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Hogwarts House Quidditch Teams
"I've become accustomed to seeing the Quidditch Cup in my study,
boys, and I really don't want to have to hand it over to Professor
Snape, so use the extra time to practice, won't you?"
-- Professor McGonagall lets her fifth
year Gryffindor Transfiguration class off homework
(OP19)
Quidditch is big at Hogwarts. Each House fields a team, which includes the
seven players and often one or two reserve players as well. The teams have
a team captain who not only plays but also acts as coach. The captain leads
practices, devises strategies, and sees to the induction of new players into
the team. Quidditch tryouts are typicallyduring the second week of the school year, although the exact day and time are up to the captain to determine;
students who wish to play for their Houses are asked to talk to
Madam Hooch. The Quidditch season
at Hogwarts starts in October, with the first games early in November.
Madam Hooch is the resident Quidditch
expert. The Bludgers, Quaffles, and Snitch are stored securely in her office
between games and she acts as referee for the matches. Team practices are
scheduled by individual captains (they "book the field" to reserve it for
their own team to practice.) Most teams practice almost every day, after
school or in the evenings.
The matches themselves are well attended by almost everyone in the school.
Until he left school, the commentary was provided by
Lee Jordan, a Gryffindor boy who
occasionally found it difficult to remain objective when Gryffindor was
playing. The raised stands can hold hundreds of fans, and it would seem that
the matches are sometimes attended by Quidditch fans from the surrounding
area as well. After Lee left, commentary was provided by Zacharias Smith and Luna Lovegood.
The team which accumulates the most points over the course of the school year is awarded the Quidditch Cup,
a great honor. Special awards are given to the best players as well
(PS/f).
Each year, the various House teams play each other once [1].
This results in six games of Quidditch:
In Prisoner of Azkaban, Slytherin requested a change in
schedule on the basis of Draco Malfoy's injuries, so the usual
playing order was not followed, with all
Gryffindor's other matches moving up one time slot
and Gryffindor - Slytherin
moving to the end of the schedule.
On the normal schedule shown above, the games are grouped into three pairs,
such that for each pair of games, all four teams play, with no team playing
two matches back-to-back without a break. The Christmas break falls between
Hufflepuff's first two matches, and the Easter
break falls between Slytherin's last two.
Thoughts on Quidditch at Hogwarts
essay by Patrick Drazen
Each House has fourteen players, second-year and up (an exception being made
in Harry Potter's case). Quidditch being such a physical contact sport,
players tend to suffer everything from bumps and bruises to broken bones.
Hence, there is a necessity for a Reserve squad to step in if a player
becomes incapacitated. Otherwise, the team would have to forfeit the match.
There is also a need for a healer at Hogwarts, where
Madam Poppy Pomfrey runs the
Hospital Wing.
Of course, if the students had their way, there would probably be Quidditch
every other weekend, and a colossal amount of skiving-off of homework and
studying.
robes: scarlet
Gryffindor traditionally fields a strong team, although they lost the cup to
Slytherin for seven years between
1985
[Y5] and
1991
[Y11]. With the addition of Harry Potter as Seeker in
1991
[Y11], at the
time the youngest House player in over a hundred years, the Gryffindor
team was widely believed to be the best team at Hogwarts. Unfortunately,
the team lost their chance for the cup in spring 1992 because Harry was
out of action for the final game and again in spring 1993 when the competition
was cancelled. In 1994, finally, Gryffindor took their well-deserved victory
and won the cup. The captain for Gryffindor was Oliver Wood, a strong and
very capable player who played
Keeper in
Harry's first three years. Wood
was obsessive about the game, dragging his team out for more practices
than any other team and devising complicated strategies over the summer
to inflict on his players in the fall. The school year after Wood left there was no Quidditch because of the Tri-Wiazard Tournament. The following year, Angelina Johnson took over as captain in her seventh year. Harry Potter took over as captain the next year.
- Bell, Katie
Chaser
(1991 -
1997
[Y11 - Y17])
Katie joined the team in her second year; in her first match she took a Bludger to the back of the head a short time into the game. Katie played on the team every year for the rest of her time at Hogwarts, although she missed several matches in her seventh year after touching a cursed necklace and recovering in St Mungos.
