The Grand Staircase is a massive structure in Hogwarts Castle, mainly used to access each floor of the castle, including the dungeons. There are hundreds of portraits covering the walls in this tower. Some of them act as shortcuts to places like the Quidditch Tower and The Transfiguration Courtyard. (In the games only.) The multiple staircases in the Grand Staircase like to move around, from platform to platform. The stairs go as high as the seventh floor where they come to an end.
Behind the scenes
- The Fat Lady's portrait is on the seventh floor landing in the later films making it entirely visible to passers by; however, in the first film, her portrait is shown in a corridor somewhere else in the Castle.
- Although in the film the stairs are shown to be constantly moving, there is no mention of this in any of the novels.
- When Dolores Umbridge takes over the school in the Order of the Phoenix film she has Argus Filch take down all the portraits from the Grand Staircase She also puts speakers constantly reciting her Educational Decrees on each floor. When Albus Dumbledore is restored to Hogwarts, the portraits are restored as well.
- In the film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it shows Prefects leading Ravenclaw students to their Common Room, where they walk down the stairs from the Entrance Hall, which leads to the Dungeons where the Slytherin Common Room is.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (PS version only)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)