Does Harry's predicament indeed have something to do with Walpurgis Night? Has he been jinxed? In any case, it is true that people in Germany light bonfires and celebrate with dance festivals on the night of April 30 to May 1. Their origin goes back to pre-Christian rituals that paid homage to the warm season at this time of year. In the process, people tried to drive away evil spirits by disguising themselves with masks, firing shots and lighting fires.

A well-known legend about Walpurgis Night says that on the eve of May 1, witches gather near the town of Thale in the Harz Mountains. From there, they race on the craziest "flying machines," like brooms or cats, to the peak of the Brocken mountain, where the actual witches' party takes place. The witches wildly dance around a fire, then "kiss the devil" and marry him. For this, they are rewarded with the skill of sorcery. Nowadays, Walpurgis Night is still celebrated in many places in the Harz region – but it is more like a spring festival where children can also have fun.