The large and snow white building comes into view, and you pass the Goblins standing in scarlet uniforms as you go through the brass, then silver doors. The enormous marbled lobby comes into view, and you nervously make your way over to one of the Goblins seated behind the desk.
Here are some of the abbreviations and shorthand terms used around the site, as well as some well known, or rather often used acronyms in the HP world, specifically in the HP4GU group. As well as some shorthand terms seen around the internet, you can see some of the terms and acronyms coined for theories made on what will and has happened in the books. Since there are over 280 terms at HP4GU alone, this is not an exhaustive list. I've arranged them alphabetically so if you're looking for a certain one, it should be easier to find.
| CHIMPANZEE | "Courageous Harry Is Modest, Perceptive, and Nimble!" Zealous Enthusiasts Extoll A group defending Harry in his actions and dislike of Snape. |
| CRAB | "Cut Ron a Break" Ron enthusiasts use this to defend Ron. Usually by declaring they're putting on a crab badge. |
| CS sometimes seen as COS | Chamber of Secrets the second book in the series |
| ESE | Ever So Evil (secretly) To theorize that one of the characters is working for the bad side. |
| FB | Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. One of the books JKR wrote for charity, and one of Harry's schoolbooks. |
| FEATHERBOAS | Foaming Enthusiasts of Ambush, Torture, and Hostility, Embracing Really Bloodthirsty Operations and Savagery Used to describe people coming up with especially violent, and bloody theories. |
| FITD | Farmer in the Dell (Ron likes Hermione who likes Harry who likes Cho, etc.) A shipping theory in which a huge love triangle develops when everyone is in love with everyone else. |
| FLINT | Flint-Like Inconsistencies Nitpicked Triumphantly (reference to the Slytherin Quidditch captain, whom JKR accidentally kept on as captain after he should actually have left school: a genuine admitted mistake) |
| FLIRTIAC | Filch's Lover Is Regretting Transformation into a Cat A thoery that Mrs. Norris is Filch's lover who's been permenantly transformed into a cat, explaining why he is trying to learn magic, when he's a squib. |
| FOPF | Fans of Padfoot |
| GF sometimes seen as GOF | Goblet of Fire the fourth book in the series |
| GREY UNDERPANTS | Ghastly Remembrances Expose Yesteryear Unhappiness; Notable, Discomforting, Example Reflecting Parental Acrimony, Neglect: Trouserless Severus A theory that Snape was neglected as a child explaining his appearance and snippy nature. |
| HIS SWORD | Harry Is Some Secret Wizard Of "Royal" Descent Theory that Harry is a descendant of Godric Gryffindor, or the heir of Gryffindor |
| HP4GU | Harry Potter for Grown-Ups A yahoo group for adults to discuss Harry Potter |
| JKR | J.K. Rowling (Joanne Kathleen for those of you who were curious) |
| LIDS | Lupin Is Dead Sexy Lupin fans |
| LIGHT RELIEF | Lockhart Is Genuinely Hilarious Territory: a Really Entertaining Loser, if Evil Fellow |
| LOLLIPOPS | Love of Lily Left Ire Polluting Our Poor Severus Theory that Snape was in love with Lily and that's one of the reasons he hates Harry so much |
| LOON | League of Obsessed Nitpickers Used to describe fans who pay close attention to details |
| MAGIC DISHWASHER | Mysterious Agendas Generate Interesting Conclusion: Dumbledore Is Secretely Hatching Ways to Assure Superiority for Harry in the Emerging Resolution Very involved theory in which Dumbledore is almost omniscient and coordinates everything that happens to Harry in order to prepare him for the fight against Voldemort |
| MCHAPPYMEAL | Multiple Campus Hogwarts Augments Population, Purporting Youngsters Might Enter Alternatively Located Schools A thoery trying to explain the number of students JKR says are at Hogwarts, and the number that appear to be there. Specifically that there is more than one campus, and we only see the main one. |
| METAMORPHOSIS | Mere Evil Troubled Awareness, Motivating Our Racked, Principled anti-Hero Onward, Seeking Integrity and Solution A thoery that Snape will be redeemed |
