Although Muggles will never be able to catch the snitch like Harry, some students are getting close.
With the help of hula-hoops, softballs and tennis rackets, students from colleges around the world are capturing the spirit of J.K. Rowling's beloved Quidditch.
"Muggle Quidditch" or "Ground Quidditch" began in 2005 as an intramural league on the grounds of Middlebury College in Vermont.
For the first time in its history, the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association will hold its World Cup in New York City in DeWitt Clinton Park. The tournament will be held from Nov. 13 to 14, and over 50 teams are expected to participate.
"From the beginning, developing Quidditch as a sport was about sharing the game with others," IQA president Alex Benepe said. "By moving the tournament to New York, we open the game to more spectators and teams. It is the World Cup after all, so why not host it in the world's city?"
Students at NYU have tried for nearly two years to create a university quidditch team.
A Facebook group titled "NYU Quidditch," was created in 2008, but the group's over 200 followers have yet to garner enough excitement for the sport at the school.
"It's an entirely different process to start a sports team than a normal club. Members need physicals, there needs to be a coach and we can't qualify as a club because it is a sport in nature and very athletic," said Tisch sophomore and member of the facebook group Kyle Hiedacavage.
But Hiedacavage was excited about the World Cup's relocation.
"I think it is great that the [World Cup] is relocated to New York because that means more exposure here and that might help NYU finally form the Quidditch team that it has always seemed like it needed," he said.
Over 226 colleges and universities in the U.S. are members of the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association.
"Quidditch at Vassar is certainly well-known, and it garners a lot of curiosity from students as well as community members," said Molly Cohen, a member of Vassar College's Quidditch team, the second oldest team in the world. "We have many events throughout the year that make the team an active part of the school culture, such as movie marathons, 24-hour read-a-thons, scavenger hunts, our tournament, The Butterbeer Classic and our regular practices."
For now, students at NYU hope a team representing the school will eventually form.
"I feel a Quidditch team would add to the diversity and variety NYU is so adamantly committed to," CAS freshman Jourdan Enriquez said. "Who would want to discriminate against wizard wannabes? They are a highly contributing force in society, and without them, we would have to face the mundane truth of being Muggles."
