Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers that he is a wizard. Wizard ability is inborn, but children are sent to wizarding school to learn the magical skills necessary to succeed in the wizarding world. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, and most of the events take place at Hogwarts. Harry learns to overcome many magical, social and emotional hurdles together with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his friends from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The central story arc concerns Harry's struggle against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents in his quest to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical (Muggle) people to his rule.
Hogwarts has four houses. Gryffindor values courage, bravery, daring, nerve and chivalry. Its mascot is the lion, and its colours are red and gold. The Head of this house is the Transfiguration teacher, Minerva McGonagall, and the house ghost is Nearly Headless Nick. The founder of the house is Godric Gryffindor. Hufflepuff values hard work, loyalty, tolerance, and fair play. The house mascot is the badger, and canary yellow and black are its colours. The Head of this house is the Herbology teacher Pomona Sprout, and the house ghost is The Fat Friar. The founder of this house is Helga Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw values intelligence, learning, and wit. The house mascot is an eagle, and the house colours are blue and bronze. The head of this house is the Charms professor, Filius Flitwick, and the house ghost is The Grey Lady. The founder of this house is Rowena Ravenclaw. Slytherin house values ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. The house mascot of Slytherin is the serpent, and the house colours are green and silver. Salazar Slytherin founded the house. The Head of House is Severus Snape in the first five books and most of the sixth book. At the end of the sixth book and in the seventh book, the old Potions master and previous Head of House who has come out of retirement, Horace Slughorn, reassumes authority of the house. The ghost of Slytherin house is The Bloody Baron.
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