Student Manual for
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Welcome to Hogwarts! Please read through the following rules and guidelines for all students attending school at this institution.

Introduction
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that supports the ideals set forth by the Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and it's educational mission. Hogwarts staff, faculty and students will at all times endeavor to promote integrity, virtue, fairness, equal academic opportunity, respect for others and professionalism. Indeed, all members of Hogwarts, staff and students alike shall take active roles in the promotion and maintenance of an environment of academic integrity.

Table of Contents

Staff, Professors and Prefects

Classes

Student Academic Life and Adventures

Class/Year Promotion

Activities & Special Events

Hogwarts Castle and Grounds

Discipline Policy

Fighting

Personal Conduct

Spells/Charms/Hexes/Curses

Travelling Away from Hogwarts

Staff

The term "staff" applies to all Hogwarts personnel, as well as the Governors and the Magistrates, who help not only with Hogwarts but also with wider issues affecting the wizarding world. All of the Staff are here to answer your questions should you ever have any. Just send an owl to them (send a PM) and they will either answer your question or provide you with information on where to discover it for yourself.

Not all questions can be answered. Sometimes the student is encouraged to discover the answer for themselves. It may not be the quickest way, but in the longer run it may have been presented this way as a teaching lesson for the student. And all students are here at Hogwarts to learn.

Professors

The Professors at Hogwarts are a select group of teachers assigned to each of the twelve subjects at Hogwarts. They are specialists in their field and and are a wealth of knowledge for the student to learn from. The utmost respect must be paid to their -- and indeed all -- of the Professors. Professors have the power to not only teach their subject, grade assignments and pass students on to the next grade-level, but they also can give out deserved punishment and discipline.

Professors can be either contacted by owl (via the PM system) or directly contacted at their designated offices, usually located near their classrooms.

Prefects

A select group of students have been designated as Prefects. A Prefect is someone who the staff feels not only adheres to and show knowledge of all rules and regulations, but is of a friendly out-going personality, helpful to other students in need, responsible and trustworthy.

Students should not ignore the Prefects when a Prefect gives them an order or request. The student should obey their Prefects.

Classes

All students at Hogwarts attend classes, do homework and complete O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

First and Second Years take the following classes:

• Transfiguration
• Astronomy
• Herbology
• Potions
• Charms
• History of Magic
• Defense Against the Dark Arts

Third and above take the previous classes plus a choice from the following courses:

• Care of Magical Creatures
• Arithmancy
• Ancient Runes
• Muggle Studies
• Divination

Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) Exams
-- taken by all 5th year students
-- results of these exams determines what subjects a student takes in their 6th & 7th Years

Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (N.E.W.T.s)
-- taken by all 7th year students

Student Academic Life and Adventures

Detentions
If a student misbehaves or breaks school rules, a Professor may issue them with a detention to serve. Detention tasks do not simply mean students sit and write lines; these detentions can involve tasks from cleaning to organising, and anything else a Professor deems a suitable service to the school. A student must behave during these detentions, and they will remain under supervision of the Professor who is overshadowing them.

N.E.W.Ts/Graduation Reviews
In order to ensure that students are learning to the best of their abilities and are receiving all the advice they can get through the school, Professors will hold appointments for students in Fifth Year, and Seventh Year in order to discuss their N.E.W.T subject choices and future career options. These meetings are mandatory, and all students will be required to meet their appointed Professor promptly at the relevant time.

Apparation Lessons
Students are offered the opportunity to participate in apparition lessons in their seventh year at Hogwarts. This is a key ability witches and wizards have a preference to when they need to travel to locations locally. All lessons will be taught by a fully qualified Ministry official or a Hogwarts Professor, and students must not attempt apparation outside of the allotted lesson time.

Patronus Lessons
Seventh years will be taught how to cast a Patronus. This ability, whilst extremely difficult, is a common element to be assessed in the Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T, and thus students will be taught how to cast this spell in their lessons. Additionally, the Patronus club may also offer support.

