Owl-borne tidings from Hongkou! Seems some warlock has been trading on the good name of Hogwarts, converting an old office into a flagrant copyright infringement by the name of Wonder Palazzo. Seems designed more for pictures than a robust education in the wizarding ways! The Ministry will have to hear of this. I dig out my old school uniform and go undercover.
***
Things didn't get off to a great start. For one, getting into the unassuming office building in Hongkou required vaulting a security barrier (mind you, not an easy thing to do in wizard robes). For two, my passage was obstructed by a devilishly clever illusion.
This would have them green with envy at Gringotts! Such misdirection is no match for a deft alohamora spell. I got top marks in Third Year Charms, you know. Professor Flitwick said I had the best wrist movement in the class.
Into the Coca-cola fridge of secrets, and…
Oh, it's the spitting image! Such memories! They come flooding back! My first shopping trip down Diagon Alley…
Getting onto Platform 9 and 3/4s for the first time…
Enjoying the British summer on that magical train ride to Hogwarts.
Late nights studying for my OWLs in the Girl's Dormitory, while the others giggled over the copy of Winsome Wizards that Parvatti managed to smuggle in.
What's that sound? It sounds like a hippogriff wrestling a mugwump under a carpet. Has Buckbeak escaped? Ronald Bilius Weasley! You'd better not be polishing your broom in the common room again!
Oh silly me! It's just a copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, by Edwardus Lima. Seamus Finnigan must have let it escape again. He's never been good with the hairy beast. He can be a little precocious at first (the book, not Seamus), but one stroke on the spine and he'll melt in your hands.
Actually, I found Newt Scamandar a much more interesting read. I can't wait for the sequel, I'm positive it'll be brilliant!
That's just one of the many mementos lying about willy-nilly. They've let the Sorting Hat out of Professor Dumbledore's office. It's seen ever so many things overlooking his desk. Did you know he's… yes, I know! No really, she said so!
Here's the cup from the Triwizard Tournament! The Portkey enchantment has been dispelled but the batteries still work! Still, it's a bit… dark, don't you think? Cedric was such a sweet boy.
Wait, they've left all of the House robes lying about for anyone to wear. That's cheating! How will we know which teenagers are the bad ones?
There's a real Snitch! Wicked!
I thought Professor Dumbledore only let Professor Snape bring this out during dungeon nights.
Oh, they have butter beer?
40 galleons for a mug?! Hogsmeade has really gentrified, hasn't it. I don't even think it's real butter beer. It tastes like ginger ale and whipped cream, like that time George and Fred spiked the Yuletide punch with expired Acid Pops!
They could have gotten in a lot of trouble, you know. They might've gotten someone killed. Or worse, expelled!
It's hardly the most honest recreation of Hogwarts, is it. I suppose you'll have to go to Universal Studios for that. But what a lovely trip down memory lane! I haven't been a little witch in a very long time, and seeing all the Muggle students cavorting about, pretending to be witches and wizards reminded me of my younger days. So much has changed since then. It's a darker world, now. Grittier. Maybe the world needs another witch or wizard ready to give their life in the battle against bigotry.
Not me though, I'm just here for pictures! Teehee.
***
Wonder Palazzo is open daily from 1-9pm. It's 59rmb per hour per person to futz about with the props. Butter beer costs 40rmb for one (you'll only want one). School robes are provided free of charge, but not to keep. The owner often hosts board game gatherings and fan shenanigans.
