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Did you notice these easter eggs from Borgin and Burkes that became important later on?

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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The Harry Potter stories are crammed with easter eggs all throughout the series, if you know where to look for them. Particularly, the elusive shop Borgin and Burkes, which Harry accidentally visits in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, is full of suspicious items and occurrences that informed later stories. Here’s five such examples. 
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## The Cursed Necklace  

> He paused to examine a long coil of hangman’s rope and to read, smirking, the card propped on a magnificent necklace of opals: Caution: Do Not Touch. Cursed – Has Claimed the Lives of Nineteen Muggle Owners to Date.<br>
>
>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

When Harry accidentally lands in Borgin and Burkes after a faux pas with some Floo powder, he finds himself surrounded by all manner of dubious magical artefacts that shouldn’t get into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, a particular necklace that Harry notices in the shop in his second year gets into the wrong hands of someone in his sixth year. 

Yes, this necklace (labelled ‘cursed’) turns up again in Harry Potter and the *Half-Blood Prince*, when Harry’s Quidditch teammate, Katie Bell, accidentally touches it. As it transpires, the necklace was actually meant for Albus Dumbledore, and part of the ongoing plot by Voldemort and the Death Eaters to get rid of him during Harry’s sixth year.

Even before this moment, Hermione spots the necklace in the shop earlier on in the book, where we learn that it costs one and a half thousand Galleons. The cursed jewellery must have been sitting in the shop for years, simply biding its time. 
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## Lucius’s visit 

> ‘Mr Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you again,’ said Mr Borgin in a voice as oily as his hair. ‘Delighted – and young Master Malfoy, too – charmed. How may I be of assistance? I must show you, just in today, and very reasonably priced –’ 
>
> ‘I’m not buying today, Mr Borgin, but selling,’ said Mr Malfoy.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

It is in Borgin and Burkes that we first meet one of the stories’ most significant villains, Lucius Malfoy, Draco’s father. Upon our introduction to the character, we learn that Lucius is selling some of his less innocuous belongings, lest he get into trouble with the Ministry of Magic for owning certain things. At the end of *Chamber of Secrets*, we learn that one of his deadly items is Tom Riddle’s diary, which he slips into Ginny Weasley’s possession during the same trip to Diagon Alley. In a deleted scene of the film, *Chamber of Secrets*, Lucius Malfoy is seen with a mysterious object that is ‘not for sale’ during the transaction. We are led to believe that this is the diary that he was holding back so he could sneak it into Hogwarts instead, where a fragment of Tom Riddle aided in opening the Chamber of Secrets. 
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## The Hand of Glory 

> ‘Ah, the Hand of Glory!’ said Mr Borgin, abandoning Mr Malfoy’s list and scurrying over to Draco. ‘Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend of thieves and plunderers!
> 
> Your son has fine taste, sir.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

In the book, *Chamber of Secrets*, we see a young Draco Malfoy fascinated by a creepy hand in Borgin and Burkes, which he asks his dad if he can have. No such luck, but Draco would get hold of the hand eventually... he uses it as part of his secret mission to sneak Death Eaters into Hogwarts during *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*! 

> ‘He came out of the Room about an hour after we started keeping watch,’ said Ginny. ‘He was on his own, clutching that awful shrivelled arm –’
> 
> ‘His Hand of Glory,’ said Ron. ‘Gives light only to the holder, remember?’
> 
><br>*Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince*

## The Vanishing Cabinets 

> Malfoy looked as though he was fighting down the urge to shout, or to vomit. He gulped and took several deep breaths, glaring at Dumbledore, his wand pointing directly at the latter’s heart. Then, as though he could not help himself, he said, ‘I had to mend that broken Vanishing Cabinet that no
one’s used for years. The one Montague got lost in last year.’
>
><br>*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

Another Borgin and Burkes item assisted Malfoy during his secret plot to kill Dumbledore during *Half-Blood Prince* – two of them, to be specific. A Vanishing Cabinet is a magical item that conceals whatever is put inside it (including people) – but also acts as a gateway if connected to another.

Luckily for Malfoy, two Vanishing Cabinets sat in Borgin and Burkes and Hogwarts respectively, making them the perfect catalyst for his secret mission to sneak Death Eaters into the castle in the sixth book. 

But we actually discovered the cabinets much earlier in the Harry Potter stories. We see Filch confiscate the enchanted piece of furniture in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, for one. And the cabinet reappears again in *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, because Fred and George shove the Slytherin Prefect Montague inside it. The cabinet is then moved to the Room of Requirement, and at one point, Harry walks straight past it.

