Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
History
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, often shortened to Hogwarts, is a fictional British school of magic for students aged eleven to eighteen, and is the primary setting for the first six books in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Rowling has suggested that she may have inadvertently taken the name from the hogwort plant (Croton capitatus), which she had seen at Kew Gardens some time before writing the series, although the names 'Hogwarts' and 'Hogwort' are not etymologically related.
Location and Premises
The school is depicted as having numerous charms and spells on and around it that make it impossible for a Muggle (i.e., a non-magical person) to locate it. Such people cannot see the school; rather, they see only ruins and several warnings of danger. The castle has extensive grounds with sloping lawns, flowerbeds and vegetable patches, a loch (called the Black Lake), a large dense forest (called the Forbidden Forest), several greenhouses and other outbuildings, and a full-size Quidditch Pitch. There is also an owlery, which houses all the owls owned by the school and those owned by students.
Houses
The school is divided into four houses, each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. The houses compete throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for various activities. The house with the highest end-of-year total wins and has its colours displayed in the Great Hall for the following school year. Each house also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. These two competitions breed rivalries between the houses.
Subjects and Teachers
The curriculum of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a blend of classical education and magical skills. Subjects include Astronomy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy. The teachers have varied personalities, and each has a unique approach to teaching their subject.
Role in the Series
Hogwarts plays a significant role in the Harry Potter series, being the setting of nearly every scene in the first six books, and of many scenes in the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is at Hogwarts where Harry learns about his parents' mysterious death, where he faces and overcomes many challenges, and where he ultimately confronts Voldemort, the series' main antagonist.