Harry Potter’s world has been duplicated in an incredible display of the power of the doubling charm

In a truly magical display that looks like the work of a doubling charm, Diagon Alley, the Whomping Willow and other features of Harry Potter’s world have turned up 10,000km away in Singapore

3 min read

November 22, 2018 - 5:36PM

There’s the Hogwarts Express at the recreated Hogsmeade Village.

READING LEVEL: GREEN

A whole world of wizarding has magically appeared at Singapore’s airport, including Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley from Harry Potter stories.

Changi Airport has stopped pretending to be just a place for muggles*. With the help of film company Warner Bros, three of its four massive airport terminals* have been magicked into life-size recreations of places made famous in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts book and film series.

Almost the whole airport has been taken over. Picture: supplied

There is a Hogsmeade Village — including the Hogwarts Express train, Zonko’s Joke Shop, Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, Owl Post and sweet shop Honeydukes.

Terminal 3 is now Diagon Alley, featuring familiar favourites such as Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and Quality Quidditch* Supplies. There is a famous Whomping Willow tree in terminal 2, and in the terminal 1 Transit Hall, travellers will find a recreation of Newt Scamander’s Menagerie, which is seen in the new film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Eddie Redmayne in a scene from "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald." Picture: AP

Visitors of all ages, who would usually wander aimlessly around the airport dressed in muggle clothes waiting for their muggle flight, can dress up in Hogwarts uniforms provided by a shop inspired by Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions, or take on wizardry activities and Quidditch challenges.

There's a costume shop inspired by Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions. Picture: supplied

There is a daily snow and light show in the lead-up to the holiday season.

There have been no reports of these wizarding hot spots disappearing from where they usually are in the UK. Wizard sources have confirmed that the most likely cause of this huge duplication* is a very clever use of a powerful version of a doubling charm, sometimes called the Gemino Curse.

This truly magic experience is called A Wizarding World Holiday. The doubling charm will be in place until mid-February 2019, after which time Changi Airport will go back to looking like a muggle airport.

Kids News will continue to monitor this story and will update readers if there are reports it is possible to travel to or from Changi Airport by broom or floo powder* instead of by aeroplane.

VIDEO: Watch a young Daniel Radcliffe audition to play Harry Potter.

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GLOSSARY

muggles: the wizard term for non-magical people, in the Harry Potter stories

terminals: areas of the airports where you board a plane

quidditch: a magic ball game on broomsticks from the Harry Potter stories

duplication: making another one the same

floo powder: a magic transport powder from the Harry Potter stories

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

QUICK QUIZ

1. What is the name of the airport and where is it?

2. Name three magical shops that have appeared there.

3. Where could you find something less muggle-y to wear?

4. In Harry Potter stories, what is another name for the doubling charm?

5. What magical transport is mentioned as an alternative to aeroplanes?

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

Imagine that you are walking through one of the terminals of Changi Airport, when something mysterious and magical happens. Write a story about it.

Time: Allow 30 minutes

Curriculum Links: English

Extension: If Singapore’s Changi Airport can create a magical Harry Potter-inspired world, what could your school do? Choose your favourite book, movie, stories or hobby. If you could redesign your school to bring this to life, what would you include? Choose four places or spaces in your school and describe what you could create or build. Then, create a design for each space that shows exactly how it would look.

Time: Allow 45 minutes

Curriculum Links: English, Visual Communication Design

VCOP ACTIVITY

After reading the article, with a partner, highlight all the openers you can find in blue. Discuss if they are powerful and varied openers or not. Why do you think the journalists has used a mix of simple and power openers? Would you change any, and why?

HAVE YOUR SAY: If you were a wizard who could only do one magic spell, what would you want it to be? Why? Use full sentences to explain your thinking. No one-word answers.