Rolanda Hooch

Madam Rolanda Hooch is the resident flying instructor and Quidditch referee at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during Harry Potter's time at the school. A strict and expert flier, she is responsible for teaching all first-year students the basics of riding a broomstick. As the official for the annual inter-house Quidditch Cup, she is an impartial and authoritative figure on the pitch, known for her sharp, hawk-like eyes and no-nonsense demeanor.

Madam Hooch's life before her tenure at Hogwarts is not detailed in the novels, but her expertise suggests a long history with flying and Quidditch. Her primary role in the series is as a member of the Hogwarts Staff. In Harry Potter's first year, Madam Hooch conducted the inaugural flying lesson for the Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years. During this lesson, Neville Longbottom lost control of his broomstick, fell, and broke his wrist. After Madam Hooch escorted Neville to the Hospital Wing, Harry engaged in his first flight to retrieve Neville's Remembrall from Draco Malfoy. This act, while breaking school rules, was witnessed by Minerva McGonagall and led directly to Harry being recruited as the Gryffindor Quidditch team's new Seeker. Throughout the school year, Madam Hooch refereed the Quidditch matches with a firm hand. During Harry's first match, she expressed her professional opinion that only a powerful Dark curse could make a quality broom like a Nimbus 2000 behave as erratically as Harry's did when it was being jinxed by Professor Quirrell. In Harry's third year, Madam Hooch, along with Professor Flitwick, was tasked with stripping down Harry's new Firebolt broomstick to ensure it was free from any jinxes or curses after it was anonymously gifted to him and suspected of being sent by Sirius Black. During Harry's fifth year, Madam Hooch's authority on the Quidditch pitch was usurped by Dolores Umbridge. Following a post-match fight between Harry, Fred Weasley, and Draco Malfoy, Umbridge used Educational Decree Number Twenty-Five to ban Harry and Fred from playing Quidditch for life, an act which Madam Hooch was powerless to prevent.

Madam Hooch is described as having short, grey, spiky hair and sharp, yellow eyes like a hawk. This avian comparison suits her role as a flying expert who oversees events from above. Her personality is direct, authoritative, and strict. She demands discipline from her students during flying lessons, commanding them with sharp, clear orders. As a referee, she has no tolerance for cheating or foul play and is known for her fairness and impartiality. Despite her stern exterior, she shows concern for student safety, as seen when she immediately tends to Neville Longbottom after his fall and her worry over the apparent jinx on Harry's broomstick.

• Expert Flier: As the Hogwarts flying instructor, she possesses exceptional skill and knowledge in broomstick flight.
• Quidditch Refereeing: She is an expert on the rules and regulations of Quidditch, allowing her to serve as a fair and decisive referee for school matches.
• Broomstick Lore: Her expertise extends to the mechanics and enchantments of broomsticks themselves, as demonstrated when she was called upon to inspect the Firebolt for dangerous Dark Magic.

• Silver Whistle: Madam Hooch carries a silver whistle which she uses to signal the start and end of Quidditch matches and to command her students during flying lessons.
• Broomstick: Although never named or described, she undoubtedly owns a personal broomstick of high quality suitable for an expert flier.

As a member of the Hogwarts Staff, Madam Hooch works alongside colleagues like Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick. Her interactions with them are professional, often revolving around Quidditch and student matters. She serves as an authority figure to all students, particularly those who play on their house Quidditch teams. Her discovery of Harry Potter's innate flying talent, though indirect, was a pivotal moment in his school career.

• Rolanda: This is a feminine form of the name Roland, the legendary hero and knight who served Charlemagne, made famous in the medieval French poem The Song of Roland. The name suggests chivalry and authority, befitting her role as an arbiter of the sporting code of Quidditch.
• Hooch: This is a slang term for strong, often illicitly-made, alcohol. The name may be a humorous choice by the author, or it could be a play on words related to the “high” of flying or being “hooched” (i.e., hoisted) into the air. It also bears a phonetic resemblance to the “whoosh” sound of a fast-moving object.

• Madam Hooch's first name, “Rolanda,” is not mentioned in the seven novels. It first appeared in the Harry Potter Trading Card Game and was later confirmed on the Pottermore website. (Pottermore)
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Madam Hooch is portrayed by actress Zoë Wanamaker. The character was not included in the subsequent films in the series. (film)
• According to Pottermore, Madam Hooch felt a particular kinship with Albus Dumbledore, who steadfastly refused to ban Quidditch at Hogwarts despite pressures to do so, reinforcing her own love for the sport. (Pottermore)