Godric's Hollow -- house, town or plot of land?

[CaraLee123]

Where exactly do you find out that Harry's Parents lived in Godric Hollow? I never even heard that before I've visited websites and read it. :??: Please reply...
Cara

[Kneazle]

Well, it is mentioned in the first chapter of the first book:

'What they're saying,' she pressed on, 'is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumour is that Lily and James Potter are - are - that they're - dead.'

[Mr Ollivander 382]

in the first cahpter of the first book
McGonagall said to Dumbledore (( what they are saying is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow , he went to find the potters .... etc ))

HP:PS/SS first chapter , when McGonagall was talikng with Dumbledore before Hagrid brought Harry to #4 Privet Drive .

I hope you understand now .... :)

[Mr Ollivander 382]

sorry Kneazle .... you just beat me by 2 minutes .:)

[Moonlight]

Humbug! Too late...
I suppose someone ought to close this now.

[Tiberius]

I wondered this myself. Thanks for clearing it up.

[Aria Angel]

Ok guys, just FYI, the Potters did not LIVE in Godric's Hollow. They were HIDING there under the Fidelius Charm.
Alot of people seem to think that was their home and that makes Harry the heir of Gryffindor, but it was NOT their home, just a hiding place.
Why in the world would you go to all the trouble to have a secret keeper and then stay in your own home? Not sure where everyone got the idea.

Okie dokie.. on with the show

Aria

[tabby]

I always though Godrics Hollow was the suburb, rather than the house.

I agree with you on the rest of it though.

[Aria Angel]

It's my understanding that it was the name of the house. A lot of large houses or manors are named.. especially in British literature.. Jane Austen for example always names manors or estates... just a sign of the home of someone with money I guess.

Aria

[Filius Flitwick]

I always thought that Godric's Hollow was the name of the area, like Hogsmeade. I can easily see how it could be the name of a house though.

[Shoujo Kitsune]

Wait, it's the name of the house?????

well, I missed that one....But I see what you mean....

[jordmundt6]

It wouldn't make sense for Godric's Hollow to be the name of a mansion for two reasons. One "Last night he[Voldemort] turned up in Godric's Hollow" (indicating a place like a town or a village and not a house.) I doubt he just apparated in. Not his style. He enjoys spectacle and leaving a bloodtrail to enhance fear. (He didn't just Apparate into his father's house and kill him. He forced a door and walked right in on their evening meal.) Also, Lily and James lived in a small house a cottage (in the modern sense not the Austen sense). Hagrid had to pick through the rubble to find Harry. If there'd ben a lot of rubble (stone masonry, bricks, etc. from a huge house) Harry might have been crushed. He wasn't.

[HPAlive4Ever]

1) Godrics Hollow could very well be the name of a house: think "The Burrow".

2) Why they would stay in their own home? Didn't you pay attention in class? :cool: - Flitwick said they could be in their sitting room, and he could look into the windows and he wouldn't see them. It is not nessecary to physically hide when using the fidelious charm. You will not be seen no matter where you are.

[jordmundt6]

HP--1) Yes, a house could be named that. But Voldemort turned up IN Godric's Hollow and then killed them (turned up in, not broke in). This indicates some kind of town or village.

On 2)--Huh? You must be talking to someone else. Yes, that could be their home and they did own it. But it might be a small getaway cottage, not their main residence. I said that Voldemort likes to make a loud entrance. He doesn't just Apparate in and kill people. He likes to leave a calling card, make sure people know it was his work. That has absolutely nothing to do with the house Lily and James were in.

[Alastor D]

I agree, HPAlive4Ever, with both your points.

[rotsiepots]

I don't see any evidence to suggest that Godric's Hollow is anything but a Muggle town. The term "hollow" is generally used to name towns (eg Sleepy Hollow) situated in valleys. Indeed, the term "hollow" can mean valley.

"Hollow" isn't the type of word you'd tack onto a house-name.

That's just my take on the situation anyhoo. :shrug:

Edit: I'm also changing the title and purpose of this thread as the original question has been answered and we were all getting a bit off-topic anyhoo. :D

[HPAlive4Ever]

Point 2 was directed at Aria, who said that they would not logically be staying in their own home.

Jord, while you raise a strong point regarding turning up "in" godric's hollow, there are tow possibilities. We have seen typos before, and while I don;t put it past JK to slip something in, especially a phrase, this is only a word. "in" rather than "at". Another possibility is that it was deliberate. Yes, it could be a house. And he did turn up "in" there, he went in to kill them, did he not? "in" does not, of itself, connote a sudden appearance. It can simpley be saying that where he ended up - "he turned up "in" godrics hollow".

