
- If you’ve ever wished for access to the Sorting Hat to find out which Hogwarts house you would be in, try taking our fun Hogwarts House quiz!
Catching the Golden Snitch is the key to winning a game of Quidditch—it ends the game and earns your team 150 points. As a result, a Golden Snitch tattoo is a wonderful choice if you want something that symbolizes victory, determination, and persevering until you succeed.
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Key with wings This tattoo idea comes from a scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when Harry must fly on a broomstick to catch a special winged key to get to the next test in his journey toward the secret place where the Sorcerer’s Stone is hidden. If you’re a big fan of the first book/film and you want something meaningful yet subtle, this could be the perfect design for you!
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Hermione’s Time Turner The Time Turner plays a super significant role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, so it’s a great choice if the third book/film has a special place in your heart. Since Hermione is the one who wears the Time Turner, it’s also an awesome option if she’s your favorite character.
- Beyond all this, the Time Turner would be a super beautiful tattoo. With its long chain and intricate centerpiece featuring a tiny hourglass and elegant engravings, it’s a very delicate and pretty option!
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Felix Felicis potion bottle Looking for a little more luck in your life? A Felix Felicis potion bottle could be the perfect choice for you! This luck potion plays a significant role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, so it’s a great option if the sixth movie/book is your favorite. The bottle itself is also super pretty and delicate in the film, so it makes for a very cute tattoo design.
Harry’s first broomstick, given to him by Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is a super nostalgic choice.^{[3]
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“Happy Birthdae Harry” cake If you want an ultra-nostalgic option, look no further than the homemade cake Hagrid brings for Harry when he comes to pick him up from the Dursleys in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. With its pink frosting, green icing lettering, and adorable misspelling of “birthday,” this tattoo design is one of the cutest options out there!
Another great option for fans of the first film is Hagrid’s pink umbrella (which is also secretly his wand, as he’s technically not allowed to practice magic). For a little extra flair, you can add some sparkles coming out of the top of the broomstick to show that there’s some magic being done.
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Mandrake If you think you’d be an Herbology nerd at Hogwarts, a mandrake tattoo is an awesome choice. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets features an iconic and nostalgic scene of the students repotting baby Mandrakes, which are pretty darn adorable (even with their loud, high-pitched screams). Since Mandrakes have the power to restore movement to people who have been petrified, this tattoo is also a great option if you want something that symbolizes healing.
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Stack of books for Hogwarts Channel your inner Hermione with a design featuring a stack of textbooks for the upcoming year at Hogwarts! For some extra attention to detail, be sure to include real names of textbooks from the series, such as The Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk, Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage, and A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot.^{[4]
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- If you want to make this design a bit bigger or more elaborate, consider including Hedwig in his cage or the Sorting Hat on top of the stack of books!
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Your favorite character’s wand A magic wand is the perfect choice if you want something subtle and small that also pays homage to one of your favorite characters. Some characters with unique-looking wands that were heavily featured in the films include Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore (the Elder Wand), Severus Snape, Luna Lovegood, and Ginny Weasley.
The Triwizard Cup is the prize at the end of the Triwizard Tournament, the magical competition that serves as the main event in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This tattoo is a great choice if you want something that symbolizes victory, or working hard to achieve a difficult goal.
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The Weasley’s flying car One of the most memorable (and hilarious) scenes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the scene where Harry and Ron take the Weasley’s flying car to school after missing the Hogwarts Express at the train station. The car is a baby blue Ford Anglia, and it’s instantly recognizable to all Potterheads!

Section 2 of 9:

Harry Potter Sleeve Tattoo Ideas

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Hogwarts Castle If you’re looking for a detailed option that can fill up space for a tattoo sleeve, a design featuring the Hogwarts castle could be the perfect choice. The castle itself is an intricate and beautiful structure, and you can also include several other elements to make the design even more complex.
- For example, you could include the Hogwarts Express train approaching the school, the Whomping Willow tree on the grounds near the castle, or even the Weasley’s flying car soaring through the sky above the castle as a nod to the comical scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
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Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station makes a perfect concept for a sleeve tattoo. You can include the iconic 9 ¾ sign, the Hogwarts Express train, and as many other details as you’d like. For example, a trolley full of suitcases and trunks for the school year, plus Hedwig’s cage with Hedwig inside, make nice touches!
The Weasley’s mismatched (yet cozy!) home is another great option if you’re going for a sleeve. The Burrow is made up of several different structures tacked onto each other, and it’s also super tall, which makes it ideal to fill the vertical space on your arm. You can also add touches like the Weasley children flying by on broomsticks or in the iconic blue car to make the design more intricate!
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Honeyduke’s candy shop If you’ve got a sweet tooth, a Honeyduke’s-inspired tattoo could be the perfect design for you. With its pink and mint green color scheme, the Honeyduke’s sign itself is a super cute element to start with. From there, you can include as many of the iconic sweets from the films as you’d like, but we think Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans are must-haves!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets features an iconic scene of Hermione brewing Polyjuice Potion in a cauldron in the second-floor girls’ lavatory. This scene actually makes pretty great inspo for a Potter-themed sleeve tattoo! It includes several unique elements and opportunities for shading/detail, and it’s also a pretty vertical image, which works well to fill the space on your arm.
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Marauder’s Map The Marauder’s Map is a popular choice for a Harry Potter-themed tattoo sleeve, and for good reason. The map is an iconic magical object that plays an important role throughout the series, and you can also get super intricate with the design! Of course, it’s essential to include the iconic “Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot & Prongs are proud to present The Marauders Map” text.
- From there, you can also include as much of the layout of the castle itself as you’d like, footsteps showing characters walking around the grounds, and quotes such as “I solemnly swear I’m up to no good” or “mischief managed”!
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Mirror of Erised The Mirror of Erised, which shows people their deepest desires when they look into it, features prominently in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The mirror itself is super beautiful and intricate, which makes it a perfect centerpiece for a sleeve design. You can then get creative with whatever other elements you want to include.
- For example, you could include Harry sitting in front of the mirror and looking at his reflection with his parents as a reference to this scene in Sorcerer’s Stone.
- You could also include the iconic quote, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live,” which is the piece of wisdom Dumbledore gives Harry when he finds out Harry has been visiting the mirror.

Section 3 of 9:

Gryffindor Tattoo Ideas

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If you’re a Gryffindor who wants to show some pride for your Hogwarts house, the Gryffindor crest could be the perfect tat for you! The crest features the house symbol of the lion, symbolizing Gryffindors’ strength, courage, and bravery. Depending on how bold you want the design to be, you can make it a black-and-white outline, or feature the iconic red and gold Gryffindor colors!
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Gryffindor Lion A subtler way to represent Gryffindor house is to get a tattoo of its animal symbol, the lion. This tattoo is a great choice because you can completely customize it based on your aesthetic. You can go with something hyper realistic, a cute cartoon-ified design, or a minimal lion outline. Whatever you like best!
In the world of Harry Potter, the Sword of Gryffindor only appears to a witch or wizard who is a true Gryffindor at heart. So, if you’re Gryffindor through and through, this tattoo design is absolutely perfect for you!^{[5]
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Gryffindor Scarf If you want something with a super cute vibe, consider getting a tattoo of the iconic Gryffindor scarf. In the films, Gryffindor students wear these red and gold striped scarves when it’s chilly out, so this design is an especially cozy choice!

Section 4 of 9:

Hufflepuff Tattoo Ideas

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Loyal, fair, hardworking, kind… there’s a lot to love about being a Hufflepuff! If you want to show off your house pride, a Hufflepuff crest tattoo is an amazing option. Like all the house crests, it features Hufflepuff’s symbolic animal (the badger), and you can do it in black-and-white, or the Hufflepuff colors of yellow and black.
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Hufflepuff Badger For a subtler way to rep Hufflepuff house, consider going for a badger tattoo. As Hufflepuff’s official animal, the badger symbolizes the hardworking nature of Hufflepuffs, but it also represents the dangers of underestimating them. Badgers are generally peaceful, but when threatened, they can fight off animals much larger than themselves. In the same way, Hufflepuffs are kind and gentle, but when they witness injustice, they’ll fight it will all they’ve got!^{[6]
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Another great option for Hufflepuffs is to pay homage to the founder of the house, Helga Hufflepuff herself. Her golden cup, which has two handles and features an engraving of a badger on the side, is pretty darn beautiful. It also plays an important role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, so it’s a great option if the final book/movies are your favorite.^{[7]
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“Support Cedric Diggory” badge This humorous tattoo idea is a nod to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In the book/film, Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory is chosen to represent Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament, but somehow, Harry also gets selected to compete, even though there’s only supposed to be one student per school. In the aftermath, Draco Malfoy starts campaign to support Cedric and antagonize Harry, handing out buttons that flash the slogans “Support Cedric Diggory” and “Potter Stinks.”^{[8]
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- Cedric Diggory is one of the most iconic Hufflepuffs in the series, and he also perfectly embodies the traits of Hufflepuff house, so this tattoo design is also a great choice if you want to pay homage to him as a character.

