Head of House

A Head of House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a senior professor who is responsible for one of the four Hogwarts Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. This role is a position of great authority and responsibility, acting as the primary guardian, disciplinarian, and advocate for all the students within their respective House. The Head of House is the first point of contact for students facing personal or academic issues and serves as a crucial link between the students and the school's administration, including the Headmaster.

Heads of House hold a variety of duties that are integral to the functioning of Hogwarts and the well-being of its students.

• Pastoral Care: They are responsible for the welfare of the students in their House. They offer guidance, comfort, and support. For example, Professor Sprout comforted Hannah Abbott after her mother was murdered by Death Eaters, and Professor McGonagall regularly provided counsel to Harry Potter regarding his concerns and safety.
• Discipline: Heads of House have the authority to award and deduct House Points and assign detention. This power is meant to be used impartially, although it was a source of major conflict due to Professor Snape's blatant favouritism towards Slytherin and his harsh treatment of students from other Houses, particularly Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall, by contrast, was known for being strict but fair, punishing students from her own House without hesitation when they broke rules.
• Academic Guidance: They advise students on their future careers and subject choices. A notable example is Professor McGonagall's career advice meeting with Harry Potter in his fifth year, where she staunchly supported his ambition to become an Auror in direct opposition to Dolores Umbridge.
• Permissions and Special Circumstances: They can grant or deny permissions for activities such as visiting Hogsmeade. They also have the authority to handle exceptional situations, such as when Professor McGonagall bent the “no first-years on the House Quidditch team” rule to make Harry Potter the Gryffindor Seeker.
• Administrative Duties: They are responsible for communicating important school-wide information to their students, overseeing the Common Room, and welcoming new first-year students after the Sorting Ceremony.
• School Defence: In times of crisis, the Heads of House form a key part of the school's leadership. During the Battle of Hogwarts, McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn took charge of organizing the school's defences and evacuating underage students.

The Headmaster or Headmistress of Hogwarts appoints a professor to be the Head of a House. While not explicitly stated as a rule, it is a long-standing tradition that the appointed professor was a member of that same House during their own time as a student. A Head of House typically serves in the role for many years, often for the duration of their teaching career at Hogwarts, unless they retire or are promoted, as was the case when Albus Dumbledore and later Severus Snape became Headmaster.

• Minerva McGonagall: The Transfiguration professor and Head of Gryffindor for the entirety of the series. She was a formidable and respected leader for her House.
• Albus Dumbledore: Mentioned to have been the Head of Gryffindor during his time as Transfiguration professor, prior to becoming Headmaster.

• Pomona Sprout: The Herbology professor and the steadfast, kind-hearted Head of Hufflepuff throughout the series.

• Filius Flitwick: The Charms Master and Head of Ravenclaw throughout the series, known for his wisdom and prowess in duelling.

• Severus Snape: The Potions Master (and later Defence Against the Dark Arts professor) and Head of Slytherin for the first six books. He was infamous for his extreme partiality towards his own House.
• Horace Slughorn: The former Head of Slytherin who came out of retirement to teach Potions. He resumed his old post as Head of Slytherin after Snape's appointment as Headmaster in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The Heads of House are pivotal figures throughout the series. Professor McGonagall's role as Head of Gryffindor is particularly central to Harry's school life; she is his primary authority figure, protector, and occasional disciplinarian. Her actions, from gifting Harry his first Nimbus 2000 to her defiant stand against Dolores Umbridge and the Carrows, demonstrate the profound impact a Head of House can have. Professor Snape's role as Head of Slytherin is equally significant, defining the deep-seated rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor. His biased refereeing of Quidditch matches and unfair punishments fueled the antagonism between the houses for years. During the Second Wizarding War, the unity of the Heads of House (excluding Snape, who was serving Voldemort as Headmaster) was critical. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout band together to drive Snape from the castle, an act which signals the beginning of the Battle of Hogwarts and showcases their collective power and loyalty to the school.