Pupils attending Hogwarts are required to purchase the following equipment before arriving at the school for their first year. Details of the items required accompany the letter sent inviting them to attend the school.
Uniform (all items to carry name tags):
Three sets of plain black work robes. One black pointed hat for day wear. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar). One black winter cloak with silver fastenings.
The following books are required for the first year:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) - Miranda Goshawk A History of Magic - Bathilda Bagshott Magical Theory – Adalbert Waffling A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration - Emeric Switch One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi - Phyllida Spore Magical Drafts and Potions - Arsenius Jigger Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Newt Scamander The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection - Quentin Trimble
The following additional equipment is also mandatory:
One wand. One cauldron (pewter, standard size 2). One set of glass or crystal phials. One telescope. One set of brass scales.
In addition to the compulsory equipment, students would be well advised to also invest in:
Quills Ink Parchment Bag Pencil (or indeed quill) case
Finally, the following items may be brought if desired:
An owl, cat or toad. Rats may also be acceptable (as Ron has one), although this is never stated anywhere. A broomstick (2nd years and above only).
Re: Some useful info « Reply #1 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:17pm »
Dumbledore's Army
Organization - The initial meeting was in the Hog's Head in the village of Hogsmeade.
Location - With Dobby's help, the group met in the Room of Requirement, which was perfect for their needs.
Name - During the first official meeting in the Room of Requirement, the students decided (at Hermione's urging) to choose a name for the group. At first, the Defense Association was chosen, or the D.A. for short. The students then decided to change it to Dumbledore's Army, because of Cornelius Fudge's fear that Dumbledore was using the Hogwarts students to create an army to take on the Ministry of Magic. Everyone in the group signed a list and agreed not to tell anyone about their meetings - and unbeknownst to anyone, Hermione had magically jinxed this magical contract.
Purpose - The group's purpose was to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts so they could protect themselves and others against Voldemort and his followers - and also for the fifth-year students to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL.
Members - Twenty-nine students in total joined the D.A. The group included the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team and also the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw fifth-year prefects. None of the group was from Slytherin. The members were Hannah Abbot, Katie Bell, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Lavender Brown, Cho Chang, Michael Corner, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey, Marietta Edgecombe, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Seamus Finnegan (who joined the group in the very last meeting), Anthony Goldstein, Hermione Granger, Angelina Johnson, Lee Jordan, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ernie Macmillan, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Harry Potter, Zacharias Smith, Alicia Spinnet, Dean Thomas, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Ron Weasley.
Communication - Hermione created fake Galleons and put on a Protean Charm on them. When Harry changed the serial numbers on his Galleon to reflect the date of the next meeting, the Galleons in the other members' pockets would burn warm and let them know.
Betrayal - Marietta Edgecombe, a member of the D.A., told Dolores Umbridge that a secret meeting would take place that night and also revealed the location of the meeting. Because she broke her promise not to tell, Hermione's jinx worked and the word "SNEAK" disfigured her face in ugly purple pustules, and she refused to say anymore. Meanwhile, Dobby had warned the D.A. members in the meeting, and they rushed out. Professor Umbridge and members of the Inquisitorial Squad only caught Harry but entered the Room of Requirement and found the list of students. Harry was brought to the Headmaster's office and was almost expelled, but was rescued by Professor Dumbledore. After that, Marietta wore a balaclava to hide her face - interestingly, she was still wearing the balaclava on the Hogwarts Express back to London - apparently Madame Pomfrey couldn't heal her face. Her face was still disfigured the next September when she went back to Hogwarts.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #2 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:27pm »
Educational Decree's
Educational Decree 22
Passed on August 30th 1995. This decree allowed the Ministry of Magic to appoint a teacher at Hogwarts if the headmaster failed to find a suitable candidate. The Ministry then appointed Dolores Umbridge to the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, which Professor Dumbledore had failed to fill (despite Snape applying for the job yet again). She began the position the next day, arriving at Hogwarts on September 1st.
Educational Decree 23
This decree appointed Dolores Umbridge as Hogwarts High Inquisitor. She had the authority to inspect the teaching staff at Hogwarts.
Educational Decree 24
Passed on October 7th. This decree followed the initial meeting of Dumbledore’s Army in the Hog’s Head and immediately disbanded all student clubs, teams, societies, and organizations. Such groups could only be reformed with the permission of the High Inquisitor herself. Any students defying the decree were to be expelled.
Educational Decree 25
This decree arose from Umbridge’s frustration with Professor McGonagall’s successful effort to reform the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. The decree gave the High Inquisitor total authority over all punishments handed out in the school, with the power to apply her own punishments or alter those made by other teachers.
Educational Decree 26
Passed January 15th. This decree followed the mass breakout of Death Eaters from Azkaban and prevented teachers from giving students any information that was not related to their subjects. As a result, the teachers no longer felt comfortable discussing anything in the staff room, and instead they held clandestine whispered conversations in the corridors.
Educational Decree 27
This decree was in response to the publication of Harry’s interview with Rita Skeeter about the return of Lord Voldemort. This decree threatened expulsion for any student caught with a copy of The Quibbler.
Educational Decree 28
Following the disappearance of Professor Dumbledore, this decree installed Professor Umbridge as Head Teacher of Hogwarts. This was the last of the Educational Decrees.
At a later stage toward the end of the summer term, Argus Filch finds a parchment in Professor Umbridge’s office approving whipping as a form of punishment. This may have been intended to form the basis of a further decree, but thankfully it never made it that far. All of the above decrees were rescinded following the return as Headmaster of Professor Dumbledore.
