White Tomb

"Hogwarts should be Dumbledore's final resting place."

- Filius Flitwick

The White Tomb is the only grave at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Located at the shores of the Lake, it is the final resting place of Albus Dumbledore, who willingly gave his life in the service of the Order of the Phoenix fighting Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters in the course of the Second Wizarding War. It was Dumbledore's wish to be laid to rest in Hogwarts' grounds, and his supporters and friends ensured it was carried out. Despite no other headmasters or headmistresses had ever been laid to rest at Hogwarts before, the Ministry had accepted this wish due to Dumbledore being well respected. Many came to the funeral, and at the conclusion the White Tomb was forged in fire around Dumbledore's body by his phoenix familiar, Fawkes, as he departed Hogwarts forevermore.

"...or from breaking into your tomb"

- Harry Potter on Lord Voldemort

In 1998, Voldemort, during his search for the Elder Wand, demanded the location of the wand from Gellert Grindelwald in his cell in Nurmengard prison. Grindelwald refused to tell him anything, possibly out of a desire not to see his old friend's grave desecrated or as a sign of remorse for all the atrocities he committed. However, Voldemort eventually deduced that Dumbledore had won the Elder Wand from Grindelwald, who himself stole it from Gregorovitch. Voldemort flew to Hogwarts and used his own wand to crack open the White Tomb from head to foot, and then removed the sheets from around Dumbledore's body, allowing him to take the wand within, which had been buried with its owner. He did not realise that young Draco Malfoy had the allegiance of the wand.

Following Voldemort's death at the conclusion of the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, the one who had slain Voldemort utilising his mastership of the Elder Wand, returned the wand to the White Tomb, restoring it and ensuring Dumbledore's resting place would remain undisturbed.

Behind the scenes

 * White Tomb is the last chapter in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (book).

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows