In comparison, the shopfront of Fred and George Weasley's joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, 'hit the eye like a firework display'. Several other shops, like Scribbulus Writing Instruments, appeared to have been boarded up as well. Ollivanders Wand Shop and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor were closed following the Death Eater attack, in which Garrick Ollivander was kidnapped and Florean Fortescue was kidnapped and later murdered. The once-crowded streets stood virtually empty, the few shoppers staying together in groups 'Wanted' posters with the faces of Death Eaters plastered the fronts of once-bright shops and street stalls popped up, hawking 'protective' amulets and charms. Wizards and witches no longer felt safe wandering out in public. In 1996, the return of Voldemort affected the appearance of Diagon Alley dramatically. On the other hand, a number of shabby-looking stalls had sprung up along the street.' -Description. A few windows were boarded up, including those of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Most of these somber purple posters carried blown-up versions of the security advice on the Ministry pamphlets that had been sent out over the summer, but others bore moving black-and-white photographs of Death Eaters known to be on the loose. ' The colorful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Harry also purchased his wand from Ollivanders Wand Shop, and presumably, the other members of Harry's year, including Hermione Granger, did the same. Hagrid helped Harry shop for his school supplies, and purchased Harry's eleventh birthday present, the snowy owl Hedwig, from Eeylops Owl Emporium. Harry Potter's first visit to Diagon Alley with Rubeus Hagrid marked his re-introduction to the wizarding world. However, there is a possibility that Ollivanders Wand Shop is the oldest building, records dating back to the late fourth century B.C. It is a popular historical theory that the oldest building in Diagon Alley is Gringotts Wizarding Bank and that the other shops grew up around it.

Diagon alley book ends