At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article.
"None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.'"
Hooch survived the Second Wizarding War and returned to her post as Flying Instructor and Quidditch referee. She taught Harry Potter's second son (Albus Potter) how to ride a broomstick.[10]
"A spell! I haven't been this annoyed since my broom was singed by overzealous anti-aircraft during the Great War!"
— Madam Hooch relaying some information on her past[src]
Rolanda Hooch was born prior to 1918[1] She learnt to fly on a Silver Arrowbroomstick at some point.[11] One night, during the Great War (1914-1918), her broom was singed by a Muggle anti-aircraft device, which she found personally insulting.[12] She declared that the only thing she found more humiliating than that incident was when a studentjinxed her many decades later, in 1991.[12]
The Hogwarts Quidditch pitch where Hooch was selected to referee
Sometime before her tenure at Hogwarts, Rolanda was selected by the Department of Magical Games and Sports as the Hogwarts Quidditch referee. After being selected she underwent a series of complicated and rigorous tests, both written and practical.[13] She more then likely passed the tests as she eventually joined Hogwarts as the flying instructor for first year students.
Career at Hogwarts
Earlier years
"Flying is not unlike walking. It's just much more difficult, and far more dangerous."
During the mid-1960s, Rolanda taught Patricia Rakepick, a witch who was, while a clever student and very popular with her fellow pupil, was not very liked by her teachers for her rebellious attitude and frequent rule-breaking. Even decades later, after Rakepick left school and became an renowned Curse-Breaker, Rolanda's negative opinion of her did not change.[16]
1991–1992 school year
Madam Hooch and other staff members at the Welcoming Feast
Madam Hooch was still teaching during the 1991–1992 school year.[2] By then her hair was cut short and grey in colour.[4] She attended the Welcoming Feast and Sorting ceremony, where she watched the Sorting of the forty new Hogwarts students, of which Harry Potter was one. She sat next to the Charms Master, Filius Flitwick, and the Defence Against the Dark Artsteacher, Quirinus Quirrell, who previously taught Muggle Studies. Hooch politely applauded, along with the other staff members as the pupils were placed into their respective Houses.[17]
Madam Hooch's first flying lesson of 1991
Madam Hooch taught Flying to the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins in the Training Grounds on Thursday, 12 September, during the second week of term.[4] She had twenty of the school broomsticks lined up ready on the grass before she arrived, despite the fact that the school brooms vibrated if the rider flew too high and always flew slightly to the left.[4] She probably had a personal acquaintance with a student named Amanda, whom Hooch greeted personally.[5] To begin the class, Hooch ordered the students to stand on the left side of their brooms with their right hand over it. They were told to say, "up!" to summon the brooms to their hands and were then to hover slightly in the air. Unfortunately, a Gryffindor named Neville Longbottom kicked off too early and lost control, resulting in an accident and breaking his wrist. After examining the wound, Madam Hooch took Neville to the Hospital Wing to see Madam Pomfrey, the school matron, who could easily heal it, but before leaving, she told the other students that anyone who was caught flying his or her broom would be expelled immediately, and therefore, everyone had to keep his or her feet firmly on the ground while she was gone.[4]
On 31 October, Madam Hooch attended the Hallowe'en feast in the Great Hall and sat between Filius Flitwick, once again, and the Potions master, Severus Snape. Professor Quirrell was absent at the beginning of the feast, and his seat, next to Hooch, was empty.[18] Midway through the banquet, Quirrell burst in, warning them that there was a troll in the dungeons.[19] Hooch, like everyone else, looked shocked and a little afraid, and apparently followed Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, down to the dungeons, but they found there that the troll was in fact, two floors up and had been knocked out by Gryffindors Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.[19]
"Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you... Mount your brooms, please."
