Harry Potter is a fantasy series where wizards live in secret, hidden in plain sight among the Muggle masses. Harry learned this for himself when he finally stepped into the wizarding world where he belonged, and that included attending Britain's #1 magical school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It's a magical place in every sense.
Like Tom Riddle Jr. a few generations before him, Harry considered Hogwarts his true home, and he would risk his very life to defend it from Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Attending Hogwarts is a must for every young witch and wizard in the British Isles, and while it can be a lot of fun, attending this school can be rough at times, too.
10 HARSH REALITY: Defense Against The Dark Arts Teachers Are Often A Problem
Ever since Dumbledore refused to let Tom Riddle teach D.A.D.A. at Hogwarts, Tom cursed the subject so there would be a new teacher every single year, and that's a real hassle for Dumbledore to deal with. No matter who Dumbledore hires for the class, there's going to be a problem.
Quirrel was secretly Voldemort's host, while Lockhart was an obnoxious con man who barely taught the students anything. Lupin was a good teacher but had to leave due to being a werewolf, while Alastor Moody was a Death Eater in disguise. But Dolores Umbridge takes the cake of the worst D.A.DA. teacher of all.
9 PERK: It Has Extensive Defenses
Hogwarts isn't just a boarding school for wizards - it's a castle, and it's better-defended than any Muggle castle or fortress. This school may be warm and homely on the inside, but it is also a well-fortified stronghold with walls that will never yield to any intruder. The original founders made sure of it.
Hogwarts is shielded with ancient and powerful spells, as Hermione once explained it, and not even an army of Death Eaters could easily breach those defenses. The school also has animated knight-golems, as the movie showed, and the teachers are all powerful duelists.
8 HARSH REALITY: Professor Snape Is A Poor Teacher
Severus Snape is the Potions teacher at Hogwarts, and it's no coincidence that his class takes place in the deep, dark dungeons under the school. Snape has a well-earned reputation for being a tough and unforgiving teacher, and he's downright unfair half the time. He even shows clear favoritism for the Slytherins, especially Draco Malfoy.
No one enjoys Snape's classes, but Potions is a required subject in any student's first five years, so students must endure five school years of Snape mocking them, giving them low test scores and much more. Harry couldn't stand it.
7 PERK: The Houses Help Students Feel Understood & Accepted
The students of Hogwarts are all sorted into one of four houses, with the Sorting Hat using Occlumency to gauge each new student's personality, talents, and more. These houses sometimes feud with one another, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin, but within a house, everyone is united.
Any student will feel at home surrounded by students who act and think the same way they do, which helps them get along in the dorms. It also helps a student feel a bit more validated, which may be a real concern for some students. These houses understand their students on a remarkably deep level.
6 HARSH REALITY: Argus Filch Is A Bitter Sadist
Every school needs a caretaker, or janitor, and Hogwarts' caretaker is the notorious Argus Filch. He's a lot like Severus Snape, a bitter and sharp-tongued wizard who greatly dislikes most students and sadistically hands out punishments for the smallest of infractions. He's deeply unpopular.
Filch certainly does his job, but he's not about to be thanked for it, what with his bad attitude and all. He's also in the middle of a feud with the troublemakers Fred and George, who made it their mission to mess with him whenever they can. Using the Marauder's Map makes it even easier to toy with this grouchy caretaker.
5 PERK: Watching Or Playing Quidditch Is Amazing
Every big-name school needs a sports team or two, and Hogwarts has four Quidditch teams, with one per house. Quidditch is the most popular magical sport in the British Isles, and one of the most popular among wizards around the globe. Hogwarts' star players are like minor celebrities.
Harry turned some heads when he became Gryffindor's team's Seeker in his first year, and ever since then, Harry has identified strongly with being a talented and beloved player for Gryffindor's team. Anyone who doesn't make the team can still have fun watching from the grandstands and watch the action unfold.
4 HARSH REALITY: The Whomping Willow Is Terrifying
The world of magic features all kinds of bizarre magical creatures and even magical plants, which includes the remarkable but dangerous Whomping Willow. This brutal tree will attack anyone or anything that gets too close, as Ron and Harry discovered to their horror early in Chamber of Secrets.
The Whomping Willow is rather scary to look at, and of course, it's a serious danger to life and limb to anyone who gets too close, making it nothing but an obstacle for most students. Secretly, this tree leads to the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade, where Lupin would transform into a werewolf where he couldn't harm anyone else.
3 PERK: The Food Is Great
Hogwarts is a boarding school, meaning it provides beds, meals, and housekeeping services for all students during the school year. This is a pretty extensive perk, and any hungry student would agree that the best part is the food, especially the feasts. Ron never fails to stuff his face during those feasts.
Harry was amazed when he saw the quantity and variety of food offered in the welcoming feast, and he tried a bit of everything in his first year. Even ordinary meals such as breakfast are all a minor banquet, since no student can learn magic on an empty stomach.
2 HARSH REALITY: Peeves Is A Real Pain
A handful of characters in the Harry Potter books failed to make it into the movies, and that includes the obnoxious poltergeist named Peeves. He was a short, flying man who made it his mission to harass the students and teachers alike, all for his own twisted amusement. He even antagonized Moaning Myrtle, who's miserable enough already.
Peeves is barely tolerated by Dumbledore, and he's outright hated by everyone else, most of all Argus Filch, who has to keep cleaning up his messes. Then again, Peeves helped Fred and George torment Umbridge in Harry's fifth year, so at least he can be useful from time to time.
1 PERK: The Grounds Are Beautiful & Relaxing
Aside from the violent Whomping Willow and the off-limits Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts students can relax and enjoy themselves on the school's extensive grounds and get some fresh air. In any season, this place is downright picturesque with forests, hills, a huge lake, and more.
Students often hang out on the grounds after tough exams, and they might even toss a few treats to the giant squid in the lake. That squid isn't scary at all - it's a benevolent magical creature that seems to appreciate students tossing it food, like an oversized duck.