Tiscali - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Padfoot: Sirius Black's nickname at Hogwarts.

Paracelsus: Name of wizard depicted on a wizard trading card

Parkinson, Pansy: Hogwarts pupil in the same year as Harry, in Slytherin house. She has a pug-like face.

Parselmouth: Wizard who can talk to snakes - very rare. Thought to be the sign of a Dark wizard.

Parseltongue: Language spoken by a Parselmouth

Patil, Padma: Hogwarts pupil in the same year as Harry, in Ravenclaw house. Twin sister of Parvati Patil.

Patil, Parvati: Hogwarts pupil in the same year as Harry, in Gryffindor house. Twin sister of Padma Patil and best friend of Lavender Brown.

Patronus: Positive force which acts as protection from a Dementor. It is conjured up by the incantation 'Expecto patronum'.

Peeves : Hogwarts' resident poltergeist. Tries to get students in trouble and loves causing havoc at any opportunity.

Pensieve: Storage device for thoughts and memories. It looks like a stone basin holding a silvery liquid.

Pepper Imps: Wizarding sweets available from Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. Make you smoke at the mouth.

Peppermint Toads: Toad-shaped peppermint sweets that hop about in the stomach after they've been eaten.

Pepper-Up Potion: Magical restorative.

Petrificus Totalus: Spell to bind arms and legs together

Pettigrew, Peter: Friend of James Potter , Harry's father, while at Hogwarts.

Philosopher's Stone: Legendary stone which will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life , which will make the drinker immortal. The only known stone belongs to Nicholas Flamel, Albus Dumbledore's partner.

Phoenix: Rare bird that bursts into flames and rises from its ashes. Their tears can heal wounds. Albus Dumbledore has a pet phoenix, Fawkes.

Pince, Madam: Librarian at Hogwarts.

Pigwidgeon: Name of a young grey owl belonging to Ron Weasley. Often called Pig for short.

Platform nine and three-quarters: The platform at King's Cross Station where students gather to board the Hogwarts Express.

Pocket Sneakoscope: Small wizarding toy - a spinning glass top that lights up when there is somebody or something suspicious around.

Polyjuice potion: Potion that will turn the drinker into another person for one hour.

Pomfrey, Madam Poppy: Matron at Hogwarts.

Portkey: Object that transports wizards to a prearranged place. As soon as you touch the Portkey, you are whisked to the destination. Any object can be turned into a portkey.

Potions: Class at Hogwarts to learn how to make potions. Professor Snape is Potions master at Hogwarts.

Potter, Harry: Student at Hogwarts. Famous for having survived an attack by Lord Voldemort in infancy.

Potter, James: Harry's father.

Potter, Lily: Harry's mother, born to muggles but married a wizard. Lily is the sister of Petunia Dursley who is decidedly un-wizardly.

Prang, Ernie: Driver of the Knight Bus

Prior Incantato: Command that reveals the most recent spell or spells a wand has performed.

Privet Drive: The street where Harry lives with the Dursleys.

Prongs: James Potter's nickname at Hogwarts.

Ptolemy: Name of a wizard depicted on a wizard trading card.

Pumpkin juice: Wizarding drink.

Pumpkin pasty: Wizarding food.

Put-Outer: Device resembling cigarette lighter, used to turn street-lamps on and off. Used by Albus Dumbledore.