Gryffindor Quidditch team

**George Weasley**: "*I can't see anyone trying to bump off a Quidditch team.*"
**Fred Weasley**: "*Wood might've done the Slytherins if he could've got away with it.*"
— The Weasley Twins on the Gryffindor Captain's competitive spirit[src]

The **Gryffindor Quidditch team** is the house Quidditch team of the Hogwarts house Gryffindor. It has won the house Cup at least four times and has been captained by James Potter, Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, and Harry Potter. Interestingly, a member of the Weasley family has held every one of the positions on the team. Ginny was a Chaser and a substitute Seeker, Charlie was a Seeker, Fred and George Weasley were Beaters, and Ron was the Keeper.

## History

### c.1691-1692 school year

Gryffindor suffered a heavy defeat, and it would be three hundred years until they suffer one worse.

### 1950s

Minerva McGonagall like her mother was a gifted Quidditch player, who represented Gryffindor during her time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

### 1953-1954 school year

Minerva McGonagall had a nasty fall in this, her final year (a foul during the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match, which would decide the Quidditch Cup winner) and left her with a concussion, several broken ribs and a lifelong desire to see Slytherin crushed on the Quidditch pitch.

### 1960s

R. J. H. King played on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and won an award for it in 1969.

### 1970s

James Potter played as a Chaser for Gryffindor this decade. M. G. McGonagall played on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, winning an award for it in 1971.

### 1985-1986 school year

Charles Weasley played as Seeker for Gryffindor this season. Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup.

### 1986-1987 school year

Gryffindor failed to win the Quidditch Cup.

### 1987-1988 school year

Gryffindor failed to win the Quidditch Cup.

### 1988-1989 school year

Gryffindor failed to win the Quidditch Cup.

### 1989-1990 school year

Gryffindor failed to win the Quidditch Cup.

### 1990-1991 school year

According to Gryffindor Head of House, Minerva McGonagall, Gryffindor was "flattened" by Slytherin. Oliver Wood was Gryffindor's Keeper and Fred and George Weasley were Beaters. Alicia Spinnet was only a reserve for Gryffindor this season.

### 1991-1992 school year

**Fred Weasley**: "*We know Oliver's speech by heart. We were on the team last year.*"
**Oliver Wood**: "*Shut up, you two. This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it.*"
— Fred Weasley and Oliver Wood discussing the team[src]

When Harry Potter played during his first year at Hogwarts, aged just eleven, he was the youngest player in more than a hundred years, and he also had to be given special dispensation to have his own broomstick at school, (a Nimbus 2000). The Gryffindor Quidditch team practised three times a week under Oliver Wood's supervision.

The opening game, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, was played on a cold November's day. This was Harry Potter's debut match. Angelina Johnson was first to score, shooting the Quaffle past Bletchley. The first time Harry spotted the Snitch, so did Higgs, but as Harry sped towards he was blocked by Flint. For this, Madam Hooch awarded a penalty which Alicia Spinnet scored, but the Seekers had lost sight of the Snitch. Professor Quirrell then began to magically interfere with Harry's broom, but Harry was saved when Hermione Granger cast a spell to start a small fire in the stand that Quirrell was occupying. Harry regained control of his broom and caught the Snitch by accidentally swallowing it. Although Flint complained to Hooch, she judged the incident fair play and Gryffindor won the match 170-60.

Professor Severus Snape refereed the Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor match. His decisions were biassed in favour of Hufflepuff. Gryffindor Beater, George Weasley hit a Bludger at him. Harry caught the Snitch in record time and won the game for Gryffindor.

In Harry's absence, Gryffindor was defeated in their final game of the season against Ravenclaw, costing them their chance at the Quidditch Cup that year.

