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Questions tagged [hogwarts]

For questions about the magical castle featured in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Must be used in conjunction with the [harry-potter] tag.

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52 votes
3 answers
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Why didn't the Hogwarts ghosts know about the Chamber of Secrets?

This question got me to wonder why Hogwarts ghosts never knew about the Chamber of Secrets. Some ghosts have been around Hogwarts for centuries. Plenty of time to explore the school grounds, talk to ...
RichS's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
83 views

How is it ensured, that parents of children attending wizarding schools in Harry Potter don't get into trouble for skipping regular school [duplicate]

As far as I'm informed, some amount of schooling is mandatory for children in the UK and many other civilized countries, and their parents could get into a lot of trouble, if the children did not ...
Jake S.'s user avatar
  • 111
53 votes
2 answers
10k views

Why did Harry get his letter by owl instead of from someone from Hogwarts?

We know that Muggle-borns get someone from Hogwarts with their acceptance letter to explain everything to their parents. Q: How are Muggle parents convinced to let their kids go to Hogwarts, a ...
amflare's user avatar
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14 votes
2 answers
8k views

What is the difference between Witchcraft and Wizardry in HP?

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the whole name of this majestic and well-known institution. Such institutions don't have names that don't make sense, or names longer than one would ...
TGar's user avatar
  • 4,661
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Was Dumbledore using mass teleportation every day in the Great Hall?

House Elves were cooking all the food, and Dumbledore kept saying "Let's eat", and all the food magically appeared on plates. Was he using mass teleportation every day to perform that trick?
Vadzim Savenok's user avatar
33 votes
2 answers
4k views

Why doesn't the Hogwarts staff stop Myrtle from spying on students taking their baths?

Moaning Myrtle, the resident ghost of one of the Hogwarts bathrooms, has a bad habit of leaving her bathroom and spying on male students in various stages of nudity. She makes Harry very uncomfortable,...
Obsidia's user avatar
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25 votes
1 answer
6k views

What does the study of ancient runes at Hogwarts entail?

At Hogwarts, one of the subjects that students can chose in 3rd year is Ancient Runes. This means that they potentially spend a total of 5 years on this subject. From what little I can see in the wiki,...
KittenWithAWhip's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

What's the significance of the boat rides? [duplicate]

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, we see Harry and the rest of the first-years riding boats up to Hogwarts when we're first introduced to it. According to the wikia (emphasis mine): The ...
DCOPTimDowd's user avatar
  • 10.8k
2 votes
0 answers
284 views

What qualifications/criteria do you need to meet to teach at Hogwarts? [closed]

I'm curious to how good, perhaps wealth of knowledge is a better term, Hogwarts teachers were in their respective fields? As there doesn't seem to be a University level of education in the Hogwarts ...
Colin747's user avatar
  • 161
25 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there any other mention of students being held back a year?

From an online chat interview (found here), J.K. Rowling answers a question: Q. In the first book you said Slytherin house Quidditch captain was sixth year Marcus Flint. If there are only seven years ...
fez's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can wizarding students skip classes/grades/years?

In America at least, if a grade school student (K - 12) is exceptionally gifted they are allowed to advance to a higher learning level without having to take the previous courses, up to and including ...
DCOPTimDowd's user avatar
  • 10.8k
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

What would happen if someone rejected their Hogwarts Invitation Letter?

What would happen if someone rejected their Hogwarts Invitation Letter? Would the same thing that happened to Harry occur? With thousands of letters flying into his/her house?
Kyle V's user avatar
  • 7,081
6 votes
3 answers
938 views

How did new Muggle-born students relieve themselves before toilets were added?

According to the question Are toilets renovated at Hogwarts? and its answer, [Before toilets were added] they simply relieved themselves wherever they stood, and vanished the evidence. However, ...
Ikaros's user avatar
  • 194
40 votes
1 answer
9k views

Are toilets renovated at Hogwarts?

Bathrooms at Hogwarts have water closets and porcelain faucets, which are relatively modern inventions, considering Hogwarts was founded over 1000 years ago. Are the toilets magical, and upgrade ...
user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
3k views

Why didn't they teach some basic healing in Hogwarts?

We have seen them being taught the most stupid of spells, like turn something into another color, or sprout legs on a teapot or things like that... Why don't they teach them basic healing spells? Like ...
Apostolis Kennedy's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Did any Hogwarts Professor ever forget their student's name?

Inspired by this question, Hogwarts Professors seem to be teaching a lot of students. They (core-subject teachers) teach at least 280-300 students. They'll have to remember that many names, and it ...
Voronwé's user avatar
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31 votes
3 answers
6k views

Has a non-human ever attended any Wizarding school?

