History of Magic

Warning! At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in:Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery &Harry Potter: Magic Awakened &Hogwarts Legacy. As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

History of Magic

History of Magic was asubject and core class taught atHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This class was a study ofmagical history.^[1][5] This was one of the subjects where the use ofmagic practically was not necessary. History of Magic was taught from thefirst to thefifth year,^[5] at the end of which there would be anO.W.L. exam consisting solely of a written section;^[6] and was offered in thesixth andseventh years as an optional subject.^[7]

The professor of this subject,Cuthbert Binns, taught at Hogwarts for many years before his death, and even after hisdeath he continued teaching at Hogwarts as aghost.^[1]

Class information[]

The lesson plan usually consisted of lectures on the 'History of Wizards and the Magical World' (in whichgoblin rebellions appeared most memorably). This class was similar to the study of History in the Muggle World, as particular emphasis was placed upon remembering dates, names and events.^[1]

The class was taught by theghost of ProfessorCuthbert Binns. According to Hogwarts folklore, Professor Binns had failed to notice that he was dead; he simply went to sleep by theStaffroom fire one night, then got up from his chair the next morning and left his body behind.^[1][4]

As Professor Binns was very old at the time of his death, he was very set in his ways and students found him difficult to relate to. Binns' lessons consisted of him reciting (or "droning", as many would put it) lectures to his students. He did not seem to mind (or notice) that the class rarely paid attention or even that they slept through his class (with the exception ofHermione Granger, who alone "seemed able to resist the soporific power of Binns' voice").Ron Weasley andHarry Potter both found History of Magic terribly boring, and only managed to pass the class by borrowing Hermione's notes.^[8]

When Hermione ventured a question, Professor Binns did not even remember her name, calling her "Miss Grant," even though she was the only person in his class that actually paid attention. Professor Binns was also very dismissive of the legend ofChamber of Secrets when he responded to Hermione's question about it, calling it "myths and legends" and maintaining that he taught only "facts".^[4]

During class, Binns sometimes fell asleep and students played and practised games.Peeves and other Hogwarts ghosts sometimes came in and lectured the class. Another, unofficial, lecturer was Rowan Khanna, who took advantage of Binns' frequent naps and inattention to practice their teaching technique as they aspired to be a professor after graduation. To mix up their lectures, Khanna sometimes brought in another guest lecturer of sort — aportrait ofRowena Ravenclaw, allowing classmates to hear about the founding ofHogwarts directly from the memories of one of the founders.^[9][10][11]

Location and time[]

Classrooms[]

History of Magic classes took place inClass 72 on the third-floor andClassroom 4F on the first-floor. Classroom 4F was filled the room withbooks on history, with aDraconifors spellbook locked in a side-room, protected with minor magical defences.^[12]

Lesson times[]

Curriculum[]

First year[]

• Gargoyle Strike of 1911^[13]
• Soap Blizzard of 1378^[13]
• Werewolf Code of Conduct^[14]
• Emeric the Evil^[1]
• Uric the Oddball^[1]
• Elfric the Eager^[14]
• Self-Stirring Cauldron^[14]

Second year[]

• Medieval Assembly of European Wizards^[4]
• International Warlock Convention of 1289^[4]

Third year[]

• Witch Hunts^[15]

Fourth year[]

• Goblin Rebellions^[16]

Fifth year[]

• Medieval Assembly of European Wizards^[17]
• Giant wars^[8][18]
• Goblin Rebellion of 1612^[9]
• Goblin Rebellion of 1752^[19]
• International Statute of Secrecy^[6][20]
• Witch-hunts of14th century^[21]
• Werewolf Code of Conduct^[22]
• International Warlock Convention of 1289^[23]
• International Confederation of Wizards^[6]
• Goblin Rebellions^[6]

Sixth year[]

• History ofWandlore^[7]
• Uprising of Elfric the Eager^[10]
• Witch Trials of 1692^[24]
• Wendelin the Weird^[25]
• Gargoyle Strike of 1911^[11]
• Dissolving of theWizards' Council^[26]
• Ancient Runes^[27]
• Owl Airforce^[28]
• Uric the Oddball^[29]
• 14th Century Wizarding Economic Bubble^[30]

Seventh year[]

• Emeric the Evil^[31]
• Famous and historicalduels^[32]
• Alchemy inMedievalEurope^[33]
• Broom history^[34]
• Founding ofSt Mungo's Hospital^[35]
• History ofDragon Pox^[36]
• Warlocks' Convention of 1709^[37]
• Gringotts history^[38]
• Azkaban history^[39]
• Historical Mischief^[40]
• Soap Blizzard of 1378^[41]
• Dai Ryusaki^[42]

Known professors[]

Cuthbert Binns^[1][4]

Jakub Gorski^[2]

Required textbooks[]

A History of Magic byBathilda Bagshot^[3]

Grades[]

Known O.W.L.s[]

Cuthbert Binns^[43]

Bill Weasley^[44]

Charlie Weasley^[7]

Nymphadora Tonks^[7]

Percy Weasley^[44]

Hermione Granger^[45]

Jacob's sibling^[7]

Andre Egwu^[7]

Badeea Ali^[7]

Barnaby Lee^[7]

Diego Caplan^[7]

Ismelda Murk^[7]

Liz Tuttle^[7]

Merula Snyde^[7]

Penny Haywood^[7]

Tulip Karasu^[7]

Jakub Gorski(possibly)^[43]

• Rowan Khanna †^[7]

Behind the scenes[]

• As Binns became a ghost, he could no longer move beyond theveil, and would remain earthbound for all eternity. This meant that unless he resigned or was sacked, he would have been the History of Magic teacher forever. This was probably the reason that the school had not sacked him thus far, despite his dreadful teaching technique. Although it could be that sometime after the Second Wizarding War that a more engaging teacher took over from Binns, as it was crucial and necessary for more students to make the subject far more interesting and to increase the chance for students to at least achieve a passing grade on their O.W.L. exam.
• It is also unknown if any careers in theWizarding world specifically require the study of this subject, sinceCareers Advice as shown inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix does not mention the subject as a necessary requirement for any wizarding professions, although it is possible that the subject is useful forCurse-Breakers, or journalists/researchers.
• Ancient Studies may be a specific specialised branch of this subject, which is only taught about in N.E.W.T.-level classes. It may have also been covered inStudy of Ancient Runes.
• Aside from a brief mention in thefilm adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Professor Binns and the class are omitted from thefilm series. However, History of Magic is seen in some of the earlyvideo games, and Binns is included in theLEGO video games.
• InHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, if players takeJacob's sibling to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least anAcceptable, even if they fail to answer every question.

Appearances[]

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone(First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)(GBC version only)(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)(GBC version only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)(Mentioned only)(Mentioned onMarauder's Map)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)(Mentioned only)(Console versions only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore
• HarryPotter.com
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy

Notes and references[]

Hogwarts subjects
Core classes	Astronomy ·Charms ·Defence Against the Dark Arts ·Herbology ·History of Magic ·Potions ·Transfiguration
Elective classes	Alchemy ·Arithmancy ·Care of Magical Creatures ·Divination ·Muggle Studies ·Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes	Apparition ·Advanced Arithmancy Studies ·Ancient Studies ·Art ·Flying ·Ghoul Studies ·Magical Theory ·Muggle Art ·Muggle Music ·Music ·Obscurial Studies ·Xylomancy ·Field Studies
Former classes	Beasts ·Dark Arts
Examinations
First year exams ·Second year exams ·Third year exams ·Fourth year exams · Ordinary Wizarding Level ·Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test