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Old 05-05-2010, 07:03 AM
Ameh Ameh is offline
 
Default Welcome to the Owl Post Office!



For more years than can be counted, written word has been vital to the passing of information. Letters pass from hand to hand, carrying knowledge to those they have been addressed to. Here at the Owl Post Office, we help you pass on your news to those who need to hear it, a job we've proudly been doing since 1536.

The links below will help you find your way through the Post Office.
The Entrance
Situated between the Daily Prophet and Flourish and Blotts sits a large, obviously old building. The stone walls are slightly at odds with the glass doors that have replaced the splintery wooden ones. Open one of the doors and step inside the brightly lit building, while thanking your lucky stars that the wooden floors have been redone with smooth, shiny tiles to keep your shoes free of long, sharp splinters.

The Foyer
A rather large open space greets those entering the Owl Post Office; there are no chairs cluttering it, and the only real landmarks to be seen are two long, rectangular stone tables that seem to have been standing in place for centuries. The tops are marked with inkstains too deep to be removed, though every so often a person who has been leaning against them will find that he or she has picked up a trace of ink on their arms (or shirt). In the center of each is a small sign on a thin metal stand, asking patrons to not sit on the tabletops.

Climbing above the area is a set of staircases, each leading up to the upper level, which appears to be less than half the size of the first floor. At the bottom of these wrought-iron steps are signs cautioning customers to please stay off the second floor, because there is nothing up there of interest to those here to send letters.


The Postcard Rack
To the left of the entrance, several large racks have been set up. Neatly stacked inside each slot are various postcards, each depicting a different area of Diagon Alley. The little figures on each, seemingly unaware that they were photographed, go about their daily business as usual. Considering sending a small note to a friend? Maybe you'd like to send them a little taste of Diagon Alley. There are many to choose from!

Letter Writing Stations
Off to the right of the entrance, in a rather bright area, a long row of old writing desks can be seen. Each desk is kept as clean as possible; however, some of the wooden surfaces have deeply engrained ink stains, and more than a few have been scarred by those who enjoy leaving messages scratched into tables. An enchantment has been placed on the desks now, to ward off those who would try to leave their mark, so I suggest you don't. In the top drawer, one might find an excess of barn owl feather quills for writing. The bottom drawer is home to various colours and types of ink, provided for your letter-writing needs.

Owl Post Service Desk
Set up directly across from the entrance, this large, polished wooden desk is easily visible and even may call attention to itself. Written across the front panel in large, curvy print are the words "Owl Post Office". Against the wall, about six feet from where the cushioned stools are, there are three boxes; your letters, when placed in there by an employee, will vanish (Don't worry, they're only being sent to the mail room!). Seated behind the desk, depending on the time of the day, you may find as many as three employees ready and waiting to help. However, if you approach the desk and find it empty, there is a small silver bell just off to the left. Please only ring it once; the enchanted bell will make no discernible sound when pressed. However, it will be heard in the Mail Room and Owlery, and it's rather loud.

The Owlery
As you step through the double doors and into the Owlery, the first thing to come to your attention is the smell of it. Hundreds of owls have made this place their home, and while the staff do a good job of keeping the place clean, there's always going to be the wafting scent of owl poo. Watch out, as there may be a bit on the floor as well. The entire room is completely out of sync with the rest of the building; immediately across from the door is a wall made of aged stone, its surface cracked and rough. Small alcoves have been carved into it, from the floor to the ceiling (which is twice as high in this room as it was in the last), for the owls to rest in. A few stray feathers may be found on the floor, or alternately may float down from above and land on those who venture closer to the wall.

The Office Of Quincy Hart
This room might be the smallest in the entire building, but Quincy has found a way to make the most of his office connected to the mail room. His door can most often be found open as Quincy has nothing to hide and welcomes visitors. But if the door is closed, he's usually in a meeting or busy with work that cannot be disturbed.

The Mail Room
Through the door to the right of the service desk lies the mail room; in the center of it all is a very large, very old wooden table that looks as if it once belonged in a large family's dining room. Around this are a few chairs, which look much more comfortable than the chairs at the writing desks. Scattered across the tabletop are a handful of quills, a few inkwells, and a fair amount of spare parchment and envelopes. On the farthest wall, crammed between the wall that divides this room from the Owlery and the wall of TJ's office, is what appears to be a mail rack. Across the top, labels are visible, for various cities, countries, and even continents in some cases. More often than not, handfuls of letters can be seen jammed into the boxes, waiting to be sent out.

This area is not open to the general public; employees and escorted guests only, please.


Cleaning Supply Closet & Stock Room
As you open the door, a rather sharp scent hits your nose; the contrast to the smell of the Owlery is almost astounding. An almost pleasant mixture of citrusy cleaning products, ink, and paper invades your nostrils. The closet is rather larger than one would expect. To your left are stacks of boxes on shelves, each marked on the side with what they contain. Most are cases of surplus ink, with a few stray cartons of postcards intermixed with heavy cartons full of parchment. To the right is a long rack full of cleaning supplies.

This area is for employees only, please.


Remember that Snitchseeker site rules and the Diagon Alley Rules apply at all times. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the Diagon Alley Questions thread.

The shopkeepers of this area are:
AlwaysSnapesGirl