The Forgotten Hogwarts Subject the Harry Potter Films Erased

For a story so deeply rooted in the daily life of a wizarding school, the film adaptations of Harry Potter quietly set aside a number of academic details. Among the most conspicuous omissions is Astronomy, a subject that, in the original novels, is woven into the fabric of Hogwarts life. Most viewers would be forgiven for forgetting that Harry ever attended these lessons at all.

How Astronomy Faded from the Screen

Within the books, Astronomy is brought to life through late-night classes, telescopes pointed skyward, and the careful plotting of star charts. There’s even a pivotal exam that takes place during one of the series’ most tumultuous nights. On screen, however, the discipline is reduced to a picturesque shot of a tower, with no sign of the class itself. Professor Sinistra, who teaches the subject, is relegated to a fleeting appearance, and the lessons themselves are nowhere to be found. The subject is quietly dropped from the curriculum, and the films never pause to acknowledge its absence. Notably, J.K. Rowling did not voice any public concern over this change.

Other Lessons Lost in Adaptation

Once you spot the disappearance of Astronomy, it becomes clear that several other subjects were similarly left behind. Ancient Runes, for instance, is a subject Hermione studies for years, often referencing it when translating magical texts. Yet, the films make no mention of the class or its instructor. Arithmancy, another of Hermione’s more challenging courses, is also missing from the cinematic version of Hogwarts.

Muggle Studies, designed to bridge the gap between the magical and non-magical worlds, is another casualty. Despite its thematic importance, not a single lesson or reference appears in the films. Even Divination, a class that provides some of the books’ most memorable moments, is pared down to a handful of eccentric scenes with Professor Trelawney, leaving out much of the subject’s variety and depth.

Why the School Feels Different on Film

Part of the reason Hogwarts comes across so differently on screen is the films’ focus on pace and plot. The novels devote considerable time to the rhythms of school life—homework, exams, and the interplay between teachers and pupils. The films, by necessity, streamline these elements, concentrating on classes that directly serve the main narrative. As a result, the school becomes more of a magical backdrop than a fully realised academic institution.

Most classroom scenes that do make the cut are those that drive the story forward: learning to conjure a Patronus, brewing Polyjuice Potion, or encountering the latest Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Everyday lessons, revision sessions, and the pressures of schoolwork are largely absent, even though they are central to the experience in the books. The omission of so many subjects further narrows the sense of a complete education, making the on-screen school feel less like a real place and more like a stage for Harry’s adventures.

Room for a Fuller Hogwarts in the Future

It’s hardly surprising that a two-hour film cannot capture the entirety of a seven-year magical education. Streamlining is inevitable, and the films naturally gravitate towards the most dramatic or plot-relevant classes. Still, the loss of these subjects does diminish the sense of Hogwarts as a bustling, diverse school. With a new long-form series on the horizon, there may finally be an opportunity to restore these overlooked lessons and give the wizarding world’s most famous school the academic richness it deserves.

All Harry Potter films are available to stream on Peacock.

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