Every Harry Potter fan dreams of getting a Hogwarts acceptance letter. Imagine reading those words straight from Mrs. McGonagall’s quill: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Learning charms, flying a Nimbus 2000, eating pumpkin tarts and drinking butterbeer -- sounds more like a nerdy fantasy vacation than school!
However, anyone familiar with Harry’s adventures knows living at Hogwarts isn’t all fun and Fizzy Wizzy. Sometimes the school sounds like a downright dangerous place for children. There are all sorts of mishaps, such as trolls in the dungeon and boggarts gone wrong. Here are the best and worst things about old Hoggy Warty Hogwarts.
Updated November 25th, 2020 by Morgan Austin: With news surrounding the open-world Hogwarts Legacy game releasing in the future, many Harry Potter fans are excited to be able to explore Hogwarts and feel like a student at the magical school. There's still much to be revealed about what will be featured in the game, and how much of the Wizarding World players will actually get to be a part of, but the concepts surrounding the game are already interesting. While we wait to hear more information about the game, we're hoping that some of these great aspects of Hogwarts are included in Hogwarts Legacy and that some of the less likable ones might be left out.
14 Care Of Magical Creatures Class (Best)
Arguably one of the best classes offered at Hogwarts, the Care of Magical Creatures class teaches students all about creatures that inhabit the world around them. They learn to respect these creatures while also having opportunities to learn about the different ways wizards and magic creatures can work together.
Ultimately, the class teaches students to respect magic creatures instead of fear them, like people in the wizarding world did during the time of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies. When class includes feeding, petting, and maybe even taming a wide variety of creatures, it feels like it would be more like fun than an actual class.
13 House Points System (Worst)
The House Points system, in theory, could work to create a sense of comradery and teamwork among members of each house as they work together to earn points and to stay out of trouble to avoid losing points for their house. However, this points system hardly seems fair at times, as the mistakes of one person can punish the whole group. Not only that, but those who don't earn many points or actually lose points can still be rewarded by the efforts of their fellow classmates in their house if those students gain a lot of points at the same time.
At some point, it feels a bit like a group project where a student can do no work or create problems for the group, but they can still get an A on the project from everyone else's hard work. The points themselves are hardly consistent either, and they seem to depend more on the staff member's view of a situation rather than whatever the student has done right or wrong.
12 Hogwarts Express (Best)
Before even getting to the actual Hogwarts castle, students get to enjoy the journey there on the Hogwarts Express train. Not only does it always look cool and comfortable to find a compartment to sit with friends, but students also get to try different foods from the Honeydukes trolley that would pass down the hall.
Getting to platform 9 3/4 to board the train is also pretty exciting, and it seems like a much better experience than getting on a school bus. Train rides themselves can be relaxing, but if students were worried about getting bored, there were either new students to talk to or a few Dementors flying around looking for targets. Needless to say, there's always something to keep the train ride interesting.
11 Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom (Worst)
Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom really seems like a room that should've been torn out and repurposed, considering how, after Myrtle's death, nobody wanted to go in there and students hardly went in years after. It doesn't really seem to work as a bathroom anymore, and even if it did, it would be hard to get any privacy with Myrtle flying around.
Not only is the bathroom creepy for being the scene of a murder, but it's also the home to the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets. This might sound interesting, but this fact alone led to Myrtle's death, as Tom Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets while Myrtle was in there and had her killed by the Basilisk that lived in the Chamber. Nobody else could find the Chamber of Secrets, so it wasn't taken care of until Harry Potter eventually found it. Even still, this bathroom is one that won't be taking down its "Out of Order" sign anytime soon.
10 The Sorting Hat Ceremony (Best)
Getting sorted is the tradition every first year student anticipates. During the ceremony, the sorting hat determines who gets sorted into which house: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. It also helps for making friends -- Harry, Ron, and Hermione became closer friends because they were all sorted into Gryffindor.
Older students join in on the fun, cheering when a new student is added to their house. Not only does the ceremony kick off the start of the school year, but the grand term feast follows!
