Is the Forbidden Forest surrounded by a wall?
There are lots of occasions in the books when Hogwarts grounds are hard or impossible to enter. And while they give lots of additional magical protection to it, the main thing that divides the inside and outside of Hogwarts' territory is the wall.
But I was always wondering why no one ever thought of entering the castle grounds through the Forbidden Forest? The forest seems huge - it's big enough for centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns and occasional giants to live there without fighting for space. Even then, there is enough space left for a convict on a run to hide, Death Eaters to put their rest camp, Hagrid to organize lessons, and four Dragons to be kept without bothering other inhabitants.
However big and dangerous the forest is, it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle. Maybe somewhere in the mountains. Why not enter the forest there and pass through it to reach the castle? Or at least it could be considered as an option when you try to protect the castle grounds from unwanted intruders.
Does that mean that this huge forest is also surrounded by the castle walls as a part of the castle grounds? That's a strange thing to imagine as it's going to be huge like the Great Wall of China really and it makes the centaurs trapped in the forest like in a natural reserve.
Are there any indications in canon sources of how the Forbidden Forest is protected from the sides that are not facing the castle?
harry-potter forbidden-forest
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
|
show 12 more comments
There are lots of occasions in the books when Hogwarts grounds are hard or impossible to enter. And while they give lots of additional magical protection to it, the main thing that divides the inside and outside of Hogwarts' territory is the wall.
But I was always wondering why no one ever thought of entering the castle grounds through the Forbidden Forest? The forest seems huge - it's big enough for centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns and occasional giants to live there without fighting for space. Even then, there is enough space left for a convict on a run to hide, Death Eaters to put their rest camp, Hagrid to organize lessons, and four Dragons to be kept without bothering other inhabitants.
However big and dangerous the forest is, it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle. Maybe somewhere in the mountains. Why not enter the forest there and pass through it to reach the castle? Or at least it could be considered as an option when you try to protect the castle grounds from unwanted intruders.
Does that mean that this huge forest is also surrounded by the castle walls as a part of the castle grounds? That's a strange thing to imagine as it's going to be huge like the Great Wall of China really and it makes the centaurs trapped in the forest like in a natural reserve.
Are there any indications in canon sources of how the Forbidden Forest is protected from the sides that are not facing the castle?
harry-potter forbidden-forest
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
4
Have you ever tried just walking through a forest? It's pretty bothersome. I'm not saying this is the reason, the thing is j r doesn't really care if it fits and is big enough, the books were written before google maps and so on, but really, how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere? The government knows about magic, so it's semi believable that there is no official business there of any kind. The number of random people in the woods is so small ...
– Raditz_35
Nov 12 at 8:35
9
“…it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle”—you are trying to apply muggle geometry to a magical forest. Consider how the Fidelius Charm works (e.g. when hiding Grimmauld Place #12) or the geometry of the Room of Requirement. A magical forest doesn’t need to have an end.
– Holger
Nov 12 at 13:59
2
@Holger There is no indication in the books that the Forest exists in some sort of other dimension, like the Room of Requirment. I believe geographically it's pretty much just a regular forest.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:08
3
@Raditz_35 "how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere" - well, even Muggles do that all the times, I did it myself, yes, as a hiker. It can be difficult, but not impossible.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:11
4
Nobody enters Hogwarts through the forest because doing so means dealing with centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns, occasional giants, on-the-run convicts, Death Eaters, four dragons, and Hagrid.
– Mark
Nov 12 at 22:36
|
show 12 more comments
There are lots of occasions in the books when Hogwarts grounds are hard or impossible to enter. And while they give lots of additional magical protection to it, the main thing that divides the inside and outside of Hogwarts' territory is the wall.
But I was always wondering why no one ever thought of entering the castle grounds through the Forbidden Forest? The forest seems huge - it's big enough for centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns and occasional giants to live there without fighting for space. Even then, there is enough space left for a convict on a run to hide, Death Eaters to put their rest camp, Hagrid to organize lessons, and four Dragons to be kept without bothering other inhabitants.
