Godric's Hollow

• Type: Village
• Location: West Country, England
• Owner/Residents: Notable residents have included Godric Gryffindor, the Peverell brothers, Bowman Wright, the Dumbledore family, Bathilda Bagshot, and the Potter family.
• Key Features: A significant historical wizarding community with a mix of Muggle and wizarding families. Features a magically-transforming war memorial, an ancient graveyard, and the ruined Potter cottage preserved as a monument.

Godric's Hollow is a small, famous wizarding village located in the West Country of England. For centuries, it has been home to numerous notable wizarding families, making it a place of significant historical importance. The village itself is described as picturesque, with a central square, a church, a pub, and several cottages. The village is named after its most famous resident, Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who was born there. Legend also holds that it was the home of the three Peverell brothers, the original masters of the Deathly Hallows. Bowman Wright, a magical metalworker, invented the Golden Snitch in Godric's Hollow in the 14th century (Quidditch Through the Ages). In the late 19th century, the Dumbledore family moved to the village after Percival Dumbledore's imprisonment in Azkaban. It was here that Albus Dumbledore befriended a young Gellert Grindelwald, a relationship that culminated in a tragic three-way duel that resulted in the death of Ariana Dumbledore. The magical historian Bathilda Bagshot, author of A History of Magic, was a long-term resident and a contemporary of the Dumbledores. The village's most famous event occurred on 31 October 1981. After being betrayed by their Secret-Keeper, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter and Lily Potter were murdered in their home by Lord Voldemort. However, when Voldemort turned his wand on their infant son, Harry Potter, Lily's sacrificial protection caused the Killing Curse to rebound, destroying Voldemort's body and ending the First Wizarding War. The ruined house was left as a monument, made invisible to Muggles and protected by enchantments.

Godric's Hollow is the foundational location for the entire Harry Potter narrative. It is the site of Lord Voldemort's first downfall, Harry Potter's survival, and the event that made him “The Boy Who Lived.” In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the location becomes a primary destination for Harry and Hermione Granger. They travel there on Christmas Eve in 1997, seeking information about the Deathly Hallows and hoping to acquire the Sword of Gryffindor from Bathilda Bagshot. During their visit, they see the magically preserved ruins of the Potter cottage and the war memorial in the square, which transforms into a statue of the Potter family for magical observers. In the village graveyard, they discover the graves of Harry's parents, as well as those of Kendra Dumbledore and Ariana Dumbledore. Crucially, they find the grave of Ignotus Peverell, upon which the symbol of the Deathly Hallows is carved, confirming the symbol's ancient connection to the village. Their visit ends in disaster when they are ambushed by Nagini, who was magically disguised as Bathilda Bagshot. During their desperate escape from the arriving Lord Voldemort, Harry's wand is accidentally broken by a rebounding curse from Hermione.

• The Village Square: Features a stone war memorial that, when approached by witches or wizards, transforms into a statue depicting James Potter, Lily Potter, and a baby Harry Potter.
• The Graveyard: An ancient church graveyard containing the tombs of many wizarding families. Notable graves include those of the Potters, the Dumbledores, and Ignotus Peverell.
• Potter Cottage: The ruined home of the Potters, left as a monument to their sacrifice and Voldemort's first defeat. The house is invisible to Muggles, and the gate is covered with magical graffiti from well-wishers. A sign in front of the house details the historical events of that Hallowe'en night.
• Bathilda Bagshot's House: The cluttered, decaying home of the late magical historian. It is the location where Nagini lays a trap for Harry and Hermione.

J.K. Rowling has confirmed that Godric's Hollow is located in the West Country of England, a region rich in folklore and superstition (J.K. Rowling website). The name “Hollow” can mean a small valley or a place of emptiness, reflecting the profound loss Harry experienced there. In the film adaptation Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the village is depicted as a snowy, quaint English town. The film visually portrays the magical transformation of the war memorial, the ruined Potter cottage with its tribute-covered gate, and the atmospheric graveyard (film).