Educational Decree 29
Proposed Educational Decree 29 (but never signed by the Minister of Magic) – Argus Filch told Harry that when this decree was signed, Argus would have the power to whip students or string them up the ankles in his office; also, Peeves would be evicted. Thankfully this decree was never signed, although this decree was probably what Filch pulled out of Umbridge’s desk just before Fred and George’s phenomenal exit.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #3 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:30pm »
Food
The kitchen at Hogwarts lies directly beneath the Great Hall and is the same size. It has a high ceiling and a great brick fireplace at one end. Brass pots and pans are piled along the walls. Five preparation tables lie directly beneath the five tables in the Hall above, and at mealtime the food is magically transported through the ceiling to the tables above. A large number of house-elves prepare the food. In general, there are four feasts each year; start-of-term feast, Halloween feast, Christmas feast, and end-of-year feast.
Desserts - ice cream, apple pies, custard or treacle tarts, chocolate éclairs, jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding, spotted dick, chocolate gateau, marshmallows and crumpets, blancmange
Drinks - butterbeer, cherry syrup and soda with ice and an umbrella (Flitwick), cooking sherry (Trelawney), elderflower wine (served at the Weasley's), eggnog (at Christmas), gillywater (McGonagall's drink), hot chocolate, milk, mulled mead, nettle tea, nettle wine (one of the potions in Snape's task), Ogden's Old Firewhisky, orange juice, pumpkin juice, red currant rum (Cornelius Fudge), sherry, single malt whisky (Madam Maxime's horses), tea
Hagrid's specialties - Harry's chocolate birthday cake, sausages, tea, peppermint humbugs, rock cakes, stoat sandwiches, treacle fudge, bath buns, beef casserole (but it had a large talon in it)
Re: Some useful info « Reply #4 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:34pm »
The Forbidden Forest
The Forbidden Forest lies east of Hogwarts castle. The forest has thick groves of trees that block out the light. Beech, oak, pine, sycamore, and yew trees are found in the forest, along with underbrush such as knotgrass and thorns. There are brooks, clearings, and wide paths to follow, but dense vegetation grows on both sides of the paths.
The forest is forbidden to all Hogwarts students, except for detentions with Hagrid or the occasional Care of Magical Creatures lesson. However, Fred and George Weasley like to explore places that students aren't supposed to go; Hagrid said he's spent half his life chasing the twins out of the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid's hut is on the edge of the forest. He is very knowledgeable about the forest and the creatures that live within it. Until Aragog died, Hagrid could go anywhere in the forest, but now he has to avoid the acromantula's webs.
Many dangerous creatures live in the forest, some of whom eat humans. The following creatures are known to live in the Forbidden Forest:
Acromantulas - A huge spider that has 8 eyes, is covered in thick black hair, can grow up to 15 feet in size, and is capable of intelligent speech but will try to eat any human who comes near it. Hagrid had a pet acromantula named Aragog, which lived in the Forbidden Forest with his wife Mosag and their large family. The acromantulas are among the most dangerous creatures in the forest. Aragog is now dead.
Centaurs - Centaurs are very intelligent and have their own culture. They avoid contact with witches and wizards, and they are experts in divining the future. Hagrid had a respectful relationship with them until he brought Grawp into the forest. When the centaur Firenze accepted a job offer from Dumbledore, the centaurs tried to kill Firenze. The centaurs captured Professor Umbridge after she insulted them. The centaurs came to Dumbledore's funeral to pay their respect.
Ford Anglia - This is a small, old, rusty, turquoise car that Mr. Weasley had bewitched to fly; Harry and Ron flew it to Hogwarts, and it hit the Whomping Willow. It is now running wild in the Forbidden Forest. The Ford Anglia seems to have its own personality, and it saved Harry and Ron from the acromantulas.
Giant - Hagrid brought his half-brother, Grawp, to live in the Forbidden Forest. Grawp is a pure-blood giant but only 16 feet tall. The centaurs, in particular, resented his presence in the forest. Dumbledore sent Grawp to live in nearby mountains, where he was much happier.
Thestrals - Thestrals are rare black winged horses that have the power of invisibility and an incredible sense of direction. Hagrid first brought a pair of thestrals to the Forbidden Forest and domesticated them. A herd of about a hundred thestrals now lives in the forest, and Hagrid has them well-trained. Hagrid introduced thestrals to the Care of Magical Creatures class in Harry's fifth year. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Ron flew on thestrals to London. Thestrals pull the carriages from the station to Hogwarts.
Three-headed dog - Hagrid had a vicious three-headed dog, which he named Fluffy. When Fluffy was no longer needed to guard the trapdoor on the third floor, he was released into the Forbidden Forest.
Unicorns - Unicorns are beautiful, pure white, horned horses when fully grown (seven years old). The foals are born golden, then turn silver when they're about two years old. Their horns, blood, and hair all have magical properties. They are so fast that they are very difficult to capture. They are not unduly aggressive, but should be treated with great respect.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #5 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:37pm »
Forbidden Places
Astronomy Tower - The tallest tower at Hogwarts, it was out-of-bounds except for classes.
Forbidden Forest - The forest is strictly off limits to all Hogwarts students, except for detentions with Hagrid or an occasional Care of Magical Creatures lesson.
Girls' dormitories - Boys are not allowed in the girls' dormitories. In the Gryffindor common room, the girls' spiral staircase is enchanted so if a boy steps on it, a siren wails and the staircase is temporarily transfigured into a slippery slide, sending him and anyone else sailing to the floor; however, the boys' staircase does not have the same enchantment - according to Hogwarts, A History, the founders believed that girls were more trustworthy than boys.
