‘There’s a list of everything yeh need’

Been a while since you last saw the Hogwarts letter? Here’s a reminder of the first-year requirements:

Uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags

Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners’ Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Memory refreshed and item picked? Then let’s begin…

If The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) is your go-to, you’re most like Hermione Granger

If you skimmed straight past the uniform section to the set books list, then it’s pretty safe to say that a thirst for knowledge is your source of magic. Like the smart, studious Hermione, you don’t just jump into things feet first. You take the time to understand the logic and theory behind your actions. We reckon, like Hermione, you genuinely love a good study session. With the library or your local book shop as your happy place, you devour the written word like Ron devoured the Hogwarts feasts, soaking up every ounce of wisdom for later use. Hermione’s ravenous reading got the trio out of a lot of scrapes over the years, after all. There may be more to life than books and cleverness, but it’s a good place to start!

You’re most like Draco Malfoy if you are partial to a new set of robes

If a trip to Madam Malkin’s for fresh new robes would be first on your agenda, you understand the power of a first impression. You could be the most clever or talented person in the room, but if you can’t make an impact, who will remember you? If you don’t leave the house before doing a good fit check, then we think you’re most like Draco Malfoy. Never seen looking anything less than sharp, there’s no way Malfoy would have arrived at Hogwarts in tatty attire. Like Draco, you’re the trendsetter of your friend group, making sure that your appearance matches your aura; charismatic with a little bit of edge. Yes, you might have a taste for the finer things, but why shouldn’t you? It’s only because you want your style to reflect your main character status.

Can’t wait to bring an owl, cat, or toad to school? You’re most like Hagrid

Never mind all the mandatory books and equipment. You’re much more excited at the prospect of purchasing a new pet! If an animal companion is an essential rather than optional part of your life, then of course you are most like our favourite Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid. You’ve been known to make your pets your entire personality, understanding creatures in a way that no-one else can. Work is an inconvenient distraction from your real passion; looking after your furry, feathery or scaly best friend. Like Hagrid, you’d risk anything for your pet (even a prison sentence) because if you won’t protect them, who will? Friends come and go, but your loyal fur baby is your ride-or-die. A word to the wise – you may want to put protective gloves next on your list. Some owls can nip!

You’re most like the measured Professor McGonagall if you picked brass scales

Reading, looking sharp, and having pets is all very well and good… But how can you put your newly found knowledge to practise without the correct equipment, like brass scales? Disciplined but fair like McGonagall, you understand that if something is going to be done, it’s got to be done properly. You can’t abide sloppiness in any form, as it leads down a slippery slope to silly mistakes. No, like the meticulous McGonagall, you find comfort in precision. If you make a cake, you follow the recipe to a tee; if you learn a new language, your pronunciation is impeccable; if you come across someone you don’t like, you hold your own but you’re always polite. Life can get overwhelming sometimes, but that’s no excuse to abandon a sense of decency and decorum. Oh, and if someone oversteps the mark, you’ll be sure to let them know…

If the wand caught your eye, you’re most like Harry Potter

Choosing the right wand (or more correctly, the wand choosing you) is arguably the most important moment in a wizard’s magical journey. At its core, a wand is an instrument of power, capable of great and terrible things. If you’d be heading straight to Ollivanders on receiving your Hogwarts letter, then you’re yearning to discover your full potential – just like the curiously talented Harry Potter. As the ‘Chosen One,’ Harry had to deal with a level of fame that could go to anyone’s head, but he remained focussed on using his natural magical talent for good. We think you, like Harry, would forgo the easiest path for the one that’s right. As his mentor Dumbledore would say: