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

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Sirius was speaking with Harry through the fireplace. I *think* he could have floo'd in, but was trying to be discreet?

And yes, he DID just fly away on buckbeak, but perhaps it's easier to leave than to arrive?

If it's for a fic, I really like the idea of a side-along apparition with an unwary house elf. Very sneaky! And god knows the elves are waaay stupid, and could probably be fooled into just about anything.

[birdsofshore]

Do you think anyone can just Floo? I am banging on, now, but in that case, WHY with the bloody Vanishing Cabinets?

I thought the same, about it being easier to leave than to arrive... but the flying car??

I'm glad you like my Side-Along idea! I'm not going to use it in my fic, I just thought of it while I was pondering all of this for hours on end. If anyone wants to steal it, they are very welcome!

[smallbrownfrog.livejournal.com]

The Ministry of Magic was capable of monitoring Hogwarts' floo system. Sirius almost got caught that way. (It was mentioned that Marietta's mother was helping monitor the floo system there.)

That makes me guess that the special thing about the vanishing cabinet is that it's not being tracked and will be a surprise.

[birdsofshore]

Oh, I adore all of these canon snippets that are coming out in the comments. I think you're right, that the Cabinets are a complete wild card and in no way to be expected.