Hogsmeade is most likely situated in Scotland and is the only all-wizarding village in the entirety of Great Britain in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. It was founded by Hengist of Woodcroft, a wizard fleeing persecution by Muggles in the 10th or 11th Century. It was established around the same time as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and has remained very closely related to the school. It is open to visitation for students of Hogwarts who are in their third year and above. Harry Potter is denied access to Hogsmeade in his third year after his uncle refuses to sign the permission forms when Harry inflates his Aunt Marge in anger. However, Harry is finally granted access in his fourth year after Sirius Black, his godfather, signs the form.
History
Hogsmeade is believed to have been set up by a wizard named Hengist, who hailed from Woodcroft. It is believed that he was fleeing a mob of muggles who wished to persecute him for performing magic. In retaliation, he built an all-magical village visible and accessible only to wizards and witches where they could safely reside without muggle intervention. Around the time of the establishment of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was being set up in the same village by its four founders.
It is believed that Hogwarts resides within the jurisdiction of Hogsmeade village and is closely linked to it by several passageways and frequent visits by students, staff, and visitors of the school. It is also believed that a Goblin Rebellion took place in Hogsmeade in the year 1612, and the village served as the wizards’ headquarters. The train station where the Hogwarts Express stops for students to get down and go to Hogwarts is situated very close to the village.
Appearances in the Harry Potter Universe
Hogsmeade was first mentioned in the Harry Potter series in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when Harry received a permission letter alongside his Beginning of Term letter, granting him access to visit the village of Hogsmeade. He persuaded Uncle Vernon to sign the letter under the condition that he would be good during the holidays. However, this couldn’t happen as he was infuriated with Aunt Marge, who insulted his parents constantly. Losing his cool, he used magic to inflate her like a balloon and send her afloat in the skies of London. He then had to leave his house at Privet Drive abruptly, thereby not being able to get his letter signed.
Back in Hogwarts, Hermione and Ron had to leave for Hogsmeade without Harry. However, they got him a few sweets from the sweetshop Honeydukes and some toys from Zonko’s Joke Shop. During their second trip, Harry couldn’t resist the temptation to visit Hogsmeade, and at the same time, Fred and George Weasley gave him the Marauder’s Map, which highlighted all the passageways to Hogsmeade. They claimed that they used a passageway from the fourth floor behind a large mirror, but it caved in and was of no use. They also claimed that some of the passageways had been sealed by Mr Filch as he suspected that Hogwarts students might be using them during the school year.
Harry used his Invisibility Cloak and managed to sneak into Hogsmeade through a secret passageway with the portrait of a one-eyed witch at its entry. Harry had to use the spell dissendium and then the portrait would give access to the passageway. It led from Hogwarts to the trap door at the Honeydukes cellar. Harry continued to sneak into Hogsmeade till the end of the third year in a similar fashion. It is in the Three Broomsticks that Harry overheard the story of how Sirius Black betrayed his parents to Voldemort. However, it is eventually revealed that it was Peter Pettigrew who betrayed Harry’s parents, and Sirius Black was innocent all along. It is Sirius who signs Harry’s permission letter allowing him to go to Hogsmeade.
It is also believed that the Marauder’s Map was made in great detail by James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew because they roamed around Hogsmeade in their respective Animagus forms when Lupin transformed into a werewolf. They used to go through the secret passage that was accessible through the Whomping Willow and led directly into the Shrieking Shack.
Harry frequently visits Hogsmeade after that in the series. He has his first date with Cho Chang in Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop in Hogsmeade, and the founding of Dumbledore’s Army happens in Hog’s Head, an inn in Hogsmeade. Katie Bell touches the cursed necklace, which was intended as a present for Albus Dumbledore, right outside The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Furthermore, after being weakened thoroughly by the liquid in the cave while Horcrux hunting with Harry, Albus Dumbledore and Harry disapparate to Hogsmeade, see the Dark Mark looming above Hogwarts, and take two broomsticks from Madam Rosmerta, using which they fly towards Hogwarts.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry, Hermione, and Ron apparate to Hogsmeade and hide in the Hog’s Head, where they meet Abeforth Dumbledore. He sends them into the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts Castle through a secret tunnel, after which the Battle of Hogwarts ensues.
