Hogwarts: A History
"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."
Hogwarts Map.
Guide.
The Muggle World: By wizard definition, a muggle is a nonwizard person. Though they are nonmagic, some wizard happen to be muggle-born (but from wizarding families). A rude word for a muggle-born wizard is "mudblood", but we don't use that kind of language at Hogwarts. The muggle world is the area where muggles live. We try to keep them away from the wizarding world.
Dursley's House: The area where Harry's Aunt and Uncle live. They took Harry in when his parents were killed. They hate wizards and are very prejudiced against Harry. They have a son, Dudley, who is the fattest, most spoiled kid on earth. Him and Harry fight a lot.
Platform 9 3/4: The train platform where wizards leave to travel here, to Hogwarts. You have to run right through the wall to get into it. This is the platform where the Hogwarts Express leaves from.
Hogwarts Express: The train that takes wizards to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hogsmeade: A small wizard town off of Hogwarts. 3rd year students are allowed to go there on weekends. It contains The 3 Broomsticks (a wizard bar), Honeydukes (A sweet shoppe), Zonko's (A trick shop with lots of great practical joke items) The Shrieking Shack (A so-called haunted house) and more.
Diagon Alley: Supply alley where wizards go to get equipment needed for school. It contains an owlery, a robe shop, a wand shop, a bookstore and more.
Hagrid's Cottage: Hagrid is the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. He is friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione. He is a tall, burly giant. He was expelled from Hogwarts his 3rd year but Dumbledore allowed him to stay as gamekeeper. He rebuilt his broken wand to look like an umbrella. This is the cottage where he currently resides with his dog, Fang.
Forbidden Forest: A strange area of Hogwarts containing many wild magical creatures, like unicorns, bicorns, centaurs and a giant spider named Aragog. It is off limits to students.
Hogwarts: A school of wizardry for young boy and girl wizards and witches. In it, students are sorted into a house. They take specific classes with their house members like Arithmancy, Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, Herbology, Charms and more.
Houses
Founder: Godric Gryffindor.
Head of House: Professor McGonagall
House Colors: Red and Gold
House Mascot: Lion
House Ghost: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (a.k.a. Nearly Headless Nick)
Founder: Salazar Slytherin
Head of House: Professor Snape
House Colors: Silver and Green
House Mascot: Serpent
House Ghost: The Bloody Baron
Founder: Rowena Ravenclaw
Head of House: Professor Flitwick
House Colors: Blue and Bronze
House Mascot: Eagle
House Ghost: The Grey Lady
Founder: Helga Hufflepuff
Head of House: Professor Sprout
House Colors: Yellow and Black
House Mascot: Badger
House Ghost: The Fat Friar
Teachers and Lessons
Albus Dumbledore: Headmaster, Former Transfiguration Teacher
Minerva McGonagall: Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration Teacher
Professor Flitwick: Charms Master
Severus Snape: Potions Master
Professor Quirrell: Former Defense against Dark Arts Teacher
Gilderoy Lockhart: Former Defense against Dark Arts Teacher
Professor Remus J. Lupin: Former Defence against Dark Arts Teacher
Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody: Defence against Dark Arts Teacher
Professor Trelawney: Divination Teacher
Professor Sprout: Herbology Teacher
Argus Filch: Caretaker
Professor Kettleburn: Previous Care of Magical Creatures
Professor Sinistra: Astronomy Teacher
Rubeus Hagrid: Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures Teacher
Professor Binns: History of Magic Teacher
Madame Hooch: Flying Instructor
Madame Pomfrey: Nurse
Madame Pince: Librarian
Professor Vector: Arithmancy Teacher
Professor Dippit: Former Hogwarts Headmaster
Arthimancy
Few students take this course. Why? Arithmancy is considered the a very boring and complex study. It is often that only those who consider themselves 'intelligent' are the ones willing enough to take the challenge and sit through Professor Vector's boring lessons.
Care of Magical Creatures
Dangerous? The instructor, Reubus Hagrid, is not scared to show that he favors some students over others. The Hogwarts Game Keeper has a huge heart for magical creatures and was quick to jump on the idea of bringing back this class to Hogwarts. Whether its Hippogrifs, or Blast-ended Screwts, half of the time Hagrid gets his students to jump right on the task rather than to take time learning all aspects of the animals.
Transfiguration
A quite complex branch of magic. Several students struggle in this class. Starting simple - turning matches into pins and so forth. Professor McGonagall takes on the challenge of teaching this and current Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore once taught this course himself.
Defense Against the Dark Arts
From Quirrell to Lockhart to Lupin to Mood...er Crouch, every year this class seems to be instructed by a different professor. With the fun facts and useful information, some students would give up any subject just to learn all about Bogarts or Pixies. However, you just can't help the rumor of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position being cursed.
Divination
Professor McGonagall regrets the need for this subject to be taught. While Professor Trelawney's predictions are considered absolute rubbish, she thinks that her ability to 'see the future' is a real gift that is obtained by few. Located in the most northern tower of Hogwarts, the classroom is very cramped and quite musky.
Herbology
In a cool, comforting environment, Professor Sprout combines her knowledge and the students 'hands-on' work to provide fun and informative lessons. Although the students can get into literally sticky situations, students enjoy the break-away from the castle to come down to the greenhouses.
History of Magic
Taught by Professor Binns - a Hogwarts ghost - this subject is considered quite boring as it depicts the events in the history of Witches, Wizards and the wizarding world as we know it. Few students 'enjoy' this class.
Muggle Studies
This class is strictly about Muggles. It teaches the students about muggle habits and lifestyles. As well as important historical events in the lifetime of muggles. You won't find anything about Voldemort in this class.
Potions
Considered by some to be an important subject, despite the fact that potions is a very complicated and 'hard' course. Professor Snape doesn't make the class any easier. Students sit at their tables waiting, and preparing their mixtures and ingredients until Snape comes along to criticize their work.
Astronomy
Astronomy is taught by the mysterious Professor Sinistra. Students study the stars in the astronomy tower, which is the tallest tower in hogwarts. Students find magical symbols in the sky by using telescopes. Homework involves making precise models of the stars. Think you would be good in astronomy?
Charms
Charms involves studying complex spells, charms, and maybe even hexes. It is taught by short, funny, Professor Filius Flitwick. He uses his keen knowlege of spells to guide students in learning this magical craft. Students learn many things from making objects fly, to learning how to summon objects at your will.
Flying Lessons
Madam Hooch is a wonderful Flying instructor. The students like her - mainly because she doesn't waste time explaining everything. Although she can be strict, she makes the art of flying look like a piece of cake. Students absolutely love the idea of flying and that makes Flying Lessons definitely one of the most popular courses with the students.