| MWPP | Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs Also called the Marauders |
| MoM | Ministry of Magic |
| OBHWF | One Big Happy Weasley Family A shipping theory that Ron will marry Hermione and Harry will marry Ginny, making one big happy family |
| OP sometimes seen as OoP or OoTP | Order of the Phoenix the fifth book in the series. |
| OVERCHARGING POWERMONGER | Once Voldemort's Exorcised Reprehensible Childhood, He'll Alter Radically, Growing Into Nagini's Guardian, Protector Of Women, Evil-Renouncing Orphan Nurturer, Gently Entering Retirement A theory that Voldemort will be redeemed |
| PA sometimes seen as POA | Prisoner of Azkaban the third book in the series |
| PACMAN | Perfectly Angelic Characters Make Awful Novels A defense of the rule-breaking our heros induldge in. |
| PASHMINAS | Prejudiced Against Snape, Harry Misinterprets Involvement in Noble Albus' Sacrifice A theory outlining Harry's behavior against Snape during OP |
| PATHETIC | Potterphile Attempting To Have Epihpanies Through Investigating Canon Acronym for fans combing through the books for clues |
| PERSIL AUTOMATIC | Possibility Exists: Real Shack Interpretation: Lupin Agent Uses Temerarious Orders, Managing to Abscond Terrorist Informant Coward Theory that could go in hand with MAGIC DISHWASHER, or against it, in which Lupin was the one coordinating events in the Shrieking Shack, and not Snape (named after a dish detergent in Britain) |
| PHILOSOPHER'S STONE | Poor Harry's Immortality's Likely Over. Sadly, Omens & Prophecies Have Exposed Rowling's Secret. Surely This Occurrence is Not Essential! Theory that Harry will have to die in order to kill Voldemort (Much like the stone was destroyed in SS) |
| POOR BABY NAPTIME | Pity Over Ownings, Ron Becomes Awful Bratty Youngster. Now Arises Problems, Temptations In Major Economics Theory that Ron will do something rash for money or power (much like Percy) helping either conciously, or accidentally will help the bad side |
| PRESSURE COOKER | Presented with Remus' Evil, Snape's Somewhat Unhinged; Refuses Explanations, Confronts Outrageously Overt Killers; Embarrassment Results Theory that Snape was not in charge during the incidents at the Shrieking Shack |
| PS | Philosopher's Stone the UK version of the first book in the series. |
| PUNIC FAITH | Percy Undercover, Near Idiotic Cornelius Fudge, Accessing Information That's Helpful Theory that Percy is not inept, blind, or evil, but an undercover agent working for Dumbledore |
| QA | Qudditch through the Ages One of the books JKR wrote for charity, and one of the library books Harry checks out. |
| RASPBERRY | Refuse Any Ship; Prefer Being Excited Reading Romance Yarn The reader sails no ships, or supports no romantic pairings in the books |
| REDEMPTION | Real Evil Depends on Emotional, Mental, and Physical Tourture to Instill Orderly Notions Theory that abuse drove the bad guys bad. Mostly applied to Snape and Draco |
| REDHEAD ALWAYS | Ron Equals Dumbledore: Headmaster Evades Armageddon Disguised As Legendary Wizard And Yesterday's Savior Theory that Ron traveled back in time and is actually Dumbledore |
| RICK'S THE BOSS | Ron Identified with the Chess Knight: Surpasses his Triumfant, Heroic or Excellent Brothers Only by Self-Sacrifice Theory that Ron will be sacrificed either by himself or Harry to defeat Voldemort |
| RIOT GEAR | Ron Is Obviously a Thick Gargoyle, Especially at Relationships Acronym for Ron's immature behavior and oblivion to the opposite sex |
| RL | Real Life |
| SACRIFICE | Sacrifice Awaits Condemned Ron, Insidiously Foreshadowed In Chess Exploits Theory much like RICK'S THE BOSS that he will be sacrificed, or die before the end |
| SAD DENIAL | Sirius' Awful Death Didn't End Neatly: It's A Lie! Theory that Sirius is not in fact dead |
| SALVE | Snape as Loyal Vampire Envoy Theory that Snape is a vampire and is going to enlist them on the good side |
| SATYR | Society Against a Traitorous Young Ron People who are against the theory that Ron will turn to the bad side |
