HOL

When you finish putting the last colorful detail on the page, Ezra approaches you with a glare that makes you tense up. But you are not in trouble, as you soon find out, rather the trouble is the customers. Ezra bemoans their existence and will to buy a book. You silently question the business practices of a bookshop keeper who does not want to sell books, but you promise Ezra nonetheless that you will help him get rid of the pesky customers.

Make up a way on how to keep customers away from the bookshop. Or, if they already are in the shop, how will you prevent them from buying or absconding with a precious book. You can do that either by describing it in 100 words or more or depicting it in an artistic rendition. Your idea must obey all HOL rules.

Post your idea on how to keep customers out of the shop below (in case of an image, keep it 600x600 or less) by May 31st 11:59 pm HOL time to get 35 Hoots and 50 beans.

First of all, a sure way to keep people away from any store is to put up caution tape outside. Now, to assure people that no crime scene has happened, the tape would read 'Keep Away from Fragile Books'. This will surely deter people from going anywhere near the bookstore.

Additionally, if for some reason, someone does wander inside, there will be glass panels in front of all the bookshelves so people can't touch a book. Banging on the glass to upset any of the more ferocious books is strictly prohibited too of course. The glass will be made so only employees are able to reach through it to grab a book. Their hands will slide right through unharmed, but anyone else will be met with a hard glass panel.

Of course this may turn the bookstore into more of a museum than a shop, but isn't that sort of what Ezra wants anyway?

I think I've found the perfect solution to keep the customers out. It's a strange sort of practice for a business if you ask me. But you didn't so I'll tell you my plan instead

First off, hire some chameleon ghouls to stand guard at the entry. These ghouls have the ability to disguise themselves and blend in with their surroundings. When someone comes up and tries to enter, they could materialize and give the would-be-customer a thorough scare. Secondly, I would paste warning signs all over the doors and windows, just to emphasize the point. Few people will willingly walk into a dangerous situation, so it's a rather good (if basic) deterrent. In case you're wondering, by the way, I don't encourage the use of screaming cats to scare away the people. No, rather I was thinking of the Caterwauling Charm. The area around the door could be charmed and every time an unauthorized person enters it, the 'alarm' goes off with an ear-splitting screech. There you go, Ezra; problem solved!

I've found a solution that is cost-efficient and simple! Since there are already a few pesky costumers in the shop, the perfect way to get them out would be the very thing that they have come to buy: books! There's a cage in the back of the bookshop full of copies of "the Monster's Book of Monsters" and I would let out a scream saying that they got out which would help usher the more intelligent of the bunch out. After that, I would let a few copies out of the back room to snap at the heels of the costumers who haven't run away yet. I'd count on them making a ruckus outside to warn other witches and wizards in the immediate vicinity away. Once the costumers all successfully made their way out the door, I would put a notice on the door that the books have gone rogue and remind costumers to stay out of the book shop for now. Of course, there would be a few wizards and witches valiantly attempting to help out or ones who simply did not see the sign. I would stop them by stacking a few copies of "the Invisible Book of Invisibility" on the threshold of the bookshop which they would stumble over if any were to try to step inside. Of course, I would layer a levitation charm on the floor as so though they don't get hurt but such an unexpected greeting would definitely frighten them into leaving!

I like Ivey idea of glass panel in front of bookshelf. But instead of panel do spell that work like panel. Spell will keep book of limit having invisible shield that keep people from touch books. Person would be able to look books but not touch book. Certain person can still touch and get book. If want to keep person come inside could disguise bookstore to hide. Make store not appealing to book customer. Make bookstore look same old fall down building. Many people don't go to fall down old store. This keep people from go in bookstore if do go in spell keep person from touch book.

Such great ideas! 35 Hoots and 50 beans go to:
Emily Spencer
Isa Vestal
Iverian Gnash
Lorainia Riverrider