The Inter-House Quidditch Cup

• Type: Trophy
• Owners: The winning Hogwarts House of the annual Quidditch competition. Known winning Houses include Gryffindor and Slytherin.
• Maker: Unknown.

The Inter-House Quidditch Cup, often referred to simply as the Quidditch Cup, is a large, gleaming silver trophy. It features two large handles and rests on a base. Engraved on small plaques upon its base are the names of the winning teams, the year of their victory, and the name of their Captain. The cup is kept on display in the Trophy Room at Hogwarts, alongside other awards and trophies. Notably, a plaque on the cup bears the name of James Potter as a Chaser for a victorious Gryffindor team. Upon winning the competition, the victorious team has the honour of celebrating with the cup, often bringing it to their House's Common Room for a period before it is returned to the Trophy Room.

The Quidditch Cup serves as the ultimate prize for the Hogwarts school Quidditch league. Its primary function is symbolic, representing the pinnacle of sporting achievement at the school for that year. It has no other known offensive, defensive, or utilitarian magical properties. The cup is traditionally presented by the Headmaster during the end-of-year feast. The presentation is a moment of great pride and celebration, with the winning House's colours often used to decorate the Great Hall in its honour, similar to the celebration for the House Cup.

The history of the cup is synonymous with the history of the annual Quidditch competition at Hogwarts. The competition is a round-robin tournament where each of the four Houses—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin—plays each other once over the course of the school year. The team with the most points at the end of the season wins the cup.

• Pre-Harry Potter Era: Before Harry's arrival, Gryffindor had not won the cup since the celebrated Seeker Charlie Weasley had left Hogwarts. Slytherin had dominated the competition for seven straight years.
• 1991-1992 School Year: Gryffindor, with new star Seeker Harry Potter, was on track to win the cup. However, Harry was unconscious in the Hospital Wing during the final match against Ravenclaw after his confrontation with Professor Quirrell over the Philosopher's Stone. Gryffindor suffered their worst defeat in centuries, and Slytherin won the cup once again.
• 1992-1993 School Year: The competition was cancelled midway through the season due to the Chamber of Secrets being opened and the subsequent Basilisk attacks on students.
• 1993-1994 School Year: Gryffindor, led by Captain Oliver Wood in his final year, won the cup for the first time in years. Key moments included Harry's first match on his Firebolt and a brutal final match against Slytherin, which Gryffindor won by a margin of 230 points to 20.
• 1994-1995 School Year: The competition was cancelled to accommodate the Triwizard Tournament.
• 1995-1996 School Year: Under the tyrannical rule of Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter and the twins Fred Weasley and George Weasley were banned from playing. Ginny Weasley took over as Seeker and Ron Weasley served as Keeper. Despite the odds, Gryffindor clinched the cup in a final victory over Ravenclaw.
• 1996-1997 School Year: With Harry as Captain, Gryffindor won the cup for a third consecutive time. Harry missed the final match against Ravenclaw due to being in detention for using the Sectumsempra curse on Draco Malfoy. Ginny Weasley played Seeker in his stead and caught the Golden Snitch to secure the win.

The pursuit of the Quidditch Cup is a significant subplot throughout the series, providing a framework for school life, House rivalries, and character development. For Harry, winning the cup offered a sense of belonging, accomplishment, and normalcy away from his dangerous destiny involving Lord Voldemort. The competition served to develop the skills and confidence of other characters, most notably Ron Weasley as a Keeper and Ginny Weasley as a talented Chaser and Seeker. The intense rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin for the cup mirrors their deeper ideological conflict in the broader wizarding world.

• In the film adaptations of the series, the physical design of the Quidditch Cup is far more ornate and complex than the simpler “gleaming silver cup with two large handles” described in the novels. The film trophy features intricate towers and figures reminiscent of the Hogwarts castle itself.
• In the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery video game, the Quidditch Cup storyline is a major feature, allowing players to compete for their House over multiple seasons. (video game)