Ethan's Costume Shop, Sunnydale
October 30, 1997
Far away within the Harris residence, the bird skull necklace - which had once belonged to Bellatrix - started glowing with chaos magic, much like her wand did. But no one knew that - yet.
Ethan Rayne was a man with a plan. Plans, really. Plans for the poor souls that he wanted to be transformed into Death Eaters tomorrow night for Halloween. One of whom was Xander Harris.
There was a risk, of course. Most of Ethan's family had been followers of Dark Lords throughout the centuries. A few even to that so-called Lord Voldemort. And Ethan didn't want anyone around here dressing up as that bloody wanker, tomorrow night. He was neither suicidal nor an idiot.
Ethan knew that Xander was a Lestrange, and a relative of a deceased Death Eater named Bellatrix Lestrange. He'd met the boy before at a magic shop in London, which he'd been running at the time. A 13 year old Xander, still in Junior High, had been roaming around town with his Uncle Rory, since his parents had gotten drunk in their hotel...
Back then, Young Xander had eyed a sign on a window of a magic shop saying: BARGAIN BASEMENT SALE! He'd asked his uncle, "Can we go into the magic shop?"
The man had smiled at him and said, "Sure, why not. We're leaving London tomorrow."
Anyway, they'd gone inside the magic shop and Young Xander had looked around in awe. Magician top hats, black wands, magic starter kits, spell books (for beginners and advanced) had been on the shelves. Then he'd asked the owner to have a look at one of the wands on display.
Ethan had said to the young boy, "Which one would you like to see?"
"That one," Young Xander had pointed at the wand which had once belonged to Bellatrix; his aunt.
Shrugging, Ethan had handed him the display wand. Just before Xander took it, Rory Harris had become entranced by the salesgirl and wandered away, leaving his nephew with Ethan – thus, Rory had failed to see the wand light up and sparkle in Xander's hand, causing the lad to laugh in delight.
{ Bloody hell! } Ethan had thought to himself, at the time. It had been a shock to find out this boy was a Wizard, not to mention Bellatrix Lestrange's relative. Because the display wands had belonged to the wizards and witches from the Wizarding World who weren't alive any longer. Plus, the wands only worked for their own families...
Ethan had later heard rumors that the Lestrange family had gotten rid of one of their own in 1981. A son, given up for adoption at the same orphanage where Tom Riddle grew up in. Somehow, the child had gotten adopted by non-magical parents, and a couple of effin' Yanks at that. The only other thing Ethan had learned was that the child's name was Alexander Lavelle...
{ This must be the son of John and Rachel Lestange, } Ethan had thought to himself three years ago, wondering how he could use this information. Reaching out with his powers, Ethan had also sensed that the boy's magic was blocked, that day. It had been confusing; but once he'd learned where the family lived, he'd understood.
The Hellmouth. Somehow, its effects blocked juvenile magic unless the witch or wizard knew how to get around it.
But there WERE ways to unblock the ability to use magic...
Back then, Xander had examined the wand carefully before saying, "I'll buy it." Before he'd handed over the wand back to the owner and called out, "Uncle Rory! Can ya get back over here?"
"You're in luck, young man. This wand is one of a kind," Ethan had said with a smirk, before putting the wand in a box and handing it to the boy. After paying for the wand, Xander and his uncle had left the magic shop...
Without knowing what kind of horror they had purchased.