Section 5 of 9:

Ravenclaw Tattoo Ideas

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Are you an intelligent, witty, and wise Ravenclaw? Show some house pride with a tattoo of the Ravenclaw crest! In the books, Ravenclaw’s symbol is an eagle, but it was changed to a raven for the films, so it's completely up to you which one to include in your crest design. You can also go with a black and white outline, or go all out with the iconic Ravenclaw colors (blue and bronze in the books, blue and silver in the films).
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Ravenclaw eagle or raven As mentioned above, Ravenclaw House is associated with two different animals (eagles in the books and ravens in the films). This is good news for Ravenclaws—it means that you get to pick whichever one you like better for your tattoo design!
Another great way to show Ravenclaw pride is to pay homage to one of the most iconic Ravenclaw characters, Luna Lovegood! Quirky, whimsical, and creative, Luna has pretty awesome style, and her pink glasses from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince embody her unique energy.
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Rowena Ravenclaw’s Diadem This magical object is a beautiful crown that belonged to the founder of Ravenclaw House herself, Rowena Ravenclaw. The diadem plays an important role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and in the film, it’s a gorgeous silver crown featuring a bird with jeweled wings and a sapphire jewel in the center. This makes for a pretty gorgeous tattoo!

Section 6 of 9:

Slytherin Tattoo Ideas

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Slytherins can get a bit of a bad rap, but with their resourceful, ambitious attitudes, there’s no denying that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, which is pretty darn admirable! If you want to show off your Slytherin house pride, consider getting a tat of the Slytherin crest, featuring the house symbol of the snake and the iconic green and silver color theme.
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Slytherin snake The symbol for Slytherin house is the serpent, representing the Slytherin traits of cunning and ambition. Snakes are popular tattoo choices in general, so this is a great option if you want something that represents Slytherin house in a subtler way!
Although being a Slytherin isn’t required to be a Death Eater, but since so many prominent Death Eaters are Slytherins in the series, they tend to be heavily associated with Slytherin house.^{[9]
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Salazar Slytherin’s locket Another way to nod to your Slytherin house affiliation is to pay homage to the house’s creator, Salazar Slytherin. One of Salazar Slytherin’s most notable possessions is his locket, which plays an important role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The locket itself is pretty intricate and unique-looking in the films, which makes for a cool tattoo!

Section 7 of 9:

Magical Creature Tattoos

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Harry’s faithful companion throughout his years at Hogwarts, this snowy owl is one of the most important creatures in the entire series. You could go a few different ways with your design, too. Hedwig flying through the sky with a Hogwarts acceptance letter in her beak is a great option, but you could also opt for Hedwig inside her cage on top of a stack of Hogwarts school books.
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Dobby Introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dobby the House Elf is one of the most beloved characters in the books/films. He’s an endlessly faithful friend to Harry, and he’s also pretty darn adorable and lovable. If you want something more elaborate, you could go with a hyper-realistic tattoo of Dobby, but you can also opt for a simple outline drawing of him if you want something more minimal.
Buckbeak, the majestic Hippogriff that Harry rides through the sky in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, makes for a pretty cool tattoo design. You could just depict Buckbeak himself, or you could include Harry or Sirius Black atop his back, if you’d like!
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Fawkes the Phoenix Dumbledore’s pet Phoenix, Fawkes, shows up at important moments in several of the Potter books/films, so he’s a pretty great creature to depict in your tattoo. With his vibrant red and yellow feathers, Fawkes makes a gorgeous and bold subject for a tattoo design. In general, Phoenixes also symbolize transformation and rebirth, so this is a great choice if you want to represent these ideas.
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry must fight this terrifying dragon in one of the trials of the Triwizard Tournament. Out of all the possible dragons to fight, the Horntail is considered the deadliest and most fearsome, but Harry still manages to best the beast with a combination of quick thinking and bravery. As a result, this is a great tattoo to get if you want something that symbolizes grit and courage!
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Dementor Dementors are super scary creatures that float through the sky wearing long, flowing black robes, and they’re known to suck away the happiness when they’re near. This creature is a great choice if you’re looking for an extra spooky or ominous tattoo design.
In the Harry Potter universe, Thestrals are spooky, skeletal horse-like creatures that are invisible to people unless they’ve witnessed someone pass away. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry and Luna bond over their shared ability to see the horses, and Luna shows Harry that the Thestrals aren’t all that scary, after all. Like the Deathly Hallows symbol, this tattoo is a great choice if you want something that symbolizes the acceptance of mortality.

