Hogwarts
History of Hogwarts
"Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago - the precise date is uncertain - by the four greatest wizards of the age. The four school houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin.
They built this castle together, far from prying Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by common people and witches and wizards suffered much persecution. For a few years, the founders worked in harmony together, seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them up to the castle to be educated.
But then disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families.
He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school.
Reliable historical sources tell us this much, but these honest facts have been obscured by the fanciful legend of the Chamber of Secrets. The story goes that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the others knew nothing. Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school.
The heir alone would be able to unleash the horror within and purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic." [TOP]
Hogwarts Subjects
There are several teachers (called professors), each specialising in a single subject . Some are required, others electives. Students are required to take at least two electives beginning in their third year.
Transfiguration
The art of metamorphosis, turning something into something else by means of waving one's wand and saying magic words. One of the trickier subjects, it requires great concentration and effort. Transfiguration is taught from the first year to the seventh.
Before Albus Dumbledore became headmaster, he served as Transfiguration teacher. The current Transfiguration teacher is Minerva McGonagall, who's a competent teacher and a stern but fair disciplinarian.
Defence Against the Dark Arts
The use of spells, potions and other techniques to counteract the Dark Arts, demons and evil creatures such as the Boggart. Defence Against the Dark Arts is taught from the first year to the seventh.
Charms
The art of moving and manipulating objects by means of w
aving one's wand and saying magic words. This class is one of the noisier ones; a group of students practicing how to make objects move towards them or how to cause people to laugh makes a lot of hubbub even when they're doing well, never mind when they misfire a lot. Charms is taught from the first year to the seventh
Potions
The art of creating potions with magical effects. The process is
delicate and instructions must be followed exactly in order to achieve
the desired result. Potions is taught from the first year to the seventh.
Severus Snape is the current Potions master, although he covets the
Defence Against the Dark Arts job. Though an exceptional teacher, he is not the fairest disciplinarian, taking pleasure in humiliating
students such as Neville Longbottom (for his incompetence in
potion-making) and Harry Potter (for personal reasons regarding
Potter's father) at every opportunity he gets. Students of his house
often like his classes, while those of other houses end up intimidated
and/or angry.
Astronomy Very similar to its real-world equivalent. Astronomy classes take
place in the tallest tower and occur every Wednesday. Astronomy is
taught from the first year to the seventh. By their fifth year, students are expected to be able to make a star chart.
Professor Sinistra is the current Astronomy teacher.
Flying
The use of enchanted broomsticks. Flying lessons are presumably only given to first-year students.
Madam Hooch is currently teaching flight.
History of Magic
The study of magical history. History of Magic is taught from the
first year to the seventh.
The current History of Magic teacher, Professor Binns, isn't very
effective. He is the only ghost teacher, extremely set in his ways;
some say he didn't even notice he was dead, he just got up one day in the staff room, leaving his body behind.
Binns spends his class drawling on and on, and does not seem to mind (or notice) that the class is never paying any attention.
Herbology
The study of magical plants (such as mandrakes), and how to take care of, utilize and/or combat them. Herbology is set in greenhouses on the grounds. First Years only work in Greenhouse One, as Greenhouse Three contains more dangerous plants. Classes start using Greenhouse Three in their second year.
Professor Sprout is the current Herbology teacher.
Arithmancy
A branch of magic that's concerned with the magical properties of numbers. This class is not taken by Harry Potter, nor by Ron Weasley.It is however the favourite subject of Hermione Granger. Lessons on the subject are not shown and their precise contents remain unknown.
The only information given is that the subject is quite hard -therefore attractive to Hermione - and running parallel to Divination lessons at Hogwarts. An optional subject, taught from the third year to the seventh.
Professor Vector is the current Arithmancy teacher and has yet to have a speaking part.
Study of Ancient Runes
Self-explanatory. No details are known, for the same reasons as Arithmancy.
Divination
Hermione Granger don't like this subject.
Muggle Studies
The study of muggles, non-magical people, which involves writing
essays such as Why Muggles Need Electricity. Muggle Studies is
considered a soft option, but Percy Weasley thinks it is important for
a wizard to have an understanding of the non-magical community,
especially if he works closely with them. Hermione Granger tried it,
but stopped in the third year when she found her schedule too
demanding. An optional subject, taught from the third year to the
seventh.
Occlumency
The art of shielding the mind against external penetration. Definitely
not a part of the usual curriculum.
In Harry's fifth year, Dumbledore arranged for Harry to take one-on-one occlumency lessons with Professor Snape, though Snape told
his students that Harry was taking remedial Potions lessons. [TOP]
Hogwarts Houses
Gryffindor
Founder - Gordic Gryffindor
Trait of Accepted - Brave
Ghost - Nearly Headless Nick
Colors - Scarlet and Gold
Current Head of House - Minerva McGonnagal
Number of Times won Quiditch Cup (in four books) - 1
Year 1 Passwords - Caput Draconis, Pig Snout
Year 2 Passwords - Wattlebird
Year 3 Passwords - Fortuna Major, Scruvy Cur, Oddsbodikins, Fibbertigibbe
Year 4 Passwords - Balderdash , Fairy Lights, Banana Fritters
Year 5 Passwords - Mimbulus Mimbletonia
Hufflepuff
Founder - Helga Hufflepuff
Trait of Accepted - Hard Workers
Ghost - The Fat Friar
Colors - Yellow and Black
Current Head of House - Sprout
Ravenclaw
Founder - Rowena Ravenclaw
Trait of Accepted - Clever
Ghost - The Grey Lady
Colors - Blue and Bronze
Current Head of House - Filius Flitwick
Slytherin
Founder - Salazar Slytherin
Trait of Accepted - Ambition
Ghost - Bloody Baron
Colors - Green and Silver
Current Head of House - Severus Snape
Number of Times won Quiditch Cup (in four books) - 1 [TOP]
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