— Madam Hooch starting the first game of the season[src]
Not long after Hallowe'en, the first match of the Quidditch season took place: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Madam Hooch was to referee the game and told both teams to play fairly, though she was obviously speaking more to the Slytherin team.[9] She released the Bludgers first, then the Golden Snitch, and the game began when she threw the Quaffle into the air.[20] During that game, many fouls were committed by the Slytherins, and she awarded several penalties to the Gryffindors, who won when the new Seeker, Harry Potter, caught the Golden Snitch.[9] Hooch, riding her broom, blew the whistle and announced the Gryffindors' victory to the Hogwarts crowd.[21]
Later on in the year, Madam Hooch was relieved of the responsibility of refereeing the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match, as Professor Snape insisted on refereeing the game[22] to make sure Harry Potter's Nimbus 2000 was not jinxed again.[23]
1992–1993 school year
"Madam Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, asked Flint and Wood to shake hands, which they did, giving each other threatening stares and gripping rather harder than was necessary."
The next school year, Madam Hooch refereed the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match, during which Harry Potter, the Gryffindor Seeker, was attacked by a jinxed Bludger. The mystery was how the Bludger was jinxed, since it had been kept safe and locked in Madam Hooch's office. She was forced to stop the game momentarily for the Gryffindors once they deliberated over the rogue Bludger, but they ultimately decided to continue playing, as otherwise they would have had to forfeit the match.[14]
Madam Hooch seated next to Snape at the Leaving Feast
Near the end of the year, Madam Hooch and the rest of the staff were called to the staffroom by Professor McGonagall, who had become temporary Headmistress of Hogwarts in Professor Dumbledore's absence. McGonagall told the professors that a student had been kidnapped by Salazar Slytherin's monster and taken into the Chamber of Secrets. After revealing this, Madam Hooch became too weak at the knees to stand, collapsed into a chair and asked who had been taken, when she was told that it was Ginevra Weasley, whom Hooch had been giving Flying Lessons.[25] However, she was saved by the end of the year by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and then the school returned to its normal routines.[26] She attended the Feast held at the end of the year.[27]
1993–1994 school year
"It will need to be checked for jinxes. Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down... It shouldn't take more than a few weeks. You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free."
— McGonagall shortly before handing Harry's Firebolt over to Hooch and Flitwick[src]
Hooch referring a Quidditch match as mass of Dementors interrupt the game
Not long after the beginning of the 1993–1994 school year, Madam Hooch refereed the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match, which took place in severe weather conditions and poor visibility. But during that match, Dementors, who were supposed to be guarding the school, interfered and made Harry Potter fall off of his broomstick, enabling the Hufflepuff Seeker, Cedric Diggory, to catch the Golden Snitch.[28]
After the attack on the Fat Lady by Sirius Black, Professor McGonagall asked Madam Hooch to oversee his Quidditch practises on the pitch for his safety, which she did for McGonagall.[29]
Furthermore, Harry mysteriously received a Firebolt broomstick for Christmas, which McGonagall thought could have come from Sirius Black. In order to ensure that the broom was safe to ride, McGonagall handed it over to Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick, the Charms Master, who would "strip it down" to look for curses, hexes, or jinxes.[30] A few weeks later, once Hooch and Flitwick had ensured the broom's safety, the Firebolt was returned to Harry Potter to use it his Quidditch practises and games.[31]
Hooch falls asleep while overseeing a Gryffindor Quidditch practise
She was quite taken with the broom and rhapsodised over it for some time before Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain and Keeper, reminded her that they were there to practise and not listen to her talking about her old Silver Arrow. Though she was supposed to keep an eye on Harry, she then proceeded to fall asleep in the stands while the Gryffindor Quidditch team practised.[11]
The game between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw was refereed by Madam Hooch. The game was concluded when Harry Potter caught the Golden Snitch, awarding one-hundred and fifty points to his already-winning Gryffindor team.
