Entire Hogwarts Castle

> The castle is a stronghold of ancient magic.
>
> Albus Dumbledore regarding the ancient castle, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

**Hogwarts Castle** was a large, seven-storey high building supported by ***magic***, with a hundred and forty-two staircases throughout its many towers and turrets and very deep dungeons. The castle was built in the late Early Middle Ages (c. First millennium A.D. / 993) by a wizard architect and the four most celebrated wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, ***Helga Hufflepuff***, ***Rowena Ravenclaw*** and Salazar Slytherin. The castle was the main building of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, regarded as the finest wizarding school in the world.

## Location Known Information

### Residents

* Students
* Staff
* Hogwarts House-elves
* Ghosts
* Peeves

### Affiliation

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

### Owner

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hogwarts was built in a valley area — surrounding mountains were part of the landscape — with the fairly large ***Great Lake*** to the south of the main building. The huge main oak front doors that led into the ***Entrance Hall*** faced west, and opened up to sloping lawns. The deep ***Forbidden Forest*** extended around to the west of the castle. There were also exterior ***greenhouses*** and vegetable patches on the school grounds.
Hogwarts was located in the ***Scottish Highlands***, near the all-wizard village of ***Hogsmeade*** and "not far" from ***Dufftown***, in Moray, and ***Achintee***, in Lochaber.
The castle was badly damaged in the battle, but ultimately the Order of the Phoenix won when Harry Potter defeated his nemesis, Lord Voldemort, in the ***Great Hall***.
Due to its extremely advanced age and the sheer amount of magic present in or around it, the castle was implied to have developed some form of sentience or awareness, such as when it sealed the ***Headmaster's Tower*** against ***Dolores Umbridge*** in 1996, and the various trick steps and false doors.
Hogwarts Castle was also the most haunted location in ***Great Britain***, being home to many ***ghosts***.

## Magic

   The castle was supported by magic (unable to be maintained or constructed by any other means), a good example being the moving staircases, a feature contributed by one of the four Hogwarts founders, ***Rowena Ravenclaw***. Hogwarts was also protected by numerous ancient spells, such as the ***Anti-Disapparition Jinx***; this could, however, be overridden by the Head of the school when necessary. It was also ***unplottable*** and bewitched so that, if ***Muggles*** approached the castle, all they would see would be a mouldering ruin with a sign warning them to keep out and that it was unsafe. Nevertheless, Muggles could presumably see the castle if they were invited or otherwise aware of its existence, as was the case with **Jacob Kowalski** in ***1932***. The protective magic over Hogwarts appeared to repel even talented Dark wizards.

Rubeus Hagrid claimed that Hogwarts was the safest place there was, even more so than Gringotts Wizarding Bank, a reason why the Philosopher's Stone was sent to the castle for protection. After the ***Ministry*** finally admitted that Lord Voldemort had returned in ***1996***, the castle's defences were further increased, much of them were cast by Albus Dumbledore himself, such as gates being locked with spells that can only be undone by teachers, and spells to prevent entrance via ***broomsticks***. All of the secret passageways that were previously allegedly unknown were given more protection. Additionally, with members of the Order of the Phoenix and ***Aurors*** placed as guards, and ***Caretaker*** ***Argus Filch*** checking all incoming and outgoing students for dangerous materials, intrusion seemed completely impossible.
However, Draco Malfoy utilised a ***pair*** of ***Vanishing Cabinets*** as a passageway, which none of the castle's defences could negate, to allow Death Eaters into the castle. This devastatingly horrified the wizarding community, as they realised that Hogwarts, the most powerful and reputably safest magical stronghold in the entire wizarding world, had been breached, no less than by a student from the inside, meaning there was no longer anywhere safe from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
As a result of all the magic that occurred on the premises (both from learning students, magical artefacts therein and the enchantments cast over the building itself) a magical atmosphere pervaded the entire structure, causing any technology that was not adapted to run off of it to fail. This was presumably why candles and lanterns were used for light. Mechanical things like watches seemed to do alright, as Colin Creevey's traditional ***Muggle*** camera seemed to have worked until it was destroyed by the Basilisk's eyes. (Colin mentioned that another student told him that he could develop the pictures in a potion so that they moved. One of his pictures showed Harry trying to escape a picture of him and Gilderoy Lockhart.)