- Johnson, Angelina
Chaser
(probably joined in 1990, her second year -
1996
[Y11 - Y16]),
captain
(1995 -
1996
[Y15 - Y16])
Angelina most likely started her illiustrious Quidditch career at Hogwarts in her second year. She took over as captain in Harry's fifth year, when she had to deal with a large part of her team banned from play by Umbridge and Ron Weasley's lack of consistency as Keeper. In spite of it all, she led the team to winning the Quidditch Cup.
- Kirke, Andrew
Beater
(1995 -
1996
[Y15 - Y16])
Andrew joined the team as Beater when Fred and George Weasley were banned after the first match of the 1995-1996 season. Angelina didn't seem particularly excited about his tryout and Ron described him as being even worse than he was. In fact, Kirke actually shrieked and fell backwards off his broom during a match with Hufflepuff. Kirke did not make the team the next year.
- McLaggen, Cormac
reserve - Keeper
(1996 -
1997
[Y16 - Y17])
McLaggen played Keeper for one match while Ron was recovering from being poisoned. He spent his time telling everyone else what to do and completely missing the Quaffle sailing past him. When he grabbed a Beater's bat and tried to demonstrate to Peakes how to hit the Bludger, McLaggen instead pounded the Bludger into Harry's head, putting him in the Hospital Wing.
- Potter, Harry
Seeker
(1991 -
1997
[Y11 - Y17]),
captain
(1996 -
1997
[Y16 - Y17])
Harry joined the team in his first year, the youngest house player in a century. He was a superb Seeker whose amazing feats of flying won many matches for the Gryffindor team. Along with Fred and George Weasley, Harry was banned from play after the first match of the 1995-1996 season, but came back to captain the team to winning the Quidditch Cup in the 1996-1997 season.
- Potter, James
Chaser
(1970s)
James Potter was a very talented Quidditch player during his years at Hogwarts. His team won the Quidditch Cup at least once (PA14).
- Robins, Demelza
Chaser
(1996 -
1997
[Y16 - Y17])
Demelza joined the team in 1996 after showing at tryouts that she was particularly good at dodging Bludgers.
- Sloper, Jack
Beater
(1995 -
1996
[Y15 - Y16])
Jack Sloper joined the team as a Beater after Fred and George Weasley were banned from playing. Sloper was a poor player, once hitting Angelina in the mouth with his bat during a match. He seemed to have quite a bit of trouble with his bat, actually, since during one practice he managed to knock himself out with it.
- Spinnet, Alicia
Chaser
(1991 -
1996
[Y11 - Y16])
- During the 1990-1991 season, Alicia was a reserve player. In her third year, she joined the team as a Chaser along with Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson. She played on the team all through her years at Hogwarts.
- Thomas, Dean
reserve Chaser
(1996 -
1997
[Y16 - Y17])
Dean stepped in as Chaser during the 1996-1997 season as a replacement for Katie Bell, who had been cursed and was recuperating in St Mungos. Dean was a competent player who worked well with the other Chasers, Ginny Weasley and Demelza Robins.
- Weasley, Charlie
Seeker (1985-1991)
Captain (years uncertain, since Wood seems to have been captain during Charlie's last year)
Charlie Weasley is a legend in Hogwarts Quidditch. He was captain of the team and such a good Seeker that he could have played for England. The text is not consistent about any Quidditch Cup victories by Charlie's teams, stating in one place that Gryffindor "hasn't won the Cup since Charlie left" and in another place that Slytherin won the Cup seven years in a row, which would mean that Slytherin won every year that Charlie could have been on the team. Presumably Rowling will fix this error in a future edition.
- Weasley, Fred
Beater
(1990 - 1995
[Y15])
Fred is an excellent Beater, sometimes referred to as almost a human Bludger. He was on the team the year before Harry joined, which would have been in his second year. He played until he was banned from Quidditch by Umbridge after the first match of the 1995-1996 season.
- Weasley, George
Beater
(1990 - 1995
[Y15])
George joined the team in his second year and quickly established himself as a superb Beater. He, along with his twin brother, was known as a human Bludger by other Gryffindors. George played on the team every year until he was banned from Quidditch by Umbridge after the first match of the 1995-1996 season.
- Weasley, Ginny
Seeker and
reserve Seeker
(1995 -
1997
[Y15 - Y17]),
Chaser
(1996 -
1997
[Y16 - Y17])
Ginny comes from a family of excellent Quidditch players, but her skills reamained hidden until she tried out for the team when Harry was banned at the beginning of the 1995-1996 season. She was a very good Seeker and played well that year, but she was more than happy to turn the Seeking duties back over to Harry the following season and play Chaser.
- Weasley, Ron
Keeper
(1995 - present)
Ron joined the team as Keeper to replace Oliver Wood, who had left school. Ron was clearly capable as a player but was erratic and inconsistent when faced with the pressure of an actual match. He managed to overcome this handicap and help the team to Quidditch Cup victories in 1996 and 1997.
- Wood, Oliver
Keeper (captain)
(probably 1988 -
1993
[Y11 - Y13])
Oliver Wood was a very good Keeper who captained the team from 1990, when he was only a fourth year, until he left school. Oliver went on to play for Puddlemere United's reserve team after leaving Hogwarts. Although it is never stated, it seems likely that Oliver would have played in both his second year and third year before taking over as captain in his fourth, when Fred and George Weasley joined the team and consequently could repeat Wood's pregame pep talks the following year. It is curious that Wood was made captain of the team in 1990-1991 when Charlie Weasley was still in school and presumably still Seeker.
Timeline of Gryffindor Quidditch
- 1970s - James Potter was Chaser; his team won the Cup at least once.
- 1985-6 - Charlie Weasley is a second year; he joins the team as Seeker. Slytherin wins the Quidditch Cup.
- 1986-7 - Despite having Charlie as Seeker, Gryffindor loses the Cup to Slytherin again.
- 1987-8 - Oliver Wood joins the team (presumably) as a second year, but again Slytherin takes the Cup.
- 1988-9 - Charlie is a fifth year and Oliver a third year. Slytherin take the Cup once again.
- 1989-90 - Charlie, in his sixth year, is captain. Oliver, now a third year, is Keeper. Even with these two excellent players, Slytherin takes the Cup.
- 1990-1 - Charlie's last year, but for some reason Oliver, a fourth year, is made captain. Angelina Johnson joins the team in her second year as a Chaser. Alicia Spinnet, also second year, is a reserve Chaser, which suggests that someone even better was on the regular team. Fred and George Weasley, two spectacular second year Beaters, are also on the team. In spite of this, McGonagall refers to this team as being particularly bad. They lose the Cup to Slytherin once again.
- 1991-2 - Harry Potter, a first year, joins the team, replacing Charlie who is off studying dragons. Fifth year Oliver Wood is captain and Keeper. Third years Fred and George Weasley are Beaters and the Chasers, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet and also third years, are joined by a new player named Katie Bell, who is in her second year. Unfortunately, Gryffindor again loses the Cup after Harry is injured and misses the final match of the season.
- 1992-3 - The final match and the Cup competition are cancelled because of the Basilisk attacks in the school. The team stays the same as last year and Oliver Wood is captain once again.
- 1993-4 - For the third year in a row, the team stays the same. This year, Oliver's last, Gryffindor finally takes the Cup. Harry is a third year, Katie is a fourth year, and Fred, George, Angelina, and Alicia are all fifth years.
- 1994-5 - Quidditch is cancelled for the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
- 1995-6 - Angelina Johnson, now a seventh year, is made captain of the Gryffindor team. The team has played together now for a number of years and they are expected to dominate. Ron Weasley, fifth year, joins the team as Keeper. However, after the first match Fred, George, and Harry are banned from Quidditch. This forces Angelina to hold tryouts to replace her most experienced players. Ginny Weasley, a fourth year, becomes Seeker and two relatively poor players, Kirke and Sloper, come on board as Beaters. In spite of this, Gryffindor wins the Cup.
