-        Chapter 1 -

-        Vacation is Over -

In another place, a common wizards house on the countryside.

'Mtzlplx….'

'Hoot…hoot…hoot…'

'Leave me alone Alfred….it's vacation for crying out loud…'

'Hoot…hoot…hoot…'

'Grrr! I told you never to fly in at my window….And now I am awake! Thank you! I could have overslept as much as I wanted today, but nooooo, mister owl had to come because he probably carries something 'important' for little old me. And it's getting cold in here by the way!'

I walked to the window and closed it. Even though it was summer, the weather had been bad, there had been rain and heavy gusts of wind all the time. It was as if there was something wrong with the weather witches down at the Bureau of Weather Regulations (BWG). Oh, I forgot to mention my name. They call me Yorokei. Yorokei Tokisado. No, it isn't an English name. My parents once told me they named me after some Japanese warrior known for his courage. The name often caused people to talk about me with a certain mockery in their voice, but by now I had learned not really to care about that any more. Suddenly, Alfred, who was our house owl, flew on top of my head and started pecking me, to get my attention.

'Alfred! Stop it! Ow! Alright, alright, where is it?'

Alfred flew to my little desk, where a small envelope laid. It was closed with a seal. The seal was some kind of weapon. I had seen this somewhere before. Alfred started hooting heavily, meaning that he wanted me to open it quickly. Alfred always wanted to know everything to know. I opened the envelope.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Mr Tokisado,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry. Inside this envelope, you will find a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term starts on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonnagall

Deputy Headmistress

I crushed the paper in the hand out of excitement. I was going to be a wizard! Just like my entire family had been! Okay, it was quite obvious that I would be allowed to enrol at a wizard's school, but still, I was happy to have the final word out. I picked up the box of owl food I always kept on my room, and did some in a bowl for Alfred.

'Thanks Alfred. You are a great owl!'

I ran downstairs, into the living  room where I found my brother, Yoshiro, Yoshiro was born only a year later then me, and unlike a lot of the friends I knew, Yoshiro and I got along perfectly! Well, most of the time that is. Yoshiro turned his head towards me.

'Hey Yorokei. What's the rush?'

'Yoshiro! I got a place at Hogwarts! I am going to be a wizard, too!'

Yoshiro looked happy.'That's great!' He said.'Congratulations! When are you leaving?'

'What? Do you want me gone so soon?'

Yoshiro laughed.'Of course not. I will miss you, big brother.'

'And I will miss you, too. Promise me you make it to Hogwarts next year, okay?'

'DEAL!', Yoshiro grinned.'Have you told mom and dad yet?'

'Well, I was hoping to meet them here, but they aren't here, are they?'

'They went out for a walk with the dogs. They just left, so give them a half an hour. They will be back by then.'

'Okay', I said'.'I'd best start packing, then.'

'You could do that, right.'

So I went back upstairs and got the biggest trunk I could find out of the attic. Dragging it down to my room, I put it on my bed and opened it. A lot of dust came out of the trunk, it obviously hadn't been used for months, or maybe even years. Then I started putting stuff in the trunk. Problem was, I couldn't really leave anything behind. I had memories about everything that was there in my room. From the tiniest pen to the biggest poster. So I had to go trough a few 'selection rounds' in order to take the stuff I really needed and really wanted to have around.

'A few books…some clothes, not too many…a poster to hang up by my bed, but which one? A picturebook of my family…....'

Boy....A picturebook of my family. I would miss my family once I would get to study at Hogwarts....They were really important to me. For the first time I felt a bit guilty for leaving for so long. But I soon realized that father had been at Hogwarts just as well, so I continued packing stuff untill my trunk was full. By the time that was done (which, in my case was a days work for three house-elves), my parents have been long home. But in my pack-o-mania, I hadn't even noticed that. So I decided to go down and tell my mother the good news.

I ran downstairs and ran straight into the kitchen-the most common place to find any decent mother nowadays, weither she would be muggle or wizard-

'Mom! Mom! Guess what?'

'I know, I know.'

'You do?'

Mom turned around and smiled.'Of course I do. I AM your mother, remember?'

'But how-?'

'Yoshiro told me, you silly boy. Congratulations, honey.' Mom kissed me on the cheek and nearly hugged me to death.

'Mom....!' I said irritated.

'Oh, sorry honey', said mom as she let go of me.'It's just..well, it has been so long since, since...-'

Mom didn't finish that sentence. She looked as if she was pondering about something.

