Lesson 1: The Leaky Cauldron
We begin our journey into Diagon Alley here at The Leaky Cauldron. You might be wondering why we decided to gather in the pub instead of taking the floo network directly into the alley. The answer is quite simple: The Leaky Cauldron has a lot of history that I thought a few of the newer muggle-born students might want to see. A woman named Daisy Dodderidge built the Leaky Cauldron around the 1500’s and she wanted The Leaky Cauldron to sever as a gateway of sorts between the muggle world and the magical Diagon Alley. The pub is located (as you can see) in the heart of London on Charing Cross Road and has a record shop and bookshop on either side of it. Muggles don’t seem to give it a second glance when passing by. The pub is tiny, as I’m sure you have noticed by now, but it tends to be a bit more crowded come the start of fall term at the school.
The Leaky Cauldron is not only a pub, but an inn as well. It may not look like much, but the inn is known for being a welcoming place. Harry Potter, himself, even stayed here for several weeks before the beginning of his third year at Hogwarts. As you can see, there is a wooden staircase that leads up to the guest rooms. Follow me; I managed to talk to Tom, the current owner of the pub, about letting us view Room 11, where Harry Potter stayed while he was here. Ah, here we are, the first room at the top of the stairs, as you can see the rooms have brass numbers on the front of the doors to clearly identify what room you will stay in. As you look around the room, feel free to sit on the comfortable beds and admire the polished oak furniture, and here in Harry’s room, there is a fireplace. Be aware that the mirror on the wall tends to talk, so older students, please don’t taunt it. If you all manage to be quiet for a minute, you will be able to hear the hustle of Charing Cross Road and the bustle of Diagon Alley. Take a moment to absorb the muggle and magical world coming together in this one spot.
We should start heading back down, so I can show you the entrance into Diagon Alley. Everyone keep close and follow me. For those that have not entered into the alley this way before make your way to the front of the group so you can get a good look. As you can see, we went behind the building and are now in a small courtyard that has walls. You must face this brick wall, wands out please. Three up and two across is the pattern you need to follow, give them a tap in that order and watch as the archway grows. Watch your step on the cobbled street and remember we are meeting back here to return to the castle. Enjoy your time at the shops and stick to your list of supplies you will need them for the upcoming year.