Meanwhile,.at.the.front.of.the.queue,.a.young.wizard.was.performing.an.odd.on‐
the‐spot.jig.and.trying,.in.between.yelps.of.pain,.to.explain.his.predicament.to.the.witch.behind.the.desk..
.It.s.these.‐.ouch.‐.shoes.my.brother.gave.me.‐.ow.‐.they.re.eating.my.‐.OUCH.‐
.feet.‐.look.at.them,.there.must.be.some.kind.of.‐.AARGH.‐.jinx.on.them.and.I.can.t.‐.AAAAARGH.‐.get.them.off...He.hopped.from.one.foot.to.the.other.as.though.dancing.on.hot.coals..
The.shoes.don.t.prevent.you.reading,.do.they?..said.the.blonde.witch,.irritably.pointing.at.a.large.sign.to.the.left.of.her.desk...You.want.Spell.Damage,.fourth.floor..Just.like.it.says.on.the.floor.guide..Next!..
As.the.wizard.hobbled.and.pranced.sideways.out.of.the.way,.the.Weasley.party.moved.forward.a.few.steps.and.Harry.read.the.floor.guide:.
ARTEFACT.ACCIDENTS….Ground.floor.
Cauldron.explosion,.wand.backfiring,.broom.crashes,.etc.
CREATURE‐INDUCED.INJURIES….First.floor.
Bites,.stings,.burns,.embedded.spines,.etc.
MAGICAL.BUGS….Second.floor.
Contagious.maladies,.e.g..dragon.pox,.vanishing.sickness,.scrojungulus,.etc.
POTION.AND.PLANT.POISONING….Third.floor.
Rashes,.regurgitation,.uncontrollable.2,.etc..
SPELL.DAMAGE….Fourth.floor.
Unliftable.jinxes,.hexes,.incorrectly.applied.charms,.etc.
VISITORS..TEAROOM./.HOSPITAL.SHOP….Fifth.floor.
IF.YOU.ARE.UNSURE.WHERE.TO.GO,.INCAPABLE.OF.NORMAL.SPEECH.OR.UNABLE.TO.REMEMBER.WHY.YOU.ARE.HERE,.OUR.WELCOMEWITCH.WILL.BE.PLEASED.TO.HELP..
A.very.old,.stooped.wizard.with.a.hearing.trumpet.had.shuffled.to.the.front.of.the.queue.now...I.m.here.to.see.Broderick.Bode!..he.wheezed..
.Ward.forty‐nine,.but.I.m.afraid.you.re.wasting.your.time,..said.the.witch.dismissively...He.s.completely.addled,.you.know.‐.still.thinks.he.s.a.teapot..Next!..
A.harassed‐looking.wizard.was.holding.his.small.daughter.tightly.by.the.ankle.while.she.flapped.around.his.head.using.the.immensely.large,.feathery.wings.that.had.sprouted.right.out.through.the.back.of.her.romper.suit..
.Fourth.floor,..said.the.witch,.in.a.bored.voice,.without.asking,.and.the.man.disappeared.through.the.double.doors.beside.the.desk,.holding.his.daughter.like.an.oddly.shaped.balloon...Next!..
Mrs.Weasley.moved.forward.to.the.desk..
.Hello,..she.said,..my.husband,.Arthur.Weasley,.was.supposed.to.be.moved.to.a.different.ward.this.morning,.could.you.tell.us.‐?..
.Arthur.Weasley?..said.the.witch,.running.her.finger.down.a.long.list.in.front.of.her...Yes,.first.floor,.second.door.on.the.right,.Dai.Llewellyn.Ward...
Thank.you,..said.Mrs.Weasley...Come.on,.you.lot...
They.followed.her.through.the.double.doors.and.along.the.narrow.corridor.beyond,.which.was.lined.with.more.portraits.of.famous.Healers.and.lit.by.crystal.bubbles.full.of.candles.that.floated.up.on.the.ceilin,.looking.like.giant.soapsuds.
.More.witches.and.wizards.in.lime‐green.robes.walked.in.and.out.of.the.doors.they.passed;.a.foul‐smelling.yellow.gas.wafted.into.the.passageway.as.they.passed.one.door,.and.every.now.and.then.they.heard.distant.wailing..They.climbed.a.flight.of.stairs.and.entered.the.Creature‐Induced.Injuries.corridor,