Harry Potter and the Illiteratus Curse Written by “Cryptosporidium-623”

Based on Characters in the Harry Potter universeand owned by their respective holdersVersion 2.1 - Last Revised 11-AUG-2016

You were on your way to Diagon Alley to replace your broken wand when you accidentally bumped into an old, familiar face — Professor Dumbledore, your former HeadMaster at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry!

“Ah! It's good to see you again AFGNCAWP ("Ageless, Faceless, Gender-Neutral, Culturally Ambiguous Wizarding Person”), and you are not a moment too soon!" he says with a look of urgency.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named along with his band of Death Eaters struck nearby zapping random passersby with the Illiteratus curse, removing all knowledge from the poor victims heads!

Although it didn’t take long for the Ministry of Magic’s Aurors to arrive and chase those evildoers away, the damage has been done. Muggles, wizards and witches alike are now wandering around aimlessly, their minds filled with, literally, nothing."

“If only there was some way to reverse such a horrible curse…" you start to reply as your voice tapers off.

A moment of pondering later and you realize there might be a way after all! "Professor, couldn't we could use the power of the nearby Wizarding Library to help them?"

“Yes. Yes,” replies Dumbledore. “What you’re proposing makes perfect sense, in theory. In order to give it the best chance of success, however, you will need amplify the library’s power.

This can be achieved by locating the Great Librarians’ Enrollment Log and imprinting your name within its pages.”

“An enrollment log?” you ask.

“Yes,” continues Dumbledore. “The great library is powered by the number of people who use it’s vast resources. The more wizards and witches that sign the enrollment log, the greater the library’s abilities!”

“How do I find the enrollment log?” you inquire.

Dumbledore notices your broken wand. "You'll soon have everything you need," he answers in his usual, cryptic way. "Now, go and find Mr. Ollivander while I head over to the Ministry of Magic and let them know that you're on the case! I have nothing but the utmost confidence that you'll save the day, my friend!"

The professor disapparates next to you as you head off to locate Mr. Ollivander.

Proceed to the posted coordinates on the cache page. When you arrive, enter both sets of portals and the main hall. Then, turn to the next page.

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The Portkey

Wait! This doesn’t look like Ollivander’s Wand Shop! It looks more like a library! Oh that’s right, Mr. Ollivander is on vacation this week… he must have turned his store’s entrance into a portkey to send you here, instead!

Turn right and head towards the main desk to see if Mr. Ollivander left a wand for you. Do not walk beyond the edge of the desks as this area is for staff only! If required, you can ask the wizard or witch on duty for assistance.

You should eventually locate a special wand box. Carefully open the lid and try not to upset Fluffy, the three-headed dog whom Mr. Ollivander uses to protect his inventory.

Inside the box you’ll discover a variety of wands. You’ll need one to complete your quest. Select the wand that is best suited for you. If you have more than one person in your group, you may each take one wand per group member.

You will also find a Marauder’s Map! This magical document will help you to locate people and places you’ll need to find along the way. Guard it well!Take only one map per group, please, and be sure to return it when you have finished with your adventure! To activate the map, be certain to utter the correct activation phrase ,“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” (it was originally created by teenage boys, what did you expect?)

When you are done taking what you need from the box, carefully close the lid and return it to the witch or wizard that gave it to you.

An important note about using your wand! These wands are not toys! Please don’t use them to cast Confundo on public officials (they’re confused enough already) or Illegibilus on the library books!

Throughout your journey, you will be referred to specific “digits” on the wand (used to compensate for casting distance, target size, relative humidity, what you had for lunch, etc.). The order of the digit selected will always be from left to right. The correct orientation can be determined by referring to the word or phrase imprinted next to the digits. For example, the correct reading orientation will appear similar to this:

Wingardium Leviosa - 56789

Not this:

Referring to the above example, if you were instructed to refer to the “2nd wand digit”, it would mean the number 6 from the sequence, the “3rd wand digit”, it would mean the number 7 from the sequence, and so on…

Now, it's time to test your wand and make sure it is in good working order. Grasp it firmly in your hand and give the wand a quick swish and flick to verify that it is in proper working order!

W = The 5th wand digit

Did you see sparks? Excellent! Now, open the Marauder’s Map. On the left-hand side, locate the circled “A” directly south of where you are standing. Proceed to this location. If you're unclear on how to locate "A" on the map, refer to the magical "coordinates" imprinted on the back.

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Wingardium Leviosa - 56789

When you’ve arrived at this location, read the section entitled “Cursed” on the next page.

Cursed

These students were probably on their way to the Leaky Cauldron for a pint of butter beer when the attacks began. Now, their minds are so empty they don’t even know what to do with themselves; They’re just standing around like statues!

Collect the following information by approaching each victim and waving your wand while incanting the “Suiledif” (Soy-El-Ed-Iff) spell.

U = The number of boys + the 1st wand digitV = The number of girls + the 3rd wand digit

As you finish your examination an owl appears above your head. It drops a note from its beak and flies off!

