======Hogwarts Professor======
=====Introduction=====
A **Hogwarts Professor** is a [[witch]] or [[wizard]] employed by [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] to instruct students in a specific field of [[magic]]. Professors are figures of authority within the school, responsible for the education, discipline, and general welfare of the student body. They are selected by the current [[Headmaster]] or [[Headmistress]] and often represent the pinnacle of expertise in their respective subjects. Beyond teaching, many professors play crucial roles in the security of the castle and in major events of the [[First Wizarding War]] and [[Second Wizarding War]].
=====Role and Responsibilities=====
The duties of a Hogwarts Professor are extensive and vital to the functioning of the school.
  * **Instruction:** Their primary role is to create lesson plans, deliver lectures, demonstrate spells, and oversee practical work for students from first to seventh year. They are responsible for preparing students for their Ordinary Wizarding Level ([[O.W.L.]]) and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test ([[N.E.W.T.]]) examinations.
  * **Discipline:** Professors have the authority to enforce school rules. This includes assigning [[detention]] and awarding or deducting [[House Points]] from students for their behaviour.
  * **Supervision:** They are required to patrol the corridors at night, supervise school events like the [[Yule Ball]], and chaperone trips to [[Hogsmeade]]. [[Madam Hooch]] also serves as the referee for school [[Quidditch]] matches.
  * **Head of House:** Four professors are appointed as [[Head of House]] for [[Gryffindor]], [[Hufflepuff]], [[Ravenclaw]], and [[Slytherin]]. These individuals have additional responsibilities, including introducing new students to their house, acting as a primary contact for student welfare, and overseeing their house's [[Common Room]].
  * **School Security:** The professorial staff forms the first line of defence for the castle. They contributed enchantments to protect the [[Philosopher's Stone]] and were instrumental in the defence of the school during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]].
=====Appointment and Tenure=====
Professors are typically hired directly by the [[Headmaster]]. [[Albus Dumbledore]] was known for his sometimes unconventional hiring choices, such as appointing [[Remus Lupin]], a [[werewolf]], and [[Rubeus Hagrid]], a half-[[giant]]. Tenure can vary greatly; some professors like [[Minerva McGonagall]] and [[Filius Flitwick]] taught for many decades, while others held their posts for only a single year.
The post for [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] was famously jinxed by [[Lord Voldemort]] after he was denied the position by [[Albus Dumbledore]]. Subsequently, no professor for that subject lasted more than one year until Voldemort's final defeat. During the 1995-1996 school year, the [[Ministry of Magic]] directly intervened in school affairs, appointing [[Dolores Umbridge]] as Professor and later as the [[Hogwarts High Inquisitor]].
=====Known Professors and Subjects=====
Below is a list of known professors and the subjects they taught during the course of the series.
  * **[[Ancient Runes]]**
    * [[Professor Babbling]]
  * **[[Arithmancy]]**
    * [[Professor Vector]]
  * **[[Astronomy]]**
    * [[Professor Sinistra]]
  * **[[Care of Magical Creatures]]**
    * [[Professor Kettleburn]] (Retired prior to 1993)
    * [[Rubeus Hagrid]] (1993–1998)
    * [[Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank]] (Substitute)
  * **[[Charms]]**
    * [[Filius Flitwick]]
  * **[[Defence Against the Dark Arts]]**
    * [[Quirinus Quirrell]] (1991–1992)
    * [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] (1992–1993)
    * [[Remus Lupin]] (1993–1994)
    * [[Barty Crouch Jr.]] disguised as [[Alastor Moody]] (1994–1995)
    * [[Dolores Umbridge]] (1995–1996)
    * [[Severus Snape]] (1996–1997)
    * [[Amycus Carrow]] (Taught as //Dark Arts//) (1997–1998)
  * **[[Divination]]**
    * [[Sybill Trelawney]]
    * [[Firenze]] (Co-taught from 1996)
  * **[[Flying]]**
    * [[Madam Hooch]]
  * **[[Herbology]]**
    * [[Pomona Sprout]]
  * **[[History of Magic]]**
    * [[Professor Binns]]
  * **[[Muggle Studies]]**
    * [[Charity Burbage]] (Until 1997)
    * [[Alecto Carrow]] (1997–1998)
  * **[[Potions]]**
    * [[Horace Slughorn]] (Retired prior to 1981, returned 1996)
    * [[Severus Snape]] (1981–1996)
  * **[[Transfiguration]]**
    * [[Albus Dumbledore]] (Prior to becoming Headmaster)
    * [[Minerva McGonagall]]
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that the curse on the [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] position was real and that it was lifted with the death of [[Lord Voldemort]]. [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ron Weasley]] told the [[Ministry of Magic]] about the curse to explain the rapid turnover of teachers (J.K. Rowling interview).
  * On Pottermore, it was revealed that [[Minerva McGonagall]] began teaching at [[Hogwarts]] in December of 1956, first working under [[Albus Dumbledore]] when he was Head of the [[Transfiguration]] department (Pottermore).