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"There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words."
— A lesson all first-years learned[src]
The trio in their first year PSF

The trio in the first year

A student in their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was called a first-year (with a hyphen).[1] Those who received their Hogwarts letter at age eleven were permitted to attend.[2]

Starting Hogwarts[]

Travelling to Hogwarts[]

"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here! All right there, Harry? C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!"
Rubeus Hagrid greeting new students[src]
Hogwarts boats 1

First-years travelling across the Black Lake on boats

First-years were typically eleven to twelve years of age, and began the year by boarding the Hogwarts Express at exactly 11 am on 1 September from King's Cross Station, from which they travelled to Hogwarts.[3] If they lived in Hogsmeade, they of course did not need to catch the train.

From there, first-year students were accompanied by the Keeper of Keys and Grounds (or another suitable teacher if the Keeper was absent), along a shady path that led to a fleet of small boats, which sailed themselves across the Black Lake before arriving at a small landing stage near the base of Hogwarts Castle.[3] Students would frequently fall into the lake during this trip, and the boat ride during the start of the 1986–1987 school year was the first time no students fell into the lake in the school's history.[4]

Students would then await their turn to be Sorted into their houses in the Great Hall.[5][6] A teacher would take them to a small room where they would await the Sorting ceremony.[7]

The Sorting Ceremony and Start-of-Term Feast[]

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!"
Professor McGonagall announcing the Sorting Ceremony on 1 September 1991[src]
Pottermore background the sorting ceremony

The 1991 Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony

Just before the Start-of-Term Feast began, new students were Sorted into one of four houses (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin) by the Sorting Hat. The Hat analysed each student's mind, looking for specific characteristics that it used to decide where to put each student. After the Sorting, the Headmaster would say a few words and the feast would begin.[5][6]

After the feast, the headmaster would say a few more words; if he or she was feeling particularly festive, they would direct the students as they sang the school song, such as the year Harry Potter came to Hogwarts. Dumbledore used his wand as a conductor's baton, conjuring a ribbon that floated in the air, forming the words for the students to sing along with, each singing to the tune of their choice. Not all Professors were overly fond of the song, but Albus Dumbledore, the wise and odd man he was, conducted the singing with gusto and even teared up at the end:[5]

Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Hoggy Warty Hogwarts
Teach us something, please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.[5]

Overall[]

"To their great surprise, both he and Ron passed with good marks; Hermione, of course, came top of the year. Even Neville scraped through, his good Herbology mark making up for his abysmal Potions one."
Harry Potter's experiences with the first year exams[src]
Flying class in 1991

Flying class

First-year students had to take: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, and Herbology, classes that were mandatory throughout their first five years of magical education.[8][9]

First-years, and only first-years, were required to take Flying class, where they learned the basic commands to give to their broomstick, as well as basic tricks and tips for riding, as most of the first-years had probably never flown before arriving at Hogwarts school.[10][11][12][13][14]

Curriculum[]

Subject Curriculum

Charms[]

"Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk."
— The first-year Charms exam[src]
Charms class in 1991

Defence Against the Dark Arts[]

Transfiguration[]

"Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuff box."
— The first-year Transfiguration exam[src]

Potions[]

"Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness Potion."
— The first-year Potions exam[src]
Potions

Herbology[]

Astronomy[]

History of Magic[]

"One hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented Self-Stirring Cauldrons and they'd be free..."
— The first-year History of Magic exam[src]

First year restrictions[]

"PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS"
— Extract from the Hogwarts acceptance letter[src]

First-years could not go to Hogsmeade with the students in the third year or above, and were not permitted to have their own broomstick inside the school grounds until the second year.[1] They were further forbidden from taking Divination, Muggle Studies, Study of Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy until the third year,[32] and Apparition and Alchemy until the sixth year.[9]

Required textbooks[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
  2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 4 (The Keeper of the Keys)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 6 (The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters)
  4. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, "New Arrivals" Achievement see this video
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 7 (The Sorting Hat)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 2 (Welcome to Hogwarts)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master)
  9. 9.0 9.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hogwarts School Subjects" at Wizarding World
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
  11. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 3 (Dealing With Trouble) - Flying Lesson "Summon Broom"
  12. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 6 (A Curious Corridor) - Flying Lesson "Mount Broom"
  13. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 9 (Inside the Room) - Flying Lesson "Liftoff and Landing"
  14. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act One, Scene Four
  15. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)
  16. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 5 (The Duel) - Charms Lesson "Wingardium Leviosa"
  17. 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 17.16 17.17 17.18 17.19 17.20 17.21 17.22 17.23 17.24 17.25 17.26 17.27 17.28 17.29 17.30 17.31 17.32 17.33 17.34 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
  19. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 2 (Welcome to Hogwarts) - Charms Lesson "Lumos"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Pottermore - The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1
  21. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 8 (Preparing for the Room) - Charms Lesson "Alohomora"
  22. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 7 (Class Matters) - Charms Lesson "Flipendo"
  23. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 6 (A Curious Corridor) - Charms Lesson "Nox"
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)
  25. 25.0 25.1 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
  26. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 13 (Nicolas Flamel)
  27. 27.0 27.1 Pottermore - The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
  28. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 2 (Welcome to Hogwarts) - Potions Lesson "Cure for Boils Potion"
  29. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 7 (Class Matters) - Potions Lesson "Herbicide Potion"
  30. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 4 (Revenge is Best Served Magical) - Potions Lesson "Wiggenweld Potion"
  31. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  32. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge)
  33. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 14 (Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback)
Hogwarts years
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