When a first-year student arrives at Hogwarts, the magical
Sorting Hat is placed on their head. It examines their mind and assigns them to a
House based on their abilities, personality, and preferences. Hogwarts has four Houses, each named after one of the founders of the school. Throughout the school year, the Houses compete for the House Cup, gaining and losing points based on actions such as performance in class and rule violations. The House with the most points at the end of the year wins the House Cup and has its colours displayed in the Great Hall during the following school year. Each House also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. Each House is under the authority of one of the Hogwarts professors. The four Houses are described below. • '''''' values courage, nerve, and chivalry. Gryffindor's mascot is a lion, their colours are red and gold, and the Head of House is
Minerva McGonagall. The Gryffindor dormitories are in a high tower, and students must use a password to gain entry. According to Rowling, Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of
fire. • '''''' values hard work, patience, justice, and loyalty. Hufflepuff's mascot is a badger, their colours are yellow and black, and the Head of House is
Pomona Sprout. Rowling said that Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of
earth. The house mascot is an eagle in the novels, and a raven in the
Harry Potter and
Fantastic Beasts films, and their colours are blue and bronze. In the novels, the Head of Ravenclaw House is
Filius Flitwick. The dormitories are in Ravenclaw Tower, and students must solve a riddle to gain entry. Ravenclaw corresponds roughly to the element of
air. • '''''' values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness. The mascot of Slytherin is a serpent and their colours are green and silver.
Severus Snape is the Head of Slytherin House until he becomes headmaster, at which point
Horace Slughorn assumes the position. The Slytherin dormitories are accessed by speaking a password in front of a stone wall in the dungeons, which causes a hidden door to open. Slytherin corresponds roughly to the element of
water. Each year, two fifth-year students from each House are selected as
prefects. The position grants them certain privileges and the authority to give detentions for infractions. The leaders of the student body, the
head girl and head boy, are chosen from among the seventh-year students. Hogwarts students in their third year or higher are allowed to visit the nearby wizarding village of
Hogsmeade. == Hogwarts Express ==