The Forbidden Forest and the Chamber of Secrets
The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students without staff supervision.

Legend has it that the Chamber of Secrets was built by the great Salazar Slytherin himself. Whilst it has occasionally been accessed, it is unfortunate that the exact location is unknown, as are the dangers which lie within. Perhaps it is for this reason that the Hogwarts walls were built to move so much...

Exams
All students must sit exams, and pass in the majority of subjects in order to progress on to the next year.

Hogwarts Quests
Hogwarts is a dangerous place full of mysterious magic and strange happenings. Students are encouraged to go above and beyond their usual academic boundaries when encountered with such situations, and students who display an abundance of the traits that Hogwarts holds dear (bravery, intelligence, loyalty and ambition) will be met with House Points for their efforts.

Class/Year Promotion:

As academic and magical achievement are the primary functions of Hogwarts, attendance at classes is mandatory. Social interaction is important to a student's growth; however this should not supersede academia.

If it is felt that a student has not completed their classes to the satisfaction of the staff, they will not be promoted to the following year.

Activities & Special Events

There are many opportunities for Hogwarts Students to participate in extracurricular activities and socialising. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the school's facilities such as the Grounds and Quidditch Pitch, as well as the Library and Student Commons. Hogwarts also has many clubs with which to participate and even smaller activities among students are also welcomed and encouraged.

Hogwarts Castle and the Grounds
Students are encouraged to explore and utilize all portions of Hogwarts castle and grounds. Portions that are not permitted to students will have proper notices saying such.

Common Rooms and Dormitories
Students are encouraged to mingle with their fellow house members in their own common room. 'Sneaking' into another common room is discouraged. Additionally, the dormitories are not unisex. No boy should be seen in a girl dormitory and vice versa. There are magical wards in place against this.

Discipline Policy

Should it become necessary, disciplinary action for rule-breaking will be swift and decisive. Discipline can take one of many forms, depending on the seriousness of the infraction:

• Verbal Warnings - If the misconduct is of a minor nature (being caught out out after curfew, etc), a student may be given a verbal warning (IC) by a member of the staff or a prefect. Students should heed these warnings; they are usually in the form of both warning and advice on how to correct the student's action. A note will usually be made in the students personal record.
  
  
• Official Warnings - If the misconduct is of a slightly more serious nature (threatening/bullying another student, blatant disrespect of Professors or Prefects, etc), a student may be issued an official Hogwarts warning owl, delivered personally to the student by teaching staff, or by school governors. These will be also noted in the student's record, and will be taken more seriously when it comes to considering the student for perks and activities.

Fighting

Fighting is strictly prohibited at Hogwarts. This includes any sort of physical altercations whatsoever.

Personal Conduct

Personal conduct is the responsibility of the individual student and must demonstrate an individual's respect of themselves and the other students and people around them.

The School Uniform and Dress Code

Dress should at all times be smart, inoffensive and appropriate for the school environment. The dress code applies to students when travelling to and from classes, and to and from the evening meal.

Students should present a clean and tidy appearance. Boys should be clean shaven at all times. Jewellery should be discreet; one set of small stud-type earrings and a watch is permitted. No body and/or facial piercing are to be displayed. Unobtrusive, discreet make-up may be worn but no lipstick or coloured nail varnish is acceptable. Unconventional and/ or egregious hair styles are to be discouraged.

Boys
House color striped tie
long sleeved white oxford shirt
black trousers
House color/trim sweaters/jumper
black socks & shoes
black school robes
black all-weather cloak

Girls
House color striped tie
Long sleeved white oxford shirt
black or grey skirt or pinafore
black or grey tights or leggings
House color/trim sweaters/jumper
black socks & shoes
black school robes
black all-weather cloak

Students are permitted to wear street clothing in the evenings and on weekends (with the exception of the evening meal). All street clothing must be neat and tidy with no holes or offensive material.

