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The Great Lake[1][2] (alternatively known as the Black Lake[3]) 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.

History

Every school year at Hogwarts, after the Hogwarts Express arrives at Hogsmeade Station, Rubeus Hagrid (or a substitute) calls the first years to follow him to the lake shore and the magic boats. Whereupon Hagrid occupies one boat and each other boat carries up to four students. The boats then self-propel across the lake to a dock under Hogwarts Castle as per tradition. (At the start of the 1994–1995 school year, first year Dennis Creevey said he fell into the lake and the Giant Squid pushed him back into a boat.) Upon reaching the castle, Hagrid and the first years disembark and climb stairs to the lawn, and enter the castle proper through the front doors. First years then wait until summoned into the Great Hall to get Sorted into their houses. At the end of their first year, students take the boats back to Hogsmeade Station, while most older students ride down the lane in carriages.

At the end of every school year, graduating seventh years leave the school by sailing back across the lake.[4]

Triwizard Tournament

Second Task Lake

The Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament

Students from Durmstrang Institute arrived at Hogwarts on their enchanted boat via the Great Lake. As part of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, the four champions Harry Potter, Fleur Delacour, and Cedric Diggory, and Viktor Krum had to swim in the lake for one hour to rescue something that was taken from them. Harry used Gillyweed to be able to breath underwater, while Cedric and Fleur used the Bubble-Head Charm, and Krum partially Transfigured himself into a Shark.

Dumbledore's Funeral

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.

Inhabitants

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.[5]

Temperature

The lake is very often cold, but Viktor Krum is known to have swum in it, wearing nothing but swimming trunks, 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).

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.

Behind the scenes

Screen Shot 2012-03-09 at 9.00

Appearances

Notes and references

Hogwarts Castle
Hogwarts grounds
Beasts Classroom · Boathouse Steps · Bowtruckle Island · Broomshed · Care of Magical Creatures Classroom · Clock Tower Courtyard · Entrance footpath · Entrance gatehouse · Entrance Gates · Exterior Walkway · Forbidden Forest · Forest Vault · Gargoyle Gate · Gatehouse · Great Lake · Greenhouses · Greenhouse battlements · Grounds Portrait Room · Hagrid's Garden (Pumpkin patch) · Hagrid's Hut · Incendio Challenge · Landing Strip · Lawn by the Forbidden Forest · Path to Owlery · Path to the Whomping Willow · Pixie water well · Quidditch Changing Rooms · Quidditch Gate · Quidditch pitch · Quidditch pitch viaduct · Quidditch Training Pitch · Ravenclaw Duelling Arena · Ravine · Road to Hogsmeade · Road to Hogwarts · Secret Garden · Secret room near the Training Grounds · Stables · Stone Circle · Sunken Vault · Training Grounds · Waiting Tent · Walled Garden · Waterfalls · White Tomb · Wooden Bridge
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