Wednesday, August 6, 2008

HOGWARTS SECRETS - Subjects and Teachers

Throughout the series, numerous lessons are described, instructing the students in various branches of magic. There are twelve named teachers (each referred to as Professor), each specialising in a single subject. Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, Astronomy, History of Magic, and Herbology are compulsory subjects. At the end of their second year, students are required to add at least two optional subjects to their syllabus for the start of the third year. Optional subjects include Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies.


Transfiguration

Transfiguration is essentially the art of changing the properties of an object. Transfiguration is a theory-based subject, including topics such as "Switching Spells" (altering only a part of some object, such as giving a human rabbit's ears); Vanishing Spells (causing an object to completely disappear);[OP Ch.13] and Conjuring Spells (creating objects out of thin air).[OP Ch.13] It is possible to change inanimate objects into animate ones and vice versa — McGonagall transfigures her desk into a pig in Philosopher's Stone.[PS Ch.8] Throughout Harry's time at Hogwarts, Transfiguration is taught by McGonagall. Dumbledore is known to have taught the subject before he became headmaster, including during Tom Riddle's time at Hogwarts.


Defence Against the Dark Arts

Commonly shortened to D.A.D.A., this class teaches defensive techniques to block spells, charms, curses, hexes and jinxes cast by other wizards, counteract the Dark Arts, and to protect from Dark creatures.

The subject has an extraordinarily high turnover of staff members — throughout the series no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher has remained at Hogwarts for more than one school year. It is suggested by Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets that "They're startin' ter [sic] think the job's jinxed. No one's lasted long for a while now." In Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore suggests that Voldemort cursed the position because his application for it was rejected.[HBP Ch.20] The existence of the jinx was eventually confirmed by Rowling. The position had also been coveted by Snape, but he was denied the position as well. Rowling explained that Dumbledore believed that teaching D.A.D.A would bring out Snape's worst side. Snape was finally appointed D.A.D.A. professor in Half-Blood Prince. Rowling announced in an interview that once Voldemort had died, the jinx he placed on the office was lifted and a permanent professor had been teaching the subject between the end of Deathly Hallows and the epilogue, set 19 years afterwards. Furthermore, she imagines that Harry Potter occasionally comes to the class to give lectures on the subject.

List of known Defence Against the Dark Arts professors:


Charms

If Transfiguration involves changing the properties of an object, Rowling has described Charms as a type of magic spell concerned with giving an object new and unexpected properties. Charms classes are described as notoriously noisy and chaotic, as the lessons are largely practical.[OP Ch.18] Many of the exposition sequences in the books are set in Charms classes, which are on the second floor of Hogwarts. Charms is taught throughout Harry's time at Hogwarts by Filius Flitwick.


Potions

Potions is described as the art of creating mixtures with magical effects. It requires the correct mixing and stirring of ingredients at the right times and temperatures. As to the question of whether a Muggle could brew a potion, given the correct magical ingredients, J.K. Rowling has said, "Potions seems, on the face of it, to be the most Muggle-friendly subject. But there does come a point in which you need do more than stir." Snape serves as Potions master from Philosopher's Stone to the end of Order of the Phoenix. Snape's lessons are depicted as unhappy, oppressing times set in a gloomy dungeon in the basement of the castle. In Half-Blood Prince, Slughorn replaces Snape as Potions instructor.

Astronomy

Astronomy is the only field of study at Hogwarts which has a direct equivalent in the Muggle world. Astronomy classes take place in the Astronomy Tower, the tallest tower in Hogwarts. Lessons involve observations of the night skies with telescopes. No Astronomy lesson, or even a fragment of one, is ever depicted in the movies. Known student homework activities include learning the names of stars, constellations and planets, as well as their location and movements, and describing the environments of planets and moons. Throughout the Harry Potter series, Professor Aurora Sinistra teaches Astronomy.

History of Magic

The study of magical history. Lessons are depicted as some of the most boring at Hogwarts. The History of Magic teacher, Cuthbert Binns, is the only ghost teacher, extremely set in his ways. Binns' lessons consist of him reciting ("droning"[PS Ch.8]) and dictating notes to his students.


Herbology

The study of magical plants and how to take care of, utilize and/or combat them. There are at least three greenhouses described in the books, holding a variety of magical plants of varying degrees of lethality. Throughout the series, Herbology is taught by Pomona Sprout. Herbology is also the only subject in which Neville excels; it is explained in the epilogue to Deathly Hallows that he later becomes the Herbology teacher.


Arithmancy

Arithmancy is a branch of magic concerned with the magical properties of numbers (compare numerology). As this class is taken neither by Harry, nor by Ron, almost nothing is known about it. It is, however, a favourite subject of Hermione. Arithmancy is reportedly very difficult, as it requires memorizing or working with large number charts. Throughout the series, Arithmancy is taught by Septima Vector.


Ancient Runes

A mostly theoretical subject that studies the ancient runic scripts. It is studied by Hermione but not by Harry or Ron, so little else is known about this subject. The name of the Ancient Runes professor is never given in the books or films, although Rowling has named her as Bathsheba Babbling.


Divination

Divination is the art of predicting the future. Various methods are described, including tea leaves, fire omens, crystal balls, palmistry, cartomancy (including the reading of playing cards and the Tarot), astrology, and dream interpretations. Divination is described as "one of the most imprecise branches of magic".[PA Ch.6] Supporters of the subject claim that it is an inexact science that requires innate gifts. Those opposed claim that the subject is irrelevant and fraudulent. Sybill Trelawney is introduced as Divination teacher in Prisoner of Azkaban and remains in the post for Goblet of Fire and the beginning of Order of the Phoenix. When she is fired by Umbridge she is replaced by Firenze, a centaur who is banished from the Forbidden Forest after he agrees to help Dumbledore. As Dumbledore explains that he could not remove either teacher at the end of Order of the Phoenix, both continue teaching in Half-Blood Prince.


Care of Magical Creatures

Learning about and how to care for magical beasts. Classes are held outside the castle. At the start of Prisoner of Azkaban, it is announced that an aging Professor Kettleburn has retired to "enjoy more time with his remaining limbs",[PA Ch.5] and Hagrid is appointed to replace him. During Hagrid's two absences later in the series, in Goblet of Fire and the beginning of Order of the Phoenix, lessons are covered by Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank. Although very experienced and knowledgeable of magical creatures, Hagrid's lessons are usually depicted as chaotic if not outright dangerous,[PA Ch.6][GF Ch.13] as Hagrid is consistently unable to judge the safety of the animals around which his lessons are based.


Muggle Studies

This course involves the study of Muggles "from a wizarding point of view." There is apparently a need for witches and wizards to learn about Muggle ways and means, if only to ensure they are able to avoid them or blend in. As the class is only mentioned as being taken by Hermione, and for just one year, little is known about its curriculum. Through the first six books, the class is taught by Professor Charity Burbage. Rowling has said that Burbage replaced Quirrell, who taught the subject before moving to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts in Harry's first year. In the opening chapter of the final book, Voldemort murders Professor Burbage because she portrays Muggles in a positive light and is opposed to limiting wizardry to only people of pure-blood origins. For the remainder of the academic year covered by Deathly Hallows, the Death Eater Alecto Carrow teaches Muggle Studies. However, her "lessons" (which are made compulsory) mainly describe Muggles and Muggle-borns as subhuman and worthy of persecution.


Flying

The use of enchanted broomsticks is taught in Hogwarts' only physical-education class. Only one flying lesson is depicted in the series (in Philosopher's Stone). That class is taught by Rolanda Hooch. Hooch also acts as referee for Quidditch matches.


Apparition

Apparition, the art of magically disappearing from one place and reappearing in another, requires a license and may only be legally performed by people over 17 years of age. The described reason for the restriction is that Apparition is dangerous if done improperly: body parts can be left behind in an unfortunate side-effect known as "splinching". Although, as Hermione points out innumerable times throughout the series, magical enchantments on Hogwarts castle and grounds prohibit Apparition and Disapparition inside the castle, it is explained in Half-Blood Prince that these protections are temporarily relaxed within the Great Hall for short periods to permit students to practice Apparition. Wilkie Twycross, a "Ministry of Magic Apparition Instructor" offers lessons in Apparition in Half-Blood Prince.[HBP Ch.17]

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