Salazar Slytherin

Salazar Slytherin is described as "power hungry" by the Sorting Hat, and was known as "shrewd Slytherin from fen". The Fens of eastern England are marshlands around Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and adjoining counties, although it is not established that Slytherin actually came from that particular region. Slytherin is the only founder whose physical appearance was ever described in any detail; his statue in the Chamber of Secrets depicts a man "ancient and monkey-like, with a long thin beard that fell almost to the bottom of his sweeping robes."
Slytherin was a Parselmouth, a wizard with the rare ability to speak with snakes. Like Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor, Slytherin appears to have carefully selected members of his House. According to Albus Dumbledore, the qualities which Slytherin prized in his "handpicked students" included resourcefulness and determination. He also selected his students according to cunning, ambition, and blood purity.
Slytherin's background is first discussed by Professor Binns in Chamber of Secrets: he describes the foundation of the school and of the breach between Slytherin and the other founders, that the castle was founded far from Muggles because, at that time, common people feared magic and persecuted suspected wizards and witches. Slytherin wished after a time to be more selective in admissions to Hogwarts, but not restricted to only his own house; he used blood purity as a factor of selecting students since the school's inception. He wanted magical learning restricted to all-magical families, as he believed Muggle-born students to be untrustworthy and he disliked teaching such students.
According to ancient legend, Slytherin was responsible for the construction of the Chamber of Secrets, the home of a magically created basilisk. This snake was known to be susceptible to control by his Parselmouth descendants, and thus left it there to purge the school of all Muggle-borns. This occurred shortly before infighting among the four founders broke out and resulted in Slytherin's departure. The last known heir of Slytherin, Tom Riddle, discovered the Chamber and released the basilisk, resulting in the death of a student (Moaning Myrtle) and Rubeus Hagrid's wrongful expulsion from Hogwarts. Though the Hogwarts faculty denied the chamber's existence, it was rediscovered by Harry and Ron in their attempt to rescue Ginny Weasley.
Slytherin owned a locket that became an heirloom of his last known line of descendants, the Gaunts. The locket was sold to Caractacus Burke by Merope Gaunt, and then bought by Hepzibah Smith, who then had it stolen from her by Voldemort. Voldemort turned the locket into a Horcrux and hid it in a cave he had visited during his youth. The locket was later stolen by Regulus Black with the aid of his house-elf, Kreacher, but it was then taken by Mundungus Fletcher for a short time until the locket was confiscated by Dolores Umbridge. The locket was recovered by Harry and later destroyed by Ron with Gryffindor's sword.
Slytherin was the featured "Wizard of the Month" for June 2007 on J. K. Rowling's website. "One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salazar Slytherin was one of the first recorded Parselmouths, an accomplished Legilimens, and a notorious champion of pureblood supremacy."[13]
The name Salazar is originally a Portuguese family name, of Basque origins. António de Oliveira Salazar was the dictator of Portugal (where Rowling lived for several years) from 1932 to 1968. Rowling stated that the name "Salazar Slytherin" was chosen after the Portuguese dictator's name.[citation needed]

Rowena Ravenclaw

Rowena Ravenclaw
Harry Potter character

Rowena Ravenclaw

Rowena Ravenclaw on J. K. Rowling's site as Wizard of the Month for August 2007. Notice the diadem she is wearing.
House Founder of Ravenclaw

First appearance Mentioned in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