Upon repeat readings of the book, we realise that the Weasley twins inadvertently made Draco Malfoy aware of the cabinet, which he would later use to deadly effect... 
<br>
## Lord Voldemort’s history 

> ‘So Voldemort went off to Borgin and Burkes, and all the staff who had admired him said what a waste it was, a brilliant young wizard like that, working in a shop. However, Voldemort was no mere assistant. Polite and handsome and clever, he was soon given particular jobs of the type that only
exist in a place like Borgin and Burkes, which specialises, as you know, Harry, in objects with unusual and powerful properties. Voldemort was sent to persuade people to part with their treasures for sale by the partners, and he was, by all accounts, unusually gifted at doing this.’
>
><br>*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

We always knew Borgin and Burkes was a shop that attracted bad company, but we didn’t know one of the Darkest wizards of the wizarding world actually worked there. Yes, a young Tom Riddle was under Borgin and Burkes’ employ in his younger years, which is where his fascination for certain magical trinkets became a significant part of his life. As Dumbledore teaches Harry, he would later go on to make precious items into Horcruxes...  

__If you have the Harry Potter Fan Club app, you can learn more about Knockturn Alley in today's Wizarding Weekly! You can download the app (available in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) from the [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/wizarding-world/id1427926466) or [Google Play.](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wwdfe.goog.wizardingworld&hl=en_GB)__

Watch our guide on how to draw a Niffler 

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Is there a cuter fantastic beast than the Niffler? (Shush, nobody tell Pygmy Puffs we said that.) How about creating your own to show off to your friends?

The mischievous creature, known for foraging shiny objects and for being a particular favourite of Newt Scamander, was first introduced to us in the book *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*, and we’ve been in love ever since.

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And don’t worry, you don’t have to have the artistic prowess of Dean Thomas (remember his ‘Potter for President’ Quidditch banner?) to draw this little fellow – our guide is designed so everyone can draw along. 

Don’t forget to draw the Niffler’s gold coins – otherwise you’ll have yourself one sad Niffler. 

For more of our arts and crafts videos, check the [Wizarding World YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPRO1CB_Hvd0TvKRU62iSQ) 

Which wizarding world location would you most like to go to?

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## If you’re an ambitious individual…we can see you in the Ministry of Magic

The Ministry of Magic is where it all happens. It’s where wizarding laws are made – and it’s probably one of the only places in the world that you enter by flushing yourself down the loo! It’s also a setting where ambition can flourish – you just have to look at the careers of Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hermione Granger and even Percy Weasley to see that. Whether you want to catch Dark wizards as an Auror or do highly secret things as an Unspeakable, if you’re someone who is career driven and ambitious, the Ministry of Magic is the location for you.

## If you’re a lone wanderer… we can see you in the Forbidden Forest

The world can be busy and loud and for some this can be a little overwhelming. If you have ever felt the urge to switch off from it all and go on your own adventure, then the Forbidden Forest is where you belong. While it isn’t the safest of places (why else would it be forbidden to Hogwarts students?), it is a forest full of mysteries and secrets that your wandering mind can't help but want to explore! Home to weird, wonderful and often dangerous creatures – such as Unicorns and Acromantula, it is not for the faint of heart. But for fearless adventurers, who want a break from the modern world, it is the perfect idyll.

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Harry and Luna look at Thestrals in the forest in a still from the Order of the Phoenix.

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## If you have a thirst for knowledge… we can see you at Hogwarts

This one is really quite self-explanatory. If you want to expand your horizons and learn something new, then Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is simply the place to go. From the library that is bursting at the seams with magical information, to the vast and deep knowledge of the professors, it has everything you could possibly need to help quench your thirst for learning. We can just see you now, sat at the front of a Charms lesson with Professor Flitwick, practising Wingardium Leviosa with a quick swish and flick and enjoying every minute of it.

[In fact, what lesson do you think you'd end up excelling in? We've put together a handy guide for that too.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/which-hogwarts-subject-study-owl-level)

## If you love a Butterbeer and a chat… we can see you at the Three Broomsticks

There is nothing like sharing a few stories over a pint of Butterbeer with a friend – and the Three Broomsticks is a great place to do that. Packed full of characters, you never quite know who you are going to meet. Witches, wizards, warlocks, dwarfs... you'll definitely bump into Hagrid who is known to congregate there. Wizarding pubs are also spaces where secrets are spilled, and deals are made – you never know what you might hear (or what creature you might be offered). So, if you enjoy a good drink, fantastic conversation and meeting new people, then this is where we would find you.

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Minerva McGonagall, Madam Rosmerta and Cornelius Fudge in the Three Broomsticks

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## If you’re a shopaholic… we can see you in Diagon Alley
The hustle and bustle of a busy high-street. Shop windows packed full of colourful trinkets. The thrill of finding that perfect item. Any of this tickling your fancy? If the answer is yes – you should take a trip down Diagon Alley. There really isn’t any Muggle shopping experience that can compare. What a wonderful afternoon you could have perusing the beautifully crafted wands at Ollivanders, before having a good rummage through the books at Flourish and Blotts and finally finishing the day with an ice-cream at Florean Fortescue’s.

