Staff Room
Location Information
- Type: Hogwarts Staff lounge and meeting room
- Location: Ground floor, Hogwarts Castle, near the Entrance Hall
- Owner/Residents: Hogwarts Staff
- Key Features: Long, wood-panelled room; mismatched dark wood chairs; a fireplace; a large wardrobe known for once housing a Boggart.
Description and History
The Staff Room is a long, panelled room at Hogwarts reserved for the use of the school's professors. It is located on the ground floor, accessible from the Entrance Hall. The room is furnished with a collection of dark, wooden chairs that do not match, arranged around the room. It contains a fireplace and, for a time, a large, old wardrobe. This room serves as a private space for teachers to relax between classes, hold meetings, and discuss school matters away from students. It is generally considered out-of-bounds for pupils unless they are specifically summoned there by a member of staff. A large cupboard within the room is used for storing items confiscated from students, as demonstrated by Professor McGonagall in Harry's sixth year.
Role in the Story
The Staff Room is the setting for several important conversations and events throughout the series.
- In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry and Ron Weasley overhear a tense conversation between Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell in the room. They misinterpret the exchange, believing Snape is threatening Quirrell, when in fact Snape is confronting Quirrell about his allegiance to Lord Voldemort.
- In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry is taken to the Staff Room by Professor McGonagall after being found next to the petrified bodies of Justin Finch-Fletchley and Nearly Headless Nick. The professors discuss the possibility of the school closing due to the attacks.
- The room features most prominently in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when Professor Lupin uses it for his first Defence Against the Dark Arts class. A Boggart had taken up residence in a large wardrobe, which Lupin uses to teach his third-year students how to repel the creature using the Riddikulus charm. This lesson provides a memorable moment where Neville Longbottom confronts his fear of Snape.
- In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Professor McGonagall confronts Harry and Ron in the room about finding partners for the Yule Ball. Later, Ludo Bagman corners Harry here to offer him unsolicited help with the Triwizard Tournament.
- In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Professor Umbridge issues a lifetime Quidditch ban to Harry and Fred Weasley and George Weasley in the Staff Room following a post-match fight with Draco Malfoy.
- In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the room's large cupboard is used by McGonagall to store confiscated items from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Harry also witnesses Snape offer his assistance to Argus Filch in the room to deal with students using these joke products.
Known Areas Within
- The Wardrobe: A large, old wardrobe that was a prominent piece of furniture during Harry's third year. It was the hiding place for a Boggart until Professor Lupin used it for a practical lesson.
- The Cupboard: A large cupboard where confiscated items are stored. In Harry's sixth year, it contained numerous products from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Behind the Scenes
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Boggart lesson takes place in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom rather than the Staff Room. (film)