was a witch noted for her cleverness and creativity, and was described by Xenophilius Lovegood as "beautiful." The Sorting Hat introduced her as “Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,” suggesting she was from Scotland. She was a good friend of Helga Hufflepuff; their friendship is used to emphasise the failed friendship between Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. Ravenclaw devised the ever-changing floor plans and moving staircases in the Hogwarts castle, and coined the proverb "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."
Ravenclaw is described by the Sorting Hat as having selected students according to intelligence and wisdom. Ravenclaw House thus values in its members a sharp mind, wisdom, creativity, and cleverness for its own sake, and thus, rather than asking for a password from her members to get to the dormitories, a bronze eagle knocker asks them a riddle-like question which, if answered incorrectly, would force the student to wait until another could answer the question correctly, allowing the failed student to learn.
In Deathly Hallows, Harry learns that an artifact of Ravenclaw's became a Horcrux: her lost diadem, which granted enhanced wisdom to its wearer. Her daughter, Helena Ravenclaw (The Grey Lady) had once run away with it to surpass her mother in terms of intelligence and wisdom and hid it in Albania, in which its whereabouts remained unknown ever since. She, however, revealed its location to a young Tom Riddle, who proceeded to retrieve it and turn it into a Horcrux. In the original uncursed form, it is said to be able to imbue its wearer great wisdom. Late in her life, Rowena, suffering from a terminal illness, sent for the Bloody Baron to find her daughter so she could see her one last time before she died. However, Helena refused to go with the Baron, and he killed her in a paroxysm of rage. Immediately overcome with guilt, he then took his own life.
Ravenclaw was featured as Rowling's "Wizard of the Month" for August 2007. "One of the four famous Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rowena Ravenclaw was the most brilliant witch of her time, though legend has it that a broken heart - cause unknown - contributed to her early demise." Her Wizard of the Month status was cleverly revealed, for she appeared the month after the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", thus concealing what possible Horcrux item she possessed until after the book's release.
Rowena is a Latinised form of an old Germanic name. The elements in the name mean "Fame," (cf. the Anglo-Saxon hrōd, or hrōð), and "Joy," (cf. the Anglo-Saxon wyn(n)), or "Friend," (cf. the Anglo-Saxon wine). Rowena, Queen of Britain is a figure in Britain's traditional history; she was supposedly the daughter of Hengest and the wife of Vortigern.

Helga Hufflepuff

Helga Hufflepuff came from a broad valley. She favoured loyalty, honesty, fair play, and hard work. Members of her house usually display at least one of these traits in varying degrees: Cedric Diggory, deceased Triwizard contestant, was one of the students who appears to embody all four.
The Sorting Hat further describes her as "good Hufflepuff" or "sweet Hufflepuff". She does not appear to have applied particularly strict standards of selection to her house. Although in Goblet of Fire, she is stated as having considered “hard workers most worthy of admission,” she is elsewhere described as taking “all the rest” of the students after selection by her colleagues, and is quoted by the Sorting Hat as having said, “I’ll teach the lot, and treat them just the same.” This sets her apart from the other Founders, by making her an egalitarian.
Hufflepuff was the May 2007 "Wizard of the Month" on Rowling's website. "One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts; Hufflepuff was particularly famous for her dexterity at food-related Charms. Many recipes traditionally served at Hogwarts feasts originated with Hufflepuff."[8] Her wizard card, penned by Rowling, describes her as having “brought people from different walks of life together to help build Hogwarts,” and being “loved for her charming ways.” According to an interview between Rowling and staff from The Leaky Cauldron, Hufflepuff introduced house-elves to Hogwarts, where she offered them refuge.[9] Both the famous wizard card and the illustration on Rowling's website depict her as a plump woman with red hair.
One relic of Hufflepuff, a small golden cup, had been passed down to her distant descendant, Hepzibah Smith, who said the cup was supposed to have some magical powers, many of which she had not tested.[HP6] The cup fell into the hands of Voldemort, who transformed it into a Horcrux, and was destroyed by Hermione during the final battle of Hogwarts.
The name Helga is of Scandinavian origin, meaning "holy".[10]

