Quidditch Through the Ages

In the Harry Potter series, Rowling introduced young readers to a rich and detailed magical world. In the books, young witches and wizards like Harry Potter attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At this secret boarding school, their professors teach them spells, potions, defense against the dark arts, and other wizarding skills. One of the most exciting features of attending Hogwarts is learning the wizarding world’s favorite sport: Quidditch.

In the books, the sport is presented as an exciting and sometimes dangerous game that fosters athletics, teamwork, community, and healthy competition. Each of the school’s four houses—Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor—has its own Quidditch team, and the teams regularly compete on the school’s pitch. The Quidditch games not only entertain the school’s students and teachers, but teams also earn points for their house by winning games. Being on the Quidditch team is a privilege earned through skill and hard work. With only seven players on each team, students must successfully prove their skills in try-outs to make the team. Since they are eagerly watched by the whole school, characters’ performances in Quidditch matches affect their self-esteem and social standing.

In the first book of the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry impresses Professor McGonagall with his natural talent for flying during his first lesson on his broom. When school bully Draco Malfoy throws a Remembrall at a school window, Harry deftly catches it in mid-air. McGonagall recognizes his natural talent and recruits him as Gryffindor’s new Seeker. Gryffindor team captain Oliver Wood introduces Harry to the game and its rules. At only 11 years old, Harry is the youngest Seeker on the team in generations. In his position, Harry is responsible for finding and catching the Snitch, a tiny golden ball with wings that is enchanted to fly away from Quidditch players but stay within the bounds of the pitch. In his particularly memorable first Quidditch game, Harry successfully locates the Snitch but accidentally catches it in his mouth. Nevertheless, he earns his team 150 points, winning the game.

In the book and movie series, Quidditch games often add depth and excitement to the characters’ relationships. For instance, the game scenes add to Harry’s rivalry with school bully Draco Malfoy. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Malfoy becomes the Slytherin team’s Seeker, making him Harry’s nemesis both at school and on the pitch. Quidditch games can also advance the plot through key events. For instance, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry looks for the Snitch in a game against the Hufflepuff team. Struggling in stormy conditions, he is suddenly attacked by evil ghostly monsters called Dementors and falls from his broom until Albus Dumbledore saves him. Whether training in flying and athletics, collaborating against their rivals, or dodging Voldemort’s malicious forces, Harry Potter and his friends use Quidditch to connect with each other and learn valuable skills to use on and off the pitch.