Spell Casting

Hogwarts is, first and foremost, a school for learning magic. This institution's goal is to have each witch and wizard graduating from its halls to have an excellent and firm grasp on their magical skills, enabling them to contribute as a citizen of the wizarding world.

Below are the lists of spells allowed performed at Hogwarts, sorted by Spell Name, by Incantation, and by the Year a student is allowed to use them.

Spells Listed by Classification (attack, defence, effect, healing, other)

Spells Listed by Spell Name

Spells Listed by Incantation

Spells Listed by Year

A Word about Casting:
Spells are not like a round of ammunition in your pocket, to be pulled out and used relentlessly over and over. Magic takes skill, experience and energy. If you are a younger person (a student/underaged) you must expect some fatigue when you are casting multiple spells. Those spells cast after doing 5 or 6 previous spells will not be as effective, nor last as long. True role-playing should be played realistically; there are no "super-heroes" here.

Older characters (older adults) can be expected to last longer, use a wider variety of spells and with greater success, but no one is perfect. A student who has participated in supervised school duels should NOT consider themselves an expert, no matter what their pp says about their parents sending them to boot camp since they were 2. An 18 yr old still cannot compete equally against a 30 yr old.

A Rule of Thumb about Fatigue:
For underaged students: Will become tired and spells will be less effective when using more than 8 in a single event.

For adults: Will become tired and spells will be less effective when using more than 15 in a single event.

Created Spells (5th, 6th & 7th Years only)
Any character at 5th year student level or older can create their own spells. They will naturally be of limited ability and use if the character is younger; better use and more power as the character ages. Beware though... there should be no grand and glorious spells to wipe everything from the planet -- try to keep a perspective about your character and those around you. The final decision as to the appropriateness of a spell lies with the board staff.

Incantation Free Magic (6th & 7th Years only)
Students in the 6th and 7th year are allowed to use spells BELOW THEIR YEAR without saying the spell aloud. For example, a 7th year student cannot use a spell designated as a 7th year spell in a nonverbal fasion, but CAN use a nonverbal spell that has a 5th year limit on it.

Adults can use nonverbal spells, but any spell intended to be powerful and striking (like attack spells) should have the incantation spoken aloud. The more powerful the delivery of the spell, the better its effect and its power.

Magic Outside of Hogwarts
In keeping with Ministry rules and regulations, all students are reminded that no magic may be performed OUTSIDE of Hogwarts boundaries. Forbidden areas where no magic is allowed by under-aged students include Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, Leaky Cauldron, etc.

Travelling Away from Hogwarts

There are two occasions when Hogwarts students are permitted to travel away from the grounds of Hogwarts: Hogsmeade weekends, and summer holidays, during which they may visit Diagon Alley to purchase supplies for the new term.

Hogsmeade Weekends
Occasionally throughout the term, students 3rd year and above are permitted to walk to Hogsmeade village. Students are expected to compose themselves in a manner that does not demean themselves or the principles of Hogwarts. Punishment for misbehavior there will be the same as at Hogwarts.

Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley/Hogwarts Express is a place for all students, new and returning, to purchase supplies for the upcoming school year. Students are expected to compose themselves in a manner that does not demean themselves or the principles of Hogwarts. Punishment for misbehavior there will be the same as at Hogwarts.

Students are not permitted to visit Diagon Alley between terms.

School Holiday
Once registration begins, students 2nd Year and above will be able to see into a special forum called School Holiday. This forum will only be viewable and postable during registration weekends. Students are encouraged to post there events from their "summer holiday" away from school, with such events as family gatherings, vacations, weekends with friends, etc. Students who are able to post here will also be able to post with adult characters if they so wish. This forum will close once registration is over (adults will still be able to post there.

If time becomes an issue, it is suggested that members pre-write posts ahead of time so they can post more quickly. Shortness would also be of value there.