### 1992-1993 school year

"*It'll be down to you, Harry, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy or die trying, Harry, because we've got to win today, we've go to.*"
—Oliver Wood's intense need to win[src]

Wood planned to begin training before the other three sides. Unfortunately for Gryffindor, who had got up at the crack of dawn for their first training session, Slytherin had been given use of the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch by Severus Snape. When Draco Malfoy the Slytherin team's new Seeker called Hermione Granger a Mudblood Ron Weasley tried to curse him. To make matters worse Harry had to leave with Ron after the spell he attempted to cast on Malfoy backfired, causing Ron to belch up slugs.

During the rainy Slytherin versus Gryffindor match, the Slytherin Chasers were dominant, taking a 60-0 lead at one point. Harry was relentlessly pursued by a rogue Bludger, so Oliver Wood called for a time-out. However, Harry agreed to play on, telling the Weasley twins to stop flying around him so he could pursue the Snitch. When the action resumed Harry was struck on the elbow by a Bludger, which broke his right arm. Despite this, when he spotted the Snitch he was able to chase after it and grasp it in his left hand, winning the match for Gryffindor. Gilderoy Lockhart then attempted to mend Harry's broken arm, but instead removed the bone. Harry was given Skele-Gro in the hospital wing, where that night Dobby revealed it was he who had tampered with the Bludger.

In anticipation of their next match against Hufflepuff, Wood insisted on Gryffindor team practises every night after dinner.

Unfortunately, the Quidditch Cup was completely cancelled due to attacks on Muggle-born students before the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match.

### 1993-1994 school year

"*This is our last chance — my last chance — to win the Quidditch Cup. I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it.*"
—Oliver Wood explaining his last chance to win the cup[src]

In the 1993–1994 school year, the team is said by Lee Jordan to be "*the best team Hogwarts has seen in the last few years*". This was the first year that they had won the Quidditch Cup since Charles Weasley was on the team. Gryffindor kept the same team as the previous year. It was seventeen-year-old captain Oliver Wood's last season. They trained three times a week.
The Slytherin versus Gryffindor match was re-scheduled as Flint claimed his Seeker, Malfoy had an injured arm, so the first match was Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff.

The game was played in heavy rain, ferocious wind, thunder, and lightening. The wind was so powerful that the players staggered sideways as they walked onto the very muddy pitch. The sound of the thunder drowned out the crowd's shouts. Madam Hooch's whistle to start the match coincided with the first bolt of lightening. Harry's vision was hindered by the constant raindrops on his glasses and he was almost struck by a Bludger twice. Wood called for a time-out when Gryffindor were fifty points up. Hermione Granger used "Impervius" so Harry's glasses would repel any water. When both Seekers had spotted the Snitch, Harry then saw at least one hundred Dementors that had entered the stadium. He heard his mother's last words before she was killed by Lord Voldemort and he fell about fifty feet to the ground. Albus Dumbledore ran onto the pitch waving his wand and slowing Harry's fall. He then got rid of the Dementors, magicked Harry onto a stretcher and carried him to the castle floating upon it.

Cedric caught the Snitch, giving Hufflepuff a win by 100 points. He offered a re-match, but Gryffindor accepted the defeat. Harry's Nimbus 2000 was blown to the Whomping Willow which destroyed it.

Gryffindor increased their training to five times a week (under the supervision of Madam Hooch)

Gryffindor's final practise before their match against Ravenclaw was their current side's best ever. Harry caught the Snitch within ten seconds of its release. The team performed their moves faultlessly and Wood had no criticisms.

For the game against Ravenclaw, Harry flew his new Firebolt. His opposing Seeker, fourth year Cho Chang, flew a Comet 260. In clear, cool conditions, Gryffindor took an eighty point lead, but Ravenclaw managed to claw it back to 80-30. When Harry spotted the Snitch for the third time, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Flint walked onto the pitch, dressed as Dementors. Harry cast a Patronus at them and then caught the Snitch, giving Gryffindor victory, whose fans ran onto the pitch in celebration. On the first Saturday after the Easter holidays Gryffindor played Slytherin. Gryffindor had trained every day in preparation for the game. Slytherin were leading the Championship by exactly 200 points, meaning Gryffindor needed to win the match by 210 points to claim the Quidditch Cup.