## If you’re an animal lover… we can see you in Newt Scamander’s case

Are you someone that often prefers the company of animals to humans? Do you feel you understand them in a way you don’t get people? If this is you, then we can see you happily helping Bunty in Newt’s case – surrounded by a multitude of magical creatures. Who wouldn’t want to play with squashy baby Nifflers, meet big-eyed Mooncalves or even admire a rare Thunderbird? It would be blissful to spend the day tending to all the creatures in such a beautiful spot. The best thing? Cases are portable! So you can always take this special little sanctuary with you.

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## If family means everything… we can see you at The Burrow

Nowhere says home quite like The Burrow. It may be rundown and ramshackle, but that doesn’t make it any less special or ‘brilliant’ (as Harry first described it). It is a place where anyone can feel as though they are part of a family and Mr and Mrs Weasley wouldn’t have it any other way. There may be bickering, a ghoul in the attic and a constant need for de-gnoming the garden – but warmth and love radiate from every nook and cranny. As do delicious meals and a general sense of cosiness. So, if you’re someone who is at their happiest when safe, secure and surrounded by family, you would slot right into The Burrow and right into the Weasley clan.

The Fawkes quiz

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Will you be flying high or will this quiz ruffle your feathers?

There's only one way to find out.

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Find out which Hogwarts house you're in

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Bloomsbury and Scholastic announce the release of Harry Potter: A Magical Year, The Illustrations of Jim Kay

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Harry in Tom Riddle's diary,  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition

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Coming this October, fans can soon look forward to *Harry Potter: A Magical Year, The Illustrations of Jim Kay*: a celebration of the award-winning artist’s rich and imaginative interpretations of the wizarding world paired with memorable excerpts from the Harry Potter books.

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The visual content of the book is composed of a selection of iconic artwork from Bloomsbury’s four Illustrated Editions, complemented by unseen pencil sketches and preparatory studies from the Jim Kay art archive.

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Each day features a favourite anniversary or meaningful memory from the Harry Potter novels (366 in fact – including one extra for the leap year) all delicately illustrated with scenic artwork along the way. 

Alongside Jim Kay’s most iconic illustrations are previously unseen pencil sketches and preparatory pieces, offering a unique and fascinating insight into the artist’s sketchbook.

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Jim Kay has so far illustrated four of the seven Harry Potter books in the series, with his most recent work in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire released back in 2019. The *Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* will follow in 2022. For now, fans can take a closer look at Jim Kay’s craftmanship, with *A Magical Year* celebrating pieces from his previous offerings alongside never-seen-before sketches. 

No detail has been spared here, with each page lovingly decorated with different wizarding world flashbacks, from the snowy towers of Hogwarts to the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. 

*Harry Potter: A Magical Year, The Illustrations of Jim Kay,* is being released by Bloomsbury and Scholastic on the 5th October, while fans can look forward to T*he Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* in 2022.

Visit the official websites of [Bloomsbury](https://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/a-magical-year-9781526640871/) and [Scholastic](https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/harry-potter/) for more details on how to pre-order *Harry Potter: A Magical Year, The Illustrations of Jim Kay.*

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First look at the all-new Spin Master Wizarding World toy collection coming soon

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The Wizarding World is always finding inventive ways to entertain and surprise fans with new pieces of magic – and this all-new offering from Spin Master promises many enchanting treats for younger fans. 

From an interactive Hedwig to a Hogwarts castle replica, this new range of toys from Spin Master celebrates the iconography of Harry Potter in all manner of cute ways. Here’s a first glance at this new toy line. 

## Harry, Hermione, Luna and Cho 8” Dolls

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Four beloved characters from the Harry Potter film series have been reimagined as new storytelling Dolls, boasting customisable outfits, Hogwarts uniforms, accessories and of course, wands!

Fans can choose between Harry, Hermione, Luna and Cho – with each Doll coming with mini-additions that complement their character. For example, the Deluxe Brilliant Hermione Doll is dressed like how you see Hermione in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, complete with pink hoodie and Time-Turner accessory. And if you want to take Hermione on a different adventure, she also comes with an additional outfit, cauldron and potion bottle, so you can recreate her famous Polyjuice Potion moment from *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*. 

## Enchanting Hedwig Interactive Plush 

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We’d recognise this snowy owl anywhere – yes, it’s Harry’s beloved pet, Hedwig, who is available here as a special interactive plush.

Hedwig can flap her wings, move her beak and turn her head 270 degrees, just like a real owl. She even sits on her own little perch, so she can live comfortably in your home.

