Harry Potter: 5 Secret Passages to Hogwarts No One Will Ever Use Again
The Weasley twins once told Harry there were seven hidden passageways to Hogwarts — but first, there were more, and second, they’re almost all gone now.
5. The Mirror Passage Was Caved In
One of the secret paths to Hogwarts known to the Marauders, the Mirror Passage was once a great route to Hogsmeade and back for any cheeky student — or, alternatively, a descent location for illegal battle magic training. At least, that was how Sirius Black interpreted it when he recommended the passageway to Harry.
The Mirror Passage could have housed the entirety of Dumbledore’s Army were it not for the fact that it got caved in. This clearly happened after the Marauders graduated but before the events of The Order of the Phoenix, so neither we nor Harry will ever learn what truly happened there. Nor will we ever use it as intended.
4. The Whomping Will Passage Was Blocked Off
Another Marauder-related path, the Whomping Will Passage was the route the four friends took to get directly to the Shrieking Shack to prevent anyone from learning Lupin ’s fluffy secret. Blocked off by the Whomping Will itself, this passageway is extremely hard to access without knowing its mechanic…or dying in the process.
Between the reputation of the Shrieking Shack, the Whomping Will viciously protecting the passage’s entrance, and the Golden Trio’s unlikely desire to endanger their kids by revealing this route to them, it’s safe to assume that no one would ever go through the Whomping Will Passage again. Good riddance; it’s way too risky.
3. The Well Passage Was Flooded
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A great route for the Merpeople or any student who enjoys skinny-dipping, the Well Passage required exactly what it sounds like: jumping into the West Well on the Hogwarts grounds. Better yet, you’d come out from the Hogsmeade fountain, meaning that it has water on both sides. Or rather, had; now, that’s not the case.
Much like the Mirror Passage, the Well Passage was essentially destroyed sometime between the Marauders’ and the Golden Trio’s years in Hogwarts. But the reason here is not quite as mysterious: the passageway was completely flooded, which only makes sense when it’s surrounded by so much water. It was a wet one, anyway.
2. The Vanishing Cabinet Passage Was Removed
The first route to Hogwarts the Marauders had nothing to do with, the Vanishing Cabinet Passage was set up by Draco Malfoy and his Death Eater accomplices with the sole purpose of killing Albus Dumbledore. One of the Cabinets was located in Borgin and Burkes, and the other was hidden in the Room of Requirement.
Apart from its grim purpose, there’s another sad detail about the Vanishing Cabinet Passage: it would also never be used again. Severus Snape, who became the Hogwarts Headmaster after Dumbledore, most likely removed it first thing — and even if he for some reason didn’t do that, there is another huge problem with it.
1. The Room of Requirement Passage Was Destroyed
We’re not quite sure whether the Marauders knew about the Room of Requirement and simply couldn’t overcome its magic to add it to their Map or were simply oblivious to its existence, but this enchanted space could provide a quick and easy access to any location. Neville Longbottom used it to connect to the Hog’s Head.
Thanks to Neville’s brilliant understanding of the Room of Requirement, the rogue Hogwarts students who opposed the Carrows had a place to live and food to eat. Unfortunately, the Room was completely destroyed during the Battle of Hogwarts, taking both Neville’s passageway and the Vanishing Cabinet out of the equation.