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"And now — Piertotum Locomotor! Hogwarts is threatened! Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!"
Minerva McGonagall enchanting the school's suits of armour[src]

Onslaught at the Viaduct was one of the first conflicts of the Battle of Hogwarts. Shortly after Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters managed to break the protective enchantments around Hogwarts Castle at midnight of 2 May 1998, the Death Eaters and giants charged into the Castle via the Viaduct. The Visduct was were enchanted suits of armour were stationed.

The Death Eater forces were no more than delayed, and managed to make their way through the Viaduct into the Viaduct Courtyard.

History[]

Background information[]

Hogwarts suits of armour and statues

The enchanted suits of armour on the Viaduct

After Lord Voldemort's ultimatum to give him Harry Potter, who was at the Castle, the Hogwarts forces started organising their defences and preparing themselves for battle. Professor McGonagall enchanted the school's suits of armour, and dispatched them to the school boundaries.[1]

They did so, and left into the Viaduct where they stood in defensive formation, awaiting the Death Eaters' attack.[2]

The conflict[]

"GET INSIDE! Take cover! TAKE COVER!"
Minerva McGonagall urging the Hogwarts defenders to get into the Entrance Hall as the magical protections around the Castle are broken[src]
Tumblr m7j5g7D9JJ1qili3vo3 r1 250

The Viaduct Courtyard comes under fire

At midnight, the Death Eaters started the attack on Lord Voldemort's orders, effectively breaking the protective enchantments around the school. As the giants made their way into the Viaduct the Viaduct Courtyard came under fire of the Death Eaters' curses, exploding much of the cloister. The suits of armour struggled against the giants on the Viaduct, managing to floor one, but they too came under Death Eater fire.[2]

Aftermath[]

This attack had a positive result for the Death Eaters, who managed to advance to just outside the Castle, and destroy much of the school's army of suits of armour. The Hogwarts defenders were overwhelmed by the suddenness and intensity of this initial attack. However, should be noted that many giants and Death Eaters were killed by the statues.[2]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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