Beginner's Guide To Witchcraft And Wizardry
This article covers information about the first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A student in their first year at Hogwarts was called a first-year (with a hyphen).[1] Those who received their Hogwarts letter at age eleven were permitted to attend.[2]
Last Updated
03/07/22
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Starting Hogwarts
Chapter 1
1.Travelling to Hogwarts
First-years were typically eleven to twelve years of age and began the year by boarding the Hogwarts Express at exactly 11 a.m. on 1 September from Kings Cross Station,from which they travelled to Hogwarts.If they lived in Hogsmeade,they of course did not need to catch the train.
From there,first-year students were accompanied by the Keeper Of Keys And Grounds,along a shady path that led to a fleet of small boats,which sailed themselves across the Black Lake before arriving at a small landing stage near the base of Hogwarts Castle.
Students would then await their turn to be sorted into their houses in the Great Hall.A teacher would take them to a small room where they would await the Sorting Ceremony.
2.The Sorting Ceremony and Start-of-Term Feast
Just before the Start-of-Term Feast began new students were Sorted into one of the four houses|Gryffindor,Hufflepuff,Ravenclaw and Slytherin|by the Sorting hat.The hat analysed each students mind,looking for specific characteristrics that it used to decide where to put each student.After the Sorting,the Headmaster or Headmistress would say a few words and the feast would begin.
After the feast,the Headmaster or Headmistress would say a few more words:if he or she was feeling particulary festive,they would direct the students as they sang the school song,such as the year Harry Potter came to Hogwarts.Dumbledore used his wand as a conduntors baton,conjuring a ribbon that floated in the air,forming the words for the students to sing along with,each singing to the tune of their choice.Not all Professors were overly fond of the son,bot Albud Dumbledore,the wise and odd man he was,conducted the singing with gusto and even teared up at the end:
Hogwats,Hogwarts,
Hoggy Wart Hogwarts
Teach us something please
Whether we be odd and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads do the filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they are bare and full of air
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we have forgot,
Just do your best,we will do nthe rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