'Since what, mom?'

'....Well, since any member of our family has been studiying magic at Hogwarts!'

I walked towards the biscuit barrel and took some cookies from it and gobbled them up. I leaned against the doorpost as I ate some of them.

'Hmmmm....these are great!'

'Not with your mouth full, honey.'

'Sorry. Mom, I have been wanting to ask you.....I read this book that was upstairs in dads room just now, you know...Hogwarts through the ages or something?'

'Yes?'

'Well, it says there are for houses in which students will study. I was wondering, where did dad study again? I bet he was in Hufflepuff. That really is the kind of house for dad.'

'Your dad? Well, then you are terribly mistaken! No, your father wasn't in THAT house.'

'In which house was he then?'

'Your father was in Slytherin!'

'SLYTHERIN? Mom, get real! I have read only this little in that book and it states clear that Sltyherins have had a bad reputation throughout the ages! He couldn't have been a Slytherin! Dad is a nice guy! He works at a muggle television channel! He isn't some kind of weird, power-seeking, malovent wizard! He is a decent guy!'

'Well, your father has always been very ambitious. Much like you yourself. He always wanted to reach his goal and do the best he could. I suppose that is a good reason why he ended up in Slytherin.'

'But he DID reach his goals without cheating, right?'

'Yes, I think so. Of course, I wasn't there to check on him. I was at a muggle shool back then. I hadn't met your father yet. But I know him well, of course, and I do not think your father would willingly cheat his way into fame. He just...he just isn't like that!'

'Thank god he isn't'

'Amen.'

'Where is he now?'

'You know your father....always busy with his work. He is up on the balcony. Go ahead and see him, but remember that he is at work.'

'Sure, mom.'

Now about my father. My father is what muggles call a 'weather forecaster'. That is a person that comes on muggle television (dad says that is some box transmitting images for the viewing pleasure of muggles), to tell muggles what kind of weather they can expect for an upcoming period. Funny thing is, muggles actually believe that they can predict the weather with a bunch of crazy instruments like sattelites, computers and that sort of nonsense. But dad assured me, that almost all weather forecasters nowadays are wizards, pretending to be muggles. Since wizards can actually use magic to predict the weather, their predictions tend to be more accurate that muggle's predictions. As I walked up to the balcony, I saw dad sitting in his meditative pose. I could smell the inscense as I walked towards him. Then, I quietly sat down in the little chair in the corner of the balcony. I always enjoyed seeing my father predict the weather. With closed eyes, he took a card from his red, silk card sleeve, and put it face down in front of him. Then, he shuffled the cards and took the bottom two cards. These were placed under the card he just took from the deck, face down as well. He opened his eyes and took his wand from his robes. Then, he ticked each of the three cards with it, and said 'predictica'. The three cards re-arranged themselves, and dad looked at me.

'Hi Yorokei. Will you do the honours?'

'Sure.'

With the honours, dad meant the turning of the cards. I had done this a lot of times from the moment I was a child, and always enjoyed it. The first card had a dark cloud on it. The second had a thunder symbol, and the third a clear sky. Dad made a painfull smirk.

'That isn't too good....Lots of clouds, possibly rain and thunder in the afternoon. A slight chance that it will clear up, though...'

'When is that?'

'Next week. Well, better enjoy the good weather of now then, while it lasts.'

Dad looked at me, and grabbed me by the shoulders.

'So....you are going to Hogwarts then, aren't you?'

'Yes, dad. I am going to become a wizard. Just like you.'

'I am so proud. I hope you enjoy your stay there. I certainly did. Hogwarts is a really great place to study magic, I can tell you.'

'Dad.....I heard you studied in Slytherin from mom. Most people say that that is where all evil wizards come from.'

Dad smiled.'Sure, Slytherin has a bad reputation, but does it truly matter? During the sorting ritual, your house is chosen for you because of your own unique qualities. And I guess my qualties best fit by Slytherin. And besides....'

Dad looked at me with a smile, and said:'Do you think I am 'evil' or 'scary' at all?'

'Yes', I grinned.

'Well then, that's settled. I think that we should get you ready, then. You wil require a lot of equipment if you are going to study magic.'

'Are we going to go to-'

'Yes, Yorokei. We will go to Diagon Alley.'