Slytherin

Like Salazar Slytherin, its founder, Slytherin house values ambition, cunning, resourcefulness, and pure blood heritage. Most Slytherin students display a high level of Machiavellianism. The book also suggests that the hunger for power is a characteristic of Slytherins. The animal representing Slytherin is the serpent, and the house's colours are green and silver. According to Rowling, Slytherin corresponds roughly to the element of water.[4] The Slytherin dormitories and common room are reached through a bare stone wall in the dungeons. The Slytherin common room is a long, low, dungeon-style room, located under the Hogwarts Lake, furnished with green lamps, and carved armchairs.
Harry has developed an instant negative view of Slytherin and asks the Sorting Hat not to place him in that house because of its sinister reputation. Hagrid told him, "There isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin." This seems to be an exaggeration on Hagrid's part, as at the time, he believed that Sirius Black, a Gryffindor, was a follower of Voldemort (ironically the true perpetrator of Black's crimes was Peter Pettigrew, another Gryffindor). Still, Slytherin House seems to have produced more evil wizards than any other house, including Voldemort himself and almost all of his supporters. However, Slytherin itself is not evil; it's just that having ambition as a core quality results in a disproportionate amount of self-important, competitive students. There are some good Slytherins such as Slughorn, Phineas Nigellus Black, Andromeda Tonks, Regulus Black, and Snape (although his allegiances are unclear until the seventh book).
The Sorting Hat claims that blood purity is a factor in selecting Slytherins, although this is not mentioned until the fifth book. There is no reason to believe, however, that Muggle-born students are not sorted there, merely that pure-blooded students are more desirable to that house, as there are several examples of half-bloods in the house (Snape and Voldemort). In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a group of Snatchers claim that "not many Mudbloods" are sorted into Slytherin, which suggests that while Muggle-born Slytherins may be uncommon, they are not unknown.
When believing Harry to be dead and thinking that he has final victory in his grasp, Voldemort proclaims his intention to abolish the other three houses and force all Hogwarts students into Slytherin. This design is foiled by his defeat and death, after which Slytherin becomes more diluted in its blood purity, no longer the pureblood bastion it once was. Its dark reputation, however, does linger.[5]
A few notable Slytherins (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):
• Lord Voldemort (as Tom Marvolo Riddle)
• Draco Malfoy (Also see The Malfoy Family)
• Bellatrix Lestrange
• Crabbe and Goyle
• Pansy Parkinson
• Severus Snape was the head of Slytherin house during the first six books.
• Horace Slughorn is the current head of Slytherin house.
• The Bloody Baron is the house ghost.

Ravenclaw

Ravenclaw values intelligence, creativity, wit, and wisdom."Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure" is an oft-repeated Ravenclaw proverb.[HP5][HP7] The house mascot is an eagle, the house colours are blue and bronze (changed to blue and silver in the movies). According to Rowling, Ravenclaw corresponds roughly to the element of air.
Rowena Ravenclaw herself is described as being beautiful in life, a trait which has, apparently, become common in her house. Attractive (and with their Ravenclaw wit and cleverness, sometimes idealistic) people seem to be plentiful in Ravenclaw, with Cho Chang described as 'extremely pretty', and Padma Patil (along with her twin sister, Gryffindor student Parvati Patil) is spoken of as the best-looking girl in the year, by Dean Thomas.
The dormitories are located in Ravenclaw Tower on the west side of the school. The common room, which went undescribed in the series until the climax of Deathly Hallows, is round and filled with blue hangings and fat armchairs, has a domed ceiling painted with stars, and also features a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her diadem. Harry also notes that, by day, the Ravenclaws 'would have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains'. A logical riddle must be solved in order to gain entry, whereas the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms only require a password.
A few notable Ravenclaws (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):
• Luna Lovegood
• Cho Chang
• Moaning Myrtle
• Padma Patil
• Michael Corner
• Filius Flitwick is the current head of Ravenclaw house.
• The Grey Lady is the house ghost.

The Founders

The Founders
In Rowling's fictional universe, Hogwarts was founded a millennium ago by "four of the greatest wizards and witches of the age"[HP2]: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. Each of these founders had one of the four Hogwarts houses named after them.
Godric Gryffindor
Harry Potter character

Godric Gryffindor

Godric Gryffindor on J. K. Rowling's site as Wizard of the Month for July 2007. Notice the sword he is holding.

