Homework at Hogwarts

Homework is a fundamental and routine component of the educational curriculum at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Assigned by professors across all subjects, it serves to reinforce the magical theory and practical skills taught in classes. Assignments range widely in nature, from writing essays on long rolls of parchment and practicing complex spell-work to conducting astronomical observations and brewing intricate potions. The volume and difficulty of homework are a constant presence in student life, significantly influencing their schedules, social activities, and academic pressures, especially in the years leading up to major examinations like the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

Homework at Hogwarts varies greatly depending on the subject and the professor. The most common forms include:

• Essays: Written assignments are the most frequent type of homework. Students are often required to write essays of a specific length (measured in inches or feet of parchment) on topics related to History of Magic, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. For example, Professor Snape assigned an essay on the properties of moonstone, while Professor McGonagall required an essay on the Inanimatus Conjurus spell.
• Practical Spell Practice: For subjects like Charms and Transfiguration, students are expected to practice the wand movements and incantations for spells learned in class. This often takes place in common rooms or empty classrooms.
• Potion Brewing: While most potion-brewing occurs under supervision in the dungeons, students are sometimes required to prepare ingredients or research potion theory as homework. In their sixth year, students in Horace Slughorn's class were tasked with brewing a sample of the Draught of Living Death.
• Reading and Research: Professors frequently assign reading from course textbooks, such as A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot or One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore. Research for essays often requires students to visit the Hogwarts Library.
• Charts and Diagrams: Subjects like Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures require students to create charts and diagrams. Astronomy homework involves filling out star charts based on late-night observations from the Astronomy Tower, while Rubeus Hagrid once assigned his third-year class to draw a Knarl.
• Herbology Work: Students in Herbology often have practical homework related to the care and maintenance of magical plants, which may involve tasks like re-potting Mandrakes or sketching Puffapods.

Homework is a dominant force in the daily lives of Hogwarts students. Evenings, weekends, and holidays are frequently dedicated to completing assignments, particularly as students advance to higher year levels. The Gryffindor Common Room, for instance, is often depicted as a hub of activity where students work together, hunched over tables near the fire. The workload creates significant stress. Hermione Granger is known for her meticulous and diligent approach, often creating detailed study schedules and working far ahead of deadlines. In contrast, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley frequently procrastinate, leading to rushed, last-minute sessions to complete their work. The sheer volume of homework in the fifth year, in preparation for the O.W.L.s, is a major source of anxiety for the entire year group.

• First Year: Professor Snape assigns an essay on the uses of moonstone in potion-making. Professor McGonagall tasks her students with practicing the Transfiguration of a matchstick into a needle.
• Second Year: Gilderoy Lockhart's Defence Against the Dark Arts homework often consisted of quizzes about his own life and achievements.
• Third Year: Following a lesson on Kappas, Professor Snape assigns an essay on recognizing and killing them. After Remus Lupin falls ill, Snape also assigns a two-roll parchment essay on werewolves.
• Fifth Year: In the run-up to their O.W.L.s, students are inundated with homework. Dolores Umbridge's assignments in Defence Against the Dark Arts consist solely of reading the Ministry-approved textbook, Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard.
• Sixth Year: Professor Slughorn assigns the brewing of the Draught of Living Death, with a bottle of Felix Felicis as a prize for the best result, which Harry Potter wins using the notes from the Half-Blood Prince's textbook.

To complete their homework, students rely on a standard set of equipment and resources:

• Writing Supplies: Quills, ink of various colors, and rolls of parchment are essential for all written assignments.
• Textbooks: Each course has required textbooks that are a primary source for homework and research.
• The Hogwarts Library: The library is a crucial resource, providing access to a vast collection of books for research. Access to the Restricted Section requires a signed note from a professor.
• Magical Instruments: Items such as a telescope, star chart, and lunascope are necessary for completing Astronomy homework.

While students often work collaboratively, outright cheating is frowned upon. Hermione Granger frequently helps Harry Potter and Ron Weasley by proofreading their essays and offering guidance, but she staunchly refuses to write their work for them. A notable exception is when she completes an essay on werewolves for them when they are preoccupied. Magical shortcuts for homework exist, such as the Auto-Answering Quill and Spell-Checking Quill, developed and sold by Fred and George Weasley at their shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. These items were designed to help students complete written work with minimal effort and were very popular.