And so, a week later, we went to Diagon Alley with the entire family. Both me and Yoshiro looked out our eyes at all the cool stuff we saw. Racing brooms, cool pets and horrible potions! It was amazing to see such an amount of wizards and witches packed in such a little street. First off, we went to do the thing I hated most of all: fit robes. Mom once bought me a set of robes when I was at the age of 8 for my grandma's 100th birthday, and the terror of a day long fitting robes that didn't seem to fit at all for some reason never left my mind. Mom pushed me into the store and told dad and Yoshiro to go and do some things for themselves. Meaning that what was going to happen to me next wasn't to be seen by people with common sense. Mom pushed me up on a stool, and a witch soon came along to take my size.

'Going to Hogwarts, young man?' Asked the dressing lady.

'Uhm...yeah. My first year', I anwsered.

'Could you give him a nice colour of robes, miss? I was thinking about really yellow or pink robes. He is such a happy boy!'

I turned really red.'Mom....please...'

The lady started to laugh.'I am sorry to dissaptoint you, ma'am, but if he is going to Hogwarts, he will need black robes. It says that in the letters. Now straighten out your arms, please...'

Mom looked dissapointed.'And how about dress robes?'

'He won't need them', the lady said.'Only fourth year students and up need those. Besides, I don't think I have dress robes in his size in stock.'

The lady gave me a wink, and I realized she had some experience with mothers like mine. My mother went to sit, grumbling about the fact that she wasn't going to get thinks her way. I rest assured. Not a half an hour later, we left the store with brand new robes for me.

'Where do we go next, mom?'

'Well, your dad and Yoshiro would take care of the most common stuff....the only stuff we yet have to buy, is a pet and a wand.'

'Hurray!', I shouted.'A pet! I want a wolf!'

Mom looked a bit angry.'You are NOT going to get yourself a wolf.'

'Why not?', I asked dissapointed.

'Because the list clearly says that you may take an owl, a cat or a rat.'

I sighed.'Not much of a choice then. You can cross out the cats and rats already since I am allergic to them.'

'Not a cat or a rat, then', mom said.'How about an owl? It are amazing creatures! And functional! They deliver letters!'

'Guess I don't have much of a choice, then.'

We went into a place called 'Eeylops owl emperium', to look for owls. An old man immediately walked towards me.

'So, you must be another one of them youngsters who's come to get himself an owl as a pet?'

I knodded a little bit, and the man smiled.'Exellent! Well, we have got loads of owls here! mountainowls, snowowls, landowls, owls with feathers....owls without feathers, though I don't sell those a lot....wonder why not.'

The man took me by the arm and dragged me towards a cage wih an enormous brown owl inside.

'Now this...' He stroked the cage as if it was his most precious posession....'This is an Algerian mountain owl. A real beauty.'

Mom looked suspicous. 'Are there any mountains in Algeria, then?'

'No.', the man quikly replied.'And THAT is what makes it so special! An Algerian mountainowl...but no mountains at all in Algeria! Now that is what I call special! And I tell you, it's a bargain!'

'How much?', mom asked.

'For you....only 230 Galleons...and you get the cage in the bargain. So whaddya think?'

'I think we are going to buy no pet for this boy this year.', mom said, and she quickly pushed me out of the shop.'Sorry honey. We will find you a pet while you are studiying so you can use it next year.'

'It's okay mom', I said. And we walked along the alley.

'Now all we have to get is your wand.' Said mom. She sighed.

'What's the matter mom? We are almost done! Besides, I thought you liked shopping.'

'Well, that's just it, honey....we are almost done shopping! And I still haven't gotten those ghost repelling candles for in the basement! I know a shop that sells them, but it is on the other side of Diagon Alley....I will never make it back in time AND help you buy your wand!'

'Now mom, then you just go there and I will buy that wand by myself. Those ghosts have been messing up our basement for so long....I don't want all you guys to have to bare them for another whole year!'

'But-but...I can't let you buy your wand yourself! You don't have the money, and also it is important that I am with you when you choose your wand! You musn't buy rubbish!'

'I won't! I am old enough! Please mom, I will be fine....'

Mom thought, and then gave in. She gave me some money and told me to go to Olivander's, which was supposed to be a wand selling shop. I soon found it and went into the shop. The shop was quite dark inside, and there were loads of cupboards with little boxes. There were wands in it most likely.

'Hello boy. How  can I help you?', said a voice from behind me. It was an old man, probably the owner of the shop.

'Eh....Hi. I am...'

'Firstyears? Going to Hogwarts? Need a wand?', the man smiled.

'Eh...yeah. Just that.'

'Okay...first....' The man picked a wand from his pocket and put it on a table. He beckoned towards the table. 'Come on! Pick it up!'

