[HPforGrownups] Re: Hogwarts' Tunnel *SPOILER*

[heather the buzzard]

No: HPFGUIDX 130608

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I'm putting the spoiler space back in because even though we're talking 
about a tunnel that's mentioned in the first book, we're actually using 
it as a reference for discussing the pictures on the HBP cover.  I also 
changed the subject line from "cave" to "tunnel", for the same reason...

Thanks to those who quoted the relevant passage about the tunnel from 
the lake from PS.  I had *totally* forgotten about it.  My 7yo son 
finished PS about a week ago, and I had read passages to him sometimes, 
but not that particular one. 

Very interesting, indeed.

John Kearns wrote:

>I always read this scene as if the cave/tunnel were entirely wizard-
>made, like the castle was built out over a part of the lake.  
>  
>
>And this doesn't make a lot of sense with the maps we've seen or with the idea that Harry and Hermione can walk around the lake several times (if my image was correct, they'd also have to walk around the castle).
>  
>

heather now:

I would guess something like this... the shore of the lake is not all 
flat.   At least at one spot on the outer rim of the lake, it butts up 
against a cliff face.  You can walk over this easily though, it's just 
walking up a hill with a cliff to one side.  The shore slopes, in other 
words.  You would be at this point, walking over the tunnel. 

While the lake *appears* to end at the cliff face, it actually does 
extend into this hidden tunnel.  Inside the tunnel, the water ends, and 
there are stone steps to go back up to the main grounds. 

John:

>I wish the cave was referenced at some other point in the books, to 
>give it some context.  Perhaps it was hidden purposefully.
>

Now that I know about this passage, I'm inclined to agree with you.  My 
first impression when I saw the cover art, like many others, was the 
first-year rowboats.  I would not be at all surprised if there is 
another hidden offshoot, either within that tunnel or another separate 
tunnel altogether.

What puzzles me, though, is that if there is something secret down 
there, why would they take the first-years through?  Everyone at 
Hogwarts knows about this tunnel. 

Unless, it's a secret cave that even the adminstration doesn't know 
about.  Maybe there's a storm on September 1st and the boats get blown 
off course, and one boat accidentally stumbles across this hidden cave 
with a strange pensieve that used to belong to someone who apparently 
called themselves the half-blood prince... and events start to unfold 
from there...

heather the buzzard