- 1996-7 - Harry Potter, now a sixth year, is made captain. The only player left of the powerful team of the early 1990s besides Harry is Katie Bell, a seventh year. She is injured early in the season and Ron is poisoned, which forces Harry to pull players from his reserve. Ginny leads the Chasers, which now include Demelza Robins, Dean Thomas, and Katie Bell (depending on injuries). The new Beaters, Coote and Peakes, are relatively good but inexperienced. Ron Weasley is inconsistent in the Keeper position again but gains confidence as the year goes by. He is temporarily replaced by Cormac McLaggen for one match, but it doesn't go well. In the end, Gryffindor manages to win the Cup yet again.
- 1997-8 - There will be no Quidditch in the seventh book, according to Rowling. This may mean that it's cancelled at Hogwarts for the year, but it may also mean that it will happen "off camera" as we follow Harry on his quest to destroy the Horcruxes. Either way, it seem likely that Harry will no longer be the captain of the team.
Captains of Quidditch
Charlie Weasley - 198? - 1990
Oliver Wood - 1990 - 1994
Angelina Johnson - 1995 - 6
Harry Potter - 1996-7
robes: yellow
The Hufflepuff team really
proved itself a strong contender in the
1993-
1994
[Y13 - Y14] season,
with Cedric Diggory putting an excellent side together.
Diggory was a bit large for a Seeker, but he was very skilled. He
led the Hufflepuffs to victory over Gryffindor during
that year, although the outcome may have been different if Harry Potter
hadn't fallen off his broom when Dementors entered the stadium.
robes: blue
robes: green
The Slytherins field a very strong team. They won
the Cup for seven years in a row until Gryffindor
finally took it away from them in 1994.
Slytherin strategy often appears to favor brawn over skill, and they
will not hesitate to use dirty tricks or cheating. There are no girls
on the Slytherin team.
Lucius Malfoy purchased a set of
Nimbus 2001 brooms for the team in exchange for their allowing
Draco to play Seeker.
games and players of years gone by
- Awards have been given for Quidditch for many, many years at
Hogwarts.
- The last time a first year student was allowed onto one of the
house teams was over a hundred years ago.
- A plaque in the Trophy Room (film only, this information
is not correct according to comments the author has made in
Sch2)
shows the following names and information:
- R. J. H. King won an award for Gryffindor in 1969.
- M. G. McGonagall (not the professor, who was a teacher at that time)
won an award in 1971
- James Potter won a Seeker award for Gryffindor in 1973.
- Charlie Weasley is considered to be one of the best players in
recent memory. He played for Gryffindor from 1985 through 1991.
- James Potter, according to Snape, was a "Quidditch Cup winner." (PA14)
[1]
Evidence from books one and three support this. In book one,
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, both the
Gryffindor v. Slytherin game and the
Gryffindor v. Hufflepuff game are
described in detail (PS11 and
PS13). Then Ms. Rowling
clearly states in PS17 that
Gryffindor played and lost a match to
Ravenclaw, since Harry was unconscious at the time.
In book three, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
the Gryffindor matches are all three described. In
PA9,
Gryffindor's loss to Hufflepuff is told.
PA12 mentions
Slytherin's narrow defeat of
Ravenclaw in their match in January.
PA13 is entitled
Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw.
And PA15, entitled
The Quidditch Final,
Gryffindor is victorious over Slytherin,
winning them the Quidditch Cup. Matches between other houses are alluded
to in this exchange in PA9:
"It's not over yet," said Fred. "We lost by a hundred points, right?
So if Hufflepuff loses to
Ravenclaw and we beat
Ravenclaw and Slytherin..."
"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least
two hundred points," said George.
"But if they beat Ravenclaw..."
"No way. Ravenclaw is too good. But if
Slytherin loses against
Hufflepuff..."
In this exchange, the Ravenclaw v.
Hufflepuff match and
Hufflepuff v. Slytherin
match are clearly discussed. The only leap any intelligent person can make
is that all teams play each other. Since the stories are told third person
limited to Harry, then it makes sense that they would not necesarily be in
the books since they wouldn't be that much of a notable event for Harry.
(Thanks to Erin for this explanation;
Ravenclaw-Slytherin added by MLW)
Update: In OP19,
"The Lion and the Serpent", it is clearly
stated before Gryffindor-Slytherin:
The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were taking a lively interest in the
outcome, for they, of course, would be playing both teams over the
coming year...
and since PA10 mentions
Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw, it has now been verified that each House team
plays each of the others. Q.E.D. - MLW
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