Gryffindor Quidditch team

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George Weasley: "I can't see anyone trying to bump off a Quidditch team."

Fred Weasley: "Wood might've done the Slytherins if he could've got away with it."

— The Weasley Twins on the Gryffindor Captain's competitive spirit^[src]

The Gryffindor Quidditch team is the house Quidditch team of the Hogwarts house Gryffindor. It has won the house Cup at least four times, and has been captained by James Potter, Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, and Harry Potter. Interestingly, a member of the Weasley family has held every one of the positions on the team. Ginny was a Chaser and a substitute Seeker, Charlie was a Seeker, Fred and George Weasley were Beaters, and Ron was the Keeper.

Recent history

1991-1992

Quidditch Pitch — The Hogwarts Quidditch pitch decorated for the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor match in 1991.

Fred Weasley: "We know Oliver's speech by heart. We were on the team last year."

Oliver Wood: "Shut up, you two. This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it."

— Fred Weasley and Oliver Wood^[src]

When Harry Potter played during his first year at Hogwarts, aged just eleven, he was the youngest player in more than a hundred years, and he also had to be given special dispensation to have his own broomstick at school, (a Nimbus 2000). The Gryffindor Quidditch team practised three times a week under Oliver Wood's supervision. After narrowly avoiding being thrown from his broom by Quirinus Quirrell, Harry Potter caught the Snitch (in his mouth) in his debut match against the Slytherin Quidditch team, which gave Gryffindor's Quidditch team victory in a hotly contested tie. He caught it once more to seal Gryffindor's second win of the season against Hufflepuff, a game which was biasedly refereed by Severus Snape. In Harry's absence, Gryffindor was defeated in their final game of the season against Ravenclaw, costing them their chance at the Quidditch Cup that year.^[1]

1992-1993

Rogue bludger — Oliver Wood during the Gryffindor vs Slytherin match.

"It'll be down to you, Harry, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy or die trying, Harry, because we've got to win today, we've go to."

— Oliver Wood^[src]

Although faced with a rogue Bludger constantly attacking its Seeker, the team defeated Slytherin in their opening contest for the 1992–1993 school year, but they were unable to play their remaining two fixtures, because the Quidditch Cup was cancelled due to attacks on Muggle-born students.^[2]

1993-1994

"This is our last chance - my last chance - to win the Quidditch Cup. I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it."

— Oliver Wood^[src]

Bad weather — Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff playing in bad weather.

In the 1993–1994 school year, the team is said by Lee Jordan to be "the best team Hogwarts has seen in the last few years", as this was the first year that they had won the Quidditch Cup since Charlie Weasley was on the team, even though they lost the first match against Hufflepuff due to Harry falling off his broomstick after being attacked by dementors. Gryffindor then beat Ravenclaw. Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup on the final day of the season when Harry Potter caught the Snitch in a re-scheduled match against Slytherin. This was also the final year that Oliver Wood captained the team.^[3] On that school year, Harry Potter wore the jersey number seven.

1994-1995

Due to the Triwizard Tournament being held at Hogwarts in the 1994–1995 school year, the Quidditch Cup was cancelled, and the team did not play.^[4]

1995-1996

"Weasley cannot save a thing,
He can't block a single ring.
That's why Slytherins all sing,
Weasley is our king!..."

— Slytherins mocking Ron about his Keeper abilities^[src]

Johnson2-kl — Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, Angelina Johnson.

During the 1995–1996 school year, Angelina Johnson was the Quidditch captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Due to previous players graduating, selecting team players involved a tough try-out. Ron Weasley was the only new player to make the team.

Gryffindor began their season with a victory against Slytherin. Shortly after the match, Draco Malfoy insulted and provoked Fred and George Weasley and Harry Potter. Harry and George promptly attacked him, but all three had their broomsticks confiscated and were banned from Quidditch for life by Dolores Umbridge, then-High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. They were replaced by Andrew Kirke, Jack Sloper, and Ginny Weasley, respectively.

In the final game of the season against Ravenclaw, Ron finally managed to pull himself together as Keeper, and Ginny Weasley beat Cho Chang in the race for the Snitch. Gryffindor won the match and the Quidditch Cup.

Following Umbridge's removal from the school, Harry's, Fred's and George's bans were lifted, so Harry could play again in the next year at school.^[5]

1996-1997

Gryffindor quidditch — The Gryffindor Quidditch team in the 1996–1997 school year.

Harry Potter was appointed as the Quidditch Captain during the 1996–1997 school year. Ginny Weasley and Demelza Robins replaced Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet as Chasers.

Ron Weasley and Katie Bell both became unintended victims of Draco Malfoy's attempts to kill Albus Dumbledore this year, and while they were unable to play, their spots in the team were taken over by Cormac McLaggen and Dean Thomas. After they were healed they both returned to the team. Harry missed the season's last game due to detention with Professor Snape.

Ron in Quidditch — The Gryffindor Quidditch team tryouts in 1996.

Therefore, for that final match, Ginny Weasley played as Seeker, and her position as a Chaser was taken over once again by Dean Thomas. Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup for the second year in a row.

1997-1998

It is unknown if the cup was played for in the 1997–1998 school year, what would have been Harry's last school year. It is unlikely, however, that the Quidditch cup was played for as Snape is quoted as "Bringing back Umbridge's old rules."

Uniform and equipment

The Gryffindor Quidditch team's uniforms are red and gold like their house colours.

For Beaters, they also carry small black clubs (similar to baseball bats) to help them ward off Bludgers during matches. The Keeper wears gloves.

Safety features

Generally, only protective arm-length gloves and knee-pads are used. In stormy conditions, some players wear goggles. However, the Keeper may wear shoulder-pads, chest armour and a helmet. ^[6]

Members of Gryffindor team

Team Gryffindor
1969
Chasers
Unknown		Unknown		Unknown
Beaters
	Unknown		Unknown
	Keeper		Seeker
	Unknown		Unknown R. J. H. King (unknown position)

Team Gryffindor
1971
Chasers
Unknown		Unknown		Unknown
Beaters
	Unknown		Unknown
	Keeper		Seeker
	Unknown		Unknown M. G. McGonagall (unknown position)

Team Gryffindor
1974-1977
Chasers
James Potter (Captain)		Unknown		Unknown
Beaters
	Unknown		Unknown
	Keeper		Seeker
	Unknown		Unknown

Team Gryffindor
1989-1990
Chasers
Unknown		Unknown		Unknown
Beaters
	Unknown		Unknown
	Keeper		Seeker
	Unknown		Charlie Weasley

Team Gryffindor
1990-1991
Chasers
Angelina Johnson		Unknown		Unknown
Beaters
	Fred Weasley		George Weasley
	Keeper		Seeker
	Oliver Wood		Charlie Weasley (Captain)

Substitutes
Alicia Spinnet (Chaser)

Team Gryffindor
1991-1994
Chasers
Katie Bell		Angelina Johnson		Alicia Spinnet
Beaters
	Fred Weasley		George Weasley
	Keeper		Seeker
	Oliver Wood (Captain)		Harry Potter

Team Gryffindor
1995-1996
Chasers
Katie Bell		Angelina Johnson (Captain)		Alicia Spinnet
Beaters
	Fred Weasley		George Weasley
	Keeper		Seeker
	Ron Weasley		Harry Potter

Substitutes
Andrew Kirke (Beater), Jack Sloper (Beater), Ginny Weasley (Seeker)

Team Gryffindor
1996-1997
Chasers
Katie Bell		Ginny Weasley		Demelza Robins
Beaters
	Jimmy Peakes		Ritchie Coote
	Keeper		Seeker
	Ron Weasley		Harry Potter (Captain)

Substitutes
Cormac McLaggen (Keeper), Dean Thomas (Chaser), Ginny Weasley (Seeker)

Behind the scenes

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, there is a trophy shown, which depicts James Potter as Seeker for the team ^[7]. However, when asked, J. K. Rowling stated that James was a Chaser^[8].
Interestingly, each of the positions of the Gryffindor Quidditch team has been held by one of Arthur and Molly Weasley's children, however it is unknown if Bill Weasley held a position on the team (Although Percy Weasley has never been shown to have an interest in the game beyond possibly the occasional family competition).
The design of the Qudditch uniform used in the film versions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is different from the uniform used in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was the first to introduce jersey numbers, showing Harry wearing number seven. The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was, however the first to introduce the whole team's jersey numbers.
Gryffindor has won the Quidditch Cup in 1994, 1996, and 1997.

Appearances

Notes and references

[PS-1] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Chapter 10

[COS-2] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

[POA-3] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

[GOF-4] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

[OOP-5] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[6] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)

[7] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)

[8] J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com

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