9 Navigating The Grand Staircase (Worst)
Talk about getting lost on the first day of school. The Grand Staircase is a massive stairway, consisting of one hundred and forty two staircases. But these stairs are magic, so they tend to move around and change directions, which can get frustrating.
In fact, there are trick stairs that cause the victim to sink through a step and require another person to pull them out! How is that safe? Makes us wish we could take an elevator.
8 Visiting Hogsmeade (Best)
Hogsmeade is the best field trip. This scenic little village contains cottages and shops, and during the holidays, enchanted candles brighten up the snowy pathways. Students can buy a gag gift at Zonko's Joke Shop or enjoy sweets at Honeydukes. For a good scare, they can visit The Shrieking Shack.
A visit to Hogsmeade is great way to take a break from class and studying. Just don't forget to turn in the signed permission slip.
7 The Forbidden Forest (Worst)
Just by its name, we can assume the Forbidden Forest is terrifying. It is filled with trees and thick foliage, making paths almost impassable, and home to dangerous and unfriendly creatures, such as and werewolves and acromantulas (aka giant spiders).
In some adaptations, the Whomping Willow, a violent plant that will attack anyone who disturbs its branches, is located on the boundaries of this forest (still on Hogwarts property though). And they sent Harry and Draco here for detention?!
6 Ollivanders (Best)
Usually back to school shopping is boring, but for Hogwarts students, it's one more thing to look forward to. Students can travel to Diagon Alley with Floo Powder (but make sure to pronounce it correctly) in search for their supplies.
But among books and quills, the most exciting item to purchase is a wand. Trying out wands at Ollivanders sounds like a blast, and a perfect match is guaranteed, for the wand chooses the wizard.
5 Professor Snape (Worst)
We don't blame Neville for having Professor Snape as his boggart. Professor Snape is the most feared professor at Hogwarts. Imagine having class with him every week! He hated Harry because Lily chose James, and used that to justify bullying him for seven years.
He even gave Ron and Hermione a hard time. While Snape was ultimately brave and on the side of good, it doesn't justify his cruelty. He's head of the Slytherin house as well -- no wonder Slytherin gets a bad rap.
4 Playing Quidditch (Best)
Forget baseball or football -- Quidditch is the official sport of Hogwarts. The game involves large hoop shaped goals and three balls: Quaffles, Bludgers, and the Golden Snitch. The Chasers and the Keeper defend the goals and score with against the Quaffle. The Beaters use bats to hit Bludgers away from their teammates and towards their opponents.
Seekers, like Harry, have to catch the snitch, which is probably the most exciting part of the game! Madame Hooch, flying instructor and referee, always guarantees a great game. If sports aren't your cup of butterbeer, attending and cheering for the teams are just as fun.
3 O.W.L. Exams (Worst)
Even at a school for witches and wizards, students can't escape final exams. The O.W.L (Ordinary Wizarding Level) exams are basically the Hogwarts version of the S.A.T. Students take this exam during their fifth year, and the score determines whether or not they will continue at the same class level.
It can even determine their success in getting a job. Talk about putting the pressure on. Unfortunately, we all can't be Hermione, so catch us cramming in the Common Room.
2 Celebrating Holidays (Best)
Hogwarts is the best place to celebrate the holidays. Everyone comes together for a feast, hosted by Dumbledore himself. On Halloween, jack-o-lanterns float over the Great Hall, and the ghosts come out to celebrate too.
On Christmas, the Great Hall is adorned with lights, wreaths, and towering Christmas trees. And of course a magical snowfall. These majestic celebrations really make Hogwarts feel like home.
1 Dementors (Worst)
Dementors are probably the worst monster in the Harry Potter universe. Say goodbye to all the fun at Hogwarts -- dementors will feed on that happiness. They leave their victims dejected and paralyzed after attacking (also called the Dementor's Kiss) which ultimately sucks out the soul.
They feed on unicorn blood, and anyone who harms such a beautiful creature is despicable. Although their usual range is in Azkaban, they've been spotted at Hogwarts, and not even Dumbledore could entirely protect the students from them.