## Below the ground floor

### Chamber of Secrets

Main article: Chamber of Secrets
> He was standing at the end of a long, dimly lit chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more serpents, rose to a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place.
>
> Harry exploring the Chamber, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

   The Chamber of Secrets was allegedly created deep under the ***dungeons*** of Hogwarts Castle during the Medieval times by Salazar Slytherin, who disagreed with the other ***Hogwarts founders*** on the merits of ***blood purity***. The Chamber of Secrets was home to an ancient Basilisk, which was intended to be used to purge the school of ***Muggle-born*** students.
The entrance could be found in Moaning Myrtle's ***bathroom*** on the second floor. In order to gain entrance one had to say "open" in ***Parseltongue***, and a sink would open into a slide. While falling down the large, dark pipe, one could see hundreds of other pipes leading off. At the end of the pipe, one was launched into a damp, stone chamber. This room was stated to be *"miles beneath the school*" and under the Lake. This was where Tom Marvolo Riddle used his ability to speak Parseltongue and attack Harry Potter.

### Dungeons

   The dungeons of Hogwarts Castle were located under the school, and it was colder there than in the main castle.

#### Dungeon cupboard

    This cupboard was a small room off the ***Dungeon Corridor***, just before the ***dungeon hall***.

#### Potions Classroom

    The ***Potions Classroom*** was where ***Potions*** classes were taught. The classroom used to be squared-sized, very large, with large tables and windows. From ***1995-1996***, the classroom was an oval shape and relatively smaller, with small work tables. In 1996, the classroom was extended, adding space for more work tables.

#### Potions basement

There was a storage basement under the Potions classroom at Hogwarts Castle. It was accessible via a trapdoor and it was used to store ***cauldrons***, ingredients and phials.<

#### Head of Slytherin's office

    This office was used by Severus Snape during his long tenure as ***Potions Master*** at Hogwarts. It was a gloomy and dimly-lit room found in the school ***Dungeons***. The shadowy walls were lined with shelves of large glass jars filled with slimy, revolting things, such as bits of animals and plants, floating in potions of varying colours.

The office had a fireplace. In a corner, there was a cupboard containing Snape's private stock of ***potion*** ingredients. The office was sealed with a ***spell*** only wizards could break.

#### Slytherin common room

Main article: Slytherin common room    The Slytherin Dungeon was located behind a wall in the dungeons of Hogwarts. A ***Password*** spoken to the wall was required to enter it; whereupon a passage was revealed leading to the common room — a low-ceilinged, dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. The room also contained black leather couches and a fireplace. This dungeon extended partway under the ***lake***, which allowed students to glimpse the inhabitants of the Great Lake.
Off of this room also included the Slytherin Boys' Dormitory.

#### Philosopher's Stone chambers

Main article: Philosopher's Stone chambersThese chambers were a series of rooms underneath Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that served as the defences surrounding the Philosopher's Stone during the 1991–1992 school year. There were seven chambers in total that contained an obstacle or task that guarded the stone against being stolen.

1. ***Fluffy*** (Stationed in the third-floor corridor guarding the trap door entrance to the chambers below)
2. Devil's Snare
3. Winged Keys
4. Chessboard Chamber
5. Mirror of Erised

#### Other locations in the Dungeons

* ***Dungeon Five***
* ***Dungeon cave***
* ***Dungeon Corridor***
* ***Entrance Dungeon***
* ***Dungeon hall***
* ***Slug Pit***
* ***Quidditch cave***
* ***Dungeon Pit***
* ***Lever Rooms***

### Basement

#### Hufflepuff common room

Main article: Hufflepuff common room
> It is a very cosy and welcoming place, as dissimilar as possible from Snape’s dungeon. Lots of yellow hangings, and fat armchairs, and little underground tunnels leading to the dormitories, all of which have perfectly round doors, like barrel tops
>
> Description, J. K. Rowling

    The Hufflepuff Basement was the common room for Hufflepuff students at Hogwarts. The entrance to the Hufflepuff Basement was hidden behind a stack of barrels. It could be entered by tapping a certain rhythm on the barrels. It was located near the ***kitchens***. The cellar was decorated with yellow hangings and filled with fat armchairs. Underground tunnels led off to the students' dormitories and all the doors were perfectly circular, like barrel tops.

This was the only common room Harry Potter did not enter at some point during his years at Hogwarts.

#### Kitchens

The Hogwarts kitchen was located directly under the ***Great Hall***, down the same staircase that led to the Hufflepuff common room. It contained tables identical to those in the ***Great Hall*** and were directly below them; food had to simply be placed on the tables in the kitchens, and it ***magically*** appeared in the ***Great Hall***. The kitchens were staffed by over 100 ***house-elves***, including Dobby, ***Winky***, and ***Kreacher*** (after Harry Potter inherited him and ordered him there in 1996).

