The Wizarding World Geocache Series
"Upon the signature of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1689, wizards went into hiding for good. It was natural, perhaps, that they formed their own small communities within a community."
— The secrecy surrounding the wizarding world
The Wizarding World, also referred to as the magical community, is the society in which wizards and witches live and interact, separate from non-wizarding society. The two communities are kept separate through the use of charms, spells, and secrecy. Wizards and witches are forbidden to reveal anything about magic to Muggle society due to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, but that does not mean that the two worlds live entirely apart.
Welcome to Hogwarts School of WItchcraft and Wizardy and Surrounding Grounds
"The castle is a stronghold of ancient magic."
— Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, regarding the ancient castle
All wizards and witches are welcome at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a co-educational boarding school of magic for students aged eleven to eighteen. Founded sometime between the 9th century and 10th century by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, Hogwarts is located in the Highlands of Scotland, however, the school's precise location is kept secret from Muggles.
Any child in Britain who shows magical ability is automatically admitted to Hogwarts, however, education at the school is not compulsory.
Subjects: There are twelve subjects which are taught at Hogwarts. Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration are required subjects for the first five years. At the start of their third year, students must choose at least two additional subjects. The five elective subjects are Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, and Muggle Studies. Students must also take flying lessons during their first year, and may take Apparition lessons during their sixth year.
Castle and Grounds: The castle's setting has extensive grounds with sloping lawns, flowerbeds and vegetable patches, a loch (called The Black Lake), a large dense forest (called the Forbidden Forest), several greenhouses and other outbuildings, and a full-size quidditch pitch. There is also an owlery, which houses all the owls owned by the school and those owned by students.
Witches and wizards cannot Apparate or Disapparate in Hogwarts grounds, except when the Headmaster lifts the enchantment, whether only in certain areas or for the entire campus, so as to make the school less vulnerable when it serves the headmaster to allow Apparition. Electricity and electronic devices are not found at Hogwarts due to the high levels of magic, "substitutes for magic (that) Muggles use" such as computers, radar and electricity "go haywire" around Hogwarts. Radios however, make an exception, as these are not powered by electricity but by magic.
Houses: When a first-year student arrives at Hogwarts, the magical Sorting Hat is placed on their head. It examines their mind and assigns them to a House based on their abilities, personality, and preferences. Hogwarts has four Houses, each named after one of the founders of the school. Throughout the school year, the Houses compete for the House Cup, gaining and losing points based on actions such as performance in class and rule violations. The House with the highest end-of-year total wins and has its colors displayed in the Great Hall during the following school year. Each House also has its own Quidditch team that competes for the Quidditch Cup. Each House is under the authority of one of the Hogwarts staff members.
- Gryffindor values courage, nerve and chivalry. Gryffindor's mascot is a lion, its colors scarlet and gold, and the current Head of House is Minerva McGonagall. The Gryffindor dormitories are in a high tower, and students must use a password to gain entry.
- Hufflepuff values hard work, patience, justice, and loyalty. Hufflepuff's mascot is a badger, its colors are yellow and black, and the current Head of House is Pomona Sprout. The Hufflepuff’s dormitories are next to the kitchen, hidden carefully and watched continuously by the Hogwarts house-elves.
- Ravenclaw values intelligence, learning, wisdom and wit. The house mascot is an eagle, its colors blue and bronze, and the current Head of Ravenclaw House is Filius Flitwick. The dormitories are in Ravenclaw Tower, and students must solve a riddle to gain entry.
- Slytherin values ambition, cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness. The mascot of Slytherin is a serpent, its colors green and silver. Severus Snape is the current Head of Slytherin House. The Slytherin dormitories are accessed by speaking a password in front of a stone wall in the dungeons, which causes a hidden door to open.
Each year, two fifth-year students from each House are selected as prefects. The position grants them certain privileges and the authority to give detentions for infractions. The leaders of the student body, the Head Boy and Head Girl, are chosen from among the seventh-year students.