Halls - The students are not to be out of bed after hours; "nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night".
Hogsmeade - The village is off limits to all students below third year; older students have to have a signed permission slip to visit the village.
Third-floor corridor on the right-hand side - Professor Dumbledore said this corridor was out of bounds to "everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death". Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville entered the forbidden third-floor corridor and encountered Fluffy. Later Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered it to go through the trap door. This corridor was probably out of bounds only during Harry's first year.
Whomping Willow - Students once tried to touch the trunk of the Whomping Willow, but a boy named Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, so all students were forbidden to go near it.
The Restricted Section of the Library - Students aren't allowed in here without a note from a teacher. Even if they do have one, Madam Pince will look at them suspciously and do her best not to let them in anyway. The Restricted Section is right at the back of the library, behind a rope, and some of the books within it scream.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #6 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:38pm »
Hogwarts Founders
Hogwarts school was founded over a thousand years ago by four of the eminent witches and wizards of the time. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw laid the foundations for the only Wizarding school in Britain.
Godric Gryffindor - The founder of Gryffindor house. A fair man, he believed that any child who displayed magical abilities before their 11th birthday should be able to attend Hogwarts. Godric valued courage and bravery, believing these were the two most virtuous abilities a person can possess.
Salazar Slytherin - The founder of Slytherin house, he was sly and cunning, not unlike many of the students in his house today. He believed strongly that only wizards of pure blood (i.e., those with a mother and father from Wizarding families) should be allowed to attend Hogwarts. Slytherin caused great dispute over this with the other founders, and it eventually caused a permanent rift with Gryffindor, which led to Slytherin's departure from the school. Before he left, however, he created the Chamber of Secrets, complete with a huge statue of himself and a horrible monster.
Helga Hufflepuff -The founder of Hufflepuff house, she was a kind and warm woman. Not much is known of her, though we may assume that she brought (or tried to bring) unity to Hogwarts. The values a person must possess to be sorted into Hufflepuff house are those of loyalty and patience above all else.
Rowena Ravenclaw - The founder of Ravenclaw house, she was a sharp and intelligent woman. Intellect is a highly valued asset to the students of Ravenclaw house. Due to this, it is likely that Rowena wanted to make Hogwarts the very finest Wizarding school on earth, teaching those children with the highest intelligence.
After Hogwarts was built, the founders coexisted peacefully for many years. Eventually, however, the pressure from Slytherin to admit only pure-blooded wizards affected the other three founders greatly, and none more than Gryffindor. Slytherin finally left Hogwarts following a massive argument with Gryffindor over the issue, and he never returned.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #7 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:40pm »
Hogwarts Express
The Hogwarts Express was the official school train of Hogwarts. It was a bright red steam engine with a sign that said "Hogwarts Express" on the front. It pulled a long line of carriages - plenty for the "ordinaries" and two posh ones at the front for the prefects. The train left from Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station in London on September 1st at exactly 11 a.m. The Hogwarts Express carried the students to Hogsmeade station, situated near Hogwarts in the north of Scotland.
Students who failed to board the train had to make their own alternate travel arrangements (as Harry and Ron did in their second year at school, although their chosen means of transport of a flying car was met with grim disapproval by the teachers).
The train arrived in Hogsmeade Station sometime during the early evening, which may be around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., because the start-of-term feast (held after the Sorting Ceremony) would probably be held no later than around 7:00 or 8:00 p.m.
The Hogswarts Express made several journeys between Platform Nine and Three Quarters and Hogsmeade Station each year. There was the initial journey for the start of term, and some pupils returned home for the Christmas and Easter holidays and then required transport back to school. The train also made the return journey to London at the end of each term.
After Christmas during Harry's sixth year, the Ministry of Magic arranged for the students to return to Hogwarts by the Floo Network. Harry and the Weasleys arrived in Professor McGonagall's office.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #8 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:44pm »
House-Elves
House-elves are small magical creatures with large bat-like ears and enormous eyes. The males and females are nearly similar, except the females have higher, squeakier voices. House-elves do not wear clothing (they consider it shameful to do so) but cover themselves in towels, tea cozies, or pillowcases. If their owner gave them any article of clothing, the house-elf was freed from enslavement. For most house-elves, this would be a terribly disgraceful insult.
House-elves are usually owned by wealthy Wizarding families who live in manors or large houses. The house-elves have powerful wandless magic of their own, but they are only allowed to use magic with their master’s permission, mainly cooking and other household chores. They can Apparate and Disapparate at will. Over a hundred house-elves live at Hogwarts, where they cook, clean, lay the fires, do the laundry, and countless other tasks. Most of the house-elves seem very happy with this arrangement and consider it a great honor to serve faithfully and well. The role of the house-elves is very important, as they hear and see things and can use their powerful magic to do good or evil.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #9 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:51pm »
House Information
Gryffindor
"You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart.."
Colors: Scarlet and Gold Ghost: Nearly Headless Nick Head of House: Minerva McGonagall Common Room: In Gryffindor Tower, on the seventh floor, behind the portrait of the Fat Lady House Animal: Lion Named After: Godric Gryffindor
Hufflepuff
"You might belong in Hufflepuff, where those are just and loyal, those patient Hufflepuff's are true and unafraid of toil."
Colors: Yellow and Black Ghost: The Fat Friar Head of House: Professor Sprout Common Room: On a basement corridor, near to the kitchens House Animal: Badger Named After: Helga Hufflepuff
Ravenclaw
"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind."