The final match, for the Quidditch Cup, was between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Madam Hooch was tasked with overseeing the match as a referee. The final was a violent game, and Madam Hooch commented several times that she has never seen such flagrant fouls committed. Indeed, she was rendered almost apoplectic with fury at the level of cheating demonstrated by the Slytherin team, awarding a grand total of five penalties to the Gryffindors as the match grew progressively dirtier. The match concluded with Harry Potter's capturing of the Golden Snitch, earning the Gryffindor Quidditch team the Quidditch Cup for the first time in roughly seven years.[32]
1994–1995 school year
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year. This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy — but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely... The Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
Hooch teaching first years how to mount a broomstick
The following academic terms were to be dedicated to the revival of the Triwizard Tournament, meaning that the 1994-1995 Quidditch Cup was not to take place.[33] This was also due to the fact that the Hogwarts Quidditch Stadium was to play host to the enchanted Hedge Maze of the Third Task.[34] Because of this, it is assumed that Madam Hooch's only duties that year was to give flying lessons to the first year students, though she may have helped prepare the tasks with the other teachers.
1995–1996 school year
"Impedimenta! What do you think you're doing? I’ve never seen behaviour like it — back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now!"
— Madam Hooch, enraged at Harry Potter and George Weasley's attack on Draco Malfoy[src]
Hooch overseeing a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin
Madam Hooch's timetable for Quidditch matches was disrupted by Dolores Umbridge, the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, during the 1995–1996 school year, since Umbridge kept giving detentions to students who played the sport.
Regardless, Hooch did referee the match between the Gryffindor Quidditch team and the Slytherin Quidditch team, during which much foul play and dirty moves were used. Near the end of the match, Vincent Crabbe, a Slytherin Beater, hit a Bludger at Harry Potter after he caught sight of the Golden Snitch, knocking him to the ground. Being a Quidditch foul, Madam Hooch immediately scolded Crabbe, and, once finished, turned around to see Harry Potter and George Weasley attacking Draco Malfoy. After using an Impediment Jinx to knock Harry to the ground, she sent the two of them to Minerva McGonagall's office, where they were banned from their Quidditch team by Dolores Umbridge.[35] This ban would eventually be lifted after Umbridge was removed from Hogwarts.[36]
It is possible that Madam Hooch had her flying lessons inspected by Dolores Umbridge that year, and pleased her, as she was not sacked.
1996–1997 school year
"Harry stepped up to Madam Hooch, the referee, who was standing ready to release the balls from the crate."
In the 1996-1997 school year, Madam Hooch refereed the match between the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams, and was ready to release the Snitch, Bludgers and Quaffle before the players were on the pitch. Shortly after starting the game, Slytherin SeekerHarper deliberately collided with Harry, in the hopes of steering him in the wrong direction. As this was a foul (Blurting), the Gryffindor crowd screamed at Hooch to award a penalty to their team, but her back was turned and she did not see the foul. The game concluded with Harry Potter's capture of the Golden Snitch.[37]
Near the end of the year, the castle was invaded by Death Eaters, who fought the teachers and students of Hogwarts, as well as the Aurors stationed there.[38] It is unknown whether Madam Hooch took part in the battle. After the battle's conclusion, Albus Dumbledore was found dead[38] in the Middle Courtyard, and everyone around raised their wand as a sign of respect to him.[39] It can be assumed that Hooch attended Dumbledore's funeral being a long term colleage of him.
1997–1998 school year
"Every eye, living and dead, was fixed on Professor McGonagall, who was speaking from the raised platform at the top of the Hall [and] behind her stood the remaining teachers... "
Harry Potter's final defeat of Lord Voldemort and the end of the Second Wizarding War
During the 1997–1998 school year, Severus Snape became the Headmaster and Alecto and Amycus Carrow became the Deputy Headmasters. In May of that year, Snape and the Carrows were attacked[40] and the Battle of Hogwarts took place,[41] in which Madam Hooch was probably more than likely to participate in, being a teacher at Hogwarts. She was also most likely there when Harry Potter defeated and killed Voldemort for good, ending the Second Wizarding War. The Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch was burned to the ground in the early stages of the battle, however.
