Dinner was served in the Great Hall towards the evening, after which the students were expected to be in their house common rooms for studying and socialising. [1]

Each year, the Hogwarts Deputy Headmaster sent letters to eligible witches and wizards who would be eleven years old at the start of the incoming term. These letters invited the children to be students at Hogwarts. If for any reason a letter did not reach its intended recipient, owls would continue delivering letters until the person received one (as was Harry Potter's experience when he turned eleven). The letter contained a list of needed supplies, signed by the Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions, Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus, which included uniform clothing, spell books, and cauldrons. Letters were also sent to existing students to inform them of the new supplies needed. Students usually obtained school supplies at Diagon Alley in London. [1] And be warned: thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts." — Albus Dumbledore explaining the rules of Hogwarts to a young Tom Riddle [src] After jumping across some ledges, while dodging dragon fire, the lantern can be found on the far right. (Behind a dark wizard cabinet) Most students were seen still wearing their uniforms in their house dormitory, most probably because they would need to change into their pyjamas to sleep before they go to bed, so they may feel that it is troublesome to change into their own clothes, then change again into their pyjamas. [1] See also However, the books mention no more than five students of the same gender, House and year. For example, no other Gryffindor boys in Harry's year besides Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean are known. Assuming an equal division, that means there are 10 students per year in one House, 70 per House and 280 in the whole school. The films also show, approximately, this number of students.Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 1 ( Year Three Begins) - Herbology Lesson "Valerian Sprigs" There may be an exchange programme for Hogwarts and Ilvermorny. The Damen Blue Line Subway Station in Chicago, Illinois, is, according to J.K. Rowling, where students make the exchange. [126] Harry first thought of his career after Hogwarts when he discussed it with Bartemius Crouch Junior (disguised as Alastor Moody) in his fourth year. Crouch suggested that he (and Hermione Granger) would be suitable to become Aurors. [21]

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the Anti-Disapparition Jinx was lifted in 1998 as Draco Malfoy could apparate to Blaise Zabini and Gregory Goyle. OBS: This is only shown in the films, and the films are known to take liberties with the rules established in the books, often in the interest of dramatic effect or convenience. Honestly, a raven just makes more sense. They are widely recognized as being the smartest bird, capable of working out multiple step puzzles, including the use of tools, to get a piece of food. Nature on PBS did an entire episode dedicated to how clever they are. They also did an episode on eagles, but there was no mention of any above-average intelligence. They're usually regarded for their power and courage. Then again, while Slytherin obvious pairs well with a snake, a griffon is only part lion, and I don't know what would pair well with Hufflepuff. The Big Bad Wolf, maybe? Grading on routine homework seemed to be along the same lines as that for Muggle students. Hogwarts students also had more difficult exams as they progressed higher in the system. O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) were a set of standardised tests for fifth year students, which determined what courses a student could continue to study in their final years at Hogwarts. They were the wizarding equivalent of Muggle O-levels. [69] The school song is only sung in the first book, and partially by Hermione and Hagrid in the fourth film. However, the song is sung completely in the deleted scenes as a welcoming to the students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, which can be credited to one of the many eccentricities of Albus Dumbledore. Slytherin values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness; the Sorting Hat said, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, that Slytherins will do anything to get their way. The house mascot of Slytherin is the serpent, and the house colours are green and silver. Throughout the series, until the seventh book, the Head of House is Professor Severus Snape. Then, after Snape becomes headmaster, the previous Head of House, Professor Horace Slughorn, comes out of retirement, re-assuming authority. The ghost of Slytherin house is the Bloody Baron. [17] According to Rowling, Slytherin corresponds roughly to the element of water. [13] The founder of this house is Salazar Slytherin.Slytherin valued ambition, leadership, self-preservation, cunning and resourcefulness [4] and was founded by Salazar Slytherin. [1] Its emblematic animal was the serpent, [3] [3] it's representative gemstone was emeralds, and its colours were emerald green and silver. [2] Professor Horace Slughorn was the Head of Slytherin during the 1997–1998 school year, replacing Severus Snape, who as well replaced Slughorn as Potions Professor when he retired for the first time several years prior. [8] [7] Slytherin had produced the most Death Eaters and Dark wizards, [24] [35] [36] including Tom Riddle, [27] Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy, for example. But that does not mean that other Houses hadn't produced any; Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor, and Quirinus Quirrell was a Ravenclaw.

Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. But I know one thing — last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time.... I hope it's Granger" — Draco Malfoy discussing the first opening of the Chamber of Secrets [src] In 1994, Hogwarts played host to the infamous Triwizard Tournament, this time with more powerful safety measures in place. It had been many years since the last tournament had been held, but in the light of the advent of advanced safety measures, the tournament was deemed "safe". However, more dark plots were being hatched. Barty Crouch Jnr, disguised as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, managed to enter Harry in the Tournament by putting his name in the Goblet of Fire under the name of a fourth school, which ensured he would be chosen by the Goblet. [21] While war waged outside the ancient walls of the school and it remained safe from Dark Forces outside the castle, the existence of ancient threats hidden deep within it began to stir when a student by the name of Jacob became intrigued with and began to search for the fabled Cursed Vaults, five secret rooms of ambiguous origins somewhere within the castle said to house ancient magical treasures older even than the school itself.After the battle, Hogwarts was repaired. Some students, such as Hermione Granger, returned to the school in 1998 to complete their education. Rowling's statement is supported by the fact that, when Harry sees his father doing his O.W.L. (in the Pensieve in Snape's office), there are over 150 students. Secondly, during a Quidditch match, everybody was supporting Gryffindor except around 200 Slytherins supporting their own. It is also possible that there are more dormitories that don't appear in the books and films. The only ones mentioned in the books are the ones that house the students who are actually in the book, e.g. Harry, Ron, Neville, Hermione. They stood up at once, and together he, Ron, and Hermione left the Great Hall. Great chunks were missing from the marble staircase, part of the balustrade gone, and rubble and bloodstains occurred every few steps as they climbed." — The damage inflicted on the castle from the Battle of Hogwarts [src] The term crest is often used to refer to the heraldic shield, but historically it referred to the plume or sculpture worn on the helmet of a knight or soldier.

J. K. Rowling speculated that she might have subconsciously produced the name Hogwarts from the Hogwort plant she saw when walking round Kew Gardens. [124] Each House represents one of the four classical elements: Fire ( Gryffindor), Earth ( Hufflepuff), Air ( Ravenclaw), and Water ( Slytherin). Each of these also represents one of the four states of matter: Plasma (Fire, Gryffindor), Gas (Air, Ravenclaw), Liquid (Water, Slytherin), and Solid (Earth, Hufflepuff). [2]House ghosts (left to right): Bloody Baron, Fat Friar, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, and Helena Ravenclaw During the 1700s, there was a proposal to install an elaborate plumbing system in the castle. This threatened the secrecy of the Chamber of Secrets, forcing Corvinus Gaunt, a Slytherin student, descendant of Salazar Slytherin and Parselmouth, to protect the entrance to the Chamber by having it concealed behind plumbing fixtures and sinks in second-floor girls' bathroom, so only future heirs of Slytherin would know how to open the Chamber. [30] Hogwarts had in its faculty an abundance of wise and talented professors. Each specialised in a specific subject. [88] [94] Other staff positions included that of a school nurse, caretaker, librarian, and Keeper of the Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts. There were a variety of classes taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. [88] [94] These included both the core curriculum and the electives, available from third year forward. Some classes could be dropped in the sixth year. [94] Numerous lessons were described, instructing the students in various branches of magic. Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, Astronomy, History of Magic, and Herbology were compulsory subjects for the first five years. [94] [95] [88] At the end of their second year, students were required to add at least two optional subjects to their syllabus for the start of the third year. Five of the choices were Arithmancy, Study of Ancient Runes, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies. [96] [97]