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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information about Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. |
The Viaduct was a bridge at Hogwarts Castle. It was constructed of stone, spanned a large chasm, and connected the grounds with the Viaduct Courtyard. There is a safety balustrade made of stone on each side of the Viaduct walkway to prevent people from falling, as well as iron torches to provide lighting.[1]
History
1927

Newt, Theseus, Tina, Jacob and Aurors meet with Dumbledore on the Viaduct.
When Newt Scamander and his allies travelled to Hogwarts to meet with Dumbledore, they walked on this bridge when arriving.[2]
1932
A few Hogwarts Quidditch players and a golden snitch flew by this bridge.[3]
1997–1998 school year

The Viaduct at night in 1998
In 1998 during the Battle of Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall's enchanted suits of armour were stationed on the Viaduct to prevent the Death Eaters to enter the Castle proper. Once the magical protections around Hogwarts were broken, many Death Eaters charged through the Viaduct, as well as the Giants, destroying much of the balustrade.[4]
Behind the scenes
- The viaduct does not appear in the books.
- The viaduct is one of the few areas of Hogwarts which has stayed consistently the same throughout the first six film adaptations. However, starting in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and other subsequent films including Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the Viaduct changes places, this time connecting a bigger Viaduct Courtyard to some nearby hills, part of the Forbidden Forest.
- There also seems to be a second viaduct that is still connected from the corner of the courtyard to the entrance between the Left and Right Viaduct Towers. However, that second viaduct never existed, except in some places. This likely happened as the development of the Battle of Hogwarts requires a direct connection from the grounds to the main entrance and enough area for many occupants to battle.
- However the Viaduct possibly always there in the start of 1994–1995 school year, as the Hogwarts carriages can go to to the Entrance Courtyard during the Yule Ball in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and during the term, Viaduct are concealed by magic for the safety of students.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, during the Second Task of the 1994–1995 Triwizard Tournament, the Hungarian Horntail passes through this viaduct and breaks off a major part of the middle of the bridge.
- In the PlayStation One version of the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets game, there is a bridge connecting the main entrance (that resembles the Viaduct Entrance façade) and the Quidditch Training Pitch, that closely resembles the Viaduct.
- In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter chases Draco Malfoy across the Viaduct when he was pursuing him after talking to Katie Bell in the Great Hall.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game), the viaduct's length was exaggerated because there is one particular part in the game where Minerva McGonagall is fighting and preventing giants and Death Eaters to gain access to the Viaduct Entrance. So, the length shown in the game is not equal to the one in the movie
- In the films, although it appears in all films, except in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the only time it is seen used is in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 during the Battle of Hogwarts and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The same goes for the Boathouse staircase.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
- The Queen's Handbag
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey