The Head of Hufflepuff House was a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with the special obligation of looking after the students of their House: Hufflepuff. It is unknown how a professor would be elected for the post, but it's most likely that the Headmaster chose the professor who embodied all the qualities Helga Hufflepuff herself had (loyalty, kindness, generosity, etc.) and probably was in Hufflepuff House when he/she was in Hogwarts.[2][3]
Duties
Pomona Sprout - Head of Hufflepuff during Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts
Regular duties
- To choose their House's Quidditch Captain.
- To give the Hufflepuff Quidditch team permission to practise.
Rules and obligations
- Enforcing the rules.
- To give Hufflepuff fifth-years Careers Advice.[4]
Special duties in the History of Hogwarts
The following were special duties that were performed by the Head of Hufflepuff in the past.
- 1992–1993 school year: to inform the Hufflepuff students of new rules regarding the opening of the Chamber of Secrets.[5]
- 1993–1994 school year: to notify their students of the rules in regards to protecting them from Azkaban escapee, Sirius Black.[6]
- 1997–1998 school year: to round up their students prior to the Battle of Hogwarts.[7]
Known Heads of Hufflepuff
- Helga Hufflepuff – One of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry whom Hufflepuff House was named after.[1]
- Pomona Sprout – Head of Hufflepuff during Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[8][9][10]
See also
- Head of Gryffindor House
- Head of Ravenclaw House
- Head of Slytherin House
- Hufflepuff
- Professor
- Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Except console versions)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
- Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter
- Harry Potter for Kinect (Voice only)
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- Pottermore
- Wizarding World
- The Making of Harry Potter
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 7 (The Sorting Hat)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 11 (The Sorting Hat's New Song)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 29 (Careers Advice)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14 (Snape's Grudge)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 30 (The Sacking of Severus Snape)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36 (The Parting of the Ways)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Lament)
The four Hogwarts founders that were also the first Heads of Houses
Head of House was the title for the professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who were responsible for the one of the four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin.[1] They might serve concurrently as Deputy Headmaster but not as Headmaster.
Selection
Provided they were in the House while a student at Hogwarts, teachers at Hogwarts might apply for the role.[2] They were most likely selected by the Head of the school.
Severus Snape was made Head of Slytherin at the remarkably young age of twenty-one, when he only just returned to Hogwarts. It may be that he was the only teacher who was in Slytherin, following the retirement of Horace Slughorn in 1981. When Slughorn returned in 1996, Snape jealously guarded the prerogatives of the Headship, suggesting the teacher may not have to retire to lose the role.
Duties
A Head of House was charged with monitoring and maintaining the welfare, safety,[3] and discipline[4] of all members of their designated House, as well as corresponding with the parents of said students whenever necessary.[5] They needed to be nearby for emergency situations, such as when they informed students of new safety measures in the 1992–1993 school year.[6] It is unlikely that they could be far from the Hogwarts/Hogsmeade area for too long, except during holidays.
They probably resided at Hogwarts throughout the school year. However, Minerva McGonagall owned a cottage in nearby Hogsmeade during her marriage to Elphinstone Urquart in the 1980s. Although they could travel to Hogwarts when they lived nearby, the school was very protected, which meant Apparition, the Floo Network, or a Portkey would not be easy, unless special arrangements were granted.
When they decided to live at Hogwarts, they most likely had private quarters near their House's common room. On at least one occasion, Professor McGonagall heard the noise of a party in the Gryffindor Tower from wherever she was sleeping. This may be the reason why Severus Snape did not take an office closer to his Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom in 1996, despite no longer teaching Potions.
The Head of House was in charge of the discipline of their students. While any professor could give a student detention or take points from any House, they discussed the matter with the Head of House when the student was in more serious trouble.[7] Professor McGonagall once told Draco Malfoy that she would see Professor Snape about him, after catching him out of bed at night.[8]
The Head of House collected signed permission forms from their House's third year students, verifying that the students had permission to visit Hogsmeade on certain weekends. However, they did not have the power to grant this permission. In 1993, Harry Potter asked Professor McGonagall, as his Head of House, to sign his slip when the Dursleys wouldn't. Though she was sympathetic, she refused on the grounds that it wouldn't be appropriate as the slip had to be signed by a parent or guardian.[9]
They held career counselling meetings with fifth year students, advising them on what N.E.W.T.-level classes they should take in preparation for their desired careers.[10]
At the beginning of the sixth year for students, the Head of House sat with each student and discussed the subjects they wanted to take and whether they had obtained the O.W.L. grade they needed to continue. They would advise them on what to do when they hadn't. During the 1996–1997 school year, Professor McGonagall advised Harry Potter that he and Ron Weasley would need to significantly improve their Potions grade to obtain the O.W.L. needed to qualify for their desired career as Aurors.[11] (Ironically, both became Aurors, even after failing their Potions O.W.L.s, due to their significant roles in the fall of Lord Voldemort.)[12]
During the weekend when the Apparition course took place at the school, the Heads of House would attend and help oversee the participating students from their House.[13]
They might be used as a personal reference whenever one of their former students sought employment.[10]
As every Head of House attended Hogwarts in the house they led, they often encourage their team to win at events.[14] The house pride and rivalry was seen when McGonagall and Snape were Head of Gryffindor and Slytherin. They would both support their team when they played Quidditch.[15]
Known Heads of Houses
| Gryffindor | Godric Gryffindor | Medieval times[16] | |
| Tobias Stump | ?–pre 1970s | ||
| Minerva McGonagall | 1970s–1998[1] | ||
| Neville Longbottom | By 2008[17] | ||
| Hufflepuff | Helga Hufflepuff | Medieval times[16] | |
| Pomona Sprout | ?–pre 2017[5] | ||
| Ravenclaw | Rowena Ravenclaw | Medieval times[16] | |
| Filius Flitwick[3] | ? | ||
| Slytherin | Salazar Slytherin | Medieval times[16] | |
| Horace Slughorn | ?–1981[18] | ||
| Severus Snape | 1981–1997[1] | ||
| Horace Slughorn | 1997–?[3] | ||
| Unknown house | Prendergast[19] | 1900s-? |
See also
- Head of Gryffindor House
- Head of Hufflepuff House
- Head of Ravenclaw House
- Head of Slytherin House
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: Movie Magic (Mentioned only)
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore
- Wizarding World
- LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
- LEGO Harry Potter
- LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- LEGO Dimensions
- LEGO Harry Potter
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
- Pottermore Presents: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
- Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- The Making of Harry Potter
- Harry Potter for Kinect
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master)
- ↑ J.K. Rowling Official Site FAQ, available via Internet Archive
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Lament)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 5 (The Whomping Willow)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36 (The Parting of the Ways)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 14 (Cornelius Fudge)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 13 (Mad-Eye Moody)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 14 (Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 29 (Careers Advice)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 9 (The Half-Blood Prince)
- ↑ PotterCast Interviews J.K. Rowling, part one
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 18 (Birthday Surprises)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 12 (The Patronus)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
- ↑ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened - October 2021 special event (see this video)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 4 (Horace Slughorn)
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: Movie Magic
| Namesake Founders Godric Gryffindor · Helga Hufflepuff · Rowena Ravenclaw · Salazar Slytherin | |||
| Heads of House Minerva McGonagall · Pomona Sprout · Filius Flitwick · Horace Slughorn | |||
| House Ghosts Nearly Headless Nick · Fat Friar · Grey Lady · Bloody Baron |