[jordmundt6]

Hmm. I think I buy the typo theory easier than the other. Turned up indicates kind of a surprise. And we know that they were totally shocked when he showed up. It wasn't a siege. Something that sudden would seem to mean that he was spotted in town and knew where he was going. If he'd apparated into the house he would have apparated into the room when all three where there and there was no time at all for defense. But again, that isn't Voldie's style. He instills terror he doesn't pride himself on efficiency, only effect.

[Silk E Smooth]

I always thought it was a suburb but now that I think about it, that's just silly. The neighbors could rat them out if they were in hiding. So I guess maybe it is like a manor.

[Dedalus]

Actually, I don't think it's a town or a house - it's a village.

That's based on the phrases used, such as "last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow ..." (if it was the name of the house, she would have said "at") and Hagrid later said that Voldemort arrived in the village that the Potter's were hiding.

Also, if you think of the definition of the word hollow (Not the definition of 'empty', but of dented or concaved) ... that would be an odd name for a house, but it wouldn't be an odd name for a village in a valley, say. Infact, "hollow" can mean just that (a valley between mountains).

[hedwig7]

Godric's Hollow in Hogsmeade, (sp?) perhaps?? i mean, the town is in the shadow of a mountain (the one where Sirius was hiding)

[Cat]

I don't think it sounds like the name of a house (by the way, even little poorer houses can have names) and it might not be a village. Just because it is a house, doesn't mean it squats in some settlement. A house can be located in the middle of nowhere, and you'll find that most areas - even the kinds with only one house in - will have names.

It might be, as rotsipots pointed out, a valley. And this valley might have only been home to the one house.

[supernatural]

i've always thought of godrics hollow as a street in a wizard town/ village. similar to privet drive.
possibly godrics hollow in hogsmead- who knows!!!!
:coolblue:

[Shoujo Kitsune]

maybe it was a hotel? maybe not....

[AlexandraRiddle79]

Originally posted by CaraLee123 (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=105978#post105978))
Where exactly do you find out that Harry's Parents lived in Godric Hollow? I never even heard that before I've visited websites and read it. :??: Please reply...
Cara


the beginning of the first book, mcgonagall tells Dumbledore that Voldemort showed up at Godric's hollow and Killed Lily and James

[HPAlive4Ever]

Jord, it is true that turns up indicates a surprise, hjowever, you must consider the circumstances. Of course it was a surprise, because no one expected it - they were in "hiding," using the fidelious charm so that he would not be able to find them. Of course everyone was surprised that he turned up - how did he know?

[JamesI]

I think it was a house. Just my reasoning though. I'm probably wrong.

[jr119us]

Originally posted by Aria Angel (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=269021#post269021))
Ok guys, just FYI, the Potters did not LIVE in Godric's Hollow. They were HIDING there under the Fidelius Charm.
Alot of people seem to think that was their home and that makes Harry the heir of Gryffindor, but it was NOT their home, just a hiding place.
Why in the world would you go to all the trouble to have a secret keeper and then stay in your own home? Not sure where everyone got the idea.

Okie dokie.. on with the show

Aria

they were hiding in their house, under the fidelius charm. And I quote "he couldnt of found them if he was staring in their sitting room window" or something to that effect

[harp230]

I always assumed Godrics Hollow was a villiage or something of tjhat nature , but now I'm not so sure. I always assumed it was thrie house but that may not be the case. But why (other than obvious plot implications ) does it matter if it was their home? Voldemort couldn't fimd them there because of the charm?

[dorcasderr]

No, but he sure would have LOOKED, wouldn't he? And that would mean the Potters would have to have stayed inside pretty much all the time. Given both the name "Godric's Hollow" and the grammar, Voldemort "arrived in" GH, it seems obvious to me that Godric's Hollow is a small village, not tightly packed like a town, but with space between the houses, and that the Potters lived in a cottage there. Whether this was their own cottage, or their primary residence, I know not. There was once a thread on just this subject...I'm not sure if it still exists...

[Alastor D]

Well, in Hogsmeade it was NOT. Because Wormtail killed 13 muggles there. (or was it 12?). There are no muggles in Hogsmeade.

In PS ch.4 Hagrid told Harry ".., he turned up in the village where you was all living,..." (I don't think he would have said "living" if it was an occasional hiding place.) And there was a street with a sewer below. Obviously also gas pipes. Wasn't it said somewhere that the blown up street was explained as a gas explosion? Cottages in the middle of nowhere don't have these.

Seems to me that the place must have been a village or a small town. But the Potters' house probably was in the outskirts without wall to wall neighbours because it took a while before muggles started to swarm around.

