Diagon Alley: Welcome to the Wonderful Wizarding World
“Welcome,” said Hagrid “to Diagon Alley.”
Hello! Quibbler Creative Editor, here, working on a feature piece about A First Year’s First Steps! (Title in progress.)
I see you’ve received your Hogwarts Letter! Sorry if it was late. Some delivery owls are rather unreliable. (Like Errol, for instance.) But whether you’re 11 or 111, it’s never too late to begin your journey into the Wizarding World! Start your journey by following in the footsteps of our most famous wizard, Harry Potter, and head over to Diagon Alley! (No Floo Powder necessary.)
Oh, I suppose I should mention that we’ve created a secret entrance to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida! This is for our American witches and wizards who want to attend Hogwarts (because we all know it’s better than Ilvermorny).
Fortuitously, Universal Studios has recreated a slice of London to entice would-be world travelers. That means our guiding landmarks “across the pond” are the same for those of you in Florida! Just look for the red-brick alcove next to King’s Cross Station, by Wyndham’s, and be sure to pass through it quickly – before the muggles see you!
Ollivanders Wand Shop
“The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter.”
Garrick Ollivander
There are so many places to dazzle and delight in Diagon Alley. You can grab a chocolate frog at Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop or snatch a golden snitch at Quality Quidditch Supplies, but as a new Hogwarts student, your first stop should really be Ollivanders Wand Shop.
Many first-year witches and wizards are usually there, clamoring to purchase their wands. It’s one of the most exciting parts of being initiated into the Wizarding World! Mr. Ollivander is able to accommodate around 25 people at a time (he really should put an expansion charm on that little shop of his).
Because of the great influx of Hogwarts attendees, Mr. Ollivander can only personally guide one wizard out of every group through a wand ceremony. There’s nothing like the rush of being chosen to participate! But even if you aren’t The Chosen One, it’s still thrilling to watch a fellow wizard try out their wand – but also a little nerve-wracking; if Mr. Ollivander hands them the wrong wand, things can get a little chaotic!
After the wand ceremony, you can browse the shop on your own and pick up different wands until you feel one calling to you. Thanks to the popularity of Harry Potter and his friends, many wands these days are carved to replicate theirs. Are you more of a Luna Lovegood or Neville Longbottom?
(My personal wand is hazelwood with unicorn hair core, 10″ and quite bendy and flexible!)
Although using magic outside of Hogwarts is prohibited for those just beginning their studies, there are special “interactive wands” whose use is allowed in specially marked areas of Diagon Alley. But please, try not to cause too much mischief!
Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
“Mischief managed.”
Fred & George Weasley
Of course, if you solemnly swear that you’re up to no good, there’s plenty of mischief to be found in Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, a joke shop founded by none other than the notorious Weasley twins, Fred and George.
Here you can purchase a skiving snack box filled to the brim with fever fudge, puking pastilles, nosebleed nougat, and fainting fancies. While the vanilla-flavored fever fudge tastes great, the consequences are dire. Consume at your own risk! (Or just use it to prank the Draco Malfoy in your life.)
Additionally, you can also purchase love potion, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes t-shirts, and various magical gags that will wow your muggle friends. The most popular product is, of course, the pygmy puffs. These pink and purple puffballs will purr away all day long, making great wizarding companions for those looking to branch out from the usual owls and toads. Every time a pygmy puff is adopted from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, a naming ceremony is held, so make sure you have a moniker in mind for your fuzzy new friend!
Escape From Gringotts
“Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe — ‘cept maybe Hogwarts.”
Rubeus Hagrid
After buying all of your wizarding supplies, you’ll probably need to head over to Gringotts and make a withdrawal to refill your wallet! Gringotts is the wizarding bank, and here you can also exchange your muggle currency for galleons, sickles, and knuts. You’ll notice the giant, white dragon perched atop the roof; don’t make him angry – he spits fire that’s 3,560 degrees Fahrenheit! Though, strangely, he only does this in 10 to 15-minute increments. I’ll have to interview Newt Scamander about this fantastic beast’s behavior!
As you wait in line to make your withdrawal, you’ll see the goblins hard at work bookkeeping, scratching out numbers beneath the light of twinkling chandeliers. It’s hard for thieves to get past these goblins – but wait, behind that office door! Wasn’t that Harry, Ron, and Hermione that just slipped by? If you get on the elevator now, I think you can catch up!
This elevator will take you down into the vault of Gringotts. . .which is a dangerous place. In the darkness, minecarts zoom along spiraling steel tracks, much like a muggle “rollercoaster.” Be sure to grab a pair of safety goggles as you enter the vault; they’ll help you see everything a little more clearly. (Muggles call this “3D” vision.)
Hop into one of the passing minecarts and find yourself whisked through the Gringotts labyrinth, hurtling over waterfalls, zipping past mountain trolls, and into the clutches of…You-Know-Who?!
You know, come to think of it, I don’t think the Golden Trio actually needs our help, so let’s make our escape from Gringotts and get back to Diagon Alley!!
Apparate!
The Leaky Cauldron
“This is it, said Hagrid coming to a halt, “the Leaky Cauldron. It’s a famous place.”
Phew! After your Gringotts adventure, you’ll probably be ready to sit down and catch your breath. The Leaky Cauldron is a cozy, if somewhat ramshackle, pub that’s a haven for us magic folk to do just that. Here you can order the best comfort food London (or Orlando) has to offer!
You can get some piping hot fish and chips, bangers and mash, or toad in the hole. That’s not wizard lingo – just British slang! “Bangers and mash” is roasted English sausage and creamy mashed potatoes, while “toad in the hole” is a sausage baked in Yorkshire pudding; both dishes are drizzled in yummy onion gravy and served with minted peas. For dessert, you can try some classic sticky toffee pudding, a dense, butterscotch-flavored baked good drizzled in hot toffee sauce and served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Of all the spells in our world, “Can I please get a sticky toffee pudding?” is probably the most magical of them all.
To wash it all down, every witch and wizard needs to try at least one mug of butterbeer. This signature drink is a favorite of almost every Hogwarts alum! Served hot, cold, or frozen, this sweet, butterscotchy beverage is almost better than taking a swig of Felix Felicis. (In taste, it’s not dissimilar to muggle cream soda.) While butterbeer might not bring you any luck, it’ll put a pep in your step as you make your way towards the Hogwarts Express.
Well, I’m going to give my Quick Quotes Quill a rest for now, but in our next issue of the Quibbler, we’ll discuss all you need to know about boarding at Platform 9 3/4 and how to spend your days at Hogwarts (aside from studying, of course).
In the meantime, tell us about what wand chose you or something you love about Diagon Alley in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: Rain0975 via Flickr
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