Twenty small, circular tables are crammed inside the room, all surrounded by chintz armchairs and fat little pouffes. Everything is lit with dim, crimson light; the curtains at the windows were all closed, and the many lamps are draped with dark red scarves. It is stiflingly warm, and the fire is burning under the crowded mantelpiece was giving off a heavy, sickly sort of perfume as it heats a large copper kettle. The shelves running around the circular walls are crammed with dusty-looking feathers, stubs of candles, many packs of tattered playing cards, countless silvery crystal balls and a huge array of teacups.

The tower is guarded by a large and ugly stone gargoyle which rarely talks but is capable of doing so. The headmaster's office itself is a large circular room with many windows and many portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses. The portrait of the immediate predecessor of the current headmaster or headmistress hangs behind the head's desk.