However big and dangerous the forest is, it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle. Maybe somewhere in the mountains. Why not enter the forest there and pass through it to reach the castle? Or at least it could be considered as an option when you try to protect the castle grounds from unwanted intruders.
Does that mean that this huge forest is also surrounded by the castle walls as a part of the castle grounds? That's a strange thing to imagine as it's going to be huge like the Great Wall of China really and it makes the centaurs trapped in the forest like in a natural reserve.
Are there any indications in canon sources of how the Forbidden Forest is protected from the sides that are not facing the castle?
harry-potter forbidden-forest
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
There are lots of occasions in the books when Hogwarts grounds are hard or impossible to enter. And while they give lots of additional magical protection to it, the main thing that divides the inside and outside of Hogwarts' territory is the wall.
But I was always wondering why no one ever thought of entering the castle grounds through the Forbidden Forest? The forest seems huge - it's big enough for centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns and occasional giants to live there without fighting for space. Even then, there is enough space left for a convict on a run to hide, Death Eaters to put their rest camp, Hagrid to organize lessons, and four Dragons to be kept without bothering other inhabitants.
However big and dangerous the forest is, it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle. Maybe somewhere in the mountains. Why not enter the forest there and pass through it to reach the castle? Or at least it could be considered as an option when you try to protect the castle grounds from unwanted intruders.
Does that mean that this huge forest is also surrounded by the castle walls as a part of the castle grounds? That's a strange thing to imagine as it's going to be huge like the Great Wall of China really and it makes the centaurs trapped in the forest like in a natural reserve.
Are there any indications in canon sources of how the Forbidden Forest is protected from the sides that are not facing the castle?
harry-potter forbidden-forest
harry-potter forbidden-forest
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
edited Nov 13 at 2:14
user45266
1034
1034
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
asked Nov 12 at 7:24
Shana Tar
3,53822045
3,53822045
4
Have you ever tried just walking through a forest? It's pretty bothersome. I'm not saying this is the reason, the thing is j r doesn't really care if it fits and is big enough, the books were written before google maps and so on, but really, how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere? The government knows about magic, so it's semi believable that there is no official business there of any kind. The number of random people in the woods is so small ...
– Raditz_35
Nov 12 at 8:35
9
“…it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle”—you are trying to apply muggle geometry to a magical forest. Consider how the Fidelius Charm works (e.g. when hiding Grimmauld Place #12) or the geometry of the Room of Requirement. A magical forest doesn’t need to have an end.
– Holger
Nov 12 at 13:59
2
@Holger There is no indication in the books that the Forest exists in some sort of other dimension, like the Room of Requirment. I believe geographically it's pretty much just a regular forest.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:08
3
@Raditz_35 "how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere" - well, even Muggles do that all the times, I did it myself, yes, as a hiker. It can be difficult, but not impossible.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:11
4
Nobody enters Hogwarts through the forest because doing so means dealing with centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns, occasional giants, on-the-run convicts, Death Eaters, four dragons, and Hagrid.
– Mark
Nov 12 at 22:36
|
show 12 more comments
4
Have you ever tried just walking through a forest? It's pretty bothersome. I'm not saying this is the reason, the thing is j r doesn't really care if it fits and is big enough, the books were written before google maps and so on, but really, how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere? The government knows about magic, so it's semi believable that there is no official business there of any kind. The number of random people in the woods is so small ...
– Raditz_35
Nov 12 at 8:35
9
“…it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle”—you are trying to apply muggle geometry to a magical forest. Consider how the Fidelius Charm works (e.g. when hiding Grimmauld Place #12) or the geometry of the Room of Requirement. A magical forest doesn’t need to have an end.
– Holger
Nov 12 at 13:59
2
@Holger There is no indication in the books that the Forest exists in some sort of other dimension, like the Room of Requirment. I believe geographically it's pretty much just a regular forest.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:08
3
@Raditz_35 "how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere" - well, even Muggles do that all the times, I did it myself, yes, as a hiker. It can be difficult, but not impossible.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:11
4
Nobody enters Hogwarts through the forest because doing so means dealing with centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns, occasional giants, on-the-run convicts, Death Eaters, four dragons, and Hagrid.