House Founder of Gryffindor

First appearance Mentioned in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Godric Gryffindor hailed from a moor that is now known as Godric's Hollow, a small West Country village.[HP7] Gryffindor is said to have praised courage, determination and strength of heart above all other qualities. Indeed, he selected students for his house based upon their daring and bravery, according to the Sorting Hat. He also was the most in favour of allowing Muggle-borns into the school. He was initially a close friend of Salazar Slytherin, but over time, their friendship deteriorated; though never stated, it is likely that the two's contrasting beliefs and intentions regarding Muggle-borns may have been part of the reason for the split.
His known relics are a goblin-made sword (the Goblins claim that Godric stole it from them), adorned with rubies, and the Sorting Hat. The two items share a particular bond; whenever a "true Gryffindor" needs it, the Sword will allow itself to be pulled out of the hat. Godric's sword was capable of acquiring powers from those it had slain and thus was imbued with venom from Harry's defeat of the Basilisk, making it suitable as a tool for destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes: Albus Dumbledore used it to destroy Gaunt's ring, Ron Weasley used it to eliminate Slytherin's locket, and Neville Longbottom used it to kill Nagini.
Gryffindor was named the July 2007 "Wizard of the Month" on Rowling's website. "One of the four famous Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Godric Gryffindor was the most accomplished dueller of his time, an enlightened fighter against Muggle-discrimination and the first owner of the celebrated Sorting Hat."[6]
The name Godric is Anglo-Saxon in form, and can have several meanings, including, "he who rules with God" or "he who rules well."[7]

Hufflepuff

Hufflepuff


Hufflepuff, founded by Helga Hufflepuff, values hard work, loyalty, tolerance, and fair play above all else. The house mascot is the badger, and canary yellow and black are its colours. According to Rowling, Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of earth. The Hufflepuff dormitories and common room are located somewhere in the basement (corresponding to earth), their entrance found through a still-life painting that is somewhere near the kitchens. You must give a password to the painting to enter. The Hufflepuff common room is filled with yellow hangings and fat armchairs and it has little underground tunnels leading to the dormitories, all of which have perfectly round doors, like barrel tops (very much like a badger sett).[3] Very few Hufflepuff members are specifically mentioned, and, in general, they are not seen much in the Harry Potter books.
A few notable Hufflepuffs (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):
• Cedric Diggory
• Nymphadora Tonks
• Ernie Macmillan
• Hannah Abbott
• Pomona Sprout is the current Head of Hufflepuff House.
• The Fat Friar is the house ghost.

The Houses of Hogwarts

The Houses of Hogwarts
Gryffindor


Gryffindor values courage, daring, nerve and chivalry above all else. Its mascot is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. According to Rowling, Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of fire. The founder of the house is Godric Gryffindor.
Though Gryffindor is commonly regarded as the protagonist house, not all Gryffindors are protagonists. Cormac McLaggen is the negative qualities of Gryffindor personified. He is bad-tempered, arrogant, and does not like it when he doesn't get his own way. He does not like the fact that Ron Weasley beat him at keeper tryouts, and does not admit defeat easily. Romilda Vane is another example. She is underhanded, and displays a deceptive and devious nature by trying unsuccessfully to ply Harry with love potion. On the Hogwarts Express she is somewhat condescending towards Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. However both Cormac and Romilda certainly are bold, and show confidence, two very Gryffindor qualities, and were therefore sorted into the house. The legitimacy of Peter Pettigrew to join Gryffindor is, however, highly doubtful. He displays nothing but cowardice and obsequiousness throughout the series, and is the lone Gryffindor Death Eater.
The Gryffindor common room is located in one of the castle's highest towers, the entrance to which is located on the seventh floor in the east wing of the castle and is guarded by a painting of the Fat Lady, who is garbed in a pink dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct password, except for in the sixth book, where she permitted entry to Harry Potter after he told her that Professor Dumbledore had died.
A few notable Gryffindors (for a complete list, see List of characters in the Harry Potter books):
• Harry Potter
• Ron Weasley (Also see The Weasley Family)
• Hermione Granger
• Neville Longbottom
• Albus Dumbledore
• Rubeus Hagrid
• Sirius Black
• Remus Lupin
• Peter Pettigrew
• James and Lily Potter
• Minerva McGonagall is the current Head of Gryffindor House.
• Nearly Headless Nick is the house ghost.

