Hogwarts Professors: What Subjects Did They Teach? Quiz

Answer: Septima Vector

Professor Septima Vector was known for being a very strict teacher. Her first name, "Septima", means "the seventh" in Latin.

Professor Vector assigned very difficult homework to her students. Nonetheless, this did not stop Hermione from enjoying arithmancy. In fact, arithmancy was Hermione's favourite subject. In "Prisoner of Azkaban", Hermione described Divination as "absolute rubbish compared with [her] Arithmancy class".

Arithmancy involves the study of magical properties of numbers. It was being offered as an elective subject at Hogwarts from third year onwards.

Answer: Aurora Sinistra

Professor Aurora Sinistra conducted her Astronomy classes in the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts. Her first name, Aurora, is a fitting reference to aurora polaris, or polar lights, which are colourful light display that can be observed in regions close to the Arctic and the Antarctic.

In "Chamber of Secrets", Professor Sinistra found Justin Finch-Fletchley, who had been petrified. With the help from Professor Flitwick, she sent Justin to the hospital wing.

The subject of Astronomy involves the study of heavenly bodies, such as stars, planets, and constellations. Students would observe the night skies using their telescopes. In addition, they also studied movements of stars.

Answer: Rubeus Hagrid

Professor Rubeus Hagrid was introduced in the very first chapter of "Philosopher's Stone". "Rubeus" means red in Latin. Professor Hagrid was a half-giant wizard, who also served as the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. He first taught the subject of Care of Magical Creatures in "Prisoner of Azkaban", where he introduced hippogriffs to his students.

Care of Magical Creatures studies various interesting magical creatures, such as thestrals, unicorns, and flobberworms. In addition to Professor Hagrid, the subject had also been taught by Professor Silvanus Kettleburn and Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank.

J. K. Rowling revealed in the Pottermore website that the subject was originally to be named simply "Beasts", and it was a compulsory subject for all first-years.

Answer: Filius Flitwick

Professor Filius Flitwick was first featured in "Philosopher's Stone". He also served as the Head of Ravenclaw House. He helped guard the Philosopher's Stone by bewitching keys so that they flew around in the chamber, rendering it difficult for any person in finding the correct key to open the door to the next room.

Charms primarily studies spells that give objects new and unexpected properties. The classes were conducted on the second floor of Hogwarts.

Professor Flitwick's first name, Filius, is of Latin origin, which means 'son of'.

Answer: Remus Lupin

Professor Remus Lupin was introduced in "Prisoner of Azkaban". He was bitten by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback when he was a child. Though his condition might pose danger to students at Hogwarts, Dumbledore still hired him to teach Deference Against the Dark Arts (DADA).

Professor Lupin, also known as Moony, was one of the Marauders; the other three being James Potter (Prongs), Sirius Black (Padfoot), and Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail).

As the name of the subject suggests, Defence Against the Dark Arts covers various aspects of dark arts, which include dark creatures, curses, and duelling.

It was revealed in "Half-Blood Prince" that Lord Voldemort jinxed the subject after Dumbledore rejected his job application. The subject was taught by a different professor in each book - Professor Quirinus Quirrell in "Philosopher's Stone", Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in "Chamber of Secrets", Professor Remus Lupin in "Prisoner of Azkaban", Professor Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody (impersonated by Bartemius "Barty" Crouch Junior) in "Goblet of Fire", Professor Dolores Umbridge in "Order of the Phoenix", Professor Severus Snape in "Half-Blood Prince", and Professor Amycus Carrow in "Deathly Hallow".

Answer: Sybill Trelawney

Professor Sybill Trelawney was revealed to be the great-great-granddaughter of the famous Seer Cassandra Trelawney in "Order of the Phoenix". She made prediction about the return of Lord Voldemort in "Prisoner of Azkaban".

Divination entails the art of predicting or divining the future. Professor McGonagall had described it as "one of the most imprecise branches of magic".

Firenze, who was a centaur, was requested by Dumbledore to teach Divination in "Order of the Phoenix", after Professor Trelawney was sacked by Professor Dolores Umbridge.

Answer: Pomona Sprout

Professor Pomona Sprout served as the Head of Hufflepuff House. She helped protect the Philosopher's Stone by placing Devil's Snare in one of the chambers that could be accessed after opening the trap door.

Herbology concerns the study of magical plants, such as Mandrakes, Puffapods, and Bouncing Bulbs. Herbology was Neville's favourite subject.

In some of the earlier German translations of "Philosopher's Stone", Professor Pomona Sprout was wrongly referred to as a male staff.

Answer: Cuthbert Binns

Professor Cuthbert Binns was a ghost. Most students described his lessons as boring. In "Chamber of Secrets", students became more attentive when he told them the story about the chamber.

Professor Binns' first name, Cuthbert, derived from Middle English, means famous and bright.

History of Magic, as the name implies, studies magical history. Some notable events featured in the "Harry Potter" series included the goblin rebellion and the International Warlock Convention of 1289.

One of the textbooks used in the class was "A History of Magic" by Bathilda Bagshot, who was featured prominently in "Deathly Hallows", when Harry and Hermione visited Godric's Hollow.

Answer: Horace Slughorn

Professor Horace Slughorn made his first appearance in "Half-Blood Prince", where Dumbledore, accompanied by Harry, visited him and convinced him to return to Hogwarts. Harry was tasked by Dumbledore to retrieve a crucial memory related to Horcruxes from Professor Slughorn.

Potions studies the correct techniques employed to brew various types of potions. Some notable potions featured in the "Harry Potter" series included the Polyjuice Potion, Veritaserum, and Felix Felicis.

Potions was taught by Professor Severus Snape in the first five "Harry Potter" books.

J. K. Rowling revealed on the Pottermore website that chemistry was her least favourite subject.

Answer: Minerva McGonagall

Professor Minerva McGonagall made her first appearance in "Philosopher's Stone". She served as the Head of Gryffindor House. Professor McGonagall's first name, Minerva, is also the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom.

Transfiguration studies the art of changing the appearance of objects and people. In the very first chapter of "Philosopher's Stone", Professor McGonagall transfigured herself into a tabby cat, to observe the Dursleys at Privet Drive.