As you pick up the note to open it, you notice from the wax seal that it is from Professor Dumbledore!

The note reads "I've been delayed by the Minister of Magic. I have one of my colleagues to assist you in my absence! They have information you will need to gain access to the enrollment log.

Use the Marauder’s map and find the location marked with a circled “C”. Proceed to this area. When you’ve arrived, read the section entitled “Animagus” on the next page.

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Animagus

As you arrive, a man walks up to you.

“Were you sent by Dumbledore?” the man asks sheepishly.

You nod.

“Good.”, he replies. “I can’t stay for long. I’m not a registered animagus.”

You shrug. “What’s an animagus?”, you ask.

The man’s voice lowers to a whisper. “I’m a skin changer,” he says, “I can transform myself into an animal and back again. The Ministry of Magic requires all Animagi to register at the Improper Use of Magic Office to keep track of us… ”

“Anyway, “ the man changes the subject, “I know who you are looking for! The library is protected by someone named Mr. Pharkeng. You can find him in Diagon Alley near the library itself. He’s a tall, fellow, usually dressed in a charcoal-colored suit and wears a round badge with the first initial of his last name printed in orange on the front. When you find him, you’ll need some information from his green ID badge. It’s attached to the front of his hat.”

As you begin to thank the man for his assistance he magically (and rather abruptly) transforms in front of your eyes and departs, leaving you in a cloud of dust.

Your wand begins to emit a purple glow again. The little voice whispers, “X = The number of letters in the type creature the man transformed into. If you aren’t sure, it’s also the last word of the title on the nearby plaque.”

Look at the Marauder’s map and locate Mr. Pharkeng. Proceed to the location on the map marked with a circled “D”. When you’ve arrived, read the section on the next page entitled “Diagon Alley”.

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Diagon Alley

You journey into the outskirts of Diagon Alley, an area filled with wizarding shops and services. Within a few minutes of wandering around, you locate Mr. Pharkeng. He looks at you suspiciously.

“Who are you?” he demands. “This is a no loitering zone!”

You decide to quickly collect the information you need and leave. If you need more time to search, wave your wand at Mr. Pharkeng and cast the Immobulus (Ee-Mobe-U-Lus) spell. That will keep him quiet until you’ve finished!

Once again, your wand begins to emit a purple glow. A little voice inside your head whispers, “Y = Add all the individual digits together on Mr. Pharkeng’s green and white security badge (attached to his hat), then subtract the 2nd wand digit.”

When you have gathered the information you require, release Mr. Pharkeng from the Immobulus spell and go inside the entrance to the nearby Wizarding Library (where you started this adventure).

Once you have arrived, continue reading below…

Library

You’re back inside the library! Somewhere, hidden amongst the tens of thousands of books on thousands of shelves lies the Enrollment Log, but where to begin?

Your wand starts to glow again. The little voice whispers, “There is one more piece of information you need. Search the library from top to bottom. Z = The second wand digit minus the number of ribbon sculptures within the building.”

When you’re ready, continue reading below…

Final Part I

It’s time to use the information you’ve gathered to locate and sign the Great Librarians’ Enrollment Log and remove the Illiteratus curse from all those innocent people! If you’ve gathered the correct information U+V+W+X+Y+Z should equal 37. If it does, you’re ready to continue (if not, you might want to retrace your steps before the Death Eaters return. Hurry!)

The container holding the log can be found at location Y minus Z.

To open the container (safely), use the combination: U•V•W•X

Find the Enrollment Log and imprint your name to magically charge the library. If you wish to trade an item (observing Godric Gryffindor’s rules of exchange (leaving an item of equal or greater value for the once being taken)), please do so. You may also leave trackable charms within the specific section of the container.

When you’re ready, return your Marauder’s Map to the Wizard or Witch on duty at the main desk (you may keep your new wand if you wish) and continue reading the section on the next page!

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Final Part II

A few moments after you sign the Enrollment Log, the lighting within the library surges with a newfound brightness. A disembodied voice speaks aloud, “Another new library user! How wonderful! Whenever I gain a new reader it really gives me a jolt! It’s all so very exciting! I must have some more new readers… MORE!”

“I know where you can find some, “ you speak, out loud, to no one in particular. “There are some people just outside your walls are in need of your help!”

“Oh yes, I can see them!” the library replies to you. “Those poor, poor people… but I can fix them up right away, just you watch me!”

A magical pulse begins to emanate from the center of the library. As it passes through the walls, to the outside, the windows are filled with a blinding orange glow!

After a few moments, the glow slowly fades and is replaced by cheers from the masses outside. You rush out the front doors to discover that all of the victims of the Illiteratus have been cured by the library!

You did it! Well done!

As the congratulations go all around, the voice of the library leaves all of you with one parting piece of advice, “Remember, the Illiteratus curse can strike anyone at any time! The only way to truly protect yourselves is to surround yourself with knowledge! Be safe! Read a book! Read two or three a day! I’ll be right here, waiting to help!”

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