The Harry Potter Compendium
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The Harry Potter Compendium
The Harry Potter Compendium
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in: Articles with information from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game), Articles with information from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film), Articles with information from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
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Great Lake

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The Great Lake[1] (alternatively known as the Black Lake[2]) is a large body of water located to the south of the castle. It is about half a mile in diameter and the Hogwarts plumbing network drains into it.

Description[]

Inhabitants[]

Great Lake Second Task

The Merpeople village in the Great Lake

It is home to a Giant Squid, Grindylows, and a colony of Merpeople. The lake was also used as the site of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament. The Slytherin common room is beneath the lake, accessed through an entrance in the school dungeons. The Chamber of Secrets is also thought to be beneath the lake. At some point, Neville Longbottom's pet toad, Trevor, escaped into the lake, joining other toads that lived there.[3] Sea turtles can also be found within it.

Temperature[]

The lake is very often cold, but Viktor Krum is known to have swam in it, apparently not affected by the low temperature (although this is probably due to the fact that his school, Durmstrang, is located in a place that is even colder). Harry Potter, while under the effects of Gillyweed, stated "the water didn't feel icy anymore either... on the contrary, he felt pleasantly cool and very light".

Hogwarts students like Tulip Karasu and Barnaby Lee were known to swim in the lake.

Lily Evans and her friends were also said to dangle their legs over the water, which could mean that there were no rules whilst they were in school against swimming in the lake.

History[]

Every school year at Hogwarts, after the Hogwarts Express arrives at Hogsmeade station, Rubeus Hagrid called the first year students to sail across the lake to the castle. Whereupon Hagrid occupied one boat and each other boat carried up to four students. At the start of the 1994–1995 school year, it is said that Dennis Creevey fell into the lake and that the Giant Squid carried him back to the surface.

Upon reaching the castle, Hagrid and the first-years left their boats and climbed the stairs to the lawn, entering the castle through the front doors. The students then waited until they were summoned into the Great Hall to get sorted into their houses. At the end of their first year, students took the boats back to Hogsmeade Station, while most older students rode down the lane in carriages.

At the end of every school year, graduating seventh years leave the school by sailing back across the lake.

Saving the innocent[]

Main article: Attack at the Great Lake

On June 6 1994, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Sirius Black were attacked by Dementors on the shore of the lake. Harry tried to protect them by using the Patronus Charm but he did not succeed. Before he fainted, he suddenly saw a person conjuring a corporeal Patronus on the opposite side of the lake.

Later that night, after using Hermione's Time-Turner in the Hospital Wing, they went back in time to save Sirius. Harry circled the lake and waited for the Dementors. Watching the events, he realized that he saw himself earlier and conjured a corporeal Patronus in a deer form to scare off the Dementors.

Triwizard Tournament[]

Main article: Second Task

Students from Durmstrang Institute arrived at Hogwarts on their enchanted boat via the Great Lake. The Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament took place on 24 February, 1995. The four champions Harry Potter, Fleur Delacour, and Cedric Diggory, and Viktor Krum assembled on the shore of the lake and were told that they had to swim in the lake for one hour to rescue something that was taken from them.

The Champions entered the water, where Harry had to eat the Gillyweed, which gave him the gills to breathe underwater, and webbed hands and feet to allow him to swim faster. Both Fleur and Cedric used the Bubble-Head Charm while Krum partially transfigured himself into a shark. Spectators had no knowledge of what was happening during the task until at least one champion returned, but they were able to moniter time remaining by observing a provided clock.

Albus Dumbledore's funeral[]

Main article: Funeral of Albus Dumbledore

In 1997, Albus Dumbledore was laid to rest in a White Tomb on the shores of the lake following his death in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. The place where the funeral was held was set up outside of the castle near the Black Lake as well. Hundreds of golden chairs had been set out in straight even rows. An aisle ran down the centre of them. There was a marble table standing at the front, with all chairs facing it. An extroadinary assortment of people had settled into half of the chairs: shabby and smart, old and young. The Merpeople who took up residence in the lake attended the funeral.

Trevor's escape[]

At some point in his life, Trevor managed to escape from Neville and into the lake. Both pet and owner felt a sense of relief at this.

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
  2. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) - see this image
  3. ↑ Pottermore information on toads (transcript available here)


Hogwarts Castle
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Training Grounds · Secret room near the Training Grounds · Hagrid's cabin · Hagrid's pumpkin patch · Hagrid's garden · Secret Garden · Forbidden Forest · Hogwarts greenhouses · Stone Circle · Covered Bridge entrance · Quidditch Pitch · Incendio Challenge · Quidditch Gate · Broomshed · Entrance Gates · Entrance footpath · Pixie water well · Clock Tower Courtyard · Covered Bridge · Road to Hogwarts · Ravenclaw Duelling Arena · Quidditch Training Pitch · Gargoyle Gate · White Tomb · Black Lake · Ravine · Road to Hogsmeade · Lawn by Forbidden Forest · Path to Owlery · Path to the Whomping Willow · Locker rooms
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