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*In all of the [[Harry Potter films]] as well as the video games of''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix| Order of the Phoenix]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince|Half-Blood Prince]]'', the Hourglasses are located in the [[Great Hall]] to the right of the staff table.
 
*In all of the [[Harry Potter films]] as well as the video games of''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix| Order of the Phoenix]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince|Half-Blood Prince]]'', the Hourglasses are located in the [[Great Hall]] to the right of the staff table.
 
*There is possible symbolism in that when Albus Dumbledore died in {{HBP}}, the Gryffindor hourglass was smashed. However, when [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] was defeated in {{DH}}, it was the Slytherin hourglass that was shattered.
 
*There is possible symbolism in that when Albus Dumbledore died in {{HBP}}, the Gryffindor hourglass was smashed. However, when [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] was defeated in {{DH}}, it was the Slytherin hourglass that was shattered.
*The hourglasses are also featured at the entrace in the Hogwarts castle in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They show that Gryffindor is in the lead, Slytherin second, Hufflepuff third, and Ravenclaw last in achieving house points. Ironically, Ravenclaw students are famous because of their wisdom, creativity, and intelligence, some of the factors that apply to achieve house points.
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*The hourglasses are also featured at the entrance in the Hogwarts castle in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They show that Gryffindor is in the lead, Slytherin second, Hufflepuff third, and Ravenclaw last in achieving house points. Ironically, Ravenclaw students are famous because of their wisdom, creativity, and intelligence, some of the factors that apply to achieve house points.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==

Revision as of 16:14, 24 March 2011

File:Harry-potter-great-hall.jpg

The Hourglass containing Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw house points.

The House point hourglasses are located in the Entrance Hall. They record the number of house points that have been awarded or deducted. There are four giant hourglasses; one for each of the Hogwarts Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. When points are earned some gems (depending on house colours) fall from the upper bulb into the lower. When points have been deducted, they do the opposite, retreating into the upper bulb. For example, when ten points are awarded to Gryffindor, ten red gems will fall back into the upper half of the hourglass.

During Severus Snape's escape from Hogwarts after he killed Albus Dumbledore in 1997, a curse shattered the Gryffindor hourglass, causing red rubies to flood the floor like blood. The Slytherin hourglass was shattered in 1998 during the Battle of Hogwarts and green emeralds rolled across the floor. The two were probably repaired and remounted on the wall.

Behind the scenes

  • The Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin hourglasses contain rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, respectively. It is never mentioned what the Hufflepuff hourglasses contain, but it's sure to be yellow gemstones of some kind, possibly topaz or citrine.
  • In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Severus Snape takes points from Harry after meeting him at the Hogwarts gates, he remarks that Gryffindor would be starting out in negative points. However, previously in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Snape was unable to take any more points from Gryffindor when they had none left. McGonagall had to add points before any more could be removed.
  • In the video game adaptations of Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban, they are roughly ten feet tall, and located in the Entrance Hall on either side of the door leading to the grounds, as described in the books.
  • In all of the Harry Potter films as well as the video games of Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince, the Hourglasses are located in the Great Hall to the right of the staff table.
  • There is possible symbolism in that when Albus Dumbledore died in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Gryffindor hourglass was smashed. However, when Lord Voldemort was defeated in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it was the Slytherin hourglass that was shattered.
  • The hourglasses are also featured at the entrance in the Hogwarts castle in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. They show that Gryffindor is in the lead, Slytherin second, Hufflepuff third, and Ravenclaw last in achieving house points. Ironically, Ravenclaw students are famous because of their wisdom, creativity, and intelligence, some of the factors that apply to achieve house points.

Appearances