House dynamics

House dynamics
The four houses are rather separate entities. Each has its own common room and dormitory, its own table in the Great Hall, and students mostly share lessons with classmates of their same house. There is no rule against students from different houses mingling, but in practice, a good majority of social interactions occur within the same house. Each house has one teacher who acts as its Head of House, along with its own ghost. Both Head of House and house ghost were previously pupils within that house.
A great deal of rivalry exists between the houses. This rivalry is demonstrated in the Quidditch matches and the annual school competition for the House Cup, which is determined by the number of points earned or lost by each member of the rival houses. These points are awarded or taken based on students' conduct throughout the school year. All members of the faculty have the authority to grant and deduct points as they see fit in each instance.[1] Some, like Snape, the former Potions master, tend to favour their own house, but that does not seem to be against the rules. He is despised by many students, other than those in Slytherin, where he is very popular. It is unknown how much favouritism the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Heads show, although it can be deduced that it is minimal or non-existent, as both Professor Filius Flitwick (Ravenclaw) and Professor Pomona Sprout (Hufflepuff) are kind, light-hearted people, who obviously want to win the House and Quidditch Cups but are not as vindictive as Snape in going about it. It is known that Professor Minerva McGonagall, the stern head of Gryffindor, does not show much favouritism towards her house. In fact, she deducted fifty points apiece and gave detention to three students in her house (Harry, Hermione, and Neville) when they were caught out of bed after hours in the first book, and supported Snape wholeheartedly in giving Harry detentions for the rest of the school year, even on overlapping Quidditch matches, after Harry used the Sectumsempra spell on Draco Malfoy in book six.
It has also been said that all four houses must band together and fight as one if Hogwarts is to stand. It must be remembered that all of the Houses have their virtues and flaws: none are inherently good or evil. Slytherins may have earned their reputation as evil because they show such contempt towards Gryffindor, the protagonist house. They also do not show much generosity towards other houses either, whether those in them are pure-blood or not.
House rivalry is most seen between Slytherin and Gryffindor ("Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle"[HP6]). This rivalry likely goes back to the days of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin after they founded Hogwarts, because the Sorting Hat said that they were the best of friends before they founded the school.[HP5] While it is not clear if there is a similar rivalry between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, it seems very much unlikely due to the cheerful disposition of the Heads for said Houses, as opposed to the contempt of Professor Snape and the passion of Professor McGonagall (Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff, however, once great friends, are documented as having had a severe falling out at some point by the Sorting Hat's song in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)[HP5].
Usually, though not always, the other two houses appear (in Harry's eyes) to support Gryffindor in its rivalry with Slytherin, which again is reminiscent of how Slytherin was in the end opposed by all three other founders. Dumbledore's Army is a representation of the unity between these three houses, as all of its members are Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs. There are no Slytherin members. However, one exception to this occurred when Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin all initially supported Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory instead of Gryffindor's Harry Potter in the Triwizard Tournament.[HP4] Also in the first Quidditch match of book 6, it is said that many of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had "taken sides" in the Gryffindor vs Slytherin match, but does not specify which Houses took which side (due to the nature of previous books however, it is likely that they chose Gryffindor over Slytherin).
Before the Battle of Hogwarts, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw join Gryffindor in defending Harry Potter against Slytherins willing to turn Harry in to Voldemort. After Slytherin Pansy Parkinson screams for someone to "grab Harry Potter", students from the other three houses rise in a "massive movement" and stand facing the Slytherins with their wands drawn. In addition, when the school is evacuated, seventh-year students are given the option of staying to fight; many Ravenclaws, even more Hufflepuffs, and nearly half of all Gryffindors remain, but all of the Slytherins leave; Voldemort later remarks that several of them have even joined their parents on his side. However, in the final battle, Slughorn and a number of unnamed Slytherins return with reinforcements.[2] Slughorn, whose loyalties are initially called into question by McGonagall, eventually duels Voldemort himself.[HP7]. When Harry visits the headmaster's office following the battle, Phineas Nigellus Black notes Slytherin's contribution. This seems to indicate that the actions of Snape, Slughorn, and his allies went a long way towards redeeming his former house's standing in the school's history.
Each of the four Hogwarts houses has its own Quidditch team. In the first book, Ravenclaw wins the Quidditch final. In the second book, the tournament is not finished due to the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. In the third, fifth, and sixth books, Gryffindor wins the Quidditch finals. Quidditch is not played in the fourth book because of the Triwizard Tournament. Quidditch is not covered in the seventh book because the protagonists spend the year away from Hogwarts.

