The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter (24 page)

Knockturn Alley, likely a play on the word “nocturnal” (dark; nighttime), is a side street off Diagon Alley that sells only objects related to the Dark Arts. The name may also draw on the idea of being knocked around (mistreated) and living a life of hard-knocks (difficulties). The largest store in Knockturn Alley is Borgin and Burkes, named for the two shopkeepers.

Having trouble distinguishing “traditional” wizard supplies from “Dark” wizard products? No one would blame you, as a “unicorn horn” or “beetle eye” could, to the uninitiated, sound like something only bad wizards would use, but they’re both sold at the above-board, not-Dark Apothecary. The distinction seems to be that, in Knockturn Alley, animal products are alive (that is, you’ll find live spiders in Knockturn Alley versus the spleen of a dead animal in Diagon Alley proper). In addition, products that are dead, come from—or, at least, are made to look like they come from—humans, such as human fingernails or a human hand that grabs you and won’t let go. This distinction does make some sense, because, even in the Muggle world, torturing live animals is illegal, and cooking up human livers will get you either thrown in jail or sent to a mental institution, but using the meat from an animal in your stew is perfectly acceptable. It’s a fine line between good and evil, but it’s one that exists in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds.

A few other items are also sold in these stores:

Most of the items sold in Knockturn stores appear, according to Ministry law, to be legal to sell but illegal to possess.

Hidden deep under London, the Ministry of Magic is where wizarding rules are made and punishment is meted out. It is the governing body for all British wizards. Chapter 14 discusses the Ministry in detail, so this section won’t get into those particulars, but just know that it’s located in central London, hidden well underground. The entrance from the Muggle world is in an old-fashioned, bright-red telephone booth, which are classic London landmarks—even with the abundance of cell phones (or mobiles, as the Brits call them), those old-style telephone booths still abound throughout the city.

St. Mungo’s is the place to go if magic has harmed a wizard in any way. Healers attempt to reverse the damage done, although some are more successful in the healing arts than others.

Rowling’s creative genius is in the details, and her description of St. Mungo’s is no different, specifically in the floor guide of the hospital in
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

But where does the name originate? Does “mungo,” in this case, refer to its dictionary definition: scraps left over from making milled wool? Nah. Believe it or not, Rowling did not make up “St. Mungo.” That’s a real person—the patron saint of Glasgow, no less!—but “Mungo” was a nickname that meant “dear one.” (His real name was Kentigern.) Various supernatural events and healing are credited to St. Mungo, most of which show a close connection to animals and the natural world. His selection as the namesake for a hospital is, therefore, quite appropriate!

To get to St. Mungo’s, wizards travel to a department store called Purge and Dowse Ltd. For years, a sign in the store has read, “Closed for Refurbishment,” and one suspects that will always be the case, because the location is so convenient for wizards. Leaning in close to the glass, wizards simply tell the dummy in the window who they’re planning to visit or what their medical condition is, and they tumble through. Voila! They are in St. Mungo’s. And Muggles don’t even notice the disappearing wizards.

Purge and Dowse Ltd. couldn’t be more aptly named: to “purge” is to cleanse or get rid of impurities (and this applies to any hospital worth its salt); to “dowse” (an alternate spelling of “douse”) is to immerse in or drench with liquid, as you would do with soapy water on a nasty wound.

Wizard healers wear lime-green robes with an emblem of a crossed wand and bone on their chests. They’re not surgeons (wizards don’t cut on each other), but they are exceptional wizards who have the skills to undo spells, cure illness, and repair the effects of accidents, poisons, and bites. There are, of course, some maladies for which there are no cures (the effects of the Unforgivable Curses, discussed in Chapter 12, and werewolf bites, discussed in Chapter 2, are examples). But wizards distrust Muggle surgery and try to avoid it.

In the lobby of St. Mungo’s is a portrait of Dilys Derwent, who was both a healer at the hospital and headmistress of Hogwarts. Dilys is a Welsh name, meaning “genuine.” Dilys is also the name of a prestigious award (the Dilys Award) given by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association to the book(s) members most enjoyed selling throughout the year. The award is named for Dilys Winn, who founded the first mystery bookstore.

Derwent is actually a first name for boys, derived from the Old English name Derwin, which means “dear friend” or “gifted friend.” That would make Dilys Derwent a genuine, gifted friend; quite appropriate for a reputable healer. The Derwent River exists in both North Yorkshire, England, and Tasmania, Australia (the Tasmanian river is named for the British one). And the Derwent Hospital in Tasmania, Australia, was the oldest mental hospital in Australia when it closed in 2001.