Madam Rolanda Hooch

Madam Rolanda Hooch is the resident flying instructor and Quidditch referee at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A strict but fair teacher, she is responsible for teaching all first-year students the fundamentals of flying on a broomstick. As the official for all inter-house Quidditch matches, she is an authority on the rules and sportsmanship of the wizarding game. Though her role is highly specialized, she is a long-serving and respected member of the Hogwarts staff.

Madam Hooch's history before her employment at Hogwarts is not detailed in the novels. Her activities are chronicled primarily through her professional duties at the school. In the 1991-1992 school year, Madam Hooch conducted the first flying lesson for Harry Potter's cohort. During this lesson, Neville Longbottom lost control of his broomstick and suffered a broken wrist. While Madam Hooch escorted Neville to the Hospital Wing, Draco Malfoy threw Neville's Remembrall high into the air. Harry, in an act of defiance, flew to retrieve it, demonstrating extraordinary natural flying ability. Instead of punishing him, Madam Hooch was so impressed that she immediately brought Harry to Professor McGonagall, which led to his historic recruitment as the Gryffindor Seeker. Throughout that year, she refereed the school's Quidditch matches, including the one where Professor Quirrell attempted to jinx Harry off his Nimbus 2000. During the 1993-1994 school year, Madam Hooch continued her duties as referee. She was present during the Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw match when Dementors swarmed the pitch, causing Harry to fall from his broomstick. Following this incident, she was tasked by Professor McGonagall with taking Harry's new Firebolt to be stripped down and checked for Dark Magic, much to Harry's dismay. In the 1995-1996 school year, her authority was challenged by the Ministry of Magic's interference at Hogwarts. After a post-match brawl, Dolores Umbridge, in her capacity as High Inquisitor, issued a lifetime Quidditch ban on Harry, Fred Weasley, and George Weasley. Madam Hooch expressed her protest, arguing that Umbridge did not have the authority to ban players from inter-house games, but was ultimately overruled. Her presence at the Battle of Hogwarts is not mentioned, and her later life remains undocumented in the canonical series.

Madam Hooch is described as a witch with short, grey hair and striking “yellow eyes like a hawk.” This distinctive feature is fitting for her role as a sharp-eyed Quidditch referee. Her personality is direct, authoritative, and no-nonsense. She commands respect on the flying pitch and expects her instructions to be followed without question, as shown when she orders students to mount their brooms with the sharp command, “Up!”. As a referee, she is famously impartial and demands a “nice clean game” from all players. Despite her strict demeanor, she possesses a deep passion for flying and Quidditch, recognizing and rewarding genuine talent, as seen with Harry. She also has a strong sense of fairness, demonstrated by her objection to Dolores Umbridge's punitive actions against the Gryffindor players.

• Expert Flier: As the flying instructor at Hogwarts, Madam Hooch is presumed to be an exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable flier, capable of teaching the most basic and advanced techniques.
• Quidditch Officiating: Her role as referee requires an encyclopedic knowledge of the rules of Quidditch, razor-sharp observational skills, and the authority to enforce fair play among often-heated rivals. Her hawk-like eyes are noted as a key asset in this capacity.
• General Magic: While she is a qualified witch, she is not observed using any specific spells in the novels. She relies on her physical presence and a silver whistle to command the Quidditch pitch.

• Silver Whistle: Madam Hooch uses a loud, shrill silver whistle to signal the start and end of Quidditch matches, as well as to call fouls during play.
• Broomstick: She undoubtedly owns a personal broomstick of high quality, though it is never seen or described in the books.

As a long-standing member of the Hogwarts staff, Madam Hooch is a colleague to figures like Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape. She respects the established chain of command at the school but is not afraid to voice her professional opinion, even to superiors like Professor Umbridge. Her relationships with students are primarily professional and confined to the flying pitch and Quidditch stadium. Her most significant interaction is with Harry Potter, whose raw talent she first discovered, setting him on the path to becoming a Quidditch legend.

• Rolanda: This name, the feminine form of Roland, comes from a legendary medieval Frankish hero. The name is of Germanic origin, meaning “famous land” or “fame throughout the land,” which could allude to her expertise and reputation in the field of flying.
• Hooch: This is a modern slang term for potent, often illicitly distilled, alcoholic spirits. J.K. Rowling often uses slightly comical or old-fashioned British surnames, and “Hooch” fits this pattern.

• Madam Hooch's first name, Rolanda, was not mentioned in the novels but was first revealed on J.K. Rowling's official website and later confirmed on Pottermore.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Madam Hooch is portrayed by British actress Zoë Wanamaker. The character did not appear in subsequent films, reportedly due to contract and salary disputes.
• The character frequently appears in Harry Potter video games, typically as the instructor for flying-related mini-games and challenges.