At least from the movies, we can gather that all the students and faculty at Hogwarts are human, but the Potterverse is full of other magical creatures, some of which interact peacefully with humans. ...
DCOPTimDowd's user avatar
  • 10.8k
2 votes
0 answers
124 views

Was the room of requirement created by Helga Hufflepuff? [duplicate]

Who created the room of requirement? I know one of the founders must have created it but do we know which one? There are theories that Helga Hufflepuff created it, is that true? Or was it added later ...
L.Bizzy's user avatar
  • 179
5 votes
1 answer
316 views

Does Hogwarts' protective enchantments protect the magic being performed from being sensed by the Ministry of Magic (via the Trace)?

For example, the Ministry never knew that Voldemort, or then Tom Riddle, created a Horcrux at the age of 16 whilst still attending Hogwarts as a 6th year student. To remind you, a Horcrux is a very ...
Kyle V's user avatar
  • 7,081
18 votes
1 answer
6k views

Why are characters always pointing out that no one can apparate in and out of Hogwarts?

Time and time again, several times per book, characters will emotionally point out "...you can't apparate in or out of Hogwarts!!" And this statement happens often enough that I'm starting to think ...
LCIII's user avatar
  • 10.9k
19 votes
1 answer
9k views

How long is a lesson at Hogwarts?

Over the course of the Harry Potter books we see quite a few lessons, but can we say for sure how long they are? I've got a feeling this might get slightly messy. For example, in The Goblet of Fire ...
Au101's user avatar
  • 28.7k
77 votes
8 answers
14k views

Why do less-bright students end up in Slytherin?

The main trait of Slytherin house is ambition and cunning. Malfoy fits the bill. Snape fits the bill. Harry Potter has both, to an extent. But how can someone argue that Crabbe, Goyle or Millicent (...
DVK-on-Ahch-To's user avatar
17 votes
4 answers
5k views

How could Malfoy openly use the term 'Mudblood' at Hogwarts?

Throughout the books, Draco Malfoy refers to Muggle-borns as Mudbloods, sometimes openly, in the midst of a large crowd of students. Especially in the early books, before the return of Voldemort. The ...
XYZ's user avatar
  • 1,607
0 votes
1 answer
952 views

Why couldn't the Hogwarts defenders have recreated the Shield after Voldemort broke it?

Couldn't they have recreated the shield after it was destroyed or reinforced it when it was in the process of being destroyed?
Kyle V's user avatar
  • 7,081
0 votes
0 answers
120 views

How do they keep the Hogwarts houses the same size? [duplicate]

How does the Sorting Hat prevent one house from being way bigger or smaller than the others? Related: How big were the houses at Hogwarts?
LCIII's user avatar
  • 10.9k
22 votes
2 answers
5k views

Do wizards get a diploma when they graduate from Hogwarts?

Do wizards get a diploma when they graduate from Hogwarts? Does it say "professional wizard" or something?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
61 votes
4 answers
14k views

Are Hogwarts teachers allowed to hit students?

In the movies we can see Snape smacking Harry and Ron several times. Is this acceptable?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
34 votes
2 answers
10k views

What happens if a student fails an O.W.L.?

Are they allowed to retake the exam? Or would it mean they must repeat the same study year?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
32 votes
1 answer
9k views

Can students willingly drop out of Hogwarts?

If a student came up to Dumbledore and said "I don't want to study anymore" would they be allowed to leave?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
497 views

Shooting model for Hogwarts castle

In the Harry Potter movies, we see long shots of Hogwarts castle, having tall spires, perched on a steep rocky hill above a lake. Were these shots taken of a real castle actually built in such a ...
Anthony X's user avatar
  • 11.1k
-8 votes
3 answers
761 views

Are Hogwarts students obligated to play Quidditch?

Are Hogwarts students obligated to play Quidditch? If someone wasn't interested in sports or didn't want to do it, it was fine, wasn't it?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
459 views

Would the Prefects' Bathroom somehow lock when someone was bathing in it?

Or could people just enter anytime, even if someone was in there already?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
40 votes
1 answer
10k views

Who wins the House Cup in books 4, 5, 6, and 7?

Gryffindor wins the House Cup in books 1, 2, and 3, but it is never stated which one of the 4 houses (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff) wins in books 4, 5, 6, and 7? Does Rowling ever ...
Kyle V's user avatar
  • 7,081
7 votes
1 answer
612 views

Is Hogwarts protected from natural phenomena?

