======Magical Accommodations======
=====General Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Inn]], [[Pub]], [[Hotel]]
  * **Purpose:** To provide temporary lodging, food, and drink for travelling or local [[wizards]] and [[witches]].
  * **Clientele:** Members of the [[wizarding community]], including travellers, local patrons, students on leave from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], and occasionally individuals seeking refuge or discretion.
  * **Common Features:** Magical accommodations are typically hidden from [[Muggles]] through powerful [[enchantments]]. They serve as social hubs, sources of news and gossip, and often gateways to magical districts. They provide wizarding-specific food and beverages, such as [[Butterbeer]], [[Firewhisky]], and [[Gillywater]].
=====Description and Characteristics=====
Magical inns and pubs are a cornerstone of wizarding society, offering a place for community members to gather outside of their homes or workplaces. Their atmospheres vary greatly, from the dark, grimy, and discreet feel of the [[Hog's Head Inn]] to the warm, clean, and welcoming environment of [[The Three Broomsticks]].
A key feature of these establishments is their concealment from the non-magical world. The [[Leaky Cauldron]] in [[London]], for instance, is described as a tiny, grubby-looking pub wedged between a bookshop and a record shop, completely invisible to the [[Muggles]] rushing past it. Access often requires magical knowledge, such as tapping the correct brick to enter [[Diagon Alley]] from the pub's backyard.
Innkeepers, such as [[Tom the Innkeeper]] of the Leaky Cauldron and [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] of the Hog's Head, are often central figures. They tend to be discreet and well-informed, privy to the comings and goings of many influential or secretive individuals.
=====Role in the Wizarding World=====
Magical accommodations play several crucial roles throughout the series, serving as settings for pivotal plot developments.
  * **Information Hubs:** Characters often overhear critical information or seek it out in these public spaces. [[Harry Potter]] first learns the "truth" about [[Sirius Black]] supposedly betraying his parents by eavesdropping on a conversation between [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]], [[Professor McGonagall]], [[Professor Flitwick]], and [[Madam Rosmerta]] in [[The Three Broomsticks]]. The original [[Prophecy]] concerning Harry and [[Lord Voldemort]] was made by [[Sybill Trelawney]] to [[Albus Dumbledore]] during an interview at the [[Hog's Head Inn]].
  * **Meeting Places:** These establishments are neutral grounds for meetings. [[Rubeus Hagrid]] won the [[dragon]] egg that would hatch into [[Norbert]] during a card game at the Hog's Head. Most significantly, the student resistance group known as [[Dumbledore's Army]] held its first organizational meeting in the Hog's Head to avoid the oversight of [[Dolores Umbridge]].
  * **Refuge and Sanctuary:** After accidentally inflating his [[Aunt Marge]], Harry flees to the [[Leaky Cauldron]], where he is permitted to stay for several weeks before the start of his third year, under the discreet protection of the [[Ministry of Magic]]. During the final battle, the [[Hog's Head Inn]] served as a secret passage into [[Hogwarts]] via a tunnel connected to the [[Room of Requirement]], providing a vital route for reinforcements.
=====Known Magical Accommodations=====
  * **[[The Leaky Cauldron]]**: A famous wizarding pub and inn in [[London]] that serves as the main entrance to [[Diagon Alley]]. It was run by [[Tom the Innkeeper]] for many years and later by [[Hannah Abbott]]. It is a popular spot for wizards visiting the magical shopping street and a temporary home for Harry in his third year.
  * **[[The Hog's Head Inn]]**: A rundown and disreputable pub in the village of [[Hogsmeade]], known for attracting a shadier clientele. It is owned and operated by [[Albus Dumbledore]]'s brother, [[Aberforth Dumbledore]]. It is the location where the [[First Prophecy]] was made and where [[Dumbledore's Army]] was formed.
  * **[[The Three Broomsticks]]**: A popular, cosy, and well-regarded inn in [[Hogsmeade]] owned by the attractive [[Madam Rosmerta]]. It is a favourite destination for [[Hogwarts]] students and staff during weekend visits to the village.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * The name "Leaky Cauldron" is a pun, referencing a common piece of wizarding equipment ([[cauldron]]) and the common pub name trope of "The Leaky..." (e.g., The Leaky Bucket).
  * According to Pottermore, the [[Leaky Cauldron]] was established around 1500 by a wizard named Daisy Dodderidge to serve as a gateway between the Muggle world and [[Diagon Alley]]. (Pottermore)
  * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban//, the exterior of the [[Leaky Cauldron]] was filmed at 7 Stoney Street, Borough Market, London, and its entrance was moved to a different location under a railway bridge for the film. (film)