Hogwarts Gobstone Club

• Type: Student Organisation, Extracurricular Activity
• Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
• Known Members: Eileen Prince, Minerva McGonagall (Pottermore)
• Key Activity: Playing the wizarding game of Gobstories

The Hogwarts Gobstone Club is a formal student organisation at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry dedicated to the game of Gobstories. Gobstories is a popular wizarding game similar to the Muggle game of marbles, with the significant difference that the stones squirt a foul-smelling liquid into the face of the player who loses a point. The club has existed at Hogwarts for many decades. It was active during the time Eileen Prince, the mother of Severus Snape, attended the school, as she served as the captain of the team. This places its existence at least as far back as the 1940s. It was also active during Minerva McGonagall's school years, during which she also served as its captain (Pottermore). During the 1995–1996 school year, the Gobstone Club, along with all other student societies and teams, was subject to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four. This decree, enforced by High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge, mandated that all student groups be disbanded and could only reform with her express permission. It is not known whether the Gobstone Club sought or received this permission.

The Gobstone Club is a minor element in the narrative, primarily serving to add depth and realism to the student life at Hogwarts. Its most significant mention occurs in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when Horace Slughorn is reminiscing about his former students. While showing Harry Potter his collection of photographs, he points out a picture of a young Eileen Prince and identifies her as the captain of the Gobstones team. This interaction provides a rare and humanising detail about Severus Snape's maternal lineage, connecting him to a common aspect of school life. The club is also implicitly referenced when Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four is issued, illustrating the wide-reaching and oppressive control that Dolores Umbridge exerted over every aspect of the students' lives, including their recreational activities.

• Eileen Prince: Mentioned by Horace Slughorn as having been the captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones team during her years as a student.
• Minerva McGonagall: Revealed to have also been a keen player and captain of the Gobstones team during her time at Hogwarts (Pottermore).

• Information about Minerva McGonagall's involvement with the Gobstone Club comes from supplementary material written by J.K. Rowling for the Pottermore website.
• The existence of a formal club for Gobstories presents a contrast to how the game is sometimes perceived by students. For instance, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Ron Weasley dismisses his own Gobstories set as “not much good,” suggesting that for some, it might be seen as a less fashionable or childish pastime compared to pursuits like Quidditch.