Atrium

The entrance to the Ministry of Magic. A very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock-blue ceiling is inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that were continually moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side is panelled in shiny dark wood and have many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard emerges from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh; on the right-hand side, short queues of wizards form before each fireplace, waiting to depart.