[jennymac]

I believe that Godric's Hollow is simply a "Hollow." I am originally from a small mountain town that has "Hollows" in some places instead of streets. They usually go really deep in the mountain and would be a great place for hiding! They are also something you say you go "in" instead of "to" or "on". Perhaps Godric's Hollow is a street/hollow going through the mountain in Hogsmeade

[Barbara Kennedy]

Originally posted by Alastor D (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=271088#post271088))
Well, in Hogsmeade it was NOT. Because Wormtail killed 13 muggles there. (or was it 12?). There are no muggles in Hogsmeade.

In PS ch.4 Hagrid told Harry ".., he turned up in the village where you was all living,..." (I don't think he would have said "living" if it was an occasional hiding place.) And there was a street with a sewer below. Obviously also gas pipes. Wasn't it said somewhere that the blown up street was explained as a gas explosion? Cottages in the middle of nowhere don't have these.

Seems to me that the place must have been a village or a small town. But the Potters' house probably was in the outskirts without wall to wall neighbours because it took a while before muggles started to swarm around.

Great spotting Alastor D! You've really done your research!

[Alastor D]

Thanks for your kind words Barbara!

[rotsiepots]

Well, I think Alastor's find confirms that Godric's Hollow was a village.

Hagrid did visit the spot to pick up Harry, so I think he's more than qualified to make an assessment on the characteristics of the settlement.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Now that the question is settled, maybe we should just let it "slide off the page"?

[Rounded Buddha]

Where does it say where they dies and where Wormtail killed all those muggles is the same place.

[Auri DeMeer]

I don't think it was the same place. I can't remember where they said that Black "cornered" Pettigrew, but I would have noticed if they had said it was "Godric's Hollow".

[Alastor D]

Yes, I can't find any mention of exactly where it happened either. It seems natural to think it was in G H. We know Sirius was there, and there is no mention of him leaving the place.
And would Sirius have given the bike to Hagrid if he intended to go somewhere else to find Peter? For all we know it's very likely it happened in Godric's hollow. But not a proven fact.

[Cat]

Originally posted by Auri DeMeer (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=271399#post271399))
I don't think it was the same place. I can't remember where they said that Black "cornered" Pettigrew, but I would have noticed if they had said it was "Godric's Hollow".


I agree. Sirius went to the house, saw the wreckage, spoke to Hagrid... it's a bit rich to assume that Peter was still on the same street at this point. He could have been three villages away for all we know.

I didn't know that Hagrid said 'village'. But, still, Godric's Hollow doesn't have to be the name of the village. Or the house, indeed. You get different plots in villages, don't you? So-and-So Farm, Such-and-Such Park.

Really, it could be anything. There's no evidence to single anything out :p

[Alastor D]

Yes, Cat, but why do you assume Peter had been at the Poters' house before Sirius arrived. Is it said somewhere that he was there together with Voldie?
Allow me some more circumstantial evidense. Not very strong I admit.
Fudge told: " ..., and knowing that Black had been the Potters' secret keeper, he went after Black himself." Would Peter be that brave? But perhaps he could muster enough courage to go to G's H to see what happened, and met Sirius there. If, on the other hand Sirius went to Peter's place, ppl wouldn't believe Peter went after Sirius.
Summa summarum: we don't know if it happened in (or at) G's H or not.

[jr119us]

remember in the movie when there's the flashback of Voldemort going to Godrics Hollow? as he goes through the fate to a HOUSE the sign says Godrics Hollow. Big houses have names sometimes, and it was probably a big house because we know that James inherited a large amount of money.

[Alastor D]

Well, jr119us, we are speaking of things we read in the books. There is no proof the film makers asked JKR abt that detail.

[Moonlight]

Originally posted by jennymac (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=271090#post271090))
I believe that Godric's Hollow is simply a "Hollow." I am originally from a small mountain town that has "Hollows" in some places instead of streets. They usually go really deep in the mountain and would be a great place for hiding! They are also something you say you go "in" instead of "to" or "on". Perhaps Godric's Hollow is a street/hollow going through the mountain in Hogsmeade


But wouldn't it be a house or a building? Because I don't really think you could blow a mountian or street in the way Voldie did, and how would Hagrid found Harry among the house's rubble.

It'smost probbly a plot of labd now though...unless someone's disgraced the memories of the Potters and built over it...

[FawkesBox]

Godric's Hollow is definitely a town--- In Quidditch Through the Ages- a Quidditch authority is said to be from there.

[Aria Angel]

I just can't see a muggle town or village being named after a wizard.. Makes no sense to me at all. I think it's the name of the house. It has been said many times before that JKR made sure certain important things were in the movies.. So if in the movie, the house is named Godric's Hollow, then I am inclined to believe it. The place where Harry was attacked and his parents died, is a pretty important piece of the story. I dont think she would have let that slip by.

Aria

[Barbara Kennedy]

Perhaps it was named that long before the muggles ever came into the area. All they knew when they arrived is that it had been called "Godric's Hollow" as long as anyone remembered. No one need ever have known it was named after a Wizard. Perhaps the name had been carved into a stone gate or other marker.

