Neville became Hogwarts Herbology professor

Neville was always partial to Herbology in the books, and the epilogue delivered the happy news that he had since landed what must be his dream job: he was Hogwarts’ Herbology professor. After years as a struggling student, we saw Neville flourish during the Battle of Hogwarts, even destroying one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. The fact he stayed so loyal to the school decades later is heartwarming.

Hagrid was still a close family friend

Neville wasn’t the only familiar face at Hogwarts – Hagrid was still there, too! After becoming one of Harry’s greatest companions during his time at the school, it sounded like the always loyal gamekeeper was about to become friends with the next generation of Potters and Weasleys too, and had even ‘invited them round for tea next Friday’.

Naturally, Draco Malfoy wasn’t (a close family friend, that is)

What a massive surprise: Harry and Draco didn’t turn out to be bosom buddies. Although, as we see in the epilogue, they were at least now civil. Yes, the pair didn’t exactly have a laugh riot at Hogwarts, but in adulthood it seemed the pair had an unspoken mutual, but at the very least, respectful dislike of each other.

He did, however, pay Harry the courtesy of giving him a curt nod when he saw him on the platform, nearly two decades after Harry, Ron and Hermione saved his life at the Battle of Hogwarts.

Albus was terrified of Thestrals

It sounded like Harry’s eldest son James had been having fun adding to Albus’s pre-Hogwarts nerves, teasing him about which house he’d be sorted into, as well as telling him about some of Hogwarts’ more otherworldly beasts. In particular, Albus seemed scared at the thought of Thestrals – the bony, horse-like creatures that only those who have witnessed death can see.

Rose had inherited Hermione’s intelligence

Having Hermione Granger as your mum must pile on the pressure somewhat, but by the sounds of a remark from Ron, Rose sounded like she’d picked up some of Hermione’s fierce intelligence. During the epilogue, the glimpse of Rose we got was of an enthusiastic future student just like her mother. She already had her Hogwarts robes on before boarding the train!

Slytherin house still had a bad reputation

Voldemort’s time in power may have long-since passed, but that didn’t mean that the reputation of his house had improved. Albus seemed rather nervous about the idea of being sorted into Slytherin, and had to be reassured by Harry.

Harry – who asked the Sorting Hat not to put him in Slytherin back in the day – seemed unconcerned about Albus being sorted into his once-rival house, showing just how much he’s matured over the years. It sounded like young Albus, however, had much to learn.