How did Black get into Hogwarts in PoA? (Was: Dumbledore on the Dursleys . .

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 151713

 
> Carol responds:
 
> Let me get this straight. No guards or protective spells of any kind
> on the front doors, not even after the first attack proved that 
Black
> was on the grounds (or could get onto them), and the doors are not
> even taught to recognize Black until after the *second* attack.
 
Potioncat:

First, here's a link to JKR's map of Hogwarts. My monitor screen is 
so dark, I can't make out the images. So I've no idea if this will 
support my ideas or not. If anyone uses it to reply to this post, 
could you describe the picture? :-)

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/atlas/hogwarts/atlas-h-jkrmap.html


I have the basic idea that Hogwarts the castle (keep) is surrounded 
by a wall on at least three sides and the Forbidden Forest on 
another. Although I'm not sure if the forest is on the other side of 
the wall. So, unless you can get over the wall, under the wall or 
through the gates, you could not get to the front doors of the castle 
proper. Hagrid has to pass through the gates to go to Hogsmeade, 
because he talks about having to pass the Dementors.

In a sense, it's like saying you don't have to lock your bedroom door 
because the front door is locked.

Of course, I'm never quite sure if the castle grounds are only those 
inside the surrounding walls or if there are "grounds" outside the 
walls. 
 
Carol:
 It doesn't explain how he could get into the school
> itself, unless, as you say, the doors were unguarded and unlocked,
> which makes no sense given the two attacks on Gryffindor tower, and
> makes the existence of the secret passages completely irrelevant
> (except as a way for *Harry* to get to Hogsmeade).

Potioncat:
We certainly weren't told "how" he did it. But I think he must have 
come into the castle as a dog. We aren't told anyone has a dog 
familiar, but we know there are more than the three animals mentioned 
in the first letter.

As for the secret passages, they have played a serious lack of 
importance, haven't they? You'd think Pettigrew would have told LV 
about them. But, along that line: In HBP why were Order members 
patrolling the halls at all? Did DD suspect Draco was trying to get 
DEs into the castle?

>Carol: 
> Isn't anyone besides me bothered that Dumbledore took so few
> precautions, especially after the Fat Lady incident, and that the
> secret passages seem to have played no role at all in Black's 
getting
> into the school? 

Potioncat:
I'm not convinced that DD thought Black was really a danger. He 
certainly seemed to "come around" to his story pretty quickly if you 
ask me. And I'll have to go back and read DD's comment about not 
knowing the Marauders were animagi. Was there any fudge room in that 
statement?