Cupboard Under the Stairs

Cupboard under the Stairs
Location information
Location	Under the stairs in 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey
Permanent residents	Harry Potter

The Cupboard under the stairs was Harry Potter's room in the Dursley household, at 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging. The cupboard was described as small and dusty, with lots of spiders.

History

When Harry's father and mother were killed in 1981, Harry was brought to his maternal aunt, Petunia Dursley. She and her husband Vernon reluctantly took him in, but treated him poorly, mostly because his parents had been magical and they feared that Harry would turn out to be a "freak" as well. Instead of being given a real bedroom, Harry was kept in the cupboard under the stairs.

The Dursleys' fears about Harry being magical turned out to be correct, as Harry received an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991. The first letter was addressed: Mr H Potter The Cupboard under the stairs. This prompted the Dursleys to allow Harry to move into what had previously been his cousin Dudley's second bedroom. Despite the Dursleys' numerous attempts to prevent Harry from accepting, he soon went to Hogwarts. The cupboard was then used by the Dursleys to store all magical objects of Harry's while he was staying at their house.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows