Fortifications at Hogwarts

[Arya]

No: HPFGUIDX 101780

"Jen Reese" wrote:
> The movie scene where all the gates and massive locks come down 
> throughout Hogwarts has me wondering how Hogwarts is protected, 
> besides enchantments and spells. When reading POA I kept 
> thinking, 'what, so DD sends 12 teachers out to search this massive 
> castle and that's that?'
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Arya:  I was intrigued by the lock-down mode Hogwarts seemed to go 
into in the film and I even thought, if that is indeed how it occurs 
and that it was a directorial creation, then it might have been 
something Jo considered as "foreshadowing".  Also, as far as just a 
few teachers available to search the castle, I think we might also 
assume portraits and possibly other 'sentient' beings can help with 
this.
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> Jen Reese:
> We're told Voldemort stayed away from Hogwarts during the First War 
> because Dumbledore was there, but maybe it was also too hard to get 
> into as well.  Then again, Sirius enters with ease. I guess that 
> means Pettigrew did *not* divulge the secret of the tunnels in the 
> First War, although surely Voldemort knows about them now.
> 
> Gringotts, for instance, is protected by spells and enchantments, 
> but has the additional protection of being underground and maze-
like 
> so people attempting to steal anything may die before finding the 
> exit. It also possibly has dragons in the high-security area. -----
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Arya:  Hmm, now you have me thinking.  Perhaps Hogwarts, to an 
intruder with evil intents, can become a maze?  With all those moving 
staircases (designed by Rowena Ravenclaw to help protect Hogwarts if 
I recall my chocolate frog card of her) will effect either a maze or 
a trap if they are in a "defensive" mode?  The way suits of armour 
have heads that swivel as they hear a noise and that, IIRC, sang 
cristmas carols, may mean that they may jump to attention if someone 
unauthorized to be in the castle is seen.  I'm of the belief that 
Hogwarts has mnay more eyes and ears than just those that can be 
seen.  
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> Jen Reese:
> Just curious about this, as it seems certain both Hogwarts and 
> Privet Dr. will be attacked at some point. I know this isn't a new 
> topic, but I wondered if the gates/locks in the movie were one of 
> the 'clues' JKR had goosebumps about.
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Arya:  It's my guess that if the lock down gates were not explicitly 
explained by Jo to the film staff as the way it was in the beginning, 
then, I think this was indeed a shivery foreshadowing in its 
accuracy.  Heck, even I kind of got a sense of the chills watching 
it.  There's just something so powerful and....*heartening* to see 
the power that is Hogwarts come to life to protect herself.  

~Arya