Gryffindor Quidditch Team

The Gryffindor Quidditch team is the official Quidditch team for Gryffindor House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The team competes annually for the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup against the teams from Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. The team plays and practices on the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch and is known for its scarlet-red robes. During Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts, the team experienced a significant resurgence, breaking a long-standing losing streak and fostering an intense rivalry with the Slytherin Quidditch team.

The team's performance is chronicled extensively throughout Harry Potter's school years, marking a period of significant challenge and triumph.

1. 1991-1992 School Year
   • After being witnessed catching Neville Longbottom's Remembrall, first-year Harry Potter was recruited by Minerva McGonagall to be the team's new Seeker, making him the youngest House player in a century. The team, captained by Oliver Wood, was exceptionally strong, with Chasers Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell, and Beaters Fred Weasley and George Weasley.
   • Gryffindor won its first match against Slytherin, despite Harry's Nimbus 2000 being jinxed by Professor Quirrell. They also defeated Hufflepuff in a record-breakingly short match.
   • The team did not compete in the final match of the season against Ravenclaw because Harry Potter was unconscious in the hospital wing after his confrontation with Professor Quirrell. Without a Seeker, Gryffindor suffered its worst defeat in 300 years, losing the Quidditch Cup to Slytherin.
2. 1992-1993 School Year
   • The Slytherin team, now equipped with new Nimbus 2001 brooms gifted by Lucius Malfoy, presented a formidable challenge. During the Gryffindor-Slytherin match, a rogue Bludger, bewitched by Dobby the house-elf, relentlessly targeted Harry. Harry managed to catch the Golden Snitch but sustained a broken arm.
   • The Hogwarts Quidditch Cup was ultimately cancelled for the year following the Basilisk attacks and the petrification of several students, including Hermione Granger.
3. 1993-1994 School Year
   • This season marked a historic victory for Gryffindor. During the first match against Hufflepuff, Dementors swarmed the pitch, causing Harry to faint and fall from his broom, which was subsequently destroyed by the Whomping Willow.
   • Harry received a state-of-the-art Firebolt broom from an anonymous benefactor (Sirius Black) and learned the Patronus Charm from Remus Lupin to defend against Dementors.
   • In a notoriously brutal and foul-ridden final match against Slytherin, Harry successfully caught the Golden Snitch, securing the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor for the first time in seven years. It was the final Hogwarts match for Captain Oliver Wood.
4. 1994-1995 School Year
   • The Hogwarts Quidditch Cup was cancelled to accommodate the Triwizard Tournament.
5. 1995-1996 School Year
   • Angelina Johnson became the new Captain. Ron Weasley successfully tried out and became the team's new Keeper, though he suffered from performance anxiety, exacerbated by the Slytherins' taunting song, “Weasley is Our King.”
   • Following the first match against Slytherin, Dolores Umbridge banned Harry Potter, Fred Weasley, and George Weasley from playing Quidditch for life. Ginny Weasley took over as Seeker, while Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper became the new Beaters.
   • Despite the setbacks, Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. Ron Weasley overcame his nerves and played a spectacular final match against Ravenclaw, becoming a hero to the Gryffindors.
6. 1996-1997 School Year
   • Harry Potter was appointed Captain. He held open tryouts, selecting Ginny Weasley and Demelza Robins as Chasers alongside Katie Bell, and Jimmy Peakes and Ritchie Coote as new Beaters. Ron Weasley retained his position as Keeper after narrowly beating Cormac McLaggen in tryouts.
   • The team faced numerous disruptions. Katie Bell was hospitalized after touching a cursed opal necklace, with Dean Thomas serving as her temporary replacement. Ron Weasley was poisoned and briefly replaced by Cormac McLaggen, whose disastrous performance led to a heavy loss against Hufflepuff.
   • Harry missed the final match against Ravenclaw due to a detention with Severus Snape. Ginny Weasley moved from Chaser to Seeker for the match and caught the Golden Snitch, once again winning the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor.

The following is a list of known players who were on the team between 1991 and 1997.

• Captain
  • Oliver Wood
  • Angelina Johnson
  • Harry Potter
  • Note: Charlie Weasley was Captain prior to 1991.
• Seeker
  • Harry Potter
  • Ginny Weasley (substitute)
  • Note: James Potter I was also a past Seeker.
• Keeper
  • Oliver Wood
  • Ron Weasley
  • Cormac McLaggen (substitute)
• Chasers
  • Angelina Johnson
  • Alicia Spinnet
  • Katie Bell
  • Ginny Weasley
  • Demelza Robins
  • Dean Thomas (substitute)
• Beaters
  • Fred Weasley
  • George Weasley
  • Andrew Kirke (substitute)
  • Jack Sloper (substitute)
  • Jimmy Peakes
  • Ritchie Coote

• Uniforms: Players wear robes of a brilliant scarlet, the primary color of Gryffindor House.
• Equipment: The team uses standard Quidditch equipment, including one Quaffle, two Bludgers, and access to Beater's bats. Each match requires the release of the Golden Snitch.
• Brooms: Players typically provide their own broomsticks. Over the years, team members have used a variety of models, from standard Cleansweeps to high-performance racing brooms like the Nimbus 2000 and the Firebolt used by Harry Potter.

The Gryffindor team's most significant and bitter rivalry is with the Slytherin Quidditch team. Matches between the two houses are depicted as intense, physical, and often fraught with tension that extends beyond the pitch. The rivalry reflects the centuries-old animosity between Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, with matches serving as a proxy battle for House pride and dominance. The Slytherin team was frequently noted for its use of foul play and psychological tactics, such as the “Weasley is Our King” song, to undermine Gryffindor players.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Gryffindor team uniforms are redesigned to include player names and numbers on the back, a detail not specified in the novels (film).
• J.K. Rowling initially identified James Potter I as a Seeker. She later amended this on the Pottermore website, stating that he was, in fact, a Chaser (Pottermore).