We’re living in a time that’s perfect for some escapism and J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter are here for you. Now, you can play in the magical world of Harry Potter and never even leave your living room. A dedicated group of Potterheads has created the website Hogwarts Is Here, which is the online version of the wonderful and beloved academy where members can take the same courses that Harry and his friends took. And even better, these courses are 100% free and include essays, quizzes, and even extra credit. And here’s the best part: it’s not just for kids. Parents and educators can sign up, too.
A writer for Inside signed up for a first-year Defense Against the Dark Arts course so that she could see how it works. In DADA-101, the writer chose her character’s name, created a backstory, and even chose the house the character represents. You can choose between any of the four houses available. To enroll in a course, all you have to do is click “Courses” at the top of the page and scroll down through all of the courses to choose the one you want. For this particular course, the instructor was Professor Jericho Penrose and the author said that it’s pretty impressive. She really felt like she was back in college.
— Hogwarts is Here (@hogwartsishere) November 25, 2016
Other courses include selections like Charms, Potions and Transfiguration. Once you’re enrolled in your course, you can explore all of the course materials and work at your own pace. Meanwhile, you can also socialize with your classmates in a private group. This website isn’t to be confused with the official Harry Potter at Home, which was announced by the author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling. This is an independent website that is free because it has ads on it, and that’s totally fine.
Parents, teachers and carers working to keep children amused and interested while we’re on lockdown might need a bit of magic, so I’m delighted to launch https://t.co/cPg0dZpexB pic.twitter.com/i0ZjTplVoU
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 1, 2020
Whichever website you play around on (and why not try both?), you’re in for a treat if you’re a Harry Potter fan. They both provide fun and stimulation that will keep your kids (and you) busy for hours.