Colors: Blue and Bronze Ghost: The Grey Lady Head of House: Prof. Flitwick Common Room: Ravenclaw Tower, on the west side of the castle House Animal: Eagle Named After: Rowena Ravenclaw
Slytherin
"Or perhaps in Slytherin, you'll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means, to achieve their ends."
Colors: Green and Silver Ghost: The Bloody Baron Head of House: Severus Snape Common Room: In the dungeons, behind a bare, damp stone wall House Animal: Serpent Named After: Salazar Slytherin
Re: Some useful info « Reply #10 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:52pm »
Inquisitorial Squad
Professor Dolores Umbridge established the Inquisitorial Squad after she replaced Albus Dumbledore as head of Hogwarts. Malfoy described the squad as: "A select group of students who are supportive of the Ministry of Magic, handpicked by Professor Umbridge" . Members of the Inquisitorial Squad were Draco Malfoy, Millicent Bullstrode, Montague, Pansy Parkinson, and Warrington (all Slytherin students). The squad wore a small silver "I" pin upon their robes.
The squad could punish any pupils who were hostile to Umbridge by taking house points from other students. Inevitably (given the fact that they were all Slytherins), they abused their power by docking points from students in the other three houses, but especially those from Gryffindor. However, when Montague tried to take house points from the Weasley twins, they stuffed him into the Vanishing Cabinet. Although Montague reappeared some days later jammed into a toilet, he was confused and disoriented and had to spend time recuperating in the hospital wing. Then, after Fred and George Weasley made their spectacular exit, the other houses began to fight back. Warrington reported to the hospital wing with his skin looking like it was coated in cornflakes, and Pansy Parkinson missed classes because she had sprouted antlers.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #11 on Sept 29, 2007, 4:56pm »
Lessons
Students have the same curriculum during their first two years at Hogwarts. For their third year, they are allowed to choose additional classes in addition to a core curriculum. Most lessons are taught in Hogwarts classrooms, except for Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, flying lessons, and part of the Apparition lessons. In their sixth and seventh years, the students' OWL grades determine which classes the students can take. In addition, sixth-year students can pay to take a Ministry-approved Apparition course at Hogwarts.
Ancient Runes - a class taught by Professor Batusheda Babbling in an unknown classroom. Students study the letters of an ancient alphabet that have secret or magic meanings.
Apparition lessons [for sixth-year students] - A twelve-week course taught by a Ministry of Magic instructor for students turning 17 years old in the next year; the cost was 12 Galleons.
Arithmancy - Professor Septima Vector teaches Arithmancy, which is a study of the magical properties of numbers (Muggles call this numerology). For homework, students fill out complicated charts.
Astronomy - Professor Aurora Sinistra teaches Astronomy, which is taught at midnight in the highest tower at Hogwarts. Students study the night sky to chart the stars, moons, and planets. For homework, students have made models of the planets, moons, and stars.
Care of Magical Creatures - Professor Rubeus Hagrid teaches this class on the Hogwarts grounds or in the Forbidden Forest. Students learn about magical creatures and how to care for them. No student in Harry's sixth-year class wanted to continue taking this class.
Charms - Professor Filius Flitwick teaches in a third-floor classroom. Students learn spells and charms, many of which are difficult to master. Students often have to practice the charms for homework. Sixth-year students begin to learn nonverbal spells.
Defense Against the Dark Arts - This class has been taught by a different professor each year; the first was Professor Quirinus Quirrell, the second was Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, the third was Professor Remus J. Lupin, the fourth was Professor Alastor Moody (aka Bartemius Crouch Jr.), the fifth was Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge, and the sixth was Professor Severus Snape. This class is in a first-floor classroom. According to Gilderoy Lockhart, the aim of the class is "to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind." Sixth-year students need to learn nonverbal spells.
Divination - This class is now taught by two teachers: the centaur Firenze and Professor Sybill Trelawney. Firenze teaches in a ground-floor classroom that has been magically transformed to look like the outside, while Trelawney teaches in the North Tower on the seventh floor. Students learn how to predict the future by many different methods.
Flying lessons [for first-year students] - Madam Rolanda Hooch teaches students how to fly properly. This class is taught on the grounds at Hogwarts.
Herbology - Professor Pomona Sprout teaches students about magical plants, their properties, and how to care for them. This class is taught in the greenhouses behind Hogwarts.
History of Magic - Professor Cuthbert Binns, the only ghost teacher, teaches students about the history of witches, wizards, magical creatures, and events in the magical world. This class is taught in a first-floor classroom. For homework, the students often have to write long essays.
Muggle Studies - This class is taught by an unnamed professor. Students study Muggle culture, customs, and habits. This class is taught in a first-floor classroom.
Potions - During Harry's first five years, Professor Severus Snape taught the students; Professor Horace Slughorn taught in Harry's sixth year. The students learn how to create potions. This classroom is in one of the dungeons. The students often write essays on the properties of potion ingredients or what they have done wrong in preparing a potion. Sixth-year students need to learn nonverbal spells.
Transfiguration - Professor Minerva McGonagall teaches students how to transform one object into another. The location of the classroom is unknown. The students often have a lot of homework and have to practice their transfiguration skills. Sixth-year students need to learn nonverbal spells.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #12 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:06pm »
Magical Protection
Hogwarts students learned to protect themselves, each other, and their families in their classes (in particular, Defense Against the Dark Arts). Their wands, of course, were the most important magical protection they had, and the students learned many protective charms and spells.