To gain access to the kitchens, one had to tickle the pear on a fruit portrait, which would then turn into a door knob.

### Boathouse

    The ***Boathouse*** was an underground harbour at Hogwarts where the boats were stored and docked after bringing the first years to the castle every ***1 September***. Up until ***1995*** a ***portrait*** of ***Percival Pratt*** hung on the walls, concealing a shortcut to the ***Grand Staircase***.

After Pratt's portrait was removed, there were only three entrances to this building: the ***path*** outside the ***Paved Courtyard***, the ***stairs*** down from the ***Viaduct Courtyard***, and the ***Great Lake***.

### Entrance Hall

Main article: Entrance Hall    The Hogwarts Entrance Hall was located on the ground floor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with a wide marble staircase opposite the oak doors. Double doors to the right led into the Great Hall. The basement, the ***kitchens***, the ***dungeons***, and the Grand Staircase could also be accessed via the Entrance Hall.

### Chamber of Reception

    Main article: Chamber of ReceptionThe Chamber of Reception was a little building before the Entrance Hall where Professor Minerva McGonagall made the first year students wait before the Sorting ceremony and the Welcoming Feast.

### Viaduct Courtyard

The ***Viaduct Courtyard*** was located off the Entrance Hall. This courtyard replaced the Entrance Hall antechamber beyond ***1994***.

### Great Hall

Main article: Great Hall    The Great Hall in Hogwarts was the main gathering area in the school. Students ate their meals, received daily ***owl*** ***posts***, and had certain special events. The Great Hall was a large hall that could easily hold all of the school's students, staff and guests. It had tall walls that reached up to the ceiling, which was enchanted to look like the sky above.

It was the scene of Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort's final showdown, which was the Dark Lord's ultimate defeat. This was because the Elder Wand refuse to kill its true master, so Harry was not killed. Since Voldemort was now a mortal man, the curse rebounded on him, killing Tom Marvolo Riddle once and for all.

### Staffroom

The staffroom was a long, panelled room with mismatched, dark wooden chairs. There was a wardrobe inside it which was once home to a ***Boggart***. The entrance to this room was guarded by two talking stone ***gargoyles***.

### Caretaker's office

The caretaker's office was the room where ***Argus Filch*** lived in Hogwarts Castle. It was connected to the Entrance Hall, on the Ground Floor of Hogwarts Castle. It was a small, simple, windowless room with a single oil lamp in the ceiling. It smelled vaguely of fried fish.

### Transfiguration Courtyard

This was one of the cloisters in the inner part of Hogwarts Castle. This courtyard had grass in the open area, in which a big tree had grown over the centuries. There was one massive iron armillary sphere that stood in the centre of the courtyard.

### Transfiguration department

This was a wing at Hogwarts Castle containing the rooms dedicated to the teaching of ***Transfiguration***. The Transfiguration department was presumably located around the ***Middle Courtyard*** area, including such rooms as ***Classroom 1B***.

### Transfiguration Classroom

This classroom was where ***Transfiguration class*** was taught. The classroom was located on the ground floor around the ***Middle Courtyard***. The classroom itself was big, surrounded by high windows, had four rows of three desks, and still had enough room for several cages and bookshelves, two chalkboards, and a desk.

### Classroom Eleven

***Classroom Eleven*** was on the ground floor of Hogwarts Castle. It was used by the ***Centaur*** ***Firenze***, who taught the subject of ***Divination***. Albus Dumbledore changed the room to look like the ***Forbidden Forest***, Firenze's home.

### Viaduct Entrance

This was a big chamber which connected the ***Viaduct*** to the first floor by a staircase that led to the ***Tapestry Corridor***. There was also an archway that led down the ***Potions staircase*** to the ***Dungeon Corridor***.

### The Quad

This courtyard was located on the Hogwarts Castle exterior area. It was connected to the ***Viaduct*** and the ***boathouse***.

### Viaduct

This viaduct was constructed out of stone, and extended all the way down to the lake. It was connected to the ***Viaduct Courtyard*** at one end and was connected to the left long viaduct tower and the right long viaduct tower.

### Other locations on the ground floor

* ***Herbology Store***
* ***Corridor off the Entrance Hall***
* ***Ground-floor corridor***
* ***Central tower courtyard***
* ***Training Grounds Entrance***
* ***Suspension Bridge entrance***
* ***Temporary Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom***

## Grand Staircase

Main article: Grand Staircase    The Grand Staircase was a massive structure in Hogwarts Castle, mainly used to access each floor of the castle, including the dungeons. There were hundreds of Portraits covering the walls in this tower, some of which concealed secret passages to other areas within the school.
The multiple staircases in the Grand Staircase led from platform to platform and went as high as the seventh floor where they came to an end.

## First floor

### Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom

    This classroom was where Defence Against the Dark Arts class was taught. An iron chandelier hung from the ceiling, as well as a ***Dragon***'s skeleton. On one end of the classroom stood a projector that was activated by magic. Several desks and tables could be found in the classroom as well as some sets of large windows.
The classroom decoration had several changes over the years, spanning from lots of pictures of Gilderoy Lockhart to tons of skeletons and ***Shrunken Heads***.

### History of Magic Classroom

This classroom was where ***History of Magic*** classes were taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The subject was taught by Professor ***Cuthbert Binns***, a ghost, who was widely regarded by almost all Hogwarts students as the most monotonous and boring teacher in existence.

### Muggle Studies Classroom

This classroom was where ***Muggle Studies*** classes were taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

### Hospital Wing

    The Hospital wing was run by ***Poppy Pomfrey***. Students who suffered mishaps during the school year were sent or brought to the hospital wing for treatment. The hospital wing was well equipped to deal with all manner of magical and mundane injuries, from broken limbs to regrowing lost bones.
Only in the most severe cases were students sent to ***St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries*** for further treatment, such as when ***Katie Bell*** touched a ***cursed Opal necklace*** in 1996.

### Matron's office

This office was a large room adjacent to the ***Hospital Wing*** at Hogwarts Castle owned by ***Poppy Pomfrey***, the matron. It contained a bookcase, a desk, two closets, two beds for patients, and another bed closed off from the room by a curtain.

### Gryffindor Head's office

Main article: Minerva McGonagall's office        The Gryffindor Head's Office was positioned on a corridor which could be accessed by climbing the large staircase in Hogwarts' Entrance Hall. This office was occupied by Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, for many years. The room had an adjacent bedroom accessible by a ***concealed door***.

### Tapestry Corridor

This corridor was located on the first floor of Hogwarts Castle. It connected the ***Viaduct Entrance*** to the main first floor. Its walls were covered in tapestries and, hung over the tapestries, ***portraits*** of wizards.

### Storeroom

This storeroom was located in the ***Tapestry Corridor***, this was where Severus Snape stored his private supply of ***potions*** and potion ingredients. It was one of two known potions storerooms in the castle; this being his private store; the other being the student store cupboard. The students cupboard was located in the dungeons. Items stored in Snape's store room included ***Veritaserum*** and ingredients for ***Polyjuice Potion***.

### First-Floor Girls' Toilets

Main article: First-Floor Girls' Toilets    Located on the first floor, this was where a ***mountain troll*** attacked Hermione Granger on 31 October, 1991.

### Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom

    This girls' lavatory (also known as Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom) was situated on the first floor of Hogwarts Castle. It had been out of order ever since a student named Myrtle was killed there by Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk on the orders of Tom Riddle, the Heir of Slytherin.

Myrtle haunted the bathroom ever since, leading it to be a place most students did not want to enter. This bathroom held the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

### Other locations on the first floor

* ***Classroom 1A***
* ***Classroom 1C***
* ***Classroom 1D***
* ***Classroom 1E***
* ***Detention Chamber***
* ***Duelling Classroom II***
* ***First-floor corridor***
* ***Passage of the Fouls***
* ***Rear Hall***

## Second floor

### Second-floor corridor

    The second-floor corridor was located on both sides of the castle on the second floor.

### Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor's office

    The ***office*** used by the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was located on the second floor of Hogwarts Castle. It was connected to the ***Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom*** by two staircases.

## Third floor

### Armoury

    The Armoury was a corridor adjacent to the ***Trophy Room***. There were a large amount of suits of armour on exhibition in this corridor.

### Charms Classroom

    This classroom was where ***Charms*** classes were taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The classroom had four long, large desks that were built like stairs, and were located on both sides of the classroom. There was also a large fireplace in the room, as well as several stacks of books, where ***Professor Flitwick*** lectured his pupils.

### Clock Tower Entrance

    This was one of the three main entrances of Hogwarts Castle. It consisted of a large open space at the base of the ***Clock Tower***, with two stairwells going up towards the upper levels of the tower. Opposite the main entry was a large window. A portrait of ***Damara Dodderidge*** was hung here, and in ***1995***, so was a portrait of ***Temeritus Shanks***.
The massive pendulum of the clock swung over this entrance. The entrance could be sealed with a portcullis (which could be lowered and raised with the aid of a lever) and the massive double doors could be locked with numerous bolts.

### Library

    The Library was located on the third and fourth floors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and contained tens of thousands of books on thousands of shelves. Overseen by Madam ***Irma Pince***, the library was where students could go to peruse or borrow books to supplement their studies (or for personal enjoyment). The library closed at 8pm every day.

### One-Eyed Witch Passage

    The ***One-Eyed Witch Passage*** was a secret tunnel that led from Hogwarts to the cellar of ***Honeydukes Sweetshop*** in ***Hogsmeade***. Harry Potter first learned of it from ***Fred*** and ***George Weasley*** when they gave him the ***Marauder's Map*** in 1993.

### Trophy Room

Main article: Trophy Room    The Trophy Room was where awards, trophies, cups, plates, shields, statues, and medals were kept in crystal glass displays. This room also contained a list of Head Boys and Head Girls. Prominently displayed were Hogwarts Awards for Services to the School, with known recipients being Tom Marvolo Riddle, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
Probably, in ***1995***, the ***Triwizard Cup*** was placed here as well. The Trophy Room was connected to an ***Armour Gallery***.

### Third Floor Corridor

Main article: Third Floor Corridor    The Third Floor Corridor on the right side of the Castle was out of bounds during the 1991–1992 school year because it was the access point to the Chambers where the Philosopher's Stone was being hidden. ***Fluffy***, a ***three-headed dog*** owned by Rubeus Hagrid, guarded a trap door that led into the Chambers.

### Other locations on the third floor

* ***Charms corridor***
* ***Classroom 3D***
* ***Gunhilda of Gorsemoor Corridor***
* ***Storeroom (third floor)***

## Fourth floor

### Restricted Section

Main article: Restricted Section    The Restricted Section was an area in the fourth floor section of the Hogwarts Library closed off by a rope and only accessible to students with permission from a professor. In order to enter, they had to present a signed note from a professor. The books within the Restricted Section typically discussed the ***Dark Arts*** or other information not for the general public or young children. They could be studied by older students for Defence Against the Dark Arts.

### Disused classroom

    This room was where the Mirror of Erised was kept from ***September*** to ***December*** 1991, and where Harry saw the image of himself and his deceased relatives, including his parents. After this, it was moved under orders from Dumbledore to protect the Philosopher's Stone.

### Cuthbert Binns's office

This office was used by ***Cuthbert Binns*** as Professor of ***History of Magic*** at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The office had a fireplace. It also had two closets, the teacher's desk and a table. Behind a curtain was Cuthbert's bed, although since becoming a ghost it is unlikely that he used it.

### Other locations on the fourth floor

* ***Fourth-floor balcony***
* ***Fourth-floor corridor***
* ***Fourth-floor hospital tower corridor***
* ***Mirror passage***

## Fifth floor

### Prefects' bathroom

    This was a special bathroom that was restricted to use by school ***Prefects***, Head Boys, Head Girls and ***Quidditch*** captains. It was located on the fifth floor behind the fourth door to the left of a statue of ***Boris the Bewildered***, which only opened when given the correct ***password***, which, as mentioned by ***Cedric Diggory***, was 'Pine Fresh' in the ***1994–1995 school year***.

### Art classroom

This was where both ***Art*** and ***Muggle Art*** classes were taught at Hogwarts. This classroom had six easels, three paintings on the walls, a cabinet, a table, and the teacher's desk.

### Music classroom

This classroom was located in the ***Fifth-floor corridor*** of Hogwarts Castle. It was in this classroom that both the ***Music*** and ***Muggle Music*** classes were taught at Hogwarts.

### Other locations on the fifth floor

* ***Classroom 5B***
* ***Fifth-floor corridor***
* ***Fifth Floor hospital tower corridor***
* ***Fifth Floor classroom***
* ***Icy Corridor*** and one of the ***Cursed Vaults***
* ***Ravenclaw Tower staircase***

## Sixth floor

### Sixth-floor corridor

The sixth-floor corridor was one of the many corridors in Hogwarts Castle. It included ***a professor's office*** and some kind of bird that Draco Malfoy used in his plan to mend the ***Vanishing Cabinet*** in the ***Room of Requirement***. It was very similar to the ***Seventh-floor corridor***.
It was also connected to ***Horace Slughorn's Staircase*** to the ***North Tower*** and to the sixth floor of the ***Grand Staircase*** in the ***Grand Staircase Tower***.

### East Wing

This was a large hall located on the sixth floor of Hogwarts Castle. There was a huge fireplace in the centre of the room and some portraits hung on the walls. There were various suits of armour, which guarded the room after the sun was down. The entrance was located on ***Glanmore Peakes' Corridor***, and it had an entryway to the room where ***Fred*** and ***George Weasley*** hid the ***Marauder's Map***.

