notes on the Hogwarts map

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 27297

I have been studying the map of Hogwarts which appeared in the Sunday 
Times. I've also done a lot of research through the books about where 
things are located etc. Here's a few comments:

1 - The labels are sad. The Dark Forest? Black Lake? Please.
2 - The caption is incorrect. This is NOT the only existing guide to 
the building and its grounds. I have already written to the Sunday 
Times to point out this error. 
3 - The Great Hall simply cannot be located where they have it, 
although it looks terrific there. In CS, Harry and Ron crash their 
car into the Whomping Willow, then drag their suitcases from the 
wreck toward the castle. While near the front doors, Ron peers into 
the Hall through windows. Take a close look at the arrangement on 
this map and you'll see that there is no way that this scenario could 
be played out with the Great Hall way out over that cliff like that. 
4 - I like the courtyard. It is mentioned in SS/PS (that's where 
Snape takes Harry's copy of Quidditch Through the Ages away from him.)
5 - There are no directions given on the map, but we do know that the 
Forbidden Forest is to the west of the castle from the comment in PA 
that Harry and Hermione see the sun setting behind it as they leave 
the Front Hall. I know it's just bias, but I tend to think of the 
right side of a map as the east, so the Forest seems to be in the 
wrong place. But I should talk, since I put it exactly the same on my 
map. And I was wrong too.
6 - The Quidditch pitch is specifically stated as being on the 
opposite side of the castle from the Forbidden Forest. It doesn't 
appear that way on this map.
7 - The designers of the movie asked for and received a sketch map of 
various thing from JKR. I think it's possible that this map is 
created at least in part from those sketches. In that case, we would 
have to accept at least the overall arrangement seen in this map as 
canon. Of course, until such time as JKR herself says so, it won't be 
used in the Lexicon.
8 - I think I'm really going to love the look of this movie!

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
home of the Atlas of Hogwarts
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon