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Disclaimer – JK Rowling and various publishers own the world of Harry Potter.
Book 1 – The Elixir of Life
Chapter 4
The wand
Chilly cold laughter echoed, followed by intense green light, and then all went dark with the feeling of pain and terror. Harry woke up suddenly in his bed. His scar was prickling. He was still sweating from the terrible dream. He stood up, went to the bathroom, and stood before the mirror. But there was nothing than his reflection. He instinctively touched his scar but it was still the same. Harry sighed with relief.
On the way back to his bed he noticed the clock on the wall. It was now one minute past twelve. He stopped as he had just realized that he was now eleven – how time flies. With a smile, Harry climbed back in his bed and quickly fell asleep.
He woke up in the morning. The sun was shining brightly. He stood up and headed for the bathroom. He rinsed his face with the fresh cold water and brushed his teeth. Then while dressing up, he realized the first strange event. It was already eleven o'clock and Saptienna has not come to wake him. This was unusual, very unusual. Harry frowned. 'Hmm,' he thought, 'very strange.'
Harry exited his room. The corridor, which was usually dimly lit, was now completely dark. This was also unusual. Harry looked in both directions – there was no sound. Harry pondered on the possibilities of why this was but then shrugging, he headed to the kitchen, which was closer to his room. There was no reason to panic or make any kind of assumptions. Probably, there was a problem with the lighting. It was not the first time it had happened though once he had tried to lit it up using magic and the result was complete disaster as he had made a rather big hole in the wall, which Moandor spent fixing the whole day. Neither Moandor nor Thant had any idea what spell had Harry used to cause this.
Harry reached the kitchen, which was also dark. Harry could not feel any presence but this did not dampen his spirit. He reached for the refrigerator, took out some cereals and milk then reached for a bow. He poured the milk into the bow, put the cereals, grabbed a spoon, and headed to the terrace where it was much brighter.
But the absence of people was so noticeable. It made him frown and ask the same question all over again – where is everybody. Truth to be said, it smelled of the jokes of his sisters. His sisters – the inauguration ceremony but then he remembered that it was yesterday. Well, he did not participate in it nor did Alamar or Thant. It was an all girl/women ceremony no boys were allowed.
But he was grateful he had not to participate, because his ceremony was disturbing enough. Now that he had come to think of his, it was very odd – he, an eleven years old boy, had to unite all Necromancers and subsequently perhaps to rule them or whatever not to mention the other prophecy that required him to kill the dark lord. It was also a scary thought.
Harry looked around – nothing was moving like everything had come to a halt even time. He reached for the door of the terrace but it did not move. Harry frowned as he was trying to open it using the opening charm (the charm that required no wand to perform) but it did not work. It was becoming irritating. Fortunately he knew the alternative way of reaching his destination. There was a staircase outside so he had to pass by one of the secret routes that Moandor had shown him last year. He had to reach the living room and press the chandelier near the fireplace then a secret passage would reveal and lead him outside, near the staircase.
The way to the living room was also dark. He just reached the living room when there was a blinding light or maybe not so blinding as he had walked for twenty minutes in the dark so any light could seem blinding at first. As he came in there was a deafening sound and all lights went up.
"SURPRISE!"
Harry looked for the source of the deafening sound and saw his sisters, Alamar, Thant, Moandor, Saptienna and Synca, all gathered together and who were singing now "Happy Birthday to you..."
Harry had frozen in his steps overwhelmed. Just now he understood why everything was so quiet and why he was forced to come this way. They knew he would want to reach the terrace but as this way was blocked he had but one choice to pass by the living room. But Harry was not disappointed, actually he was pleasantly surprised.
Each year, his parents found different ways to surprise him but with the time he had come to anticipate their surprises. But today they managed to surprise him perhaps because they took a note from Xsi and Cassie's book.
They were all standing together with smiles on their faces. Harry now noticed that they were standing around something. Harry made a step towards them. Saptienna came first and hugged him.
"Happy birthday, Harry."
"Thanks." – Harry mumbled.
Thant came also and hugged him too, "Happy birthday, son." Then the rest moved out and Harry saw a big birthday, chocolate and ice-creamed, cake with eleven golden like candles.
"Come." – Saptienna said softly, leading him to the cake. "Make a wish, Harry," – she added.
Harry closed his eyes, made a wish and blew the candles. There was a round of applause. Thant then seated Harry on the table arranged with silver plates, candles and delicacies every boy could dream of.
Xsi came to him, hugged him, "Happy birthday, Harry," she said and gave him a small wrapped package. Harry thanked his sister and opened it. He gaped in surprise of her present – a book – the Old Castles of Britain. Harry was touched. Xsi knew that this would make him happy. He loved everything about old castles, as he had spent time in Synca's citadel and had developed an interest.
Then came Cassie, hugged him, wished him happy birthday and gave her present. Harry opened it. It was an instruction manual as how to make a real wraith chase someone, which made him smile then Lady Synca came. Her gift was also a book though the strangest book he had ever seen. It was old but well preserved. It had a lock on it where it read – Ancient Houses. Harry thanked her but asked. "How do you open it?"
"You have to say the password." – Synca replied.
"Which is?"
"Ethereal."
"Cool, thank you, lady Synca."
"You're welcome, Harry."
Alamar then came. His present was not a book but a watch. But it was not the usual watch. It was an odd one. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets moving around the edge.
"You'll need it," – Alamar said.
"Thanks, Alamar." – Harry said looking bemused at the watch. "But what does it show? How does it work?"
"I'll show you later." – Alamar smiled.
Moandor now approached Harry. "Happy birthday, Nimbus," – he croaked and handed him something that looked like a golden antenna. Harry took it in his hands and examined it with curiosity.
"Thank you, Moandor, but what is it?"
"Ah…" – Moandor smiled with delight. "When it starts to vibrate then someone around you is not telling the truth. But of course, in a place, with lots of little ones, could be a little, not so useful."
"Ah, you lost me." – Harry said confused.
"I mean it detects lies but let's say in a place like school, let's say it would be difficult, because children often lie about everything nevertheless it is useful."
"Ah, I get it."- Harry smiled. "Thank you!"
Harry eyed Moandor with curiosity. It was so unlike him. A lie detector, it was unusual but it was a present given with feeling, and Harry appreciated it.
Thant looked at Saptienna who nodded. It was time for their presents. Saptienna moved to Harry and gave him another book – a cooking book, and a green knitted sweater. Thant's present was the most stunning one so far. It was a ring, a silver ring. On the sides, it was with encrusted roses, holding a black stone. Harry looked at the stone and he could swear he had seen a rose inside it while the others could not.
"Put it on."- Thant said.
Harry put the ring. It was then when he had an odd sensation. The ring was cool but in the same instance warm. For a moment, he had sensed warmth like no other. He could not explain it although somehow he had the feeling he had felt this way before but it seemed like it was ages ago. A tear appeared in his eye.
Thant watched Harry intently. He clearly saw the tear in his eye that vanished shortly after it appeared and smiled with satisfaction. The gift was well placed.
"Now, comes the cutting of the cake." – Saptienna announced. Everyone cheered.
Just as Saptienna was cutting the cake, a gentle knock was heard on the window. Everyone turned around and saw three owls carrying letters. Moandor swiftly opened the window, letting the owls that deposited the letters and flew back through the opened window.
Thant took the letters and distributed them. There was one