High above the din and clamor of the battle rested the Headmaster's Tower, and at the very top of the tower lay the Headmaster's office. A maniacal despot could reign forever under the auspices of an iron fist, or a young boy could lead the magical world into a new, peaceful future. The fate of the wizarding world – the whole world – lay in the balance of what transpired this night. Other parts of the castle lay silent and destroyed, a small memory of what they once were.Ī small band of loyalists fought dutifully to hold the dark attackers at bay, helped along by the very castle itself, which was imbued with a deep and ancient magic sworn to protect its youthful charges. Cries pierced the night air, more animal than human. Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, men and child alike, lay dead, dying and wounded. The famous Quidditch pitch stood ruined and wretched the gentle blue waters of the Great Lake had distorted into a dark crimson hue the fearsome Forbidden Forest was now splintered and broken the walls of castle stood blistered and cracked. The normally serene campus had been transformed into a nightmare, the school was engulfed in flames, blood and terrible screams. But tonight the castle faced its greatest threat – Lord Voldemort and his Death Eater legion. The castle had survived floods and famines, earthquakes and storms it had persevered through the rise and fall of governments, empires and kings. It was founded by the Hogwarts Four, the most brilliant wizards and witches of their time. A lush, thick forest and a great blue lake were the castle's steadfast neighbors – the three old friends ensconced deep within the Scottish highlands.Ĭastles were first constructed in the 9th century, ingeniously created by master stonemasons to provide protection and succor, and the majestic Hogwarts castle was no different. Gargoyle statues sat perched on stone ledges, glaring down on a large open courtyard, sloping green lawns and a steep cliff side. Its walls and crenellations were dotted with rock towers and shingled turrets, the greatest of which was a high and lofty Astronomy Tower.

It was a large, seven story high building built from ancient magic as much as from stone and mortar. The castle stood tall against the dark night sky, a silent sentinel keeping watch over a sprawling school campus.

Chapter 2 of the Half-Blood Prince: Spinner's EndĬhapter 33 of the Deathly Hallows: The Prince's Tale

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