Collin's blue eyes couldn't get any wider as he looked around Diagon Alley. Charles had never seen the boy so happy. Charles had given him the money to go and get his wand from Ollivander's Wand Emporium while he went to get the boy's text books. In the bustling alley there were all kinds of species from house elves on errands to Mobians and humans alike.

In the wand shop, Collin didn't see anyone at first, and had started to feel nervous, until he came upon a man in one of the back areas, stocking the wands. "My apologies for the wait, Mr. Hedgehog. I'm afraid I was re-shelving wands from my last customer's trials." He was tall, seemed to be some sort of old lion, with a white mane and smile wrinkles around his dark eyes. His suit was similar to that of the colonial ages, which wasn't much of a surprise considering that it was originally founded in 382 B. C., making it so old, who really cared what the owner wore so long as his merchandise was still as good as then? The lion smiled towards Collin who looked confused. "Or would you rather I address you as 'Mr. Kintobor the second'?" Collin's eyes widened at that and he shook his head vigorously. "Alright, my apologies… Senior's wand did you quite a bit of damage, didn't it?"

Collin felt himself grow smaller as his mind raced back to his first year of life. He knew many others couldn't remember that far, but he did. He just didn't know why. "Y…yes sir…" His curiosity made him wonder how this lion knew what he hadn't even told his hedgehog father. He had never told Charles his human name, just his first name.

"Chin up, child. Now you get a wand of your own, just as your sister did before you."

"You remember my sister?"

"Yes, Ms. Hope, she had refused to be called anything else." The lion smiled as he searched his inventory for a wand. "I remember every wand I've ever made and/or sold, Mr. Hedgehog." He pulled out a box and shook his head before putting it back. "12 inches, Maplewood, with a unicorn hair core. Shame she was expelled."

"Yeah…" Collin sighed. He had only a few memories of his sister, but he knew that he wanted to know her better, and that she was far kinder than their "father" had been, if you could have called Senior that. "I felt bad for her. Hogwarts was her only escape from… from him… losing her wand probably made her feel she had nothing left for her."

Mr. Ollivander came over to the young man with a soft smile. "Well, I'm sure she's alright. Your family tends to all be bright… save for Senior…" he chuckled as he handed the small human a wand. "Try that…"

Collin nodded as he looked around for a target. He bit his lip and gave the wand a small wave like what Charles did. Multiple things flew off the ground only for them to come crashing down again, startling the poor boy. "YIPES!" He gently put the wand down on the countertop again, not wishing to repeat that incident.

Ollivander just chuckled. "Don't worry. As I recall, Hope broke a bottle of my ink with her first try. I'll try for another one." He took a quick once over of the boy before smirking. "You know, I think I have just the thing for you… Hold on." He went into the back and glanced over the wands. He pulled out a wand that was one of his older wands, yet it hadn't found it's wizard/witch yet. "This one is finicky, but I like to try and see if it'll take to anyone." He mutters partially to himself as he climbs down his ladder and makes his way back over to the boy. He bends down and looks at the boy. "How about you try this one?" He says with a light smile.

Collin looks at it wearily and slowly takes hold of it. Suddenly he feels a bright feeling in him as a bright light fills the room, causing him to look around in surprise, the mess around him fixing itself. When the small bit of magic is done, he looks at it with worry, as though he's done something wrong. "Um… did I… er…"

"Ah, finally."

"Huh?"

"I've been waiting for a long time for that wand to choose its wizard. It's quite picky you know." Ollivander smiled. "The wand chooses the wizard, young man. This wand has chosen you." Collin manages a small smirk at that. "This wand is made of Acacia wood, is 12 inches, and quite pliable. With a unicorn hair for its core. Quite good for a powerful wizard in the making, that is, if you can manage to control it."

Collin looked at the wand carefully, his blue eyes studying it, as though it held answers for him. He then turned to the lion with a smile, feeling confident about the whole thing, much to his own surprise. "I think I can handle it. It chose me for a reason, eh?"

"That's right."

After Collin paid for his wand, he left the shop and noticed that the streets had quieted down a bit. A human outside had dropped quite a few books it seemed. He was about his age with darker skin, black hair, brown eyes, and had thick black glasses. He was mumbling to himself as though embarrassed. Collin didn't usually like dealing with humans, but he figured he'd have to get used to them at some point. He made his way over to the taller human.

"Need a hand?" He asked gently as he started to pick up the books.

"T…Thanks." The two picked up all the books and had them in the taller boy's bag quickly. After they were done, the two dusted themselves off. Collin found that the boy was only a few inches taller than him rather than what he had suspected. "I'm Rowan Khanna. What's your name?"

"Collin Hedgehog." Collin smiled. This boy seemed just as nervous as he did.

