Each school year at Hogwarts consists of a Quidditch season. In total, there are 6 matches played between the 4 teams. Being that there are only 6 games throughout the season, each game is highly anticipated by all members of Hogwarts and attendance is abundant from teachers and students alike. Each team will play 3 games in a season, and it is within these three games that they must score as many points as possible to have a chance in being awarded the Quidditch Cup (also known as The Inter-House Quidditch Cup or Hogwarts Quidditch Cup).
Final standings in the competition are based on the total amount of points a team has been awarded across all 3 games played and is not based on victories throughout the season. In this format, it is possible for a team to lose another team yet still claim the cup as their points from previous matches may be higher in total.
Not only are the points scored in each game important for the rankings and in order to win the Quidditch Cup, but they also go towards House Points.
The matches in each season are laid out as such:
Match 1:
Gryffindor vs. Slytherin
First / Second weekend in November
Match 2:
Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw
Third / Fourth weekend in November
Match 3:
Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin
Third / Fourth weekend in February
Match 4:
Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff
First / Second weekend in March
Match 5:
Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin
First / Second weekend in May
Match 6:
Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw
Third / Fourth weekend in May
There have only been 2 exceptions to this schedule. The 1953-54 school year and the 1993-94 school year.