- "Skulking around Knockturn Alley? Dodgy place."
- — Rubeus Hagrid[src]
Knockturn Alley is a shopping area off Diagon Alley in London. It is filled with lots of shops devoted to the Dark Arts, including Borgin and Burkes, which specialises in objects that have curious and strong magical properties. Usually, unusual, dangerous and scary people walk around there. When Tom Riddle left Hogwarts he worked at Borgin and Burkes.
History
Harry Potter visits the alley for the first time in 1992
Harry Potter first entered Knockturn Alley in 1992 when using floo powder at the Weasleys. He ended up inside Borgin and Burkes when he didn't say "Diagon Alley" clearly enough when trying to travel there by Floo powder from the Burrow. He ran into Rubeus Hagrid outside the shop. Hagrid, who was getting Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent in Knockturn Alley, told Harry that he shouldn't be hanging around in such a "dodgy place".[1]
The trio visit the alley during the height of the Second Wizarding War
Harry's next visit to the alley was in 1996, when he, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger followed Draco Malfoy, Harry suspected him of being a Death Eater. Draco let several Death Eaters into Hogwarts through a Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin and Burkes at the end of the 1996-1997 school year.[2]
From the shops, one can purchase many types of dark objects, which include poisonous candles, shrunken heads, giant spiders, human-looking fingernails and toenails, and Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent. Because of its contents, Arthur and Molly Weasley prohibited their children from entering Knockturn Alley.
Items that can be purchased
- A "bloodstained pack of cards"
- Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent
- Giant black spiders
- The Hand of Glory
- Hangman's rope
- Human bones
- Human toenails
- Human fingernails
- Poisonous candles
- A cursed opal necklace
- Rusty, spiked instruments
- Shrunken heads
- Skulls
- A "staring glass eye"
- A Vanishing Cabinet
- Leering Masks
Access
As with Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley is not directly accessible from the Muggle world. The Leaky Cauldron pub provides one access (via Diagon Alley), while Apparition and Floo powder are other access options. There may be other entrances. In addition, as noted above, a vanishing cabinet located within one of the shops provided direct access to Hogwarts.
Etymology
The name "Knockturn Alley" is a play on "nocturnally", just as "Diagon Alley" is a play on "diagonally". "Nocturnally" has to do with the night and darkness, hinting at its dark nature.
Known locations
- 13B Knockturn Alley - A building where Borgin and Burkes is located.
- Borgin and Burkes - An antique shop.
- Beard Trimming - A barber shop.
- Betting shop - A shop that takes bets on various events.
- Chimney Sweep Elf
- Cobb & Webb's - A shop that sells items related to Dark Arts.
- The Coffin House - A shop that sells Dark Arts materials related to raising the dead.
- Dystyl Phaelanges - A shop that sells bones.
- E.L.M and Wizards Undertakers & Embalmers
- Fledermaus and Tanner Bats & Skins
- Markus Scarrs Indelible Tattoos
- McHavelock's Wizarding Headgear
- Moribund's
- Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary - A shop that sold potion ingredients.
- Msaw Ætare
- Noggin and Bonce - A shop that sells shrunken heads.
- Potage's Cauldron Shop - A shop that sells different types of cauldrons.
- Tallow and Hemp Toxic Tapers
- Trackleshanks Locksmith
- Shyverwretch's Venoms and Poisons
- The Spiny Serpent
- The Starry Prophesier
- The White Wyvern - A pub.
- Wizarding Supplies
- Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - A shop where people can purchase curios related to Dark Arts.
Behind the scenes
- The Whispering Wizard may have been an inhabitant of Knockturn Alley.
Knockturn Allley sign
- The 2-disc DVD edition of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets includes an interactive tour of Diagon Alley, which includes one of the entrances to Knockturn Alley (in the early films depicted as being directly to the right and behind the Leaky Cauldron access), although the tour does not progress into the alley itself.
- In the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Shrunken Head in the Knight Bus announces "Next stop, Knockturn Alley!" after the Knight Bus has dropped off Harry at the Leaky Cauldron. This suggests that either there is an entrance to Knockturn Alley that does not lead through the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, or that the Knight Bus can actually jump into Knockturn Alley, to a bus stop there. This is not seen (or possible) according to J.K. Rowling's book canon.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Entrance only) (PS1 version only)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Mentioned in deleted scene)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game) (Nintendo DS version only)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
- LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter LEGO Sets
- Pottermore (Mentioned on a sign, Pottermore on PlayStation Home)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Diagon Alley
Notes and references
| England, Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Carkitt Market - Diagon Alley - Horizont Alley - Knockturn Alley |