Hogsmeade Post Office

• 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

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 Owls, used for long or important deliveries, down to tiny Scops owls, 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.

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.

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.

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)