– Mark
Nov 12 at 22:36
4
4
Have you ever tried just walking through a forest? It's pretty bothersome. I'm not saying this is the reason, the thing is j r doesn't really care if it fits and is big enough, the books were written before google maps and so on, but really, how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere? The government knows about magic, so it's semi believable that there is no official business there of any kind. The number of random people in the woods is so small ...
– Raditz_35
Nov 12 at 8:35
Have you ever tried just walking through a forest? It's pretty bothersome. I'm not saying this is the reason, the thing is j r doesn't really care if it fits and is big enough, the books were written before google maps and so on, but really, how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere? The government knows about magic, so it's semi believable that there is no official business there of any kind. The number of random people in the woods is so small ...
– Raditz_35
Nov 12 at 8:35
9
9
“…it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle”—you are trying to apply muggle geometry to a magical forest. Consider how the Fidelius Charm works (e.g. when hiding Grimmauld Place #12) or the geometry of the Room of Requirement. A magical forest doesn’t need to have an end.
– Holger
Nov 12 at 13:59
“…it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle”—you are trying to apply muggle geometry to a magical forest. Consider how the Fidelius Charm works (e.g. when hiding Grimmauld Place #12) or the geometry of the Room of Requirement. A magical forest doesn’t need to have an end.
– Holger
Nov 12 at 13:59
2
2
@Holger There is no indication in the books that the Forest exists in some sort of other dimension, like the Room of Requirment. I believe geographically it's pretty much just a regular forest.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:08
@Holger There is no indication in the books that the Forest exists in some sort of other dimension, like the Room of Requirment. I believe geographically it's pretty much just a regular forest.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:08
3
3
@Raditz_35 "how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere" - well, even Muggles do that all the times, I did it myself, yes, as a hiker. It can be difficult, but not impossible.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:11
@Raditz_35 "how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere" - well, even Muggles do that all the times, I did it myself, yes, as a hiker. It can be difficult, but not impossible.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:11
4
4
Nobody enters Hogwarts through the forest because doing so means dealing with centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns, occasional giants, on-the-run convicts, Death Eaters, four dragons, and Hagrid.
– Mark
Nov 12 at 22:36
Nobody enters Hogwarts through the forest because doing so means dealing with centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns, occasional giants, on-the-run convicts, Death Eaters, four dragons, and Hagrid.
– Mark
Nov 12 at 22:36
|
show 12 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
JKR's own drawing of the map of Hogwarts indicated that the forest is bounded on at least two sides by the Hogwarts wall, a road and on one side by a train track
We also learn that the forest "extends" in a broadly North-easterly direction.
The Forest is described by JKR (in another sketch map) as "Massive" and stretching out of sight.. You can also see the northerly wall of Hogwarts extending along the top edge of the forest to the edge of the map
The books seem to describe a mountain (range?) to the North-east of the castle so the forest may run up against the foothills.
The sun was rising properly now [in June]; there was a rim of dazzling orange visible over the mountains and the sky above it was colourless and bright. The light fell upon Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
4
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
2
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
1
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
2
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
3
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
|
show 3 more comments
At the end of Deathly Hallows Hagrid explains how he got back in to the school grounds:
Smashed our way through the boundary by the forest, Grawpy was carryin' us, Fang an' me.
I take this to mean that he did not simply come in through the forest with no physical obstacle. It would either mean that there is a boundary (wall) preventing one from entering the forest, or that they came through the boundary near the forest but there is actually no boundary around the forest. If the latter, though, why didn't they just come in through the forest without having to smash through the boundary? Hagrid of all people should have no trouble entering through the forest.