I walked toward the table and looked at the wand. Was that my wand? I didn't expect to find my wand so quickly! Eagerly to try it, I picked it up from the table. I was just about to wave with it a bit, when the old man took my hand by the wrist.

'Don't! Never use a wand that isn't yours!'

'Then why did you make me pick it up?'

'I needed to know which arm is your staff arm. It's the left, cause you picked up the wand with your left arm.'

I looked surprised. 'Left? But I am right-handed!'

'The staff arm is chosen at birth and is hidden away in your subconsious.  You can't deny it. Now, to find you a wand.....'

The man walked to a cupboard on his left hand and took out a box.

'Mahony. 7 inches. Dragon's blood runs in its core. Try it.'

The man pushed the wand into my left hand, and I gave it a wave. Little stars sprinkled from the tip of the wand. Excited, I looked back at the man.

'You would think that wand is the one, huh? No, it isn't. Lefthanded wizards shouldn't have stars shooting from their wands while testing them. But we will look. You will see, we will have found your wand within mere seconds.'

If the time it took were mere seconds, then A lifetime would last 9000 years. After waving with so many wands that I lost count of them, I was almost ready to give up. The man looked back at me. His face looked a bit worried.

'I think....that your wand is going to be very difficult to find....'

'Couldn't I just stick with the first one? It looked quite good to me!'

'No no no....It wouldn't be right. There is however.....'

He walked towards his desk and took a key from his pocket. With that, he opened a drawer. A little, metal box came out of it. It was covered in dust, inclining that it must have lied there for quite some time. The salesman blew the dust of of the box, and walked towards me.

'Now before I give you this wand....I want you to be carefull with it. It holds a lot of memories. But if this wand is truly destined to be yours....'

The litlle box was opened and a really, white light shined out of it.

'Please pick it up...'

I took the wand out of the box. I couldn't really see it at first, because of the great amount of light it emitted, but when I held it tight in my hand, the light slowly faded away. When I first looked at the wand, I realized that this wand was something really special! Other then all wands I had ever seen before, this wand wasn't made of wood! It was a silver wand, with little runes inscribed in it. I couldn't read those of course, but it looked fantastic!

'This looks interesting.....wave your wand, now....'

I gave it a wave, and a lot of light sparkled from it. The wand salesman looked happy.

'Well then....so it's finally found it's rightfull owner.'

'Sorry?'

'This wand you are holding.....Was made by one of my ancestors over 200 years ago. It is one of the most mysterious wands I have in my shop, that is why I kept it in my personal drawer. Some people might be interested in stealing rare wands like that one.'

'I can see it is special...but can you tell me why exactly?'

'Well....it is the core of the wand, actually. The ancestor that made that wand, was once close to despair. Business wasn't going well, and he was very close to getting into a very deep depression. But then, one day, as he walked up a cliff, he saw a very great, white light. Quite like the one we have just seen. Somehow, that light made him stronger. He couldn't explain it! He was completely happy again! Wanted to start making wands! Thought of great ideas how to make a whole new generation of wands! As if he was suddenly pulled out of his depression! The light itself faded away after a few seconds, and all he found on the place where this happened, was a feather.'

'A feather?'

'Yes. He examined this feather, and it seemed to have strong magical powers. VERY strong magical powers. He took it to every specialist on wands and magical creatures, but none of them could tell him what kind of creature that feather may have came from, or how he could make it into a wand. Any kind of wood that he tried was instantly burned away by the feather as soon as the wand was finished. It seemed as if this powerfull feather was just too strong to be contained in a wand. But somehow, the feather still gave him the power to go on. After a long time of thinking, he invented something......a wood-silver alloy. That is why your wand is silver coloured. It is real silver inside that wand. Now you know the story of your wand....I hope it gives you just as much motivation and luck as it gave to my ancestor...'

I couldn't take my eyes of the wand. It took not long before my mother arrived, and payed for the wand, which was quite expensive. But as long as I promised to take good care of it, my mother permitted this huge amount of money to be spent. We met dad and Yoshiro back at the exit of Diagon Alley, and I looked over my shoulder down the alley. Mom looked at me.

'It is not the end, Yorokei.....you will see many things on your journey through the world of magic.'

'No mom...this is not the end....It is merely the beginning of a grand voyage...'

Slowly, the creature was leaving the ocean behind it, meaning it had traveled the longest part of its journey....soon the boy would start his....and when that time would come, it would be there to support him...the best it could....