Popular Spots in Hogsmeade
Honeydukes
Honeydukes is a sweet shop situated on the High Street in Hogsmeade. It is known for a wide range of sweets, including Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, and Acid Pops. It was also popular for its Butterbeer and Pumpkin Fizz, which was carbonated Pumpkin Juice, both of which Fred and George used for a Quidditch afterparty. The display of piles of sweets on shelves was a sight that invited almost every student of Hogwarts to this place. Most of these sweets are introduced by Ron Weasley to Harry in their train journey on the Hogwarts Express.
The Shrieking Shack
The Shrieking Shack was a popular tourist destination as the villagers believed that this place was haunted. However, it was later revealed that the sounds that caused people to think it was haunted were screams and noises made by Remus Lupin when he transformed into a werewolf.
The Three Broomsticks Inn
The Three Broomsticks Inn was a very popular pub owned by Madam Rosmerta. It was known for its drinks like Butterbeer and Firewhisky. This is the pub where Harry, Ron, and Hermione frequently visit to drink Butterbeer.
Zonko’s Joke Shop
Zonko’s Joke Shop is a joke shop owned by Bilton Bilmes located in Hogsmeade that was probably the favorite spot of Fred and George Weasley. Several of their products in Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes were inspired by some products of Zonko’s Joke Shop. Products sold at Zonko’s include Sugar Quills, Dungbombs, and Frogspawn Soap.
The Hog’s Head Inn
The Hog’s Head Inn was a pub owned by Abeforth Dumbledore in Hogsmeade. It was a shady-looking pub and used to have very strange visitors. Interestingly, it was the place where Severus Snape overheard Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy made to Albus Dumbledore about Lord Voldemort and the child who would vanquish him.
Other popular spots in Hogsmeade included Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop, which sold a wide variety of Quills, Dervish and Banges, a shop that specialized in repairing several magical instruments, Dogweed and Deathcap, which was a herbology store and Gladrags Wizardwear where there were reportedly socks sold that screamed when they smelled bad. Hogsmeade also had a branch of Ollivanders, the wand shop whose founding branch was situated in Diagon Alley.
FAQs
Why was Harry not allowed in Hogsmeade?
Harry was not allowed in Hogsmeade because he couldn’t get his permission letter for Hogsmeade signed by his uncle. After blowing up his aunt out of anger, Harry had to urgently leave Privet Drive and had very little time to think about this. However, the actual reason for Harry not being allowed to go to Hogsmeade is believed to be the possibility of the Ministry and the Hogwarts staff keeping him safe from Sirius Black. Everybody believes that Sirius Black betrayed Harry’s parents and was after Harry. However, this proved to be false in the end.
Is Hogsmeade a part of Hogwarts?
No, Hogsmeade is not a part of Hogwarts. It was a separate village very close to Hogwarts Castle. However, for the purpose of jurisdiction, it was taken for granted that Hogwarts was a part of the Hogsmeade village, even though the village was a bit far from the castle and the castle rested atop the rocky highlands away from the village of Hogsmeade. Hogsmeade although not related in any specific manner to Hogwarts, was heavily influenced by Hogwarts as several students and staff visited there and visitors to Hogwarts ended up staying in the inns at Hogsmeade.
What is the difference between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade?
Diagon Alley was a shopping street filled with shops and dwellings specifically meant for the magical crowd. It was only accessible to wizards and witches and muggles couldn’t even see the entrance to Diagon Alley unless they were relatives of a witch or wizard. It was situated very close to London. However, Hogsmeade was located in Scotland, near the Scottish Highlands. It was an all-wizarding village which also had shops but was primarily a place where a lot of wizarding families stayed as well.
Who signed Harry’s Hogsmeade permission slip?
Sirius Black finally signed Harry’s Hogsmeade permission slip as it was eventually revealed that Sirius Black was Harry’s godfather. He even brought up the possibility of Harry staying with him in Twelve Grimmauld Place. He also gifted Harry a new Firebolt broomstick after Harry’s Nimbus 2000 was damaged during a Quidditch match.