I think it is therefore likely that there is some sort of boundary wall preventing one from simply entering the grounds through the forest. This could either be a wall that encloses the entire forest, or it could be a wall that runs through the forest (i.e. if the forest is so big it is possible that part of the forest is on the school grounds and enclosed, but the rest of the forest extends unprotected).
Note also Aberforth's comment when the trio want to enter Hogwarts at the end of Deathly Hallows:
"There's only one way in now," said Aberforth. "You must know they've got all the old secret passageways covered at both ends, dementors all around the boundary walls, regular patrols inside the school from what my sources tell me. The place has never been so heavily guarded.
This too would seem to indicate that the forest is protected by the wall. Otherwise the dementors all around the boundary walls wouldn't really help if anyone could simply avoid them by going through the forest.
In any case, it seems clear that there is some sort of barrier around the forest, because throughout the series no one ever suggests the forest as a way to enter the grounds.
When, throughout Prisoner of Azkaban, everyone is trying to figure out how Sirius could get in, no one said "hey, maybe he came in through the forest". Similarly, in Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore asks Malfoy how he managed to smuggle Death Eaters in, and doesn't even consider the possibility that they just waltzed in through the forest.
However, at the start of term in Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore makes the following announcement:
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds." Dumbledore continued,
Similarly, Hermione later says:
They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds.
"Every entrance" and "every single entrance" indicate that there are actually several entrances to the grounds, yet in the books we only see two entrances (the front gates, and the lake), not counting the secret passageways. Thus, there would seem to be other entrances that we are never told about. One of them might be the forest. So it may have a protective barrier, but also have an entrance. During the events of Prisoner of Azkaban and Deathly Hallows it would have been guarded by dementors, and perhaps by aurors during Half-Blood Prince.
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
JKR's own drawing of the map of Hogwarts indicated that the forest is bounded on at least two sides by the Hogwarts wall, a road and on one side by a train track
We also learn that the forest "extends" in a broadly North-easterly direction.
The Forest is described by JKR (in another sketch map) as "Massive" and stretching out of sight.. You can also see the northerly wall of Hogwarts extending along the top edge of the forest to the edge of the map
The books seem to describe a mountain (range?) to the North-east of the castle so the forest may run up against the foothills.
The sun was rising properly now [in June]; there was a rim of dazzling orange visible over the mountains and the sky above it was colourless and bright. The light fell upon Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
4
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
2
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
1
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
2
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
3
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
|
show 3 more comments
JKR's own drawing of the map of Hogwarts indicated that the forest is bounded on at least two sides by the Hogwarts wall, a road and on one side by a train track
We also learn that the forest "extends" in a broadly North-easterly direction.
The Forest is described by JKR (in another sketch map) as "Massive" and stretching out of sight.. You can also see the northerly wall of Hogwarts extending along the top edge of the forest to the edge of the map
The books seem to describe a mountain (range?) to the North-east of the castle so the forest may run up against the foothills.
The sun was rising properly now [in June]; there was a rim of dazzling orange visible over the mountains and the sky above it was colourless and bright. The light fell upon Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
4
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
2
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
1
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
2
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
3
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
|
show 3 more comments
JKR's own drawing of the map of Hogwarts indicated that the forest is bounded on at least two sides by the Hogwarts wall, a road and on one side by a train track
We also learn that the forest "extends" in a broadly North-easterly direction.
The Forest is described by JKR (in another sketch map) as "Massive" and stretching out of sight.. You can also see the northerly wall of Hogwarts extending along the top edge of the forest to the edge of the map
The books seem to describe a mountain (range?) to the North-east of the castle so the forest may run up against the foothills.
The sun was rising properly now [in June]; there was a rim of dazzling orange visible over the mountains and the sky above it was colourless and bright. The light fell upon Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
JKR's own drawing of the map of Hogwarts indicated that the forest is bounded on at least two sides by the Hogwarts wall, a road and on one side by a train track
We also learn that the forest "extends" in a broadly North-easterly direction.
The Forest is described by JKR (in another sketch map) as "Massive" and stretching out of sight.. You can also see the northerly wall of Hogwarts extending along the top edge of the forest to the edge of the map
The books seem to describe a mountain (range?) to the North-east of the castle so the forest may run up against the foothills.
