As you open the door and step inside, you see aisle, upon aisle of long dusty boxes and and an old man behind a counter. He is busying himself cleaning up a large mess of scattered boxes and wands. He stops when he notices you enter and says, “I will be with you in a moment.”
Just then, there is a loud ‘Pop!’ right outside the shop, as a dozen or so witches and wizards appear out of nowhere in the middle of the street that you just left. They all begin frantically running about questioning the people nearest to the entrance to Diagon Alley.
The shop owner walks over to you and looks out into the street.
“Magical Law Enforcement is sure keeping busy today.” he says looking at you in the eyes. “Harry Potter is causing quite a fuss today, and not just to my shop!” The owner gestures to the mess of wands and wand boxes that litter his floor. “He has everyone on edge. Just today, I’ve seen the Magical Law Enforcement detain three kids for underage use of magic. It’s Diagon Alley for goodness sake! Kids can’t always control their magic…”
You are familiar with the decree against underage use of magic, as your brother actually received a warning last summer after he attempted to curse you in the kitchen for taking the last piece of bacon. You must have set off some alarm when you used your brother’s wand.
“Well,” the shop owner sighs, “I guess they will seal off the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron for hour or so, while they get it sorted out.” You see his eyes drift from you to your backpack, where you stashed your brother’s wand. He squints and a strange look of realization comes over him. You have the very nervous feeling that this man is putting it all together.
Abandoning your idea of asking this wizard for help opening the brick entrance, you glance about for another exit.
“My name is Ollivander,” the old man says, “and you have nothing to fear from me. I have no love for the Ministry and kids will be kids, I say.” He locks the front door and returns behind his counter. “Now, as you can see, I have a mess on my hands and won’t be able to assist you with a wand fitting just yet. But, if you like, I can show you another exit – a way out the back.”
Ollivander leads you down an aisle to a door near in the rear of the shop.
Just then, you hear a loud knock on the front door. A magically-magnified voice booms out, “Mr. Ollivander, we need to speak with you! I am with Magical Law Enforcement.”
“You might be in more trouble than I thought,” says Ollivander, “Well, I’m going to go let them in now. What you choose to do, is up to you.”
If you are talented in Astronomy, turn to page 167.
Otherwise, turn to page 253.