The Boathouse is an underground harbour at Hogwarts where the boats are stored and where they dock when the First years arrive at Hogwarts Castle. By 1995 the portrait of Percival Pratt, used to hang on one of the walls, concealing a shortcut to the Grand Staircase. There are some rafters in the ceiling, that are used to store the small wooden boats. After Pratt's portrait was taken away from the Boathouse, there are only three entrances to this building: The path outside the Paved Courtyard, the stairs going down from the Entrance Courtyard, and the Lake.