What classes can you take at Hogwarts?
In their first year, all Hogwarts students must take the following seven core subjects:
Charms
In Charms, Professor Flitwick teaches students to – you guessed it – cast charms. For example, students learn how to levitate objects and make pineapples tap-dance across their desks!
Potions
In this class, students learn how to brew various potions, elixirs and solutions. Harry’s least favourite professor, Severus Snape, teaches this subject from his classroom in the Hogwarts' dungeons. Some of the potions that first-year students learn to make are a Forgetfulness Potion and a potion that cures boils.
Defence Against the Dark Arts
In Defence Against the Dark Arts, students learn how to defend themselves not only against evil witches and wizards, but also against dangerous magical creatures. In Harry's first year, Professor Quirrell teaches the students how to treat werewolf bites.
Transfiguration
This class is taught by Professor McGonagall and focuses on transforming objects and sometimes even people! Professor McGonagall can transfigure herself into a cat – a very rare skill. First-year students start more simply by learning how to change matches into needles.
History of Magic
History of Magic is the only subject at Hogwarts that is instructed by a ghost! Professor Binns teaches the students of Hogwarts all about gargoyle strikes, goblin rebellions, and giant wars.
Herbology
In Herbology, students learn about the uses of both magical and non-magical plants. The class is taught by Professor Sprout and takes place in the greenhouses behind the castle. In their first year, students learn about Devil's Snare and how to deal with this treacherous plant!
Astronomy
This is a very special class as it is taught at midnight by Professor Sinistra. The late hour gives students the best view of the stars and planets in the sky from the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower.
In addition to the core classes, all young witches and wizards have to learn how to fly. In their first year, Madam Hooch teaches the Hogwarts student everything about the basics of flying a broom.
In their third year, Hogwarts students must take at least two more subjects. They can choose from Divination with Professor Trelawney, Care of Magical Creatures with Professor Kettleburn, Arithmancy with Professor Vector, Muggle Studies with Professor Burbage, and Ancient Runes with Professor Babbling.
In their sixth year, students can choose to drop some classes!