Featuring innovative effects, this plush has intuitive ‘ruffle detection’, meaning Hedwig will know when you want to pet her. She’ll also recognise the tone of your voice and respond to you when you fancy a chat. 

And the finishing touch: Hedwig also comes with a special Hogwarts letter, complete with the famous red wax seal, which she can hold in her beak. Only friends with the secret combination of interactions will be able to get Hedwig to release the letter.

## Magical Minis Hogwarts Castle, Small Dolls & Playsets 

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This collection surely wouldn’t be complete without Hogwarts Castle itself, which has been recreated for you here as a Magical Mini. Standing almost 2ft tall, the set is interspersed with magical features, from interactive light and sound effects to a surprise Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom. 

The Hogwarts Castle comes with 12 accessories, including your very own 3-inch Hermione small doll to wander round the school with. And more Magical Minis are available separately, so you can start to add classrooms and other characters into Hogwarts to let your imagination really fly. 

Keep an eye out for more details on the Spin Master collection, including additional goodies and release dates, very soon.

Take a look inside the new Harry Potter flagship store opening in New York this June 

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__Note: The images featured in this article are rendered imagery and not actual store photography.__

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Wizards and witches may have Diagon Alley, but soon, we will have Harry Potter New York – a new, three-storey retail experience that will house the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products under one roof. From photo opportunities to upcoming virtual reality experiences, this store is expected to be exceptionally magical when it opens this summer, and here’s just a peek at what to expect.

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Located at 935 Broadway, next to the iconic landmark, the Flatiron building, Harry Potter New York promises to be so much more than a normal shopping experience, offering 15 different themed areas, exclusive products and interactive elements, all celebrating different facets of the wizarding world.

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Upon entering Harry Potter New York, visitors will be greeted with a huge, floating model of Fawkes the Phoenix, created especially for this new store. Created by a team of specialist propmakers over a number of months, Fawkes weighs over 100kg and is just one of several meticulously detailed homages you can expect to see. In fact, the shop will be home to hundreds of Wizarding World props, with some authentic items featured in the films on display.

Due to the many glorious details showcased in the store, fans will find several photo opportunities to try out on each storey, from a Ministry of Magic London-style phone box to an extremely immersive setting where you get to pose inside one of Hagrid’s boots! We’re sure you’ve never had that photo opportunity before.

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Beyond that, Harry Potter New York even plans to delve into the realms of virtual reality, with special immersive experiences set to be introduced to the store later in the summer. Soon, fans can expect to try out two sensory VR adventures, the first called Chaos at Hogwarts, which invites customers to step inside the beloved castle, and the second called Wizards Take Flight, where fans will be gifted with the feeling of flying on a broom across the skies of London.  Watch out for more updates on this upcoming feature later in the summer, once the store has opened!

The interactivity doesn’t end there. Members of our very own [Harry Potter Fan Club](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harry-potter-fan-club-tiers) who have our official app will be able to unlock extra surprises as they explore. Simply look out for our Enchanted Keys, which can be scanned in your app to bring up extra details about the store and your surroundings and learn a few behind-the-scenes snippets alongside your shopping experience. These keys have been precariously placed around the store – so keep a watchful eye. 

No rock has been left unturned when it comes to the breadth of detail within Harry Potter New York, with every inch steeped in magical nuances to make visitors really feel like witches and wizards. For example, fans can  test out their wand of choice at an interactive wand table, just like Harry did at Ollivander’s. The store even has its very own Wand Shop, which is host to over 50 wands, inspired by the characters, locations and props within the Wizarding World. This includes wands you won’t have seen anywhere else – such as the Golden Snitch Wand, especially created for Harry Potter New York.  

Even the products that fans can buy in the store have been made extra-special, with a Personalisation Area also being introduced. Here, shoppers can browse a selection of unique products, as well as get their name added to a number of selected items, such as having it engraved on a wand, embroidered on a Hogwarts house robe or embossed on a journal. 

Harry Potter New York is set to be a store of many firsts. For example, this will be the first time US fans can visit the House of MinaLima, home of the graphic designers that created the iconic props you see in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. An area of the store will be specially dedicated to MinaLima’s graphic art creations, that range from Daily Prophet and Quibbler covers to Harry’s very own Hogwarts acceptance letter. You can learn more about MinaLima at their official website.

The sheer breadth of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts items on display means every type of wizarding world fan will find something special for them here, alongside taking part in a number of other unique experiences. We can’t wait until Harry Potter New York opens its doors to you all! 

*Harry Potter New York opens 3rd June. You can learn more details about the store from HarryPotterStore.com, with some of the store’s products online right now at [HarryPotterShop.com](https://harrypottershop.com/). Covid-19 guidelines will be in place at Harry Potter New York once it opens to the public.*