Occasionally, other magical devices, animals, or plants were used for protection. To name just a few devices, there were Dark Detectors, Dark Sensors, and Sneakoscopes. The Whomping Willow was planted to protect Lupin. To protect the Philosopher’s Stone, Dumbledore used a combination of potions, a magical plant, magical creatures, and magical items such as the McGonagall’s giant chess set and the Mirror of Erised. At times garlic, amulets, or other charmed items were used for protection, but it is unknown how efficacious they were. After Voldemort’s appearance in the Wizarding world, many fake amulets were for sale, including Metamorph-Medals.
Wizarding homes, schools, and buildings had many charms and enchantments to protect them from Muggles and even unwanted Apparators.
Protective Ancient or Deep Magic
Old or ancient magic, or deep and powerful magic, was magic that was not cast by wizards with wands, spells, or potions.
Dragons – “Dragons are extremely difficult to slay, owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none but the most powerful spells can penetrate”.
Dursley home – One of Dumbledore’s protections for Harry was connected to his only living relatives, the Dursleys: “For he has been better protected than I think even he knows, protected in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago, when it fell to him to arrange the boy’s future. Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy’s protection as long as he is in his relations’ care. Not even I can touch him there”. From Dumbledore’s explanation at the end of book five, it seems that Harry must actually be in the house for the protection to work. Both Arthur and Sirius insisted that Harry remain in the house after the Dementor attack, and the Dursleys locked Harry in his room. However, Dobby, the Weasley family (illegal Floo network connection), and the Advance Guard easily entered the Dursley home.
House-elves – “House-elves have got powerful magic of their own” . This magic requires neither wands nor spells. Dobby used his magical powers to intercept Owl Post, to close the portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, to enchant a Bludger, and to knock Lucius Malfoy down. The house-elves can Apparate and Disapparate at will, even inside Hogwarts.
Life Debt – When one wizard saves another wizard’s life, it creates a magical bond between them or a “life debt.” As Dumbledore said: “This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable. James Potter saved Snape’s life many years ago, and it still affects Snape’s actions towards Harry. Harry saved Pettigrew’s life, and Pettigrew’s tentative suggestions to Voldemort that he find another victim for his rebirthing potion probably came from Pettigrew’s knowledge of his life debt to Harry. “Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt.”
Lily Potter – Dumbledore told Harry: “You would be protected by an ancient magic of which he knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated – to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother’s blood. I delivered you to her sister, her only remaining relative”. This sacrifice turned out to be vitally important, for it was the ancient magic of this act that protected Harry, and Quirrell/Voldemort couldn’t touch him without being burned. So for Voldemort’s rebirthing ceremony, he chose to use Harry’s blood: “He said my blood would make him stronger than if he’d used someone else’s … He said the protection my – my mother left in me – he’d have it too. And he was right – he could touch me without hurting himself, he touched my face”. The consequences of Voldemort’s decision will be seen in the future.
Witches and Wizards – Witches and wizards seem to have an inborn magical protection against injuries that would either seriously injure or kill a Muggle. For example, Harry, as a one-year-old baby survived the destruction of his parents’ home. According to Hagrid, a car crash never could have killed a witch and wizard. As a child, Neville was dropped from an upper-story window, and he just bounced! Various Quidditch players have been injured in spectacular ways, but they are not permanently harmed and certainly not killed. During his first flying lesson Neville fell twenty feet from a broomstick, and all he suffered was a broken wrist. Harry, even before he knew he was a wizard, escaped from Dudley’s gang leaping to the top of the school. It must have been one horrific experiment that went wrong for Luna’s mother to have died.
Protection Offered by the Ministry of Magic
The Ministry of Magic has a number of law enforcement agencies that maintain order, enforce laws and regulations, deal with breaches of security, and oversee Azkaban, the wizard prison. Squads of Hit Wizards deal with criminals, and Aurors track down Dark Wizards. The Wizengamot is the High Wizard Court, which dispenses justice.
After Voldemort’s return, the Ministry of Magic sent each Wizarding family a sheet with simple security guidelines to protect them from attack. To protect the students during Harry’s sixth year, the Ministry of Magic prepared “stringent new security plans” that included “defensive spells and charms, a complex array of countercurses, and a small task force of Aurors” at Hogwarts.
Protective Charms and Spells
Wizards and witches cast Muggle- repelling charms and spells to keep Muggles away from places or objects. For example:
Anti-intruder jinxes – These were put on the high walls surrounding Hogwarts; Dumbledore had to undo his enchantments when he and Harry flew over them.
Disillusionment Charm – A charm that conceals the true, magical nature of something. Mad-Eye Moody casts a Disillusionment Charm on Harry to protect him during the trip from Privet Drive to Grimmauld Place. Witches and wizards may keep hippogriffs and winged horses as long as they perform a Disillusionment Charm on them regularly.
Muggle-Repelling charms – Witches and wizards put Muggle-repelling charms on places that they don’t want Muggles to notice. For example, the Quidditch World Cup stadium had Muggle-Repelling charms all over it: “If Muggles got anywhere near it, they would suddenly remember some appointment they were late for and hurry off”. Other places include Quidditch pitches (all over the country), Hogsmeade (a village), Hogwarts (wizarding school), and the Leaky Cauldron (an inn). Some land is Unplottable, so it can’t be put on Muggle maps, and some islands and dragon habitats are charmed to keep Muggles away from dangerous animals and places.
Fidelius Charm – This complex and powerful charm hides a person or home entirely; their location is known only to a designated “Secret Keeper.” Dumbledore used this spell to try to protect Lily, James, and Harry Potter from Voldemort. Dumbledore also used the Fidelius Charm to hide Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. He was the Secret Keeper for the Order.
Intruder Charm – A charm put on a building; it sets off an alarm when intruders approach.
