Hogwarts

Hogwarts, a fictional school in Scotland, is the setting for many Harry Potter fanfics. It is the only school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Britain, and is considered by many to be the finest in the entire world. Muggles are unable to see Hogwarts because of the wards; they will only see a ruined castle that they have no desire to approach. School is in session from September 1st to June 30th, with a two week break at Christmas and a one week break at Easter, during which students can go home if they wish (and their parents want them). Travel to and from Hogwarts is conducted by a train to Kings Cross Station in London, and the journey back seems to take less time than the initial journey there on September 1st.

Hogwarts Houses
Students are divided into Four Houses in their First Year at Hogwarts, during the Sorting Ceremony that takes place upon their arrival. A common trait of a Sue, either of the Description or Possession variety, is that they are placed into two or more Houses, a new House is created especially them or a long forgotten House, normally attributed to Merlin, is reopened for their use. If a Possession Sue is involved, then Harry Potter is normally the affected party. The Houses are named after the Four Founders, and the attributes required to enter a House are the ones that that particular Founder preferred. Students are Sorted in alphabetical order by means of the Sorting Hat; a raggedy, sentient pointed hat with a tear at its brim like a mouth that reads the student's mind to determine their personality traits. The Hat can be influenced by what the student wants if there are two possible Houses that they could fit into, such as during Harry Potter's Sorting where he could have gone into Gryffindor or Slytherin. Presumably the Hat can't be coerced into Sorting a student into a House that they do not belong in, another common trait of a Potter Sue. During the school term students can be rewarded or punished for their behaviour by the addition or removal of House Points. The House with the most points, which are represented by jewel-filled hourglasses in the Entrance Hall, wins the House Cup for that year.

The four Houses are:
 * Gryffindor - Gryffindor is the House that Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger belong to. Therefore it is where much of the action in Harry Potter canon and fanfiction takes place. Gryffindor is associated with courage and bravery, which is often shown in fanfiction as near-suicidal recklessness.
 * Founder - Godric Gryffindor
 * Head of House - Minerva McGonagall
 * Colours - Scarlet and Gold
 * Mascot - Lion
 * Ghost - Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, aka Nearly Headless Nick
 * Location - Seventh Floor, behind the painting of the Fat Lady
 * Element - Fire


 * Hufflepuff - Hufflepuff is the House that produced Cedric Diggory, Nymphadora Tonks, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot and Zacharias Smith, amongst others. The Hufflepuffs aren't shown as much as the Gryffindors and Slytherins, but they generally tend to side with Gryffindor during inter-House disputes. Occasionally a Possession!Sue Harry will be Sorted into Hufflepuff. Hufflepuff House is associated with hard work and loyalty, which many fanfiction writers seem to equate as weak push-overs with no will of their own. Hufflepuff's Cup was one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
 * Founder - Helga Hufflepuff
 * Head of House - Pomona Sprout
 * Colours - Yellow and Black
 * Mascot - Badger
 * Ghost - The Fat Friar
 * Location - Behind a still life painting, near the kitchens
 * Element - Earth


 * Ravenclaw - Ravenclaws noted in the Harry Potter books are Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Penelope Clearwater and Moaning Myrtle. Like the Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws tend to side with Gryffindor during Gryffindor-Slytherin disputes. A Possessed Harry will sometimes be Sorted into Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw is associated with intelligence, creativity, wit and wisdom, which fanfiction authors translate to know-it-all annoyingness. Ravenclaw's diadem was one of Voldemort's horcruxes.
 * Founder - Rowena Ravenclaw
 * Head of House - Filius Flitwick
 * Colours - Blue and Bronze (books), Blue and Silver (films)
 * Mascot - Eagle (books), Raven (films)
 * Ghost - The Grey Lady (Helena Ravenclaw)
 * Location - Ravenclaw Tower, west side of Hogwarts
 * Element - Air


 * '''Slytherin -
 * Founder - Salazar Slytherin
 * Head of House - Severus Snape (books 1-6), Horace Slughorn (book 7)
 * Colours - Green and Silver
 * Mascot - Snake
 * Ghost - The Bloody Baron
 * Location - Behind a bare stone wall in the dungeons
 * Element - Water