hogwarts_professor

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.

Behind the Scenes