Sorting

Sorting
In the early day of Hogwarts, the four founders handpicked students for their Houses. When the founders worried how students would be selected after their deaths, Godric Gryffindor took his hat off and they each added knowledge in it, allowing the Sorting Hat to choose the students. Now, at the beginning of each school year, the magical Sorting Hat is placed on each new student's head, during the Sorting Ceremony. The Sorting Hat announces the house the student is bound to join. Before beginning the Sorting ceremony, it sings a short song about the founding of the school and the four houses; the Hat's songs are different every year, and the Hat is said to take all year composing the next one (according to Ron Weasley, at least). The songs tend to give advice in troubled times.[HP5]
The Hat sorts by judging each student's qualities and placing them in the most appropriate house. The student's own choices may affect the decision: the clearest example is the Hat telling Harry Potter that he would do well in Slytherin in the first book, but ultimately selecting Gryffindor after Harry asks it not to put him in Slytherin. Another example is in the fifth book when Hermione Granger states that the Sorting Hat considered sorting her into Ravenclaw, but after she clearly stated in a previous chapter that she wanted to be in Gryffindor, her choice probably ultimately overrides the Hat, resulting in her placement into Gryffindor. Albus Dumbledore later explains to Harry that this is how it should be, when one considers how a person's choices define them more than their abilities. It is in fact likely that the Hat selects houses according to the predetermined decisions of an informed student, and only genuinely selects those who have no preconceptions or expectations. According to Horace Slughorn, house affiliations tend to run in families, and it is notable that Ron could not consider being in any house other than that which every other member of his family had been in; however, when Harry mentions this, Hermione points out that Parvati Patil and Padma Patil, who are identical twins, are sorted differently, into Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, respectively. Every member of the Black family had been sorted into Slytherin, with Sirius Black being the sole exception, which was remarked upon by Slughorn, its Head. On the other hand, many House members appear to share common traits: it is unknown if these are present before Sorting and used as criteria, or if they are inculcated into students through their presence in the House.
The Hat does not just consider the student's most obvious strengths; it also sees a student's potential qualities. "You could be great you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness", it says to Harry when it suggests Slytherin as the best house for his future. Similarly, Hermione and Neville Longbottom do not immediately jump out as prime examples of Gryffindor courage in the beginning of the series, but they have both gained a tremendous amount of courage as they have grown. Interestingly, in the final novel of the series, Dumbledore notes that Severus Snape is braver than most men are, and that perhaps Hogwarts sorts too early. Another point of interest is that Peter Pettigrew, who is frequently remarked as being cowardly and following others rather than acting on his own, was sorted into Gryffindor, where bravery is the main attribute of its students.

Hogwarts houses

Hogwarts houses
In the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is divided into four houses, each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. The houses compete throughout the school year for the House Cup by earning and losing points for various events. Each house also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. These two competitions breed rivalries between the houses, the greatest of which is that between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Houses at Hogwarts are the living and learning communities for its students. Each year, year level groups of every separate house share the same dormitory and classes. The dormitory and common room of a House are, barring rare exceptions, inaccessible to students belonging to other Houses.
The house system is not unique to Hogwarts as it is a feature of many real schools in some English-speaking countries today. As with many other features of Hogwarts, J. K. Rowling has adapted features of real-world boarding schools to add verisimilitude to the Harry Potter universe. House rivalries, separate dormitories, and the point system are all features of the real house system.