### Sixth-floor boys' bathroom

There was a passage leading from this bathroom to the seventh floor.

### Disused bathroom

This bathroom was accessible through a portrait in the ***reading room***, as well as a door on the other side of the castle, adjacent to ***Glanmore Peakes' Corridor***. It was unused prior to 1991, by which time ***Fred and George Weasley*** had taken up residence there and set up their own shop for Gryffindor students. In 1993, the twins abandoned the bathroom and set up their shop in ***a different bathroom*** on the seventh floor.

### Room of Rewards

    Not to be confused with the Trophy Room, the Room of Rewards was a secret room at Hogwarts that noted students' various achievements. It could be accessed via the portrait of ***Vindictus Viridian*** on the Grand Staircase.

## Seventh floor

### Ravenclaw Head's office

The ***Ravenclaw*** Head's office was the thirteenth window from the right of the ***West Tower***. The office contained ***portraits***, a desk, and sleeping quarters. This was where Sirius Black was held captive, awaiting the ***Dementor's Kiss*** in 1993. He was rescued by Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, and escaped on ***Buckbeak*** the Hippogriff.

### Room of Requirement

    The ***Room of Requirement*** was a secret room in Hogwarts that only appeared when a person was in great need of it. The room transformed itself into whatever the witch or wizard needed it to be at that moment. It was believed that the room was ***Unplottable***, as it did not appear on the ***Marauder's Map***, nor did its occupants, although this could simply be because James Potter, ***Remus Lupin***, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew, who were the Marauders, never found the room.

### Fat Lady's Corridor

    This corridor contained the portrait of the ***Fat Lady*** that served as the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. The corridor was at least one turn away from the Grand Staircase. In the ***1993–1994 school year***, security ***trolls*** were stationed here to protect the Fat Lady following the attack on her by Sirius Black.

### North Wing

This wing had hundreds of bookshelves lined along the walls and various tables and furniture placed around the room. It served the Castle as a reading room and study hall. There were two entrances; one in the seventh floor corridor and the other by the ***Fat Lady***'s portrait.

### Other locations on the seventh floor

* ***Classroom 7B***
* ***Classroom 7C***
* Gryffindor Tower
* ***Ravenclaw Tower***
* ***Seventh-floor corridor***

## Staircases

The castle had a hundred and forty two staircases.

### Staircases between levels below ground

* ***Dungeon Staircase*** (***Deathday Party Hall*** to the ***Dungeon Corridor***)

### Staircases ascending from first-floor

* ***Staircase*** between the ***first-floor corridor*** and the ***second-floor corridor***
* **Staircase** between the ***first-floor corridor*** and the ***Serpentine Corridor***
* ***Staircase*** between the library corridor and the ***second-floor corridor***

## Towers

### Grand Staircase Tower

    The Marble Staircase Tower was one of the many towers of Hogwarts Castle. It was one of the most prominent and recognisable features of the castle, dominating the skyline near the Great Hall and ***the Quad***. The tower was extremely large, spanning all seven floors as well as the basement level and countless attic-level rooms, judging from the many dormer windows in its conical roof. There were three smaller turrets on the roof of the tower.

The Marble Staircase Tower received its name from the ***Marble Staircase***, a large staircase which connected the Entrance Hall to the Grand Staircase. The Grand Staircase itself, consuming most of the space in the tower in a large, rectangular room, spanned at least eight storeys and had large windows that looked out over ***the Quad***.

### Gryffindor Tower

Main article: Gryffindor Tower    Gryffindor Tower was located behind the ***portrait*** of the ***Fat Lady*** on the Seventh Floor of Hogwarts Castle. A ***Password*** was required to enter it, which was spoken to the ***portrait***. A circular hole was behind the painting, leading to the common room, which was a circular room where Gryffindor students could relax after a long day of studying. The common room was full of squashy armchairs, tables, and a bulletin board where school notices, ads, lost posters, etc. could be posted. A window looked out onto the grounds of the school, and a large fireplace dominated one wall.

The Gryffindor dormitories were also located in the Tower, with two doors leading off from the common room that opened to spiral staircases. One of them led to the girls dormitory, the other to the boys. The stairs to the girls dormitories were enchanted to become a slide if any boy attempted to climb them, but not vice-versa, since it was deemed that girls were more trustworthy than boys.