I mean, like hurricanes, meteors, volcanic eruptions, etc.? Perhaps the protection of Hogwarts can withstand strong wind (I'm not sure) but what about volcanoes? And what about meteors?
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
11k views

Are Hogwarts students allowed to go to other houses?

Harry is in Gryffindor house. If he wanted to go and visit Malfoy in Slytherin house, could he do it?
Elisa Elisija's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
3k views

What happens if a Muggle tries to get into Hogwarts?

There is a long explanation in Harry Potter about how well protected Hogwarts castle is, but I am not sure whether or not it says what would happen if, despite all of the warnings, a non-magical human ...
He who shall not be named's user avatar
67 votes
2 answers
8k views

Are werewolves in the Forbidden Forest consistent with later explanations on werewolves?

In the Philosopher's Stone, Harry, Hermione, Neville and Draco are punished and have to assist Hagrid in his search for a dying unicorn. Malfoy mentions that according to rumors, there are werewolves ...
Fatalize's user avatar
  • 3,903
9 votes
3 answers
2k views

Are Hogwarts students allowed to do magic over the Christmas/Easter holidays at Hogwarts?

I was just reading this question and noticed all the answers were regarding students who had gone home for the holidays, but the restrictions only appear to mention "outside of school", to steal a ...
SlipperyPete's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
3k views

How did they know Harry hadn't read the first letter?

In Harry Potter, the first book, Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts after he turned eleven. Due to the interception of his uncle, he didn't get to read the first letter. They then began to send ...
Phiter's user avatar
  • 514
26 votes
4 answers
5k views

Can house points be awarded in awkward numbers?

Multiple times in Harry Potter, we see house points being awarded in multiples of 5, but when playing the games, I've come across some odd numbering for house points. (394, etc.) Can house points be ...
Anoplexian's user avatar
  • 5,139
1 vote
0 answers
124 views

If Hogwarts's location is a secret, how did Durmstrang and Beauxbatons find it in the Goblet of Fire? [duplicate]

As referenced in "Hogwarts: A History", the location of the school is unknown due to a number of various charms and protections. Igor Karkaroff even interrupts a conversation between Krum and Hermione ...
RoadtotheWest's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
5k views

What is the difference between Alchemy and Potions?

While reading the Pottermore article on Hogwarts School Subjects, I noticed there was a subject called Alchemy - an advanced subject offered for last year students. This got me wondering what the ...
Gallifreyan's user avatar
  • 20.4k
37 votes
1 answer
4k views

How is the winner of the Hogwarts Quidditch cup determined?

The rules in the Quidditch tournament in Hogwarts are pretty simple: each house plays one game against each of the other three. This could result in several teams (up to three) having an equal number ...
vap78's user avatar
  • 19.1k
15 votes
3 answers
3k views

How big were the houses at Hogwarts?

Recently a friend and I got into a short argument about the relative size of the four Hogwarts houses. For some reason I remember there being one line in one of the books that mentions "Gryffindor ...
Retrus's user avatar
  • 575
71 votes
2 answers
12k views

How could Harry and Ron bypass Hogwarts' security in a flying Ford Anglia?

How could Harry and Ron so easily fly Mr. Weasley's car (the magically enhanced Ford Anglia) to Hogwarts, when many times in the book it is mentioned that Hogwarts is protected by various spells, such ...
Geethika Antony's user avatar
45 votes
6 answers
15k views

Why is Hogwarts Library so badly organized?

In Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone, Harry, Ron and Hermione have serious trouble finding some information about Nicolas Flamel in the Library: They had indeed been searching books for ...
vap78's user avatar
  • 19.1k
34 votes
3 answers
10k views

Was Myrtle's death an accident?

Was she simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and got killed accidentally when the basilisk emerged from the plumbing or was it intentional, with Tom leading the basilisk to her?
user avatar
45 votes
4 answers
11k views

Why were weapons like Mandrakes and Acromantula, which kill indiscriminately, used in the Battle of Hogwarts?

It seems to me that some of the tactics used by both sides seem a bit questionable. In war you are obviously trying to weaken your opponent whilst minimising collateral damage to your own side. ...
The Dark Lord's user avatar
142 votes
5 answers
34k views

Why would Snape set his office password to 'Dumbledore'?

It seems to me that Snape's choice of password for his study when he was Headmaster was kinda weird. Harry ran without stopping, clutching the crystal flask of Snape's last thoughts, and he did not ...
The Dark Lord's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
428 views

When Voldemort died, did going to school revert back to not being compulsory?

“Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard,” he replied. “That was announced yesterday. It’s a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and ...
Jade's user avatar
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