[Zahri Seb Melitor]

FawkesBox, you mean Bowman Wright, don't you? Yes, the way it is phrased in 'Quidditch through the Ages' as "the wizard Bowman Wright of Godric's Hollow" would either suggest that it's a village, or alternatively, a very well known manor/plot of land. I'll let you all draw your own conclusions from this :) .

[MaynardIsReal12]

I alwaya thought Godric's Hollow waas like a street or something. I guess that would makw sense...

[Gandalf_the_White]

I think that Sirius gave his bike to Hagrid, more than likely just so that Hagrid could get Harry to safely quickly, because he would know that Hagrid wasn't allowed to do magic and his first concern would be Harry's safety. Then after he gives him the bike, he can still apparate, i am sure within two or three apparations he was able to locate Peter, and he just happened to confront him on a common street(where is better to hide than amongst muggles?), where Peter blasts some Muggles and gets away

[zoeydsngwrtr]

Originally posted by Aria Angel (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=269021#post269021))
Ok guys, just FYI, the Potters did not LIVE in Godric's Hollow. They were HIDING there under the Fidelius Charm.
Alot of people seem to think that was their home and that makes Harry the heir of Gryffindor, but it was NOT their home, just a hiding place.
Why in the world would you go to all the trouble to have a secret keeper and then stay in your own home? Not sure where everyone got the idea.

Okie dokie.. on with the show

Aria



:clappy: Thank you, I totally forgot about that. Thank you everyone for bringing up the origional question too. I think that Godricks hollow is where Godric Gryffindor is from, possibly a manor, possibly origionally his manor, now a small town

[DarlingChild]

I had always just assumed that 'Godric's Hollow' was an area, like Hogsmeade. It could very well be a house, but I always thought of it as an area, a town almost.

Hopefully we'll find out in book 5 ;)

[jennymac]

Originally posted by Aria Angel (original post)
Ok guys, just FYI, the Potters did not LIVE in Godric's Hollow. They were HIDING there under the Fidelius Charm.
Alot of people seem to think that was their home and that makes Harry the heir of Gryffindor, but it was NOT their home, just a hiding place.
Why in the world would you go to all the trouble to have a secret keeper and then stay in your own home? Not sure where everyone got the idea.


but book 4 says that he killed them in their house! "harry had been a year old the night that voldemort- the most powerful dark wizard for a century, a wizard who had been gaining power steadily for eleven years- arrived at his house and killed his father and mother." ch 2. the fidelius charm stays in tact until the secret keeper chooses to divulge the secret. lily and james could have been standing right in front of him and he wouldn't have know unless the secret keeper told him. so why wouldn't they stay in their own home? i still think godric's hollow is a hollow going through hogsmeade. it was never said that godric's hollow was where all the muggles were killed by peter.

[zoeydsngwrtr]

Well now that is a confusing though, so Voldemort showed up at Godric's Hollow (as stated in book one) but still killed Harry at his house??? How does that make sense, Godrics Hollow has got to be a town and they stayed at their own home as a trick to throw Voldemort off, that is the only thing that makes sense to me, either that or JKR made a mistake. One way or the other, I am sure we will find out much more about it in book 5.

[MadMagic]

I think that Godrics Hollow is a small village. A really cute litle place.

Also I never had the impression that Peter and Sirius had thei confrontation in Godrics Hollow. Why would Peter stick around there--Sirius obviously knew the truth. I always imagined that they were in a busy, more populated area than what I had imagine Godrics Hollow to be.

[zoeydsngwrtr]

Yeah, I always figured that the confrontation was somewhere in London. perhaps near the entrance to Diagon Alley, where there may be more Wizards around.

[Lestrange]

I was under the impression that wizards named their homes so that they could travel to it by Floo Powder.

But, anyway, my theory is that, maybe Godric Griffindor had lived in that house or owned it, maybe before Hogwarts, and the town/village had been named after him when he had died. I doubt that the muggles would have known who he really was, though.

Because, if someone here (too lazy to look for it) had said that "Godrics Hollow" was on a sign outside James and Lily's home, and J.K. stated in an interview that she made the scene where Lily And James died, personally, you'd think that SHE would have added that detail herself, right? ....I hope I"m making sense...

[jennymac]

that's another thing. i've looked at the flash back in the movie and i can't find the sign. i've even slowed it down to look. where is it supposed to be in the flashback!!?? i'd like to see that.

[kitha]

I'm a bit confused... however, I think that the Potters house was in the area of Godric's Hollow. Whether the area was a town or just a way of referring to a geographical area I have no idea... but the Peter/Sirius confrontation seemed to take place in a large city. I could swear that Hagrid said somthing to the effect of Sirius having shown up after the Potters had been killed and then leaving (as we later learned, to look for Peter).... but I can't check the accuracy of the memory, as the books are all in my sleeping son's room!!! Maybe I just imagined that!! Sorry :(

[Alastor D]

No, kitha, Hagrid said nothing abt him leaving.

