First Year Lessons

 'There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words' 

As the first year students had a lot of magic to learn, most found the classes tougher than expected although no one could have prepared Harry for the suffering he felt in Professor Snape's Potions classes.

Lessons and References
Herbology, three times a week – in the greenhouses – ‘learning how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi and found out what they were used for’. Taught by Professor Sprout a small dumpy witch. Page 99

Astrology, every Wednesday at midnight – ‘learn the names of different stars and the movement of planets. Taught by Professor Sinistra. Page 99

History of Magic, ‘Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up’. Taught by Professor Binns, the only ghost teacher. (Drifted off in the staff room and got up the next morning to teach leaving his body behind.) Page 99

Charms, ‘at the start of the firs lesson he took the register, and when he reached Harry’s name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight’. Taught by Professor Flitwick, a tiny wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. Page 99

Transfiguration, ''‘Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts… they realised they weren’t going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time. After making a lot of complicates notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle.’'' Taught by Professor McGonogall who is ‘strict and clever’. Page 100

Defence Against the Dark Arts, ‘Quirell’s lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke’. Taught by Professor Quirrel, a nervous man who happened to be sharing his body with Lord Voldemort. Page 100

Potions, ''‘…to learn the subtle art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand waving, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even stopper death…’'' Taught by Professor Snape (see my article on Severus Snape). Page 102.

'Potions work

‘What would I get if I added a powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? – A sleeping draught so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Dead.’

‘Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar? – It’s a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons.’

‘What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane? – They are the same plant which also goes by the name of aconite.’ Make a potion to cure boils –

Dried nettles (weigh) Snake fangs (crush) Horned slugs (stew) Porcupine quills (add AFTER taking off the fire)

Creates acid green smoke.'

Flying, 3:30 in the afternoon, ‘Stick your right hand over your broom and say ‘up’ … when I blow my whistle, you kick off the ground hard, keep your broom steady, rise a few feet then come straight back down leaning forwards slightly.’ Taught by Madam Hooch, a shorthaired witch. Page 105

Charms #2 – Wingardium Leviosa, ‘swish and flick’. Page 126

Potions #2 – Unknown potion, Malfoy taunts Harry about staying at Hogwarts over Christmas – Page 143

Defence Against the Dark Arts #2 – ‘copying down different ways of treating werewolf bites’ – Page 162