PE/Flying lessons

[find_sam at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 12703

> Does Hogwarts have PE/flying all seven years?

There are a number of possible answers... firstly, Hogwarts might 
only have flying classes in first year, so students can get the hang 
of a broomstick for later in their lives. 

Secondly, Harry might have flying classes that we just don't read 
about. I assume that Harry still does Astronomy, because he has an 
exam on it at the end of third year - 'then came Astronomy at 
midnight, up on the tallest tower', PoA, Chap. 16 - but to the best 
of my memory we've never been present at any Astronomy classes. Maybe 
we're just not present at these flying classes, which presumably have 
no exam.

Thirdly, maybe there ARE flying lessons but we don't read about them 
as Harry doesn't do them - perhaps he is exempt because he is a 
Quidditch player and flying lessons would be a waste of time for him?

In any case, the literary purpose of the flying lesson in the first 
book is just JKR's way of getting Harry on the Quidditch team, 
really. Once it's served its purpose, then it doesn't need to be 
mentioned anymore without being superfluous.