[zoeydsngwrtr]

Yeah, I just started reading the first book again, Hagrid said that he had "young Sirus Black had let him borrow the motorcycle.....the little tike [Harry] fell asleep as we were flying over...." That is Hagrid talking to DD, but what is strange to me, is that isn't Sirius a wanted man by this time???...oh well, topic for a different thread really. Anywasy, and as DD was describing what happened he said something to the sort of, "last night Voldemort showed up at Godrics Hollow...." and we all know what happened then, so I would say it is a town. I use to think it was an estate, but now I think it is a town.

[supernatural]

it's a village:

"All anyone knows is, he turned up in the villiage where you was all living, on halloween ten years ago." pg 45 PS
at first i thought it was a street, now i think its a village

[zoeydsngwrtr]

good detective work!!! I would definatly have to say Village for sure then.

[Jonny Boy]

I think Godric's Hollow is a small village. My evidence for this is Hagrid said he picked Harry up before all the muggle's came along and also it couldn't really be a house because the Potter's didn't become really famous till after they died so how could everyone know the name of their house. I also think that Harry and James are decendants of Bowman Wright. I don't think that Godric's Hollow is named after Gryffindor because why would there be muggle's living in a place named after a really powerful wizard.

[hermione_fan]

I think it's a house. Maybe, like someone said, it is in Hogsmeade. Perhaps the Shrieking Shack. Maybe it being in the 3rd book was kind of a foreshadowing type thing. It would be an ideal place to stay because Dumbledore could easily talk to them from Hogwarts. This theory may seem a little farfetched but it could be taken into consideration.

[Pyro Duo]

I always thought that Godric Hallow was a code name of some sort. So that when the Order talked about it people wouldn't know were they were staying.

[MadMagic]

Godrics Hollow to me always seemed like the name of an estate of sorts. It isn't just a house...it also encompasses a lot of land around the house too.

[Morgan LeFay]

I think it's quite obvious that it is a village. I've always imagined it like a few houses in the mountain valley - it would be hard to find. It could also be a manor in it.
The thing is that it is a village where muggles live, but it is named after the Godric Gryffindor - a wizard. Any ideas about it?
I think Godric hollow could be in Ireland - I feel that it is somewher in the west. And (sorry if it sounds stereotypical) but I thought Lily was Irish, because I've always seen Irish people with red hair and green eyes. And Potters could live there, not only hiding, but who knows?

EDIT: I read some previous posts and I agree that GH could be a house - but it means that in the same house lived Bowman Wright and (propably) Godric Gryffindor. Why did Potters live in the house of two of the most known wizards?

[jennymac]

"All anyone knows is, he turned up in the villiage where you was all living, on halloween ten years ago." pg 45 PS
at first i thought it was a street, now i think its a villagebut most every street is a part of a town or village. he could be living on Godric's Hollow Rd. or whatever, in the village of hogsmead (just an example) it didn't say the village was named godric's hollow.

[liteairyfairy]

It's a village. That was stated in PoA

[Animagi rock!]

I've always thought of Godric's hollow as a little village with their house being a bit outside of it so that the muggles wouldn't notice they were there. They'd have had a lot of trouble explaining it to the muggles that a house in the middle of town just blew up for no reason.

It's a village. That was stated in PoA
I thought it was only mentioned that Voldemort showed up in the village where the potters lived, not whether that village was named Godric's hollow or if that was the name of the house. I could be wrong, of course ...

[jennymac]

It's a village. That was stated in PoA
it hasn't been stated anywhere. it did not say "he turned up in godric's hollow, the villiage where you was all living..." it just says village. everywhere is a part of a village or town. if it was a house, Godric's Hollow Manor (or whatever) would be in a village. if it was a street, Godric's Hollow Rd. would be in a village.

[Buckbeak2004]

In the movie it shows Voldemort breaking into a house, but that still doesnt stop godrics hollow being a village/town does it?

[ragga]

during book 4 didnt sirius stay in a cave named Godrics hollow or something similar...or am i totaly getting my self confused now...sorry i dont have the books on me right now...

[Silkeng]

I am not sure about this, i assumed the village where they live contained their house, and the house was named Godric's Hollow, like Ron's house is The Burrow. Now has to rethink my whole theory on this subject, and reread PoA.

[Kimmetje]

I thought Godric Hollow was the name of the village like Little Surrey for the Dursleys (makes sense). I also like the idea of Godric's Hollow being a house, but don't think that is true. I could see it being a village with a lot of wizards and witches living there. Remember that there was in a newspaper something where Lucius Malfoy spoke from his Wiltshire Mansion which could mean that it was a village or his house name. I think that it was his hous name now. So concluding I think that Godric Hollow was the name of the house as it would probably be a bit unlikely to be a neigbourhood name...

[Mopsus]

during book 4 didnt sirius stay in a cave named Godrics hollow or something similar...or am i totaly getting my self confused now...sorry i dont have the books on me right now...
I doubt it... or Godric's Hollow would have been a house in Hogsmeade :huh:

I thought Godric's Hollow was a village- so does the HP Lexicon, which Rowling herself uses instead of looking facts up in her books.

[FredWeasleyJr]

Ok guys, just FYI, the Potters did not LIVE in Godric's Hollow. They were HIDING there under the Fidelius Charm.
Alot of people seem to think that was their home and that makes Harry the heir of Gryffindor, but it was NOT their home, just a hiding place.
Why in the world would you go to all the trouble to have a secret keeper and then stay in your own home? Not sure where everyone got the idea.

Okie dokie.. on with the show

Aria

the fidelius charm makes ur house unplottable, and even if someone knew where u liked they could neveer get there unless told by the secret keeper, so how do u know they didnt live there, it could be some closure on the fact that possible harry is related to godric gryffindor, i wouldnt rule anything out just yet

how are u people so convinced its a town???? if it were a town then the potters would have the entire town to themselves because the they were the only ones protected by the fidelius charm, otherwise there would be tons of secret keepers. so therefor it couldnt have been a town otherwise noone would be in it and that would be pointless, or there would be a group of secret keepers

[Mopsus]

Could you please provide a quote that states the Fidelius Charm was performed on Godric's Hollow? As in, explicitedly stating Godric's Hollow. It might well be a town- all we know is that the location of the Potter's was hidden in Peter Pettigrew. We do not know if the entire location of a town was kept within Pettigrew, which I highly doubt is possible anyway.

[SquibOnline]

It's probably a small wizarding village where the potters lived - dumbledore said in the first book

[ComicBookWorm]

It's a village. Bowman Wright lived there. I think James was descended from Bowman Wright and lived off of golden snitch royalties. JKR said the Potters had inherited money. James is playing with a snitch during the Snape Pensieve scene, but he was a chaser not a seeker (despite what the movie said).

Also this could be why James and Harry were good at Quidditch, since they inherited good broom flying skills from their forebears.

I think Lily is the one who is descended from Godric Gyffindor. But that is off-topic here.

[Mopsus]

It's a village. Bowman Wright lived there. I think James was descended from Bowman Wright and lived off of golden snitch royalties. JKR said the Potters had inherited money. James is playing with a snitch during the Snape Pensieve scene, but he was a chaser not a seeker (despite what the movie said).

I hadn't made that connection yet... but it sounds very plausible indeed!

[Gryffindorgod]

To me, the name Godrics Hollow suggests a village. I always thought they lived in a cottage in a village called Godrics Hollow, the only reason Voldemort could find them was because Pettigrew had ratted them out (no pun intended), if he hadn't said anything then he wouldn't have been able to find them. They wouldn't have had to leave the house, boring I know but other members of the Order would have been able to bring them all the necessities. I wonder, if there was someone else in the cottage would you be able to see them or would they be 'invisable' like the Potters? And could you hear them but not see them? Because if Harry was only 1 he would have been able to make a LOT of noise screaming which would have given them away.

[Mopsus]

If the Fidelius Charm was cast upon the Potter's House, then we can assume it was magically hidden like 12, Grimmauld Place- only those who knew the secret could sense (see, hear, smell, touch, taste) the house.

[Classical_Wizar]

I always imagined it to be an area in the suburban something like welcome to Godric Hollow in front of the main driveway. And the the potters lived at number X almost like Sirius home at Grimmuald Place number 12

[Nicole]

Posted by Alastor D:Well, in Hogsmeade it was NOT. Because Wormtail killed 13 muggles there. (or was it 12?). There are no muggles in Hogsmeade.

In PS ch.4 Hagrid told Harry ".., he turned up in the village where you was all living,..." (I don't think he would have said "living" if it was an occasional hiding place.) And there was a street with a sewer below. Obviously also gas pipes. Wasn't it said somewhere that the blown up street was explained as a gas explosion? Cottages in the middle of nowhere don't have these.

Seems to me that the place must have been a village or a small town. But the Potters' house probably was in the outskirts without wall to wall neighbours because it took a while before muggles started to swarm around.
---------------------------
But Sirius had to track Peter down, which doesn't sound like Peter hung around. Pretty sure Peter was nearby when Voldemort attacked the Potters, he retrieved Voldy's wand. I have never gotten the impression that Sirius found Peter in Godric's Hollow, in fact, I have the impression he found him in London or one of its suburbs (don't know much about London metro area)--mainly because Fudge mentions being one of the first on the scene [he was working at the Ministry and that is in London]. Wonder why no one from the Department of Magical Catastrophes was on the scene as quickly when "Lily an' James' house(p. 257 PoA, pb) was destroyed....


I think it's quite obvious that it is a village. I've always imagined it like a few houses in the mountain valley - it would be hard to find. It could also be a manor in it.
The thing is that it is a village where muggles live, but it is named after the Godric Gryffindor - a wizard. Any ideas about it?
I think Godric hollow could be in Ireland - I feel that it is somewher in the west. And (sorry if it sounds stereotypical) but I thought Lily was Irish, because I've always seen Irish people with red hair and green eyes. And Potters could live there, not only hiding, but who knows?

EDIT: I read some previous posts and I agree that GH could be a house - but it means that in the same house lived Bowman Wright and (propably) Godric Gryffindor. Why did Potters live in the house of two of the most known wizards?
I had never thought of Ireland being their hiding place, but wherever it was it was quite a distance from Little Whinging as there is quite a gap of time between the attack and Hagrid bringing Harry to Privet Drive. No reason for Godric's Hollow to be in Ireland even if Lily is Irish.
If Godric's Hollow was a house wouldn't it be something like The Hollow or Godric's Manor? IMHO Godric's Hollow is the name of the village, James and Lily did live in a house there, and Pettigrew faced off with Sirius somewhere else.

What if Godric Griffindor was named Godric after the place (or another Godric the place was named for) instead of the other way around? Plus lots of people seem to think GG is a half-blood and if so one parent may be a muggle....Another point is that 1000 years ago, witches/wizards were not necessarily as feared as they were a few centuries later--they were often called upon for healing and to make charms for things like good crop production or to ward off the "evil eye".

[ramones]

It's a village. Bowman Wright lived there. I think James was descended from Bowman Wright and lived off of golden snitch royalties. JKR said the Potters had inherited money. James is playing with a snitch during the Snape Pensieve scene, but he was a chaser not a seeker (despite what the movie said).

Where did you get this information from?

Glad this has been cleared up: Godric's Hollow is a village.
I don't know if the Potter's always lived there, or if they went to stay there after the Fidelius Charm was performed. I really don't see any evidence so far for either possibility.

[winter snow]

Okay, I went to www.hp-lexicon.org This is what they said about Godric's Hollow:

"Godric's Hollow is a muggle village where James and Lily were hiding from Voldermort in October 1981. We know very little about it. We do know that they lived in a cottage there which was destroyed when Voldermort attacked them."

Since Jo uses this site when she needs facts, we know this site to hold reliable information. I hope this helps!

[Tiberius]

If Godric's Hollow is a muggle village, what are the chances it was named after Godric Gryffindor? Would a muggle village be named after a wizard?

[lewis8604]

Alot of people have said that maybe GG was a halfblood since he was a half blood maybe the muggle side of himwas very known at the time. Also maybe he worked w/ muggles a lot because he was realted to him. Also maybe he had kids that were sqibs or muggles themselves. That would bring the point that maybe both James and Lily were descendants of GG. Then harry would be heir of gryffindor from both sides muggle and wizard. Also it has been rumored that harry's and Lily's eyes are the same color as GGs(just a rumor so far). If lily was a muggleborn that says something as well

[Angharad]

There are all KINDS of muggle places in Britain that are named after magical and mythological creatures: Devils' Punchbowl, the Giant's Causeway, Arthur's Seat. Besides, isn't Hogsmeade the only all wizard village in Britain? All the other villages, towns, etc. would mostly be muggle anyway.

And if Gryffindor is nobility as many think, he could have been muggle nobility, not wizard nobility anyway. He could have been a muggle noble AND a great wizard.

It is common for a village to grow up either at a crossroads or near a castle or manor. There could still be a Gryffindor Manor (or whatever) even though the Potters were staying in a cottage.

And Jo never says where Sirius finally corners Wormtail. My guess is that it was in a muggle area of London, perhaps near where you enter Diagon Alley. I think Peter was trying to get to Gringott's or something so he could make his get-away. We know it was heavily congested (one blast killed 12 people) and that there were sewers below.

[Nicole]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ComicBookWorm
It's a village. Bowman Wright lived there. I think James was descended from Bowman Wright and lived off of golden snitch royalties. JKR said the Potters had inherited money. James is playing with a snitch during the Snape Pensieve scene, but he was a chaser not a seeker (despite what the movie said). [end quote]


Where did you get this information from?

It is from "Quidditch Through the Ages", a book JKR wrote under the psuedonym 'Kennilworthy Whisp'. It is one of Harry's school books, and the proceeds go to charity. It is also sold as a boxed set with "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". Both books are rather interesting to read.