Madam Hooch was still teaching as of 2020,[42] at the age of at least one-hundred and two. In September 2017 she taught Albus Potter and was not impressed with him, as he struggled to make his broom rise.[43]
Physical description
"Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk."
In her old age, during the 1990s, Madam Hooch had spiky grey hair which was cut short and had piercing, yellow, hawk-like eyes,[4] usually hidden behind goggles.[20] She usually wore a white button-down collared shirt and black necktie with the Hogwarts crest, under a cloak,[5] but wore more formal black robes with a hat while sitting in the Great Hall.[17]
Personality and traits
"Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
Madam Hooch was known and respected by her students because of her belief in good sportsmanship, fairness, and clean games of Quidditch.[9] She sometimes seemed impatient whilst teaching her students flying, as while teaching a group of first years, during the 1991-1992 school year she was continually telling them to "hurry up" and asking "well, what're you waiting for?".[4]
Broomology: Hooch was also known to be highly adept in the lore of brooms. This was evident when Minerva McGonagall handed over a Firebolt to her and Filius Flitwick so that they could test it for jinxes, hexes and curses; Flitwick using his charms mastery, and Hooch using her knowledge.[30] Also, while examining Harry's Firebolt before his first flight on it, she briefly mentioned how the Nimbus series develop a drag after a few years of flying.[11] This implies that she possessed very considerable knowledge of broomsticks.
Charms: Rolanda was capable of producing a non-corporeal Patronus Charm,[6][7] an incredibly advanced piece of magic and a mark of superior magical ability, given the immense difficulty of casting the charm, showing that she was herself a highly skilled and accomplished witch with considerable proficiency in charms.
Etymology
Rolanda is a feminine form of Roland, a name of Germanic origin that means "fame-land", "fame of the land", "old and wise", or "judicious, wise". Roland was a paladin of Charlemagne and a principal figure in the Matter of France. The "Roland" was a Franco-German missile system, and the WWI aircraft manufacturer Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft was known for their various "Roland" designs.
Hooch is a Germanic word that means "high" or "tall."
Prior to the release of the first film, IMDB listed her first name as Xiomara.
In an episode of the Britcom series My Family, in which Wanamaker plays Susan, one of her sons pulls a trading card from a box of cereal and exclaims "Hey look, Madam Hooch!" Also, in a later episode during Hallowe'en when Susan is dressed as a witch and is trying to encourage her husband to join in, he tells her she "can take your Nimbus 2000 and stick it where the sun doesn't shine."
On an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show Zoë Wanamaker said she was disappointed that she was never asked to return to the Harry Potter saga and would not mind doing so for the last two movies.
On the first game of the series (GBA version), when Harry casts a spell that hits Hooch, she says that she's never been insulted that way since an anti-aircraft singed her broom during the Great War (1914-1918). This indicates that Hooch was born before 1918, possibly in the 1900s, seeing as she was already capable of broom flight. The fact that she owned a Silver Arrow supports this, seen as the broom was manufactured very early in the twentieth century.
To create Madam Hooch's yellow hawk-like eyes, special contact lenses were used.
Madam Hooch is the only Hogwarts teacher (excluding members of staff who do not teach, such as Madam Pomfrey and Madam Pince) to be referred to as 'Madam' rather than 'Professor'. The exact reasons for this are unknown, although it is possible that it is because she only teaches the first-years, and the majority of her job involves Quidditch matches as opposed to actual teaching.
Appearances
The Harry Potter Wiki has 114 images related to Rolanda Hooch.
↑During the Tour of the Portrait Gallery at the end of The Quest of Sir Cadogan, we come across a portrait of a witch on a broomstick and the narrator asks her if she has been practising with Madam Hooch.