Quidditch – Quidditch has many protective charms, from the pitch, to the players, and the equipment.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #13 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:08pm »
The Hogwarts School Motto
The Hogwarts school motto, Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus, is in Latin. The accepted translation of this is "Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon," although the precise English version is "A Sleeping Dragon Must Never Be Tickled" (thanks to Mags for the Latin expertise). The motto appears on the school crest, which also bears the name of the school and the four symbols that represent the school Houses; a lion (Gryffindor), a serpent (Slytherin), an eagle (Ravenclaw), and a badger (Hufflepuff).
Re: Some useful info « Reply #14 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:12pm »
Non-Teaching Staff at Hogwarts
A brief guide to non-teaching Hogwart's staff.
Argus Filch
Position: Caretaker Info: A squib that is determined to get any student into detention. Seems very interested in hanging kids by shackles on his office wall...
Ogg
Position: Former Gamekeeper Info: Held the position of Gamekeeper when Molly Weasley and Arthur Weasley were at school
Irma Pince
Position: Librarian Info: A strict librarian who doesn't like to have children in her library, or to have anybody at all touching her books.
Poppy Pomfrey
Position: Nurse Info: Kind and skilled, firm when necessary, her word is law in the hospital wing - even Dumbledore does what he is told. She can always be relied upon to be discreet about unusual injuries though.
Appolyn Pringle
Position: Former Caretaker Info: Held the position of Caretaker when Molly Weasley and Arthur Weasley were at school. Gleefully carried out all the violent punishments in the past that Argus Filch wishes he could now
Re: Some useful info « Reply #15 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:33pm »
Magical and Muggle Plants
Knowledge of magical plants, and how to properly use them and care for them, is very important for wizards, as Herbology is a required subject for all Hogwarts students for at least the first five years. Herbology is taught by Professor Pomona Sprout. The classes are held in greenhouses, where the plants are kept behind locked doors. First-year students only meet in greenhouse one, which has only ordinary magical plants, but second-year students begin working in greenhouse three, which has far more interesting and dangerous plants. The textbook required by first-year students, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore, is still used by Harry in his sixth year.
Misuse of plants can be quite a serious problem in the wizarding world; the entire third floor at St. Mungo's Hospital is devoted to "Potions and Plant Poisoning: Rashes, regurgitation, uncontrollable giggling, etc.".
Some of the following plants are magical, some are Muggle, and some are used in both worlds.
Abyssinian Shrivelfigs - second-year students pruned these plants in Herbology; skinned shrivelfigs are used in a Shrinking Solution.
Aconite (also knows as monkshood or wolfsbane) - A poisonous plant.
Alihotsy - Eating the leaves of this plant causes hysteria; the Glumbumble produces the antidote for it.
Ash - A wood used in wandmaking; Ron Weasley's first wand and Cedric Diggory's wand were made of ash.
Asphodel - An ingredient of the Draught of Living Death.
Beechwood - A wood used in wandmaking.
Belladonna, essence of - This poisonous plant is part of a student's standard potion-making kit; an advertisement in the Daily Prophet offered belladonna as a hothouse herb for sale.
Bouncing Bulbs - While Harry repotted this plant in Herbology, one twisted out of his hand and hit him in the face.
Bubotuber - This plant looks like a thick, black, squirming, giant slug, and it has large swellings filled with a yellowish-green pus that smells like petrol; undiluted bubotuber pus causes horribly painful boils on human skin, but properly diluted and processed it can be used to cure acne; Sacharissa Tugwood discovered the pimple-curing properties of bubotuber pus.
Cherry - A wand wood.
Chinese Chomping Cabbage - Hermione studied a diagram of this plant when she was in the library looking up potion ingredients.
Daisy roots, chopped - An ingredient in a Shrinking Solution.
Devil's Snare - Plant that ultimately killed Broderick Bode was a Flitterbloom.
Flutterby Bush - This bush quivers; the students pruned it in Herbology.
Fluxweed - Although it is an ingredient found in the student cupboard, it has to be picked at the full moon to be effective in the Polyjuice Potion.
Gillyweed - A Mediterranean water plant that looks like a bunch of slimy, gray-green rat tails; when eaten, a person grows gills (to breathe underwater) and webbed hands and feet (to swim faster); this transformation lasts for approximately one hour; Dobby stole gillyweed from Snape's private stores; the effects of gillyweed were first realized by Elladora Ketteridge and about a century later was rediscovered by Beaumont Marjoribanks.
Ginger roots - An ingredient in Wit-Sharpening Potion.
Gurdyroot - a green onion-looking plant, which Luna Lovegood said was excellent for warding off Gulping Plimpies.
Hellebore, syrup of - An ingredient Harry forgot to add to his Draught of Peace.
Henbane - An advertisement in the Daily Prophet offered henbane as a hothouse herb for sale.
Holly - A wood used in making wands; Harry's wand is made of holly.
Honking daffodils - Sprout has some, but Lavender Brown prefers Muggle daffodils.
Hornbeam - A wood used in making wands; Viktor Krum's wand is made of hornbeam.
Knotgrass - An ingredient in Polyjuice Potion.
Leaping toadstools - The second-year students worked with these in Herbology.
Lovage - A plant used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts.
Mahogany - A wood used in making wands; James Potter's wand was made of mahogany, which is excellent for Transfiguration.
Mallowsweet - Centaurs burn this plant to observe the fumes for shapes and symbols to predict the future.
Mandrake (Mandragora) - The Mandrake root is a powerful restorative "used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state"; the Dugbog's favorite food is Mandrakes.
