I created this “Mystery Box” for my wife for Christmas. We submit it for your investigation.
The Envelopes outside the parcel
Message from A. Weasley
Message from the Department of Mysteries
What’s in there?
Inside the parcel
This was sealed with wax
The box opens
A message from the past...
To Harry Potter
From Albus Dumbledore
Page 2
Lifting the drape reveals...
a box of hidden secrets
A golden chest
...holding the Philosopher’s Stone!
An alchemy chart
“Squaring the Circle”
The Stone
Chart detail
The Elixir of Life
The Panopolis
Letters from Nicolas Flamel
Sealed with wax
Letters from Dumbledore
Correspondence 1
Scroll envelope
Correspondence 2
Correspondence 3
Correspondence 4
Correspondence 5
Correspondence 6
Flamel’s Journal
Title page
Conclusion
Box
Bag
Locket
The locket contains something
A scroll
...with a hidden message
Hidden under the gold chest is a key!
What is Dreampunk?
Dreampunk is my word for the creation of a mysterious artifact that feels as if it has dropped in from a fantasy world. It’s related to Steampunk, but from a world that runs on dreams rather than steam.
I got this idea from looking at the wonderful Mystery Boxes created to promote the film “Coraline.” The idea of a box filled with hidden secrets intrigued me. I thought about creating a Christmas-themed Mystery Box, filled with the lost artifacts from an 19th Century North Pole expedition in search of a mysterious arctic toymaker. (I may yet!)
But I settled on the idea of a Harry Potter theme.
As you can see, there’s an entire story here. Read what’s here.
Here’s Flamel’s journal. If you have the patience, wait to decode the message in the locket until after you’ve read the journal.
Jan 25, 2009
The parcel arrived on our doorstep around eleven pm on the Twenty-fourth. It was addressed to Harry Potter, 12 Grimauld Place, London. It was wrapped in brown paper, and two envelopes from the Department of Mysteries were attached with string.
The letters expressed that this box had been in the custody of the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Mysteries in the intervening years since the passing of Albus Dumbledore, and he had indicated that the items were intended for Harry. Now the Department was insisting that Harry come ‘round to collect it or it would be sent by Owl or disposed of. Also no-one at the Ministry could manage to open the box, or knew what it contained.
The Box was wooden, clad with iron bracing, and sealed with wax and cord. A silver crest bearing the Fleur de Lis was affixed to the front.
The box contained a message from Albus Dumbledore to Harry, as well as the collected effects and writings of Nicolas Flamel, the alchemist who discovered the Philosopher’s Stone.
It also contained the Stone itself, which Harry had believed had been destroyed almost seventeen years ago.
This truly was a mystery box....
