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Knockturn Alley

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Knockturn Alley
Knockturn Alley
Location information

Diagon Alley, London, England

Permanent residents

Borgin, Caractacus Burke


Dark Arts

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.


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]


Harry, Ron, and Hermione visit the alley in 1996

Harry's next visit to the alley was in 1996, when he, Ron, and Hermione followed Draco Malfoy, suspecting 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


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.


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

Behind the scenes


Notes and references

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