Three quarters of the crowd supported Gryffindor. Johnson scored first. Then Flint crashed into her, so Fred threw his bat at the back of Flint's head which smashed into his broom handle, bloodying his nose. Penalties were given to each side. Alicia Spinnet scored and Wood saved. Bell scored another penalty after Montague grabbed her head. Flint then scored for Slytherin. Bole hit Alicia with his club and George elbowed him in the face, resulting in two more penalties. Wood saved again and Gryffindor scored. A goal from Bell made the score 50-10. Bole and Derrick winded Wood with two Bludgers to the stomach. Johnson scored the resulting penalty, and Gryffindor moved into a 70-10 lead when Alicia scored. As Harry chased the Snitch, Malfoy grabbed his Firebolt. Alicia then missed a penalty and Montague scored for Slytherin. After Johnson scored to make it 80-20 Malfoy plummeted towards the Snitch. Harry pursued him and took both hands off his broom to reach out and capture the Snitch, winning Gryffindor the Quidditch Cup.

This was Wood's last season. Harry wore the number seven this year.

### 1994-1995 school year

Due to the Triwizard Tournament being held at Hogwarts in the 1994–1995 school year, the Quidditch Cup was cancelled, and the team did not play.

## Uniform and equipment

The Gryffindor Quidditch team's uniforms are red and gold like their house colours.

For Beaters, they also carry small black clubs (similar to baseball bats) to help them ward off Bludgers during matches. The Keeper wears gloves.

## Safety features

Generally, only protective arm-length gloves and knee-pads are used. In stormy conditions, some players wear goggles. However, the Keeper may wear shoulder-pads, chest armour and a helmet.

## Record in the Quidditch Cup

* 1953 - 1954 - 1st or 2nd
* 1970s - 1st at least once
* 1985 - 1986 - 1st
* 1986 - 1987 - 2nd or 3rd
* 1987 - 1988 - 2nd or 3rd
* 1988 - 1989 - 2nd or 3rd
* 1989 - 1990 - 2nd or 3rd
* 1990 - 1991 - 2nd or 3rd
* 1991 - 1992 - 2nd or 3rd
* 1992 - 1993 - *Incomplete: attacks on Muggle-born students (Gryffindor defeated Slytherin though)*
* 1993 - 1994 - 1st
* 1994 - 1995 - *Not held because of the Triwizard Tournament*
* 1995 - 1996 - 1st
* 1996 - 1997 - 1st
* 1997 - 1998 - *Unknown if Quidditch matches were played that year*.

## See also

* Quidditch
* Hufflepuff Quidditch team
* Ravenclaw Quidditch team
* Slytherin Quidditch team
* Gryffindor
* Hufflepuff
* Ravenclaw
* Slytherin

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 7 (*Mudbloods And Murmurs*)
2. ↑ Pottermore - Writing by J.K. Rowling: "Professor McGonagall", transcript available here
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)* (Name appears on trophy)
4. ↑ 16 October 2000 Scholastic Chat with J.K. Rowling
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 15 (*The Quidditch Final*)
6. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 9 (*The Midnight Duel*)
7. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 11 (*Quidditch*)
8. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 13 (*Nicolas Flamel*)
9. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 10 (*Hallowe'en*)
10. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 14 (*Cornelius Fudge*)
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 8 (*Flight of the Fat Lady*)
12. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 9 (*Grim Defeat*)
13. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 12 (*The Patronus*)
14. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 13 (*Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw*)
15. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)*
16. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*
17. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)*
18. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 14 (*Snape's Grudge*)
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Chapter 24 (*Sectumsempra*) - "...and if they lost by more than a hundred, they would be in fourth place and nobody, Harry thought, would ever, ever let him forget that it had been he who had captained Gryffindor to their first bottom-of-the-table defeat in two centuries."