Magical Accommodations

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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)