[ComicBookWorm]

Alot of people have said that maybe GG was a halfblood since he was a half blood maybe the muggle side of himwas very known at the time. Also maybe he worked w/ muggles a lot because he was realted to him. Also maybe he had kids that were sqibs or muggles themselves. That would bring the point that maybe both James and Lily were descendants of GG. Then harry would be heir of gryffindor from both sides muggle and wizard. Also it has been rumored that harry's and Lily's eyes are the same color as GGs(just a rumor so far). If lily was a muggleborn that says something as well
As far as I've been able to tell the green eyes was my rumor, because I couldn't come up with a better idea of why the eye color was important.

Godric's Hollow is a village since Bowman Wright, inventor of the Golden Snitch lived there. Based on a JKR interview it was no doubt named after Godric Gryffindor. The HP Lexicon assumes it is a muggle village since Hogsmeade is the only pure wizarding village.

[Tiberius]

Oh, CBW, you starting rumours? Oh, naughty. :p

As for Godric's Hollow just being a Muggle village, maybe it's mainly wizard, and a few Muggles who know about wizards. Like hermione's parents, if she moved there and her folks wanted to live there too. Oh, that'd be freaky. hermione, all grown up, married to Ron, and her folks are living right next door. Everybody Loves Hermione :p

[Stayce]

Godric's Hollow is a village. Hagrid tells Harry that in SS as well as that it inhabits both muggles and wizards.

[Alastor D]

Hagrid told Harry that You-Know-Who had "turned up in the village where you was all living". He didn't mention the village's name. Nor did he say anything about muggles. It was McGonagall who first said anything about Godric's Hollow three chapters earlier. She told that rumours are saying that "last night Voldemort turned up in Godrics Hollow. He went to find the Potters."

[GodricHollow]

Ah yes. My favorate topic. As CBW has already confirmed, GH is a magic/miggle village, which begs the question, Why or How on Earth did no Muggles, as far as we're aware, die/see/get hurt in anyway shape or form in the accident?

God, remind me NOT to become a detective.

[Alastor D]

Maybe the house was a little off the outskirts of the village. Maybe the muggles where used to odd things happening there and thought better not have a look.

[percivalwulfric]

Ah yes Gordics hollow... Hogsmeade is the only remaining total wizards village, yes? well maybe Gordics Hollow was a wizards village but after the attack on James, Lily and Harry the rest of the wizards got scared off, leaving the village without "magic folk"

[mugglepoint1]

I've been thinking about that ever since mugglenet had put that as a poll. I'm thinking that it's a plot of land. Because the weasley's house is been called the burrow, and there's the malfoy manner, and there's sirius place, grimmauld place, so i think that rowling decided that houses would be called certain things.But i suppose it could be a village since someone was from there, but w/e...ahah

[esmerelda]

I would go along with it being a village or a house. I like houses to have proper names!

[Ginevra Weasley]

Moi thinks it was (and probably still is) a town, or most likely a village, given that it's mentioned that James and Lily were staying in one (Hagrid, PS).

It could've been the house, too, only we don't know whether James and Lily actually moved house in order to have the Fidelius Charm performed. My guess is, they didn't move.

I still think it's a village.

[Nicole]

Confirmed today on JKR's website (FAQ section) that Godric's Hollow is a village!

[Lady Vorn]

well, folks, your question has been answered!!!!!!

[Nicole]

Another thread bites the dust!

[esmerelda]

Another thread bites the dust!

I know, if she keeps this up there'll be nothing left to debate! I'm sure the Love Thread will struggle on somehow!

[Nicole]

I know, if she keeps this up there'll be nothing left to debate! I'm sure the Love Thread will struggle on somehow!
I'm sure it will. Sigh.

But at least she may have given us a few new things to debate, and who knows? Maybe making changes on a Friday is a hint that we should try the door again in two weeks (Christmas Eve or Christmas Day). :p

[Auror77]

I believe Godric's Hollow is a neighborhood. I seriously doubt it's a town or what the Potter's decided to call their home.

[Adiah]

I believe Godric's Hollow is a neighborhood. I seriously doubt it's a town or what the Potter's decided to call their home.

Check out JK's website, she says it's a village.

[LeeJordanfan]

So if it's a village, why doesn't anyone ever take Harry there to visit his parents old community? I know if my parents died horribly like that, I'd want to go there. Are there muggles in Godric's Hollow who are friends of Lily? Are there magic people there who are friends of James?? The fact that it's a confirmed village just brings up new questions to me.

[Ginevra Weasley]

Yes! It's a village! I was right........I think maybe the mods should archive this thread now that Jo answered the question.

[Lilly Evans]

According to J.K.Rowling's official site, Godric's Hollow is a village.