The Buried Vault, also known as the Portrait Vault, is located somewhere underground in Hogsmeade Village. It is one of the five fabled Cursed Vaults said to have housed treasures and prophecies from before the time of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Description[]
The Buried Vault was inaccessible without a certain painting, which was a Portkey to this location. A Hungarian Horntail guarded the vault.
This vault was explored by Jacob, Patricia Rakepick, and Peter Pettigrew. When the three encountered the dragon guarding the vault, Pettigrew escaped, leaving Rakepick and Jacob behind. The two managed to enter the vault thanks to Jacob's Legilimency, but did not defeat the dragon. Jacob was stuck in a portrait while Rakepick was sent to the Forbidden Forest without gaining access to the treasures inside the vault. Jacob would end up spending eight years trapped in the Buried Vault.
Years later, during the Main Character's fifth year, Rakepick attempted to enter the vault again, this time with the Main Character, Merula Snyde, Ben Copper, Bill Weasley, and either Penny Haywood or Charlie Weasley. The Main Character defeated the dragon and used Legilimency to enter the vault. Before they could enter, however, Rakepick revealed her true intentions and attempted to kill the students. The Main Character used Garrotting Gas to stop Rakepick. Rakepick escaped and the students entered the vault. The Main Character found their brother, Jacob, stuck in a portrait and freed him. They also found a Merperson's trident. After a brief reunion, Jacob left to go after Rakepick, and the rest of the group managed to get back to Hogwarts using a portrait of the castle.