The sun was rising properly now [in June]; there was a rim of dazzling orange visible over the mountains and the sky above it was colourless and bright. The light fell upon Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
edited Nov 12 at 14:05
Bellatrix
69.1k12309349
69.1k12309349
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
answered Nov 12 at 8:08
Valorum
393k10228573091
393k10228573091
4
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
2
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
1
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
2
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
3
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
|
show 3 more comments
4
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
2
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
1
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
2
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
3
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
4
4
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
On the sketch the "Hogwarts wall" shown around the Forest, but not around the lake... I got another question now :)
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 8:14
2
2
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
@ShanaTar - The 'wall' to the south is a high cliff.
– Valorum
Nov 12 at 8:37
1
1
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
Considering the forest is described as massive, I wouldn't want to try to trek through it on my way to a war or to infiltrate, especially considering whatever lurks in the forest (besides the creatures we've already seen).
– Parrotmaster
Nov 12 at 10:53
2
2
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
In the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr makes his way into the Hogwarts grounds through the forbidden forest, so there must be some way in from the outside. I can only assume they'd hope the creatures in the forest are enough of a deterrent to people trying to get in that way
– Jsmith2800
Nov 12 at 12:00
3
3
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
@Jsmith2800 It doesn't actually say that Crouch entered the grounds through the forest: At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest.
– Alex
Nov 12 at 18:15
|
show 3 more comments
At the end of Deathly Hallows Hagrid explains how he got back in to the school grounds:
Smashed our way through the boundary by the forest, Grawpy was carryin' us, Fang an' me.
I take this to mean that he did not simply come in through the forest with no physical obstacle. It would either mean that there is a boundary (wall) preventing one from entering the forest, or that they came through the boundary near the forest but there is actually no boundary around the forest. If the latter, though, why didn't they just come in through the forest without having to smash through the boundary? Hagrid of all people should have no trouble entering through the forest.
I think it is therefore likely that there is some sort of boundary wall preventing one from simply entering the grounds through the forest. This could either be a wall that encloses the entire forest, or it could be a wall that runs through the forest (i.e. if the forest is so big it is possible that part of the forest is on the school grounds and enclosed, but the rest of the forest extends unprotected).
Note also Aberforth's comment when the trio want to enter Hogwarts at the end of Deathly Hallows:
"There's only one way in now," said Aberforth. "You must know they've got all the old secret passageways covered at both ends, dementors all around the boundary walls, regular patrols inside the school from what my sources tell me. The place has never been so heavily guarded.
This too would seem to indicate that the forest is protected by the wall. Otherwise the dementors all around the boundary walls wouldn't really help if anyone could simply avoid them by going through the forest.
In any case, it seems clear that there is some sort of barrier around the forest, because throughout the series no one ever suggests the forest as a way to enter the grounds.
When, throughout Prisoner of Azkaban, everyone is trying to figure out how Sirius could get in, no one said "hey, maybe he came in through the forest". Similarly, in Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore asks Malfoy how he managed to smuggle Death Eaters in, and doesn't even consider the possibility that they just waltzed in through the forest.
However, at the start of term in Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore makes the following announcement:
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds." Dumbledore continued,
Similarly, Hermione later says:
They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds.
"Every entrance" and "every single entrance" indicate that there are actually several entrances to the grounds, yet in the books we only see two entrances (the front gates, and the lake), not counting the secret passageways. Thus, there would seem to be other entrances that we are never told about. One of them might be the forest. So it may have a protective barrier, but also have an entrance. During the events of Prisoner of Azkaban and Deathly Hallows it would have been guarded by dementors, and perhaps by aurors during Half-Blood Prince.
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
add a comment |
At the end of Deathly Hallows Hagrid explains how he got back in to the school grounds:
Smashed our way through the boundary by the forest, Grawpy was carryin' us, Fang an' me.
I take this to mean that he did not simply come in through the forest with no physical obstacle. It would either mean that there is a boundary (wall) preventing one from entering the forest, or that they came through the boundary near the forest but there is actually no boundary around the forest. If the latter, though, why didn't they just come in through the forest without having to smash through the boundary? Hagrid of all people should have no trouble entering through the forest.
I think it is therefore likely that there is some sort of boundary wall preventing one from simply entering the grounds through the forest. This could either be a wall that encloses the entire forest, or it could be a wall that runs through the forest (i.e. if the forest is so big it is possible that part of the forest is on the school grounds and enclosed, but the rest of the forest extends unprotected).
Note also Aberforth's comment when the trio want to enter Hogwarts at the end of Deathly Hallows:
"There's only one way in now," said Aberforth. "You must know they've got all the old secret passageways covered at both ends, dementors all around the boundary walls, regular patrols inside the school from what my sources tell me. The place has never been so heavily guarded.
This too would seem to indicate that the forest is protected by the wall. Otherwise the dementors all around the boundary walls wouldn't really help if anyone could simply avoid them by going through the forest.
In any case, it seems clear that there is some sort of barrier around the forest, because throughout the series no one ever suggests the forest as a way to enter the grounds.
When, throughout Prisoner of Azkaban, everyone is trying to figure out how Sirius could get in, no one said "hey, maybe he came in through the forest". Similarly, in Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore asks Malfoy how he managed to smuggle Death Eaters in, and doesn't even consider the possibility that they just waltzed in through the forest.
However, at the start of term in Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore makes the following announcement:
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds." Dumbledore continued,
Similarly, Hermione later says:
They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds.
"Every entrance" and "every single entrance" indicate that there are actually several entrances to the grounds, yet in the books we only see two entrances (the front gates, and the lake), not counting the secret passageways. Thus, there would seem to be other entrances that we are never told about. One of them might be the forest. So it may have a protective barrier, but also have an entrance. During the events of Prisoner of Azkaban and Deathly Hallows it would have been guarded by dementors, and perhaps by aurors during Half-Blood Prince.
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
add a comment |
At the end of Deathly Hallows Hagrid explains how he got back in to the school grounds:
Smashed our way through the boundary by the forest, Grawpy was carryin' us, Fang an' me.
I take this to mean that he did not simply come in through the forest with no physical obstacle. It would either mean that there is a boundary (wall) preventing one from entering the forest, or that they came through the boundary near the forest but there is actually no boundary around the forest. If the latter, though, why didn't they just come in through the forest without having to smash through the boundary? Hagrid of all people should have no trouble entering through the forest.
I think it is therefore likely that there is some sort of boundary wall preventing one from simply entering the grounds through the forest. This could either be a wall that encloses the entire forest, or it could be a wall that runs through the forest (i.e. if the forest is so big it is possible that part of the forest is on the school grounds and enclosed, but the rest of the forest extends unprotected).
Note also Aberforth's comment when the trio want to enter Hogwarts at the end of Deathly Hallows:
"There's only one way in now," said Aberforth. "You must know they've got all the old secret passageways covered at both ends, dementors all around the boundary walls, regular patrols inside the school from what my sources tell me. The place has never been so heavily guarded.
This too would seem to indicate that the forest is protected by the wall. Otherwise the dementors all around the boundary walls wouldn't really help if anyone could simply avoid them by going through the forest.
In any case, it seems clear that there is some sort of barrier around the forest, because throughout the series no one ever suggests the forest as a way to enter the grounds.
When, throughout Prisoner of Azkaban, everyone is trying to figure out how Sirius could get in, no one said "hey, maybe he came in through the forest". Similarly, in Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore asks Malfoy how he managed to smuggle Death Eaters in, and doesn't even consider the possibility that they just waltzed in through the forest.
However, at the start of term in Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore makes the following announcement:
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds." Dumbledore continued,
Similarly, Hermione later says:
They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds.
