If you can remember back past the annual abundance of Christmas pudding and turkey to Part 2 of my trip to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, I had just left Dumbledore's Office and had promised you props. The majority of the most important props were in one particular display case.
Am I the only one who thinks the Philosopher's Stone looks edible (and really tasty)?
There was also a horcrux display containing the five inanimate horcruxes. I'd like to be able to say that the blurriness of the following photos are due to the horcruxes exuding an aura of evil that interfered with my camera. Unfortunately the reality is probably down to my own poor photography skills.
The wonderful thing about the Studio Tour is that you have the opportunity to take as much time as you want to inspect props and sets that are only glimpsed on screen. For example, I had never noticed quite how beautiful Slytherin's Locket was until I saw it as part of the tour. The locket itself is almost opaline with delicate inlaid green gems in the shape of an 'S' or serpent. I'd just assumed that it was a plain amber-brown colour from the films. The photo I took didn't do it any justice whatsoever!
I begrudgingly pulled myself away from the horcruxes to visit the enigmatic Potions Classroom.
Where you can learn how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses
This was the first set on the tour that included a 'magic' moving item- a self-stirring cauldron. You can watch a video of the cauldron in action on YouTube here (please note: the video is not my own). The Classroom is watched over by the costumes of everyone's favourite Slytherins: Severus Snape and Horace Slughorn.
Fun fact: Snape's costume didn't change throught the films
From the Potions Classroom you pass by Hagrid's Hut which was mostly notable for mugshots and details on the films' animal actors nearby. Did you know that it took three cats to portray Mrs Norris and only one of them was female? Well now you do.
After Hagrid's Hut was a display of three significant doors- one to the Chamber of Secrets, one for a Gringotts' vault and one for the Hogwarts Entrance Hall. Sadly the snake mechanism of the Chamber of Secrets door was not yet up and running when I visited but I'm informed that if you go now you would be able to see this working even without having to speak any Parseltongue!
The next set is The Burrow and again features moving items- this time a self-chopping knife and Mrs Weasley's magical-knitting needles (as someone who is currently learning
to knit, I'd love to own some of these!).
I particularly enjoyed seeing the Weasleys' magical clock in the corner of the room. Unfortunately when I visited this was a very busy area of the tour and it was hard to get to the front of the crowds to get a good look at the set.
As you turn from the cosy and homely Burrow, you are confronted with the monstrous Magic is Might statue depicting muggles being crushed under a massive stone tower. This change of set is very jarring and it reflects the darker change in mood within the books and films as Harry Potter's story progresses. The following Ministry of Magic set is less whimsical and more based in the real world than the tour so far; the set is intended to resemble the tiled London Underground and the Magic is Might statue is based on real Soviet statues, particularly the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman.
Still think Harry Potter is a children's story?
The only colour injected into this area of the Studio Tour is the violent pink of Dolores Umbridge's Ministry Office.
I actually find Umbridge's Office strangely beautiful (I know many would feel otherwise!) which makes Umbridge herself even more repellent to me.
Thankfully the mood lightens once more as you move on to a surprise gem of the Studio Tour- the graphics deapartment display. Aside from a few key sets, this was easily my favourite part of the Warner Brothers Studio Tour as you are able to get really close to incredibly detailed items such as Dumbledore's will and the Marauder's Map.
You can also peruse a shelf of mouth-watering wizarding treats such as Cauldron Cakes and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
I can't overestimate how much I loved this section. The love and care that went into each of these items is phenomenal and I could have easily spent an hour examining every small detail in this display. However, there was much more still to be seen....
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