Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

• Type: School of Magic
• Location: The Scottish Highlands, Scotland (J.K. Rowling interview)
• Owner/Residents: Founded by the Founders of Hogwarts. Governed by a Headmaster or Headmistress and a Board of Governors. Notable residents include Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and generations of students and staff.
• Key Features: A vast, seven-storey stone castle protected by numerous powerful enchantments. The castle is Unplottable, meaning it cannot be marked on a map. To Muggles, it appears as a derelict ruin with a sign reading “DANGER, DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE.” Its grounds include the Forbidden Forest, the Great Lake, and a full-size Quidditch Pitch.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the premier British wizarding school, widely regarded as one of the finest magical educational institutions in the world. It was founded around the 10th century by four of the greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They built the castle together, far from the prying eyes of Muggles, and began educating young witches and wizards. The founders' primary disagreement was over student admission. Salazar Slytherin believed that magical education should be reserved for those of pure-blood lineage, a view not shared by the other three. This conflict led to Slytherin's departure from the school. Before leaving, he secretly constructed the Chamber of Secrets beneath the castle, concealing a Basilisk within, intended to one day purge the school of Muggle-born students. The castle's architecture is complex and ever-changing, featuring 142 staircases, some of which lead to different places on different days, as well as trick stairs and disappearing doors. Notable features include the Great Hall with its enchanted ceiling that reflects the sky outside, the Grand Staircase lined with moving portraits, and the four House common rooms, each reflecting the personality of its founder. The school's motto is Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus, which is Latin for “Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.”

Hogwarts serves as the primary setting for the first six books of the series and is the location of the final climactic battle in the seventh. For Harry Potter, it represents his first true home and a sanctuary from his abusive life with the Dursley family. It is where he forges his most important relationships, including his friendships with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and his mentorship under Albus Dumbledore. The school is the stage for many of Lord Voldemort's attempts to return to power. Key events occurring at Hogwarts include:

• The protection of the Philosopher's Stone during Harry's first year.
• The opening of the Chamber of Secrets and the defeat of Tom Riddle's memory in Harry's second year.
• The stationing of Dementors on the grounds during the hunt for Sirius Black.
• The hosting of the Triwizard Tournament, which culminated in Lord Voldemort's return.
• The oppressive regime of Dolores Umbridge as High Inquisitor and the formation of Dumbledore's Army.
• The death of Albus Dumbledore at the top of the Astronomy Tower.
• The final confrontation between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Hogwarts is more than a backdrop; it is a character in its own right, with its own secrets and magic, such as the Room of Requirement, which provides whatever the user needs. It symbolizes the enduring power of knowledge, friendship, and courage in the face of darkness.

• Castle Interior:
  • Great Hall
  • Entrance Hall
  • Grand Staircase
  • Headmaster's Office
  • Hospital Wing
  • Library
  • Chamber of Secrets
  • Room of Requirement
  • Prefects' Bathroom
  • Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom
  • Kitchens
  • Owlery
• House Common Rooms:
  • Gryffindor Common Room (in Gryffindor Tower)
  • Slytherin Common Room (in the Slytherin Dungeon)
  • Ravenclaw Common Room (in Ravenclaw Tower)
  • Hufflepuff Common Room (near the Kitchens)
• Classrooms:
  • Astronomy Tower
  • Charms Classroom
  • Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom
  • Divination Classroom
  • Dungeons (Potions Classroom)
  • Herbology Greenhouses
  • Transfiguration Classroom
• Grounds:
  • The Grounds
  • Black Lake (also known as the Great Lake)
  • Forbidden Forest
  • Hagrid's Hut
  • Quidditch Pitch
  • Whomping Willow

• In interviews, J.K. Rowling has confirmed that Hogwarts is located in Scotland. She also stated that she envisions about a thousand students attending the school at any given time, though this is inconsistent with the smaller class sizes depicted in the novels.
• The four Hogwarts houses were created on the back of an airplane sick bag during a flight (J.K. Rowling interview).
• On Pottermore, it was revealed that the Sorting Hat originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor and was enchanted by all four founders to sort students long after their deaths (Pottermore).
• In the film adaptations, several real-world locations were used for Hogwarts, including Alnwick Castle for the exterior shots in the first two films, and Durham Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral for various corridors and rooms (film).