"Huh, you look human to me." The two chuckled at the lame joke.

"Maybe, but goodness knows most humans don't like me." Collin sighed as he thought about his past. Then he frowned and shook his head. No, it wasn't that "most humans" didn't like him… it was just the ones he was related to. "Or maybe it's just those who are genetically similar to me…" He gave off a slight scowl as he muttered this.

It was then that Rowan noticed the wand in Collin's hand. "Huh, is that an Acacia wood wand?"

Collin grimaced. "Yes, how did you know?"

"Oh, my family runs a tree farm for wands and broom wood. So I'm something of an expert."

Collin smiled. "That's cool. My father just runs a lab outside a muggle village. We fix things for both wizards and muggles there."

"That's amazing. Oh, I'm also somewhat of an expert on Hogwarts." Rowan blushed at this. "I'm a bit of a nerd. See, I've been reading Hogwarts: A History already in anticipation for my first year." Collin couldn't help his grin as he felt like he had found a kindred spirit, and in a human of all species! "I love reading and learning, especially about magic. I want to be the youngest professor to ever teach at Hogwarts!" Then he laughed a bit half-heartedly at a thought. "Also, staying inside and reading keeps me from going outside and farming." Collin let out a chuckle at that. Rowan then had a somewhat sad gaze as another thought came to him. "That… and the fact that I don't have any friends…"

Collin grimaced at that. He hated seeing anyone sadder than him. That, and this human was the first one his age, and magically inclined, that he had met; and he liked the conversation they had been having so far. "We can be friends…" He offered with a smile.

Rowan looked surprised and confused. "You don't think I'm too nerdy and weird? People usually think I'm too nerdy and weird."

Collin scoffed. "Rowan, you and I will be famous for that soon. Besides, people think I'm weird too. I'd rather be weird than normal."

"Why do they think you're weird?"

"Well for one, I ran away from my family when I was one, and for another I got adopted by a hedgehog."

"Huh… if you don't mind my asking, what was your original family? Uh, if it's not to personal that is…" Rowan grimaced, not sure how he was supposed to handle this sort of thing, do you talk about it, do you not…

Collin thought about it. It had been years ago, and Senior had probably gotten himself killed, exiled, or arrested by now. He shrugged. "I don't mind, but you might. My name was originally Collin Snivilous Kintobor the second."

"Kintobor? As in Hope Kintobor?!"

"Ah, so people do remember my sister…" Collin muttered. 'I last saw her when I was one. I miss her, sure, but truthfully, I just want to find her to clear up some things.' Collin then sighed. His eyes were somewhat duller now. "Yes, that was my sister's name…"

"The same Hope Kintobor who was expelled from Hogwarts for breaking school rules in search of the fabled cursed vaults?" Rowan now looked amazed.

"That's what I heard…" Collin looked a little concerned now. "How do you know all of this?"

Rowan grimaced. "I know almost everything about Hogwarts!" Then he blushed. "Besides, that was a big story in the Daily Prophet. Everyone at school will know."

"Greeeaaaat… a story that's over a decade old, and it's going to haunt me forever… brilliant." Collin grumbled. "That's another reason why they'll think I'm weird too, in case you aren't counting anymore."

Rowan then surprised the young boy with a smile. "Then we'll just have to be weird together!"

Collin's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course! Hey, can I see your letter?" He pulled out his own.

Collin reached into his bag to pull out his.

"Dear Collin Hedgehog,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonigal

Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Collin smirked as they both looked over their letters from the deputy head mistress. "I couldn't be more excited to get to Hogwarts."

"Me too! My mum gave me just enough to buy something special for school. I want something that will let everyone at Hogwarts know that I'm a serious intellectual who is well on his way to being Head Boy." Rowan then grimaced. "The only problem is… I don't know what to get…"

Collin chuckled. "A smart looking scarf is always good."

"Great idea! Smart, and functional!"

"I'm glad we met, Rowan. It will be nice to see a friendly human face at school, hehe. Especially one who knows Hogwarts so well."

"Me too, Collin! See you later on the Hogwarts Express!" Rowan replies as he heads off towards his mother, who is calling him over.

"Nice to see you've actually made a friend already, Collin." Came the chuckle of Charles Hedgehog.

"Yes, I…" Collin turned around excitedly to talk about it, but was instantly shocked by the small brown pigmy owl that was sitting in a cage, looking at him expectantly. "Oh!"

"Hehe, meet your new owl, Collin. You'll have to name him though."

Collin took hold of the cage that was only slightly smaller than him and his father. He took a few seconds to think about it. "Griff? Does that sound like a good name?" The tiny owl hooted as though in approval, making the small human chuckle. This had been a great day, and was going to be a great year.