Headmaster

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Dumbledore's speech at the Great Hall in 1996 — Hogwarts' Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stands in front of the students at the Great Hall during the Welcoming Feast in 1996.

A Headmaster or Headmistress is the chief administrator of a School of Magic. They make all major decisions regarding the safety and the day-to-day functioning of the school, and have the power to override any decision made by any other authoritative facilitator at the school, with the possible exception of the Board of Governors (and during a brief period in 1996, the "High Inquisitor"), in Hogwarts. A Headmaster also controls the protective spells surrounding the school and the ability for certain individuals to enter or exit the grounds at will. The four founders of Hogwarts (Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, and Rowena Ravenclaw ) are not considered heads, despite leading the school during their time.

Hogwarts also has a Deputy Headmaster or Deputy Headmistress (depending on gender) that assists the headmaster in his duties. In the event of a headmaster's incapacitation, the deputy headmaster serves as temporary headmaster until the Board of Governors can elect a new, permanent one. There can also be more than one deputy headmaster, as the Carrow siblings served under Severus Snape when Voldemort took over Hogwarts.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmasters

Known Headmasters of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:

Portrait	Headmaster (term of office)	Notes
	First Headmaster of Hogwarts Early 11th century
	Unidentified Headmaster ^[1]
	Brian Gagwilde
	Heliotrope Wilkins ^[1]
	Phyllida Spore -1408^[2]
	Edessa Sakndenberg -1503^[1]
	Fytherley Undercliffe -1531^[3]
	Elizabeth Burke
	Vulpus ^[1]
	Everard 18th/19th century^[4]
	Vindictus Veridian -1703^[5]
	Amrose Swott -1724^[3]
	Dilys Derwent 1741-1768
	Unidentified Professor 1790s
	Eupraxia Mole 1876
	Quentin Trimble ^[5]
	Limebert ^[1]
	Dexter Fortescue
	Phineas Nigellus Black -1925
	Basil Fronsac ^[1]
	Walter Aragon ^[6]
	Unidentified Headmaster
	Unidentified Headmaster
	Unidentified Headmistress
	Armando Dippet -1956
	Albus Dumbledore 1956-1997	Suspended in 1993, later reinstated; assumed to have been sacked in 1996 after escaping a Ministry attempt to arrest him, reinstated later that year
	Minerva McGonagall (Acting) 1993
	Dolores Umbridge 1996	Though Umbridge was proclaimed headmistress, she was not acknowledged as such by the headmaster's office, which shut her out for the remainder of the year.
	Minerva McGonagall (Acting) 1997
	Severus Snape 1997-1998
	Minerva McGonagall 1998 to sometime between 2011 and 2017
	Minerva McGonagall's successor sometime between 2011 and 2017

Deputy Headmasters

Known Deputy Headmasters of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:

Portrait	Deputy Headmaster (term of office)
	Minerva McGonagall after 1956-1 September, 1997
	Alecto Carrow 1 September, 1997-2 May, 1998
	Amycus Carrow 1 September, 1997-2 May, 1998

Durmstrang Institute

Known Headmasters of Durmstrang Institute:

Portrait	Headmaster (term of office)
	Nerida Vulchanova pre-1290s
	Harfang Munter
	Unidentified Professor 1790s
	Igor Karkaroff Unknown-1995

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

Known Headmasters of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic:

Portrait	Headmaster (term of office)
	Unidentified Professor 1790s
	Olympe Maxime Unknown-Unknown

Behind the scenes

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore refers to Karkaroff's title as "Highmaster." Pottermore, however, confirms that the title of Headmaster is used at Durmstrang as well.

Appearances

Notes and references

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)
↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) - Chapter 21 (The Pensieve)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Harry Potter Limited Edition - The Paintings of Hogwarts: Masterpieces from the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Sets
↑ Assumption based on clothing.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
↑ LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

[CoS/f-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)

[GFf21-2] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) - Chapter 21 (The Pensieve)

[HPLE-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Harry Potter Limited Edition - The Paintings of Hogwarts: Masterpieces from the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Sets

[Clothing-4] Assumption based on clothing.

[WWHP-5] 5.0 ^5.1 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

[6] LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

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