Maple - A wood used in making wands.
Mimbulus Mimbletonia - A rare plant native to Assyria, this plant resembles a gray cactus and throbs slightly; instead of spines, it has boils that spew Stinksap when punctured; the Stinksap is not poisonous but does smell like "rancid manure".
Monkshood (also knows as aconite or wolfsbane) - A poisonous plant.
Nettle - An ingredient in a simple potion used to cure boils; dried nettles are used to make nettle tea; nettle wine was in two of the bottles in Snape's task that guarded the Sorcerer's Stone.
Oak - A wood used in making wands; Hagrid's wand was made of oak, but he keeps the pieces in his flowery pink umbrella; oaks grow in the Forbidden Forest.
Puffapod - A plant with fat pink pods filled with beans that instantly burst into flowers when dropped.
Pumpkins - Hagrid has a pumpkin patch outside his hut, and he gives the pumpkins some "help" so that they big enough to walk in by the Halloween feast; pumpkin juice and pumpkin pasties are favorite wizarding foods.
Rosewood - A wood used in making wands; Fleur Delacour's wand was made of rosewood.
Rue, essence of - A strong-scented herb with bitter-tasting leaves; it is an irritant similar to poison ivy; Ron had to keep taking this after he drank poisoned mead.
Sage - Centaurs burn this plant to observe the fumes for shapes and symbols to predict the future.
Screechsnap seedlings - A plant wiggles and squeaks if too much dragon manure is put on it.
Scurvy-grass - A plant used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts.
Shrivelfigs, skinned - A plant used in a Shrinking Solution.
Snargaluff - A magical plant the sixth-year students studied; it looked like a gnarled stump but viciously attacks anyone who tries to take out a pod, which are filled with tubers wriggled like pale green worms.
Sneezewort - A plant used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts.
Sopophorous bean - An ingredient in the Draught of Living Death, which was a very powerful sleeping potion; it was the first potion that the N.E.W.T. Potions class made.
Umbrella-sized flowers - Flowers that hang from the ceiling of greenhouse three.
Valerian roots - An ingredient in the Draught of Living Death, which is a very powerful sleeping potion, which was the first potion that the N.E.W.T. Potions class made.
Venemous Tentacula, Venomous Tentacula - a spiky, dark red plant with long feelers and teeth; the seeds looked like "shriveled black pods" and were a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance that Fred and George Weasley needed for their Skiving Snackboxes.
Vine wood - Hermione's wand was made of vine wood and dragon heartstring.
Whomping Willow - A large, violent tree that attacks anyone who gets near it.
Willow - A wood used in making wands; Lily Evans Potter's wand was made of willow, which was good for charm work Ron's second wand, the one actually fitted for him, was willow.
wolfsbane (also knows as aconite or monkshood) - A poisonous plant (SS8)
Wormwood, infusion of - An ingredient of the Draught of Living Death.
Yew - A wood used in wandmaking; Lord Voldemort's wand was made of yew; yew trees grow in the Forbidden Forest.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #16 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:36pm »
Punishment for Misconduct at Hogwarts
Students can be punished for misbehavior at Hogwarts in several ways:
Detention – For serious rule-breaking, a teacher can require the student to serve a detention with him/her or another teacher. These detentions have ranged from writing lines to venturing into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid late at night. Most of the teachers have asked misbehaving students to perform unpleasant tasks during detentions: Ron was forced to clean the Trophy Room and the bedpans in the hospital wing; Harry had to help Professor Lockhart with his fan mail; and Harry, Ron and Neville all had distasteful potion preparation jobs for Professor Snape.
Sent to their Head of House – Students who misbehave in class can be sent straight to their Head of House. This can result in a warning or a detention (or some biscuits).
Deduct house points – The headmaster, prefects, Heads of House, and teachers can deduct house points from students who have broken rules. The house points system at Hogwarts represents a classic example of rule enforcement through peer pressure. In the annual inter-house competition, students of each house earn points for good behavior and lose points for rule-breaking. Thus, there is a lot of peer pressure not to lose points for their House.
There have been two instances of corporal punishment during Harry’s years at Hogwarts: the first was when Mad-Eye Moody/Bartemius Crouch transfigured Draco Malfoy into a bouncing ferret, and the second was Dolores Umbridge’s use of her revolting quill during detentions (the quill used the victim’s own blood instead of ink and also etched the words on the back of the writer’s hand).
In the past, students at Hogwarts were subject to corporal punishment and were whipped, beaten, suspended by chains from the ceiling, or locked in dungeons (Arthur Weasley still bears the scars of one of his punishments). However, Argus Filch still hopes that these old punishments will be reinstated and keeps his chains and manacles highly polished. Umbridge proposed Educational Decree 29 (which would have given her the authority to have students whipped or strung up the ankles), but it was never signed by the Minister of Magic.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #17 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:39pm »
Required Reading
The students bought their textbooks at Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley. Sometimes, the textbook would be used in the same class for several years; for example, Harry used One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi throughout his studies at Hogwarts.
All first-year students were required to have the following textbooks:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshott. A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch. One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore. Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger (SS5) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble.
All second-year students were required to have the following textbooks:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk.
The third-year students began taking elective classes, so their book lists were different - because Harry took Divination, he had to get Unfogging the Future by Casssandra Vablatsky, and he had to get The Monster Book of Monsters for Care of Magic Creatures classes. However, all third-year students were required to have the following textbooks:
Intermediate Transfiguration. The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three.
