Godric's Hollow

• Type: Wizarding Village
• Location: The West Country, England
• Owner/Residents: Notable past and present residents include Godric Gryffindor (namesake), Ignotus Peverell and his descendants, the Dumbledore family, Bathilda Bagshot, and the Potter family.
• Key Features: A historically significant wizarding settlement where witches and wizards live alongside Muggles; features a magically concealed monument, a prominent graveyard with famous wizarding graves, and the ruins of the Potter Cottage.

Godric's Hollow is a small, picturesque village located in the West Country of England. It is arranged around a central village square which contains a war memorial. The village also includes a church, a pub, a post office, and numerous small cottages. For centuries, it has been a notable settlement for wizarding families, who have integrated with the local Muggle community, a fact that Bathilda Bagshot notes made the village a target during periods of witch-hunting. The village is named after one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Godric Gryffindor, who was born there. Its history is deeply entwined with some of the most important events and figures in the wizarding world. It was the home of Bowman Wright, the inventor of the Golden Snitch, and Ignotus Peverell, the original owner of the Invisibility Cloak and one of the three brothers from The Tale of the Three Brothers. The Dumbledore family moved to Godric's Hollow after Percival Dumbledore's imprisonment, and it was the site of the tragic death of Ariana Dumbledore during a three-way duel between Albus Dumbledore, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Gellert Grindelwald. Most famously, Godric's Hollow was where James and Lily Potter lived in hiding with their infant son, Harry Potter. It was here, on Hallowe'en of 1981, that Lord Voldemort murdered them but was defeated when his Killing Curse rebounded off Harry, destroying his physical body and ending the First Wizarding War.

Godric's Hollow is a location of paramount importance in the series, serving as the starting point of Harry Potter's story. It is the site of his parents' murder, his survival of the Killing Curse, and Lord Voldemort's first downfall, events that define Harry's identity and set the entire plot in motion. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the location becomes a primary destination for Harry and Hermione Granger. Driven by a desire to see his parents' graves and the place where he lived, Harry leads them there on Christmas Eve. Their visit is a pivotal moment in their quest for the Horcruxes. They discover the graves of the Potters and the Dumbledores, as well as the grave of Ignotus Peverell, which features the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. This discovery is a crucial step in understanding the Hallows' significance. The visit ends in disaster when they are lured into Bathilda Bagshot's House and ambushed by Nagini, who was inhabiting Bathilda's corpse. During their narrow escape, Harry's holly and phoenix feather wand is broken. The experience provides Harry with a deeper connection to his past but also a harsh lesson about the dangers of his journey.

• The Village Square: The center of Godric's Hollow. It features a stone war memorial that, to witches and wizards, magically transforms into a statue depicting James Potter, Lily Potter, and a baby Harry Potter.
• Godric's Hollow Graveyard: The burial ground adjacent to the village church. It contains the graves of many ancient wizarding families, including the Potters, the Dumbledores (Kendra Dumbledore and Ariana Dumbledore), and Ignotus Peverell.
• The Potter Cottage: The ruins of the Potter family's home, left in its destroyed state as a monument to their sacrifice and Voldemort's first defeat. An enchanted plaque in front of the house is covered in messages of support and hope left by visitors over the years.
• Bathilda Bagshot's House: The former home of the celebrated magical historian. It is where Harry and Hermione are ambushed by Nagini, who has been placed there by Lord Voldemort to wait for Harry's arrival.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, the village is presented as a classic, snow-covered English hamlet. The magical transformation of the war memorial into the Potter family statue is depicted visually. (film)
• J.K. Rowling has stated that the name Godric was chosen as “one of those robust, rather dashing, old-fashioned names… that I imagine gave rise to the Gryffindor name.” (Pottermore)
• The term 'hollow' can mean a small valley or a secluded place, which reflects the village's status as a semi-hidden community where wizarding families could live in relative peace.