"Every entrance" and "every single entrance" indicate that there are actually several entrances to the grounds, yet in the books we only see two entrances (the front gates, and the lake), not counting the secret passageways. Thus, there would seem to be other entrances that we are never told about. One of them might be the forest. So it may have a protective barrier, but also have an entrance. During the events of Prisoner of Azkaban and Deathly Hallows it would have been guarded by dementors, and perhaps by aurors during Half-Blood Prince.
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
At the end of Deathly Hallows Hagrid explains how he got back in to the school grounds:
Smashed our way through the boundary by the forest, Grawpy was carryin' us, Fang an' me.
I take this to mean that he did not simply come in through the forest with no physical obstacle. It would either mean that there is a boundary (wall) preventing one from entering the forest, or that they came through the boundary near the forest but there is actually no boundary around the forest. If the latter, though, why didn't they just come in through the forest without having to smash through the boundary? Hagrid of all people should have no trouble entering through the forest.
I think it is therefore likely that there is some sort of boundary wall preventing one from simply entering the grounds through the forest. This could either be a wall that encloses the entire forest, or it could be a wall that runs through the forest (i.e. if the forest is so big it is possible that part of the forest is on the school grounds and enclosed, but the rest of the forest extends unprotected).
Note also Aberforth's comment when the trio want to enter Hogwarts at the end of Deathly Hallows:
"There's only one way in now," said Aberforth. "You must know they've got all the old secret passageways covered at both ends, dementors all around the boundary walls, regular patrols inside the school from what my sources tell me. The place has never been so heavily guarded.
This too would seem to indicate that the forest is protected by the wall. Otherwise the dementors all around the boundary walls wouldn't really help if anyone could simply avoid them by going through the forest.
In any case, it seems clear that there is some sort of barrier around the forest, because throughout the series no one ever suggests the forest as a way to enter the grounds.
When, throughout Prisoner of Azkaban, everyone is trying to figure out how Sirius could get in, no one said "hey, maybe he came in through the forest". Similarly, in Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore asks Malfoy how he managed to smuggle Death Eaters in, and doesn't even consider the possibility that they just waltzed in through the forest.
However, at the start of term in Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore makes the following announcement:
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds." Dumbledore continued,
Similarly, Hermione later says:
They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds.
"Every entrance" and "every single entrance" indicate that there are actually several entrances to the grounds, yet in the books we only see two entrances (the front gates, and the lake), not counting the secret passageways. Thus, there would seem to be other entrances that we are never told about. One of them might be the forest. So it may have a protective barrier, but also have an entrance. During the events of Prisoner of Azkaban and Deathly Hallows it would have been guarded by dementors, and perhaps by aurors during Half-Blood Prince.
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
answered Nov 12 at 19:17
Alex
12.6k23570
12.6k23570
add a comment |
add a comment |
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4
Have you ever tried just walking through a forest? It's pretty bothersome. I'm not saying this is the reason, the thing is j r doesn't really care if it fits and is big enough, the books were written before google maps and so on, but really, how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere? The government knows about magic, so it's semi believable that there is no official business there of any kind. The number of random people in the woods is so small ...
– Raditz_35
Nov 12 at 8:35
9
“…it surely should have an end somewhere miles away from the castle”—you are trying to apply muggle geometry to a magical forest. Consider how the Fidelius Charm works (e.g. when hiding Grimmauld Place #12) or the geometry of the Room of Requirement. A magical forest doesn’t need to have an end.
– Holger
Nov 12 at 13:59
2
@Holger There is no indication in the books that the Forest exists in some sort of other dimension, like the Room of Requirment. I believe geographically it's pretty much just a regular forest.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:08
3
@Raditz_35 "how is someone just walking through a forest in the middle of nowhere" - well, even Muggles do that all the times, I did it myself, yes, as a hiker. It can be difficult, but not impossible.
– Shana Tar
Nov 12 at 14:11
4
Nobody enters Hogwarts through the forest because doing so means dealing with centaurs, acromantulas, thestrals, unicorns, occasional giants, on-the-run convicts, Death Eaters, four dragons, and Hagrid.
– Mark
Nov 12 at 22:36