Churchyards

• Type: Burial Ground / Graveyard
• Location: Various locations throughout Great Britain, most notably Little Hangleton and Godric's Hollow in England.
• Notable Burials:
  • Riddle family (Little Hangleton)
  • Potter family (Godric's Hollow)
  • Dumbledore family (Godric's Hollow)
  • Ignotus Peverell (Godric's Hollow)
  • Abbott family (Godric's Hollow)
• Key Features: Churchyards in the Harry Potter universe are burial grounds adjacent to a church, containing the graves of both Muggles and wizards. The headstones of magical folk can bear unique inscriptions and symbols not readily understood by Muggles, such as the mark of the Deathly Hallows.

Churchyards serve as solemn, historical sites that chronicle the lives and deaths of local families, both magical and non-magical. The two most significant churchyards featured in the series are located in Little Hangleton and Godric's Hollow, each playing a pivotal role in the lives of Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. The Little Hangleton churchyard is depicted as neglected and overgrown. It sits on a hill overlooking the village, near the dilapidated Riddle House. A large, ancient yew tree stands in its centre. The most prominent grave is that of the Riddle family, a large marble headstone that was a key component in the potion that restored Lord Voldemort to his physical body. In contrast, the Godric's Hollow churchyard is presented as a place of historical and emotional significance. When Harry Potter and Hermione Granger visited on Christmas Eve, it was blanketed in snow, creating a peaceful and sombre atmosphere. The graveyard contains many ancient wizarding names, with some graves so old the names were eroded. It is the final resting place of many notable magical figures, including the Potters, the Dumbledores, and Ignotus Peverell, one of the three brothers from The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Churchyards are settings for two of the most critical turning points in the Second Wizarding War. The Little Hangleton churchyard is the location of Lord Voldemort's rebirth. After being transported there by the Triwizard Cup Portkey, Harry Potter witnessed the murder of Cedric Diggory by Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew then used a bone from Tom Riddle Sr.'s grave, flesh from his own arm, and Harry's blood to perform a dark ritual, successfully resurrecting Voldemort. The ensuing duel between Harry and Voldemort resulted in a Priori Incantatem effect, which gave Harry the chance to escape. The Godric's Hollow churchyard serves as the backdrop for a moment of profound emotional pilgrimage for Harry. His visit to his parents' graves provided a tangible connection to the family he never knew. The discovery of Ignotus Peverell's grave, marked with the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, was a crucial clue in his quest to understand and find the legendary objects. The visit immediately preceded the terrifying ambush by Nagini, disguised as Bathilda Bagshot, which resulted in the destruction of Harry's holly and phoenix feather wand.

• Little Hangleton Churchyard
  • Riddle Grave: The burial site of Thomas Riddle, Mary Riddle, and Tom Riddle Sr.. A bone from this grave was one of the three key ingredients for the Regeneration Potion that restored Lord Voldemort.
• Godric's Hollow Churchyard
  • Potter Grave: The white marble grave of James Potter and Lily Potter. It is inscribed with the epitaph, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
  • Dumbledore Grave: The grave of Kendra Dumbledore and Ariana Dumbledore, made of dark stone. Its epitaph reads, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
  • Peverell Grave: The ancient, weathered grave of Ignotus Peverell. The name was difficult to read, but it was clearly marked with the triangular symbol of the Deathly Hallows.
  • Abbott Grave: Harry and Hermione briefly noted a grave belonging to the Abbott family, possibly distant relatives of their Hogwarts classmate, Hannah Abbott.

• The epitaphs on the Potter and Dumbledore graves were chosen personally by J.K. Rowling. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” is from the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:26), and “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” is also a biblical quote (Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34). Rowling stated these quotes summed up the entire series. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the churchyard is depicted with a large, dramatic angel of death statue that comes to life and traps Harry during the duel with Voldemort. This is a cinematic addition not present in the novel. (film)
• The film depiction of the Godric's Hollow churchyard in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 closely follows the book's description, capturing the snowy, quiet, and melancholic atmosphere. (film)