The Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow

• Type: Residence
• Location: Godric's Hollow, West Country, England
• Owner/Residents: The Potter family, most notably James Potter, Lily Potter, and their infant son, Harry Potter.
• Key Features: Partially destroyed structure, preserved as a monument; formerly protected by the Fidelius Charm; enchanted to be invisible to Muggles; features a magical memorial sign.

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.

• Front Garden and Gate: The entrance to the property is described as tangled and overgrown, with a rusted gate. It is here that a magical sign appears, detailing the history of the house. The sign itself is covered in magically appearing graffiti left by well-wishers.
• Hallway: The ground-floor entrance where James Potter was murdered while trying to hold off Lord Voldemort. Glimpsed in one of Harry's visions, it was messy and contained some of his childhood toys, including a toy broomstick.
• Nursery: The upstairs room where Lily Potter made her final stand to protect her son. It was the epicentre of the rebounding Killing Curse, which blew a large hole in the wall and ceiling, leaving the room exposed to the elements. This damage was magically preserved as part of the monument.

• In the film adaptation, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, the cottage is depicted largely as described in the novel. The magical appearance of the memorial sign and the messages of support are shown visually.
• The cottage's location in Godric's Hollow is significant, as the village is named after one of the four founders of Hogwarts, Godric Gryffindor. This historically links the Potter family, who were descendants of the Peverell brothers, to a foundational figure in British wizarding history.
• The text on the memorial sign reads: “On this spot, on the night of 31 October 1981, Lily and James Potter lost their lives. Their son, Harry, remains the only wizard ever to have survived the Killing Curse. This house, invisible to Muggles, has been left in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters and as a reminder of the violence that tore apart their family.” (film)