Section 8 of 9:

Harry Potter Quote Tattoo Ideas

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One of the most famous and beloved quotes from the series, “Always” is Severus Snape’s reply when Dumbledore asks if he still loves Lily Potter, even years after her death. The quote symbolizes enduring, eternal love, and it’s also a great way to pay tribute to Snape if he’s your favorite character.
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“I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good” or “mischief managed.” To get the Marauder’s Map to work, a witch or wizard would need to say “I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good,” and to wipe the map clean when they’re done, they’d need to say “mischief managed.” These two quotes are iconic and beloved by Potter fans, and they’re especially great choices if you’re someone who has a bit of a rebellious or mischievous streak!
“Lumos” is the spell that lights up the tip of a witch or wizard’s wand, and it’s used several times throughout the series. You can include just the word itself in a fancy font, or if you want to make the design a little more elaborate, you can include a wand shining light from its tip, too!
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“Expecto Patronum.” “Expecto Patronum” is a spell that casts a Patronus, a magical guardian animal made out of ghostly, bluish light that fends off Dementors (who suck away the happiness from a person). As a result, the words “Expecto Patronum” are a great choice if you want a tattoo that represents pursuing happiness or protecting yourself against negative energy.
- For a more elaborate design, you can even include a wand with your very own Patronus flowing out of it. If you aren’t sure what your Patronus is, check out our helpful Patronus quiz!
In the Potter universe, the “Riddikulus” spell is used against Boggarts, magical creatures that take on the shape of your deepest fear. When the witch or wizard uses the spell, the Boggart shapeshifts into something silly instead of something scary. If you want a tattoo that represents your ability to overcome your fears, this is definitely the one for you!
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“Accio Adventure.” “Accio” is a summoning spell that allows a witch or wizard to call any object to them. As a result, many Potterheads have gotten tattoos that read “accio adventure,” which essentially symbolizes inviting adventure into their lives. This is a great option if you want to encourage yourself to be more daring and have fun new experiences!
“It’s levi-OH-sa, not levi-oh-SAH!” If you loved this iconic scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, this nostalgic tattoo idea is perfect for you. You could just include the words “wingardium leviosa” in pretty script, or you could add a wand with a floating feather to the design to make it a bit more complex.
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“Until the very end.” Avoiding any spoilers for those who haven’t made it to the end of the series yet, this phrase occurs at a super moving moment in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It’s a beautiful, meaningful choice that symbolizes the enduring love and support between friends and family, even after death.
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A piece of wisdom from Dumbledore Dumbledore has some of the most memorable quotes in the entire series, from funny, lighthearted quips to deep pieces of wisdom. Here are some of our faves that would make pretty awesome tattoos:
- “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.”
- “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
- “Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic.”
- “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
- “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
- “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.”^{[10]
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- “Alas, earwax.”
- “Oh to be young, and feel love’s keen sting.”

Section 9 of 9:

Harry Potter Tattoo Ideas for Couples

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Love potion Love potion, purchased from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, plays a prominent role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and in the film, the bottle’s design is super pretty. If you and your partner are both Potter fans, bottles of love potion make pretty great matching tattoos! Or, if you want something related but not quite matching, one of you can get the love potion bottle, and the other could get the Felix Felicis bottle.^{[11]
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If you and your partner both know what your Patronuses are, you could each get a tattoo of the other’s Patronus as a couple’s tattoo. Because Patronuses also serve to protect witches and wizards from the power of Dementors in the books, these tats could also symbolize the way you each protect each other from the sadness in the world, which is a pretty beautiful sentiment!
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The wands of your favorite HP couple There are tons of lovable couples in the Harry Potter series (Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione, Neville and Luna, Tonks and Remus, etc). If you and your partner have a favorite couple, you could each get one of their wands tattooed, or you could both get a design featuring both of the wands.
This cute couple’s tattoo is perfect if you want text, rather than images. The idea is simple: one of you gets the word “mischief,” and the other gets the word “managed,” as a nod to the iconic phrase that wipes the Marauder’s Map clean when someone’s done using it.
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“Lumos” & “Nox” “Lumos” is the spell that lights up the tip of a wand, and “Nox” is the counter-charm that extinguishes the light when you’re done. In other words, this pair of spells goes together, just like you and your partner, which makes is a great couple’s tattoo! You can just include the words to keep things simple, or you can include a wand with sparkles to symbolize the light coming out of the tip if you want something more elaborate.
Perhaps the most romantic idea on this list, these iconic lines are spoken between Dumbledore and Snape. Dumbledore asks if Snape still loves Lily Potter “after all this time,” and Snape replies, “always.” The idea for the couple’s tattoo is simple: one partner gets one that says “After all this time?” and the other gets one that says, “Always.” If you want a design that symbolizes eternal love and enduring affection, this is definitely the one for you!