======Hogsmeade Post Office======
=====Location Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Business]], [[Post Office]]
  * **Location:** [[Hogsmeade]], [[Scotland]]
  * **Owner/Residents:** Unnamed staff, numerous owls
  * **Key Features:** Color-coded owl postal service, hundreds of owls of various breeds
=====Description and History=====
The [[Hogsmeade]] [[Post Office]] is a building located in the all-wizarding village of [[Hogsmeade]]. The interior is filled with at least two to three hundred owls, ranging in size from large [[Great Grey Owl]]s, used for long or important deliveries, down to tiny [[Scops owl]]s, which are designated for local deliveries only. These owls perch on color-coded shelves that line the walls from the floor up to the ceiling.
A notice on the counter explains the color-coding system: the color of the shelf an owl sits on indicates the speed and cost of its delivery service. A witch or wizard can pay for a faster delivery by selecting an owl from the appropriately marked shelf. The atmosphere inside is described as being full of soft hooting and the gentle rustling of countless wings.
=====Role in the Story=====
The [[Post Office]]'s primary appearance is in //[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]//. After learning that [[Sirius Black]] is his godfather and is innocent of the crimes for which he was imprisoned in [[Azkaban]], [[Harry Potter]], accompanied by [[Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]], visits the [[Post Office]] to send a letter to him.
[[Harry]] pays for a "very fast" owl to ensure the message reaches [[Sirius]] quickly, demonstrating the practical function of the establishment for wizards needing reliable and swift communication beyond what the [[Hogwarts]] [[Owlery]] might provide. This act is crucial as it establishes a direct and secret line of contact between [[Harry]] and his fugitive godfather, allowing them to communicate throughout the following year. The location also serves as an important piece of world-building, showcasing the formal infrastructure of the [[Owl Post]] system.
=====Known Areas Within=====
While the building's layout is not detailed extensively, the primary area is the main public space which contains:
  * **Main Counter:** The area where customers arrange and pay for postal services with the presiding witch or wizard.
  * **Owl Shelves:** A complex system of color-coded shelves that house the various owls available for hire, organized by delivery speed and range.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban//, the [[Hogsmeade Post Office]] is depicted as a bustling place with a visually complex system of moving shelves and pigeonholes for the owls. (film)
A functioning 'Owl Post' is a feature at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks. At this location, visitors can mail letters and postcards with a special [[Hogsmeade]] postmark, which are then delivered via the Muggle postal service. (theme park)