All fourth-year students were required to have one additional textbook:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 by Miranda Goshawk
All fifth-year students were required to have two additional textbooks:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 by Miranda Goshawk Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard
The sixth-year students had different schedules, depending on how well they did on their OWLs.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #18 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:40pm »
Room of Requirement
The first hint of this magical room came during the Yule Ball, when Dumbledore related how early that morning he had found a beautiful room full of a “magnificent collection of chamber pots” when his bladder was full; but later when he went back to investigate, the room had vanished.
From Dobby, Harry learned about this room, which the house-elves called “the Come and Go Room or the Room of Requirement.” This magical room was on the seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls to dance the ballet. To make the room appear, a person had to walk past the blank wall three times and concentrate hard on what is needed. A door then magically appeared, and the room would fit that person’s needs.
Besides Dumbledore, Fred and George had once found the room when they needed to escape from Filch (it became a broom closet), and Filch had once found extra cleaning supplies in it. When Dobby brought a drunk Winky there, the room held antidotes to butterbeer and a nice elf-sized bed.
Harry found the room ideal for teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, as it had books, cushions, Dark Detectors, and even a whistle. Also, after a DA meeting, Harry snogged Cho Chang in this room.
In Harry’s sixth year, he used the Marauder’s Map to see where Draco Malfoy was going. Harry eventually came to realize that the Room of Requirement and anyone inside the room didn’t appear on the map because the room was Unplottable. Harry wanted to take the Felix Felicis Potion to get into the room, but Hermione probably correctly said that luck wasn’t enough to get through the powerful enchantments on the room. Harry hid the Half-Blood Prince’s book in the room. The Death Eaters entered Hogwarts through this room after Malfoy fixed the Vanishing Cabinet.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #19 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:47pm »
School Song
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please, Whether we be old and bald, Or young with scabby knees, Our heads could do with filling, With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of fluff, So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what we've forgot, Just do your best, we'll do the rest, And learn until our brains all rot."
Re: Some useful info « Reply #20 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:48pm »
Secret Passages
The Marauder's Map showed seven secret passages leading out of Hogwarts. Four were known by Filch, so they weren't useful to mischief makers. One of these passages was behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy, and another one was caved in.
Filch didn't know about three passages out of Hogwarts:
· One was beneath the Whomping Willow and led to the Shrieking Shack. · One was behind the mirror on the fourth floor but was completely blocked off (probably during the cave-in during the Chamber of Secrets). · One was in the hump of the one-eyed witch statue and led to the cellar of Honeydukes, the candy shop in Hogsmeade. To enter this passage, you said Dissendium and tapped the statue's hump with a wand. Then you slid a long way down a stone slide until you ended in a twisting earthen passageway that finally ended in the cellar of Honeydukes. No clue was given on how you get back up the stone slide.
Two secret passages led to hidden rooms deep underneath the castle:
· A secret passage under a trapdoor in a room on the third floor corridor dropped down to the secret chambers where the Philosopher's Stone was hidden. · The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was hidden in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, but only a Parseltongue could say the words to open the entrance. There were also many secret passages hidden within the walls of the castle. Argus Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris, have mastered them well and can quickly get around the school. By Harry's sixth year, he also knew all the secret passages and easily maneuvered through them.
Re: Some useful info « Reply #21 on Sept 29, 2007, 5:51pm »
Hogwarts Clubs & Societies
Duelling Club
This was set up by Gilderoy Lockhart in the school year of 1992/1993. Lockhart considered himself something of an expert duellist, just as he considered himself to be an expert in everything from the care of Whomping Willows to the banishment of Banshees. Unfortunately for him, Professor Snape was on hand at the first meeting of the society to blast him into a wall during their first demonstration duel and bring him down a peg or too. It didn’t seem to dent his confidence any though.
Duelling both is a form of fighting between wizards and a sport, with the same skills and abilities required whatever the type of combat. While rules apply in the sporting version – such as bowing to your opponent before battle commences, the duel is often a matter of life and death when in used in anger, and the pleasantries are usually ignored. This Harry experienced first hand in Goblet of Fire when he faced Voldemort whose one intention was to kill him. Luckily he survived, and the experience he gained was passed on to fellow students when he taught DA classes the next year.
The fate of the duelling club after its first meeting is unclear. Known attendees of the first meeting are:
Harry Potter Ron Weasley Hermione Granger Seamus Finnigan Neville Longbottom Dean Thomas Lavender Brown Draco Malfoy Millicent Bulstrode Justin Finch-Fletchley S Fawcett Ernie MacMillan Terry Boot
Chess Club
Wizard chess, whilst the same as normal Muggle chess in terms of the rules of play, is different in that wizard chess figures can move independently in response to the instructions of the players. They use this ability to actually fight each other for positions on the board and even to shout instructions to the players. Ron taught Harry how to play chess in first year, which became very handy when facing the chess board that they had to pass through to get to the Philosopher’s Stone at the end of that year.
It is unknown whether there is a Chess Club at Hogwarts but its existence is so likely that it is included here.
Gobstones Club
Gobstones is very similar to the Muggle game of marbles, although the Gobstones tend to spit an unpleasant liquid at your opponent when they lose a point. Presumably, this is where the “gob” prefix is derived. This is a Gobstones Club at Hogwarts and also a school Gobstones team of which Eileen Prince was once captain. There are also International Leagues for the game as there are for Quidditch.
Charms Club
Very little is known of this, except that Victoria Frobisher was turned down for the position of Gryffindor Keeper due to the fact that she said the Charms Club would be a higher priority for her than the Quidditch team.
Quidditch Teams
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin all have their own Quidditch teams. These are described in the “Quidditch Teams” section.
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