Chapter 2:
Kaneki stared at the book on the shelf: 'Dimensional Paradoxes'
He walked over and picked it up, examining the blurb. Different worlds, portals, time travel, paradoxes, reincarnation... Maybe he could find something related to how he was reborn. The book was quite cheap, only 3 sickles and 4 knuts, so it must've not been popular.
The clerk at the counter glanced at him strangely, as the book was quite mundane and full of complicated words, and it was not expected of an 11 year old to understand or be interested in it. Nevertheless, he didn't ask questions and rang him up.
Leaving the shop, Kaneki scanned his school list again. Just the wand shop left. After 5 minutes of walking, he found the dusty old shop with a sign that read:
'Olivanders: Makers of fine wands since 382 B.C'
Entering the dingy shop, he immediately noticed the owner behind him with his ghoul senses. "Did he do this to every customer?" he thought to himself.
"Good afternoon, Harry Potter, twin of the boy-who-lived," said Ollivander softly. He seemed very old, complete with wrinkles and white hair. Kaneki was a little surprised, as not many people knew he was the brother of Daniel, or that he existed, as he always kept out of social events. He wasn't the most social person in his last life either, and the only friend he had was Hide, before he became a ghoul.
"Now, which is your wand arm?" Ollivander asked, as a magical tape flew around him, measuring shoulder to finger, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, around the head and continued on to his ear.
"My right," Kaneki replied.
"Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand," the shop owner explained as he walked to a row of shelves and picked out one.
"That will do," he said as the tape measure fell to the floor. "Right then, try this one, birchwood and dragon heartstring. 10 and 1/2 inches, flexible. Just give it a wave."
Kaneki took it and waved it. For a while nothing happened, then the chair next to the counter imploded.
"No, no, here maple and unicorn hair, 9 inches, springy."
He tried again, and the glass windows shattered.
"Ebony and Phoenix feather, 8 inches, quite whippy."
This continued on for around half an hour, until finally-
"Here, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
When his hand clamped around the wand, an immediate warmth spread through him, and the wand started emitting dark red sparks.
"Curious, curious..." Ollivander muttered.
"What's curious?"
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother – why, its brother gave you that scar..." he said, gesturing towards the lightning bolt scar which had appeared after that fateful night.
The scar had puzzled him since forever, since it didn't heal and always seemed fresh. He had concluded that it must have something that connected it magically, or else it would have healed by now. Paying for his wand, he left the shop, in a slightly damper mood. Just his luck his wand was connected to 'You-know-who', as many people was calling him, along with 'The dark lord' and 'He-who-must-not-be-named'. Who knew how many other titles he had.
It was 5:30, he should go meet his family now. After the attack on that December night, his parents had become more catering towards his brother. They weren't neglecting him, per say, but were definitely more biased towards his brother. Daniel had been declared the boy-who-lived by Dumbledore, and was practically treated like a hero. If Kaneki was a normal child, he probably would've been depressed, but he found this freedom quite enjoyable, and though he would've liked to have more caring parents, they let him do what he wanted. He also didn't want to let go of his past just yet, even if it was a tragedy.
The scene he arrived at was the same as always, people flocking over to his brother and parents. He slipped into the crowd, dodging as much people as possible.
"Harry, there you are, lets go," James called over the crowd.
Grabbing a handful of flu powder, he stepped into the fireplace, threw down the powder and muttered "Potter Manor". He disappeared within the emerald flames.
Reappearing inside the grate of the manor, he dusted himself off and walked off to his room next to the library, not bothering to wait for his family. They probably wouldn't notice and he would rather like to read that new book he had just brought. When he had first requested for a room next to the library when he was 5, his parents had been surprised but let him, as the manor was quite spacious with multiple rooms. They thought he just liked the picture books or the look of the library.
Daniel got the largest room in the manor, bar his parents, of course, which had been decorated with quidditch posters and Gryffindor. It was quite typical of him. Every time they had a birthday party, which occurred every year, they always invited tons of guests. Though the party was supposed to be for both Kaneki and Daniel, they often forgot about the former.
On the day, he usually just stayed in his room and only came out when the party was finished to check if he had any gifts. Daniel would usually still be playing around with his friends, especially the Weasley boy. Personally, Kaneki thought his twin was a bit conceited and arrogant, though he supposed most would be if the were raised like that. Daniel didn't bother him much, so they both mutually ignored each other, or the other just didn't notice him.
It as August 31st, and his first day at Hogwarts would start soon, and he was quite excited. He had seen magic everywhere for 11 years, but it would be his first time trying to use and learn it with a wand.
