======House Point Counters======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** Magical Device
  * **Owners:** [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
  * **Maker:** Unknown
=====Description and Appearance=====
The House Point Counters are four giant, enchanted hourglasses located in the [[Entrance Hall]] of [[Hogwarts]] castle. Each hourglass represents one of the four [[Hogwarts]] houses and is emblazoned with its corresponding emblem: a lion for [[Gryffindor]], a badger for [[Hufflepuff]], an eagle for [[Ravenclaw]], and a serpent for [[Slytherin]].
Instead of sand, the hourglasses are filled with thousands of tiny precious stones, with each type corresponding to a House's colours. The novels explicitly state that the [[Gryffindor]] hourglass contains rubies and the [[Slytherin]] hourglass contains emeralds. The contents of the other two are not specified in the original seven books.
  * **[[Gryffindor]]:** Rubies (red)
  * **[[Slytherin]]:** Emeralds (green)
  * **[[Ravenclaw]]:** Sapphires (blue) (film), (Pottermore)
  * **[[Hufflepuff]]:** Diamonds (yellow) (Pottermore)
The level of the gems in the bottom bulb of each hourglass serves as a real-time, visual representation of the total [[House Points]] accumulated by that House.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary function of the hourglasses is to magically and automatically keep score in the annual competition for the [[House Cup]].
  * **Adding Points:** When a student is awarded points by a professor or a prefect, an equivalent number of gems falls from the top bulb of their House's hourglass into the bottom bulb. This is accompanied by a musical chiming or rushing sound.
  * **Deducting Points:** Conversely, when points are lost, gems magically flow upwards from the bottom bulb back into the top.
  * **Automatic Tallying:** The enchantment is powerful and instantaneous, reflecting changes in points totals from anywhere within [[Hogwarts]] castle and its grounds as soon as they are declared.
The counters provide a constant and public measure of each House's standing, fostering a sense of competition and pride among the student body.
=====History=====
The origins of the House Point Counters, including their creator and the date of their installation, are unknown. They are presumed to be an ancient and integral part of [[Hogwarts]]'s history, having been used to track the [[House Cup]] competition for centuries. The counters stand as a testament to the enduring tradition of the House system established by the four founders.
=====Role in the Story=====
The House Point Counters are a recurring feature that reflects the shifting dynamics of school life and the ongoing rivalry between the Houses.
  * In //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, the counters play a dramatic role in the final chapter. During the end-of-year feast, [[Albus Dumbledore]] awards last-minute points to [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Neville Longbottom]]. The [[Great Hall]] watches as a flood of rubies cascades into the [[Gryffindor]] hourglass, allowing them to narrowly win the [[House Cup]] from [[Slytherin]] for the first time in seven years.
  * In //Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets//, [[Dumbledore]] once again awards [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ron Weasley|Ron]] 400 points for their bravery in the [[Chamber of Secrets]], securing the [[House Cup]] for [[Gryffindor]].
  * In //Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix//, the hourglasses become a symbol of [[Dolores Umbridge]]'s tyrannical control over the school. Her [[Inquisitorial Squad]], composed mostly of Slytherins, abuses their power to unfairly dock points from other Houses. Harry at one point observes that the [[Ravenclaw]] and [[Hufflepuff]] hourglasses are completely empty, showcasing the extent of the squad's corruption.
  * In //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//, Harry becomes particularly invested in watching the counters, feeling a surge of pride when [[Horace Slughorn]] awards him points and satisfaction when [[Slytherin]] loses them. He also distinctly hears the magical chiming from the [[Entrance Hall]] when [[Severus Snape]] deducts points from [[Gryffindor]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * **Location Discrepancy:** There is a minor inconsistency in the books regarding the counters' location. In //Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix//, they are described once as being behind the staff table in the [[Great Hall]] during the leaving feast. However, in the same book and in //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//, their location is firmly established as the [[Entrance Hall]]. The [[Entrance Hall]] is considered their canonical primary location.
  * **Film Representation:** The House Point Counters are visually prominent in the film adaptations, often shown in the [[Great Hall]]. Their design features large, ornate hourglasses filled with shimmering gems, closely matching their description in the novels.
  * **Wizarding World:** The Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website officially confirmed that the [[Ravenclaw]] hourglass contains sapphires and the [[Hufflepuff]] hourglass contains diamonds.