Getting into Hogwarts - Wards? Gates? Tunnels? Please help!

[birdsofshore]

I have so many questions about this. We all know that you can't Apparate into Hogwarts. But what are the ways you CAN get in?

1) If you arrive at the gates unexpectedly, can you get a message to the Castle to ask to be let in (a Patronus?)? Is there a bell or something? Or do you only get in if you're an expected (and welcome) guest?

2) Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were able to fly and sail to Hogwarts - was this because they were expected? Did Dumbledore lower the wards? Or can anyone just fly over the walls and get in? (with a broom, a flying motorbike, a thestral, a dragon?)  Could anyone just swim across the Lake and get in?

3) Do the boundary walls go all the way round and enclose the Forbidden Forest? Maps like this seem to suggest they do:



Or are there ways to sneak in via the Forbidden Forest?

4) House-elves can Apparate into Hogwarts - could a house-elf bring a person in by Side-Along Apparition?

5) Are there any other ways in? There are the 3 tunnels Harry knows of (do these all lead to Hogsmeade?) Do we know how long it takes to walk from Hogsmeade to the Whomping Willow? I know Fred and George say there are other tunnels that Filch doesn't know about, too.

This started off as research for a fic, and now I'm just curious. I'd love to know your thoughts - backed up with canon if at all possible :)

Thank you ♥

Comments

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

You can also floo into Hogwarts. And Buckbeak just flew away with Sirius, so I'm pretty sure you can just fly in and out.

Harry and Ron flew the car into Hogwarts, too.

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

I think it's more that there are wards to keep certain people out rather than keeping everyone out. Because think about all of the spectators for Quidditch games? They weren't just students, were they? And parents in most private schools can visit at any time. Lucius Malfoy visited unannounced.

[birdsofshore]

Re: Quidditch, I thought maybe the gates would be open on those days, with perhaps Filch 'welcoming' people in. (Were there definitely outsiders there? Or are we just supposing there were?)

Rita flew in, too, didn't she? You would think they might have warded to keep her out, but maybe it doesn't work for Animagus forms?

How did Lucius Malfoy get in? I neeeeeeeed to know all of the answers...

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

For that matter, how did Kingsley get in? And yes, it would have been open for the Triwizard Tournament, too, but it does seem like there are a lot of entrances and exits.

Oh, and don't forget the Hog's Head. Aberforth had that little escape hole, too.

[birdsofshore]

Yup the Hog's Head is an important one. I like the idea of there being others not mentioned specifically in the books, too. Gives us a nice bit of leeway when we're writing fic.

[v-chest-rechi.livejournal.com]

I'm the lurker of lurkers, but this was too interesting a discussion:)
If I remember correctly, Lucius is on the school board at the time, surely he could come and go.
upd: ha, someone wrote it below, there was no reason for me to break character :) *lurks away*

[birdsofshore]

Oh, brilliant! Of course they did! So there are no "all purpose" wards keeping everyone out?

Hmm. seems sort of simple to get in if you can just FLY in :/ Why do they make a big deal about Apparating? Why does Draco spend forever trying to fix the Vanishing Cabinets?

Who Floos in? (I did read the books, I swear :DDD My memory is for shit).

[chibitoaster.livejournal.com]

Well, you would have to have a working floo in the Hospital wing to get to St. Mungo's.

And I would think Death Eaters were warded out of Hogwarts - especially after Voldemort returned.

Now, the other point is that this is all happening outisde of the castle walls. Inside the walls - actually getting INTO the castle would have been difficult.

[birdsofshore]

That's fine, I'm more interested in getting into the grounds, I guess. :)

All of your points are really useful, thanks so much!