Notable Wizarding Residences
Introduction
Residences in the wizarding world are far more than mere shelters; they are often imbued with powerful magic, serving as sanctuaries, headquarters, and reflections of their inhabitants' character and allegiances. Many homes are protected by complex defensive enchantments to conceal them from Muggles and ward off dark wizards. Key protective spells include the Fidelius Charm, which hides a secret within a single living person, Muggle-Repelling Charms, and spells that render a location Unplottable. Throughout the Second Wizarding War, the safety and security of these homes played a critical role in the strategies of both the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters.
Potter and Allied Family Homes
- Number Four, Privet Drive: The Muggle residence of the Dursley family and Harry Potter's primary home for his first sixteen years. The house was protected by a powerful enchantment derived from Lily Potter's loving sacrifice, which kept Harry safe from Lord Voldemort as long as he could call the place where his mother's blood dwelled “home”. This protection was reinforced by Albus Dumbledore.
- The Burrow: The crooked, magically-expanded home of the Weasley family, located near the village of Ottery St Catchpole. It served as a second home to Harry Potter and later became the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix after the fall of the Ministry of Magic. The Burrow represents warmth, family, and steadfast opposition to Lord Voldemort.
- Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place: The ancestral home of the Black family, a dark and gloomy townhouse in London hidden from Muggles by enchantments. It was bequeathed to Harry Potter by his godfather, Sirius Black, and served as the first headquarters for the reconstituted Order of the Phoenix. The house was protected by a Fidelius Charm.
- Godric's Hollow (Potter Cottage): The home of James Potter and Lily Potter where they lived with their infant son, Harry. It was the site of their murders at the hands of Lord Voldemort on Hallowe'en in 1981. The house was left in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters and the first downfall of Voldemort.
- Shell Cottage: The seaside home of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour in Cornwall. It served as a safe house for Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and others after their escape from Malfoy Manor. The cottage was protected by a Fidelius Charm, with Bill as the Secret-Keeper.
- The Rookery: The uniquely shaped, rook-like home of Xenophilius Lovegood and his daughter, Luna Lovegood. Located near Ottery St Catchpole, the house was filled with strange artifacts and the family's eccentric creations. It was heavily damaged when Death Eaters attacked in an attempt to capture Harry Potter.
Malfoy and Dark Wizard Residences
- Malfoy Manor: The grand and opulent ancestral home of the wealthy, pure-blood Malfoy family. During the Second Wizarding War, the manor was co-opted by Lord Voldemort to serve as a headquarters for his Death Eaters and a prison for their captives.
- The Gaunt Shack: A dilapidated and squalid shack located in the woods near Little Hangleton. It was the ancestral home of the Gaunt family, the last direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin. The shack was the hiding place for Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, which was later turned into one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes.
- The Riddle House: The former grand manor of the wealthy Muggle Riddle family in Little Hangleton. It was the site of the murders of Tom Riddle Sr. and his parents by the teenage Tom Marvolo Riddle. Lord Voldemort later used the abandoned house as a temporary hideout upon his return to a rudimentary body.
Other Notable Residences
- Hagrid's Hut: The small wooden cabin belonging to Rubeus Hagrid, located on the edge of the Forbidden Forest on the Hogwarts grounds. The hut was a place of comfort and refuge for Harry, Ron, and Hermione throughout their school years.
- Spinner's End: The childhood home of Severus Snape, located in a derelict Muggle industrial town called Cokeworth. Snape continued to use the house as an adult, and it is where he was visited by Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, at which point he made the Unbreakable Vow.
- Bathilda Bagshot's House: The home of the magical historian Bathilda Bagshot in Godric's Hollow. It was the scene of a terrifying encounter for Harry and Hermione when they discovered that Voldemort's snake, Nagini, was inhabiting Bathilda's corpse.
- Muriel's House: The heavily guarded home of Great Aunt Muriel, the great-aunt of the Weasley children. The family, including Fred Weasley and George Weasley, sought refuge here during the Second Wizarding War due to its strong protective enchantments.
- The Hog's Head Inn: The pub and residence of Aberforth Dumbledore in the village of Hogsmeade. The inn served as a crucial secret passageway into Hogwarts Castle for members of Dumbledore's Army during the final battle.