The Potter cottage was the home where James Potter and Lily Potter lived after graduating from Hogwarts. Following a prophecy that foretold their son's potential to vanquish the Dark Lord, Albus Dumbledore advised them to go into hiding from Lord Voldemort. The cottage was subsequently protected by the powerful and complex Fidelius Charm. Although their friend Sirius Black was the obvious choice for Secret-Keeper, he suggested they use Peter Pettigrew instead, believing Lord Voldemort would never suspect him. On 31 October 1981, Peter Pettigrew betrayed the Potters and revealed their location to Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord arrived at the cottage that evening. He murdered James Potter first in the downstairs hallway. He then proceeded to the upstairs nursery, where he offered Lily Potter a chance to step aside. When she refused and shielded her son, he murdered her as well. However, when Lord Voldemort turned his wand on the infant Harry Potter and cast the Killing Curse, Lily's loving sacrifice created a powerful, ancient magic that caused the curse to rebound. The rebounding spell destroyed Lord Voldemort's physical body and blasted a large hole in the upper floor of the cottage, leaving Harry with only a lightning-bolt scar. Following the attack, the cottage was left in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters and a symbol of Lord Voldemort's first downfall. The house and garden became overgrown, but magic was used to keep it “tidy” and preserved. It is invisible to local Muggles, and a special sign stands before the gate. This sign materialises as magical visitors approach, displaying a tribute to the Potter family and the events of that night. Over the years, countless witches and wizards have made pilgrimages to the site, leaving messages of love, hope, and gratitude scrawled magically on the sign.
The Potter cottage is arguably the most significant location in the prelude to the entire *Harry Potter* series. It is the site of the pivotal events that led to Harry Potter being orphaned, gaining his famous scar, and becoming known as “The Boy Who Lived.” The sacrificial protection invoked there by Lily Potter's death would protect Harry for years to come. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry returns to the cottage for the first time since he was a baby. He and Hermione Granger visit Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve, 1997, hoping to speak with the magical historian Bathilda Bagshot. The visit is a deeply emotional moment for Harry, as he sees his former home and the memorial that it has become. This visit to the cottage, a place of immense personal history, directly precedes their encounter with Nagini, who was disguised as Bathilda Bagshot, making the location a nexus of both past tragedy and present danger.