### Headmaster's Tower

    The ***Headmaster's office*** was located within this tower. To gain entrance, a password had to be given to a ***stone gargoyle***, which would move aside at the correct password to reveal a spiral staircase with moving steps. The office was a circular room with windows, decorated with portraits of previous Headmasters including ***Dilys Derwent*** and ***Phineas Nigellus Black***. Many magical instruments were kept here, such as the Sorting Hat and the Pensieve.

## The grounds

### Gamekeeper's Hut

    The ***gamekeeper's hut*** was located on the edge of the ***Forbidden Forest***. Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper during Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts, lived here for many years.

### Forbidden Forest

    Also known as Dark Forest or Black Forest, the forest bordered the edges of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry grounds. As its name suggests, it was strictly off limits to students - except in the case of detention, or ***Care of Magical Creatures*** lessons that occasionally took place there. Of course, with the various dangerous creatures, such as ***centaurs***, ***Thestrals***, ***unicorns***, ***Hippogriffs*** and ***Acromantulas*** living in the Forest, few students would probably even want to venture into it.

### Greenhouses and gardens

    There were at least three greenhouses in which ***Herbology*** classes were held, under ***Professor Sprout***'s supervision. ***Greenhouse Three*** was restricted to students as it housed dangerous plants such as ***Venomous Tentaculas***, ***Mandrakes***, and others.

### Quidditch pitch

    The school had its own ***Quidditch pitch***, where each house's ***Quidditch teams*** practised and played games against each other. Each year would see a total of six inter-house matches, along with numerous training sessions by each house team.

### Quidditch Gate

    The Quidditch Gate was the entrance to the Quidditch Pitch. It was flanked by two stone structures which resembled two of the spectator towers surrounding the pitch. Inside the gate, several trophies and shields were housed. Through the gates led to a steep winding downhill decent from the vicinity of the ***Wooden Bridge***.

### Entrance Gates

The Entrance Gates to Hogwarts were located a short distance from ***Hogsmeade station***. The gates would be opened on the first day of term and ***carriages*** pulled by ***Thestrals*** would take students up to the castle. The Entrance Gates were made of magnificent wrought iron and were flanked by two columns topped with statues of winged boars. Just a few yards from the gates was a small guardhouse with a tall chimney.

### Training Grounds

    This was where ***Flying*** classes were taught to first years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry by ***Madam Hooch***. The grounds were flat, short-cut grassy areas and were located near the ***Herbology*** greenhouses. It was overlooked by the ***Training Grounds tower***.

## Behind the scenes

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* When explaining the concept of Legilimency to Harry Potter, Snape said that many ancient spells and charms guard the Hogwarts walls and grounds, ensuring the inhabitants' safety.
* It's seen that the interiors are not equal to exteriors of Hogwarts. (Ex: Curved walls inside, straight walls outside. Wide inside, narrow outside.) But this is possibly because Hogwarts is supported by magic.
* Hogwarts has different architecture in every adaptations and illustrations: Gothic the film adaptation, Medieval in the first three games and ***Mary GrandPre***'s illustration, Japonism in ***Kazu Kibuishi***'s, Flamboyant/Romanesque in ***Pottermore,*** and another different styles according to the version. But it is possibly it has its own unique architecture as Hogwarts is supported by magic, making it unique.
* In the film adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Chamber-Of Secrets*, the entrance to Dumbledore's office is located in the ***Middle Courtyard***, the entrance is located next to the ***Viaduct Courtyard***. In both locations, the gargoyle must have to move quite a way to get to the tower or possibly there could be some kind of magical short-cut.

## Differences between books, films, and video games

Throughout the *Harry Potter* films, Hogwarts Castle has changed significantly:

### *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*

    In the *Philosopher's Stone* film, only the parts of the castle that were needed for the film were created. This means that many areas of Hogwarts were missed. Areas of the castle included in the film were:

* The Great Hall
* The Chamber of Reception
* ***Hagrid's Hut***
* The ***Quidditch Pitch***

### *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

    In the *Chamber of Secrets* film, there are a few small changes:

* The ***Training Grounds tower***'s design has been changed, it now looks similar to the ***Clock Tower***, only without the clock.
* The ***Training Grounds*** have been redesigned to have a more ruined aged design.
* The ***Greenhouses*** are added to the east corner of the castle below the ***Bell towers***.
* The ***Whomping Willow*** is added to the Training Grounds. It is possible that it was there in *Philosopher's Stone*, but it was never shown.
* A new staircase to the ground similar to the ***Boathouse staircase*** is added to the left side of the Chamber of Reception. It is possible that it was there in *Philosopher's Stone*, but it was never shown.
* A trench is added to the Quidditch stadium.

The castle seen here is the same as seen in the first film.

* Entrance Hall
	+ Great Hall
* Grand Staircase
* Common room Corridor
	+ Gryffindor common room
	+ Ravenclaw Tower
	+ Hufflepuff Basement
	+ Slytherin Dungeon
* Chamber of Secrets

## Design mistakes

The castle was not designed as a perfect marriage between the exterior models and the interior film sets. While great efforts were made to design a seamless castle, many mistakes were made. These have resulted in real-life problems when trying to make models of the castle that include the interiors. The developers of the tie-in video games sometimes created interiors that could not possibly fit inside the exterior walls. The video game developers were able to hide these mistakes with clever loading zones and camera angles, as well as using different exterior models (that sometimes have missing areas) depending on where the player is. Starting, the interior of the castle was designed to precisely match what was seen in the corresponding film while using the same official exterior model.

### *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film)

* The Great Hall is positioned much higher than it should be. As a result, the Chamber of Reception is positioned far too low for corresponding interior to meet at the Great Hall's floor level. It is therefore impossible for the Chamber of Reception's stairs to get high enough to connect to the Entrance Hall.
* The side windows of the Chamber of Reception do not exactly match the corresponding windows on the model.
* The windows inside the Chamber of Reception are two units wide, while the corresponding windows on the model are three units wide.
* The small staircase behind the staff table in the Great Hall is architecturally impossible because the exterior wall is right where the door opens.
* The Gryffindor common room's film set does not match the model. There is a window to the left of the fireplace than cannot possibly fit unless the entire area protrudes from the rest of the Quad by more than several metres. This area is only shown to protrude a metre or two on *Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire* (film)'s model.
* Despite the need for a dormitory for each gender by year, the Gryffindor common room shows that there are only two rooms, and Harry's year lives in the same boys' room every year. There should be at least fourteen rooms in total.
* The Library's windows do not match up. The smaller windows on the side should be lower and taller on the model.

### *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film)

* The Entrance Hall has a new, larger window to the left that is not represented on the exterior model. The model uses the architecture from the previous film, which presumably had the Entrance Hall's window represented by the fourth window (in the lower set) of the Chamber of Reception building. That other window is also still on the model.
* The new film set for the Hospital Wing was introduced without it being represented by the exterior model of the castle.
* There is no tower that supports the shape or windows of the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom.
* The entrance to Dumbledore's office is shown to be near the Middle Courtyard, despite the office being located at the top of the Marble Staircase Tower.
* The Middle Courtyard as shown at the end of the film is architecturally impossible. Sunlight can be seen from both sides of the cloister pathway and the end of the pathway shows the valley area, despite the entire courtyard being surrounded by the castle.
* The set for Dumbledore's office is larger in scale than it is represented on the model. The windows are also incorrect. This happened because the area of the model was not updated when they designed the film set.

## Appearances

* *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film) (First Entire Appearance)
* *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film)
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban (film)
* Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire (film)
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (Mentioned only)
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
* *Harry Potter Official Site*

## Notes and references

1. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
2. ↑ Template:Tweet
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 9
4. ↑ *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 4
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 6
6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 7
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire (film)
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hogwarts Ghosts" at *Wizarding World (website)*
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 15
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 6
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 8
12. ↑ Scholastic interview with JKR 2000
13. ↑ , Chapter B, page 5
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 16
15. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 17
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 13
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film)
18. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
20. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 5
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 *Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire* (film)
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 , Chapter 12 (*Mudbloods And Murmurs*)
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 , Chapter B, page 16
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 , Chapter B, page 9
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 , Chapter B, page 17
26. ↑ *Pottermore* - archived here
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hufflepuff Common Room" at *Wizarding World (website)*
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `PSG`
30. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire* (film)
31. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DH36`
32. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `POA7`
33. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (film)*
34. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `COS8`
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film)
36. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film)
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 10
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 18
40. ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Professor McGonagall" at *Wizarding World (website)*
41. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* (film), Chapter 11
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 , Chapter B, page 10
43. ↑ , Chapter 7 (*Flying To Hogwarts*)
44. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban* (film)
45. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
46. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `POAF`
47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 *Harry-Potter and-the Sorcerer's S Stone* (film), Chapter 12
48. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `POA10`
49. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `POAG`
50. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban* (film)
51. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
52. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `POA14`
53. ↑ Template:HPWC
54. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (film) (see [[:{{{1}}}|this image]])*
55. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
56. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince* (film)
57. ↑ *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 *Harry Potter and The Order-Of-The Phoenix* (film)
59. ↑ , Chapter 15 (*Rogue-Bludger*)
60. ↑ , Chapter B, page 11