The Weird Sisters

The Weird Sisters are a fictional rock band in the Harry Potter series. Their instruments include guitars, bass, flute, cello, bagpipes and drums. They were booked by Dumbledore to play at Hogwarts during the Yule Ball. In the book version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire they are described as "all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn." A full music video of the band playing at the Yule Ball is included as a extended scene on the Goblet of Fire film 2-disc DVD. Their name is a subtle reference to the Norns of Norse Mythology, sometimes called the Weird Sisters; a set of three witches much like the Fates who control destiny and such. In 2005, Warner Bros., the international distributor of Goblet of Fire was sued for trademark violations by members of a Canadian folk-rock band named The Wyrd Sisters.[25][26] See the Wyrd Sisters' entry at the Legal disputes over Harry Potter article for more information.

The Muggle Prime Minister of Britain

This fictional character, equivalent to the real Prime Minister of Britain, receives a visit from Cornelius Fudge and Rufus Scrimgeour in the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Using a series of flashbacks, Rowling describes how the Prime Minister is aware of the existence of a wizarding world, through several meetings with Fudge that include his first night as Prime Minister, the night in which Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban, the notification of the incident in the Quidditch World Cup and the announcement of the importation of dragons and a sphinx for the Triwizard Tournament, and finally the Azkaban mass breakout from the fifth book. Rowling intended to include the Prime Minister scene in earlier books, but she thought that it could not properly fit until the sixth book.[24]
On the first page of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Prime Minister recalls his day, during which one of his political opponents had been criticising him and his government for several catastrophes that happened in Britain. Readers discover a little later during the discussion with Fudge, that these catastrophes were, in fact, the doings of Lord Voldemort and his followers. He also discovers that he is protected by an Auror who now works in his office, Kingsley Shacklebolt. It is unclear how he fared during Voldemort's takeover of the Ministry of Magic, when he had no such protection.

Oliver Wood

Oliver Wood is Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in the first three novels. Wood, described as "burly," is a talented and keen player and a born leader as captain, but also tends to act as a taskmaster due to his obsession with the game; he never cancels practices, poor weather conditions notwithstanding, and holds training sessions in early morning hours. In his seventh year, before the Quidditch Cup final, he constantly harangues Harry to catch the Golden Snitch only when Gryffindor is fifty points ahead of Slytherin during the match. His long-time rival is Slytherin captain Marcus Flint; they are well known for trying to break each other's fingers during their pre-match handshakes. Oliver appears briefly in Goblet of Fire, when he excitedly introduces Harry to his parents at the Quidditch World Cup and announces that he joined the Puddlemere United reserve team.
Although Wood is not seen again until the seventh book, his tenacity is not soon forgotten. In Order of the Phoenix, when Angelina Johnson assumes the team captaincy with equal fervour, Harry remarks to Ron, "I think we'd better check with Puddlemere United to see if Oliver Wood's been killed during a training session, because she seems to be channelling his spirit." He is one of many Hogwarts students, past and present, who takes part in the Battle of Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows, and is among the survivors; Harry sees him assisting Neville Longbottom in carrying the body of Colin Creevey.
Oliver appeared in the first two films, and was played by Sean Biggerstaff.

Ted Tonks

Ted Tonks is a Muggle-born wizard who is described as a "fair-haired, big bellied man". He married Andromeda Black. Their marriage led to his wife's disownment by the rest of her strict pure-blood family. Ted and Andromeda are the parents of Nymphadora Tonks. Instead of calling his wife and daughter by their full names Ted calls them "'Dromeda" and "'Dora".
Ted played an active role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Near the beginning of the novel, his home is a hideout for Harry and Hagrid, as the two were on the run from Voldemort. His home holds the portkey that helps Harry escape to The Burrow. Later due to Ted's refusal to register as a Muggle-born, he is one of the Muggle-born wizards to flee the ministry's new oppressive regime after the Death Eaters take over. During his flight, he meets the goblins Griphook and Gornuk, as well as Dean Thomas and Dirk Cresswell. Soon after, Ted is murdered by snatchers who also kill Gornuk and Cresswell.[23] When Tonks gives birth to her and Lupin's son, they name him Teddy in honour of her father.