| SAVE HAGRID FROM COMPLETE DISRESPECT! | Should Albus and Voldemort Epic Hurtle Against Goodness, Remember: Indomitable Determination From Rubeus and Olympe May Contribute Outstandingly to Master Potter's Lasting Efforts To Eliminate Darkness. Indeed, Stalwart Rubeus' Enormous Strength and Power Ends Conflict Totally! Theory that the giant help Hagrid and Olympe got will turn the battle to the good side and Harry will triumph |
| SCARF | Snape Chases Ambitions; Rejects Family Theory that Snape left his wife and children to do what he wanted in life |
| SCRABBLE MATCH | Snape (Continually & Regularly) is Always Being Blamed, Loathing Errupts More, And Then Catches Harry Acronym describing Harry and Snape's relationship of mistrust |
| SECOND FLAMINGO | Snape Eternally Covets Ogleworthy Norris' Damsel Form, Like Argus: Mrs "Inaccessible" Norris Generates Obsession! The theory that Snape is in love with Mrs. Norris who is actually a human that has been permenantly transformed into a cat. He is a rival with Filch, who also loves her |
| SIAMESE CAT | Snape Is Assuredly Most Ever So Evil. Coming: Another Twist A theory that Snape is on the bad side, and just pretending to be good |
| SIAMESE VIRUS | Snape Is Already Mysterious Enough, So Extra Vampiricism Is Rendered Unquestionably Superfluous Refutes the theory that Snape is a vampire |
| SIDS | Sirius Is Dead Sexy |
| SINISTER | Sirius Isn't Nutters; Instead, Sirius Tried to Do Everything Right Thoery defending Sirius' actions before the Potter's died and after |
| SLURP | Society for Lupin's Unsullied Reputation Perpetuation People who defend Lupin and refute that he's evil |
| SNOT | Snape the Nasty, Odious Twit Acronym describing Snape's evilness |
| SS | Sorcerer's Stone the US version of the first book in the series. |
| STATICSCAP | Sirius's Trick Aimed to Instruct Callous Snape about Prejudice Theory that Sirius isn't hateful towards Snape but trying to teach him a lesson that got out of hand |
| STUFFED BEAR | Sirius: True Unselfish Friend For Ever! Deserves Better End And Revival! Acronym calling for a different turn out for Sirius. Usually theorizes that he isn't dead |
| SUNLIGHT ULTRA | Snape Undercover Needs Lupin In Getting Harry To Give Life-debt To Restrict Adversary Theory that goes hand in hand with MAGIC DISHWASHER that Snape and Dumbledore coordinated every action in the Shrieking Shack (Also a detergent from Britain) |
| SWEET GEORGIAN | Snape Went Evil Expecting to Gloat, Eyes Open, Recanted Gradually, Incensed at Nefariousness Theory that Snape turned spy on Voldemort after a gradual period of horror and redemption. Lacks a big bang, or central reason for turning, but rather built up over time |
| SYCOPHANTS | Society for Yes-men, Cowards, Ostriches, Passive-Aggressives, Hysterics, Abject Neurotics, and Toadying SYCOPHANTS People who sympathize with and defend the actions of the bad guys |
| VIM | Voldemort Is Misunderstood Theory that Voldemort is not evil, but misunderstood, and things got out of hand |
| VITTLES | Voldemort Is Trounced Through Love, Ending Series Theory that Love will be the force to defeat Voldemort |
| WARP DRIVE | Well, Another Ruddy Plot Device to Raise Interest and Vary Entertainment Acronym to describe JKR's writing in plot twists and clues |
| WW | Wizarding World |
Trading your muggle money for Galleons Sickles and Kunts isn't as hard as you'ld imagined, though the Goblins kept a very close eye on you the entire time. You wave cheerfully goodbye as you go back out into the bright hot sunshine of Diagon Alley.
| Diagon Alley | The Magical Menagerie | The Daily Prophet Offices | Madame Malkin's Robe Shop | Flourish and Blotts | Ollivander's Wands | Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor |
Please enjoy your visit and feel free to browse around at your leisure. But beware of taking and stealing images, and stories found within, because they are the express property of the parties who made them, and are copyrighted.
If you find an image or essay that you would like to use, please email me and ask permission to use it. Don't STEAL! All persons muggle or wizard found stealing will be severely hexed and thrown into Azkaban without mercy.