Hogwarts School Supplies

• Type: Equipment, Textbooks, and other necessary materials for magical education.
• Owners: Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
• Maker: Varies by item (e.g., Garrick Ollivander for wands, various authors for books, etc.).

School supply lists are sent to students via owl post each summer prior to the start of the new term at Hogwarts. These lists detail the mandatory uniform, course books, and equipment required for the year's classes. While some items are standard for all years, the book list changes annually based on the student's year level and chosen electives. A typical first-year list, as received by Harry Potter, includes:

• Uniform: Three sets of plain work robes (black), one plain pointed hat (black) for day wear, one pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar), and one winter cloak (black, silver fastenings). All clothing must carry name tags.
• Course Books: A standard set of introductory textbooks covering core subjects. The first-year list includes titles such as The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk, A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander.
• Other Equipment: A wand, a cauldron (pewter, standard size 2), a set of glass or crystal phials, a telescope, and a set of brass scales.
• Stationery: While not always explicitly listed, students are expected to have their own quills, ink, and rolls of parchment.
• Pets: First-years are permitted to bring an owl, a cat, or a toad.

Some items, like The Monster Book of Monsters, have an enchanted appearance and aggressive behaviour, requiring special handling.

Many Hogwarts school supplies are inherently magical or are used in the practice of magic.

• Wand: The most fundamental tool for a witch or wizard, used to channel and perform spells.
• Cauldron: A key piece of equipment for the brewing of Potions. Along with scales and phials, it is essential for the subject of Potions.
• Telescope: Used during Astronomy lessons to study the night sky from the Astronomy Tower.
• Textbooks: These are the primary source of magical theory and instruction. Some, like The Monster Book of Monsters, are enchanted themselves.
• Protective Gloves: Dragon hide gloves offer protection when handling dangerous plants in Herbology or ingredients in Potions.

Other supplies, such as parchment, quills, and ink, are mundane in nature but are the standard tools for academic work in the wizarding world.

The tradition of acquiring school supplies is a significant annual ritual for Hogwarts students. Upon receiving their list, students and their families typically travel to Diagon Alley in London to purchase the required items. Notable shops for school supplies include:

• Flourish and Blotts: For all required textbooks.
• Ollivanders: The primary supplier of wands.
• Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions: For school robes and other uniform items.
• Apothecary: For Potions ingredients and equipment like phials and scales.
• Eeylops Owl Emporium and Magical Menagerie: For student pets.

For students unable to afford supplies, Hogwarts maintains a fund to assist them. Albus Dumbledore offered this assistance to a young Tom Riddle when inviting him to the school.

School supplies play a multifaceted role throughout the series, serving as tools for world-building, character development, and plot progression.

• Introduction to the Wizarding World: For Harry Potter, his first supply list and subsequent trip to Diagon Alley are his formal introduction to the magical world, its customs, and its economy.
• Socio-Economic Indicator: The quality of a student's supplies often reflects their family's financial status. The Weasley family's reliance on second-hand books and robes stands in stark contrast to the new, expensive equipment of students like Draco Malfoy. This is a particular point of conflict and embarrassment for Ron Weasley, especially concerning his hand-me-down wand that breaks in his second year.
• Plot Catalyst: Specific required items often drive subplots and foreshadow future events. The seven books by Gilderoy Lockhart required in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets establish his immense vanity. The vicious Monster Book of Monsters in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban signals the chaotic nature of Rubeus Hagrid's teaching style. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry-approved, theory-based textbook Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard is so inadequate for practical defence that it directly inspires the formation of Dumbledore's Army.

• In the film adaptations, the shopping sequences in Diagon Alley are visually detailed and are used to establish the aesthetic and wonder of the wizarding world for the audience (film).
• The cinematic version of The Monster Book of Monsters was brought to life as a snapping, furry creature through a combination of practical and digital effects, becoming one of the most memorable magical objects from the films (film).