Harry Potter (Hogwarts) Party for 6-10 year olds My 6 year old's friends were informed by owl post that they had been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The invitation was printed on cream colored paper and had owl images downloaded from the internet. The wording was based on the letter Harry received in the first Potter book. They were asked to report to Diagon Alley (upon arrival at the party) where they were given a small cauldron (a.k.a. candy kettle from Oriental Trading Co.), a black wizard hat, a home made wand, and a bag to hold the prizes to be awarded after each lesson. I made the wands by drilling holes into wooden doll pieces bought from a craft store. I placed a small amount of carpenters glue in the hole and inserted a piece of dowelling, and then painted or stained each wand differently. While we waited for the stragglers to arrive, the "students" decorated their hats with star stickers and bright markers. I had found tattoos of the four Hogwarts houses so the kids chose the house they wished to be sorted into and put on the appropriate tattoo. Then the real fun began. Students were brought downstairs into the Great Hall which was simply our basement covered in flagstone gossamer. I used window paint to create stained glass images.  One by one, the kids sat on a stool and the sorting hat was placed on their heads. (I made one for a few dollars out of black canvas-like fabric.  I scribbled rips and stitches on it with pencils of different colors.) I simply looked at their tattoos to determine which house they wished to be put into.  After the sorting ceremony, students sat at a dinner table decked out with goblets, gold plates, etc. for the great feast (I wanted to get the food thing out of the way first so the party began just before lunch).  Orange punch was called pumpkin juice, etc. I had lots of neighborhood moms helping out and many came dressed in witch costumes. The adults sat at the head table which was perpendicular to the student table.  Dumbledore (me) announced that students would have to complete six classes in order pass the year. CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES:  Outside by the trees, Hagrid informed the class that he had a new batch of baby post owls but Fang had barked and scared them into the Dark Forest.  The students were required to retrieve one owl each while avoiding the werewolves (older siblings). They were taught the Immobulus charm which they were told would freeze the werewolves for five seconds. With wands raised, they entered the woods, stunned werewolves, and retrieved owls.  I bought graduation owls on clearance in mid summer. I simply cut off the hats but left the little diplomas in the wings because they looked like mail. The kids kept the owls to add to the loot bags. POTIONS: Back at the table inside, the kids combined gummy worms in ground cookie dirt with other gross edible foods (troll boogies, Bertie Botts, watery grey jello...) while an adult dressed like Snape playfully berated them. They used their little cauldrons for this.  The cauldrons were washed and returned to the kids. TRANSFIGURATION: Students transformed a pretzel rod into a wand by dipping it in icing and adding various sprinkles... Yummy! DIVINATION: A shawled, older sibling wearing huge glasses told the kids' fortunes in a dark, candle-lit room. Students collected a glow in the dark star or planet for their loot bags. QUIDDITCH:  I had purchased little balls on strings at a party supply store.  I dipped them in gold paint to look like snitches.  I dangled one from the end of a pole and had the kids chase me in pairs on little broom sticks to see who could get the snitch first. The slower was eliminated but got a snitch. The faster advanced in the tournament until the grand winner was determined. He received a plastic trophy filled with Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS:  Students had to go into a dark room and get the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's stone while Professor Quirrell (an older sibling wearing a towel turban) tried to catch them. Each student got to keep the stone he/she retrieved. I purchased bouncing stones from the Oriental Trading Company. FINISHING UP:  We opened presents and gave extra treats for the loot bags.  I made chocolate frogs and owls in molds, and also handed out Bertie Botts, Pop Rocks, and plastic spiders and frogs for play potion ingredients. After making sure all the party-goers had their hats, wands, owls, and cauldrons, they were sent home.  It was a blast but I couldn't have done it without professors (the moms) and assistant professors (the siblings). It lasted four hours and there was never an unpleasant moment.