Hogwarts’ Forgotten Lessons: The School Subjects Harry Potter Films Ditched

For a story set in a school for young witches and wizards, the Harry Potter films quietly swept a surprising number of academic details under the rug. Astronomy, for one, faded so completely from the screen that most punters would be hard-pressed to recall Harry ever cracking open a star chart.

Subjects That Vanished Without a Trace

In the original books, Astronomy gets its fair share of attention—late-night classes, telescopes, star maps, and even a crucial exam during one of the series’ wildest nights. On film, though, it’s reduced to a scenic tower shot, with the actual subject all but scrubbed from Hogwarts’ daily life. Professor Sinistra, who teaches the class, is barely more than a background extra, and the lessons themselves never make it to the big screen.

This isn’t the only subject to get the chop. Ancient Runes, a favourite of Hermione’s, is nowhere to be seen, despite her spending years studying it and referencing it in translations. Arithmancy, another of her tough electives, is also missing in action. Muggle Studies, meant to bridge the gap between magical and non-magical folk, doesn’t get a single mention or lesson. Even Divination, which is fairly iconic in the books, is trimmed down to a handful of quirky moments with Professor Trelawney.

Why the School Feels Different on Screen

It’s not hard to see why these subjects were left out. With only a couple of hours to tell each story, the films had to focus on the main action and Harry’s journey. That meant most of the day-to-day school life—homework, exams, and the full timetable—got left on the cutting room floor. What’s left is a school that feels more like a magical backdrop than a real place where kids actually learn things.

Most of the classroom scenes that do make it in are tied directly to the plot—learning the Patronus, brewing Polyjuice Potion, or dealing with the latest Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. The routine stuff, like study sessions and the pressure of juggling subjects, is barely touched on, even though it’s a big part of the books.

Room for More in the Next Chapter

With so many classes missing, it’s no wonder the on-screen version of Hogwarts feels a bit thin on the academic side. The films kept the magic and the atmosphere, but the full range of subjects and the sense of a bustling school were left behind. None of these choices are mistakes—they’re just what happens when you adapt chunky novels into feature-length films.

With a new long-form series on the horizon, there’s finally a chance to give these overlooked classes and their teachers a proper go. Maybe this time, Hogwarts will feel a bit more like the school fans imagined, with all the oddball subjects and late-night lessons that made the books so memorable.

All Harry Potter films are streaming on Peacock.

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