Andromeda Tonks

Andromeda "Dromeda" Tonks is the mother of Nymphadora Tonks. Born Andromeda Black, she is a pure-blood witch, daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black (née Rosier) and sister of Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy. The middle sister, she was burned off the family tapestry in Number 12, Grimmauld Place by her aunt Walburga and estranged from the family because she married Ted Tonks, a Muggle-born wizard. She was Sirius Black's favourite cousin. Not much is known of her personality, except that she apparently has a talent for household spells and cleanliness, lacked by her husband and daughter, and that she is responsible for giving her daughter the name "Nymphadora"[22], a name like those typical to Andromeda's family.
She is not physically introduced until the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She greatly resembles her sister Bellatrix (so much so that Harry thinks she is Bellatrix upon first meeting her), but is kind looking and has soft brown, rather than black hair. She and Ted were later tortured for information on Harry's whereabouts. Although Remus Lupin believes that Andromeda and Ted are displeased by their daughter's marrying a werewolf, this is never overtly stated by either of them. Nymphadora apparently lives with her parents for at least part of her pregnancy and gives birth to Andromeda's grandson, Teddy Lupin, in her mother's home. For someone who is not a member of the Order of the Phoenix, the war with Voldemort and his followers exacts a very heavy toll on Andromeda: her husband, her daughter, and her son-in-law are all killed (not to mention her sister Bellatrix, though this was likely less sad for Andromeda). Rowling stated in an interview that after the war, Andromeda raises her grandson, though he regularly visits the home of his godfather, Harry Potter.[11]

HARRY POTTER'S MY FAVE

HELLO visitor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did you know I like HARRY POTTER MOVIE, STORY and also the character. the main character in this movie is daniel radclife as a young and cute wizard he is very handsome boys for me. Harry James Potter is the title character and the main protagonist of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter fantasy series. The books cover seven years in the life of the lonely orphan who, on his 11th birthday, learns he is a wizard and the son of magical parents. He attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn magic. Under the guidance of the kindly headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Harry discovers that he is already famous in the wizarding world, and that his fate is tied to Lord Voldemort, the evil wizard who killed his mother and father, and who supposedly died when he tried to fatally curse baby Harry. daniel is the main character of harry potter movie he is an england boy the mini biography of him is Date of Birth23 July 1989, Fulham, London, England, UK
Birth NameDaniel Jacob Radcliffe
NicknameDan
Height5' 6" (1.68 m)
Mini Biography
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born on July 23rd, 1989 to Alan Radcliffe and Marcia Gresham. He began performing in small school productions as a young boy. Soon enough, he landed a role in David Copperfield (1999) (TV), as the young David Copperfield. A couple of years later, he landed a role as Mark Pendel in The Tailor of Panama (2001), the son of Harry and Louisa Pendel (Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis). Lee Curtis had indeed pointed out to Daniel's mother that he could be Harry Potter himself. Soon afterwards, Daniel was cast as Harry Potter by director, Chris Columbus in the film that hit theatres in November 16, 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). He was recognized worldwide after this film was released. Pleasing audiences and critics everywhere, filming on its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), commenced shortly afterwards. He appeared again as Harry in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and then appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) directed by Mike Newell. Shortly afterwards, he finished filming _December Boys (2006)_ in Adelaide, Australia, Kangaroo Island, and Geelong, Australia which began on the 14th of November, 2005 and ended sometime in December. On January 27th, 2006, he attended the South Bank Awards Show to present the award for "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" to Billie Piper. Dan reprised his famous character once again for the next installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). In February 2007 he took on his first stage role in the West End play Equus to worldwide praise from fans and critics alike. He has finished filming the TV movie My Boy Jack (2007) (TV), which will air on 11 November 2007 in the UK.Now being one of the world's most recognizable people, Daniel leads a somewhat normal life. He has made friends working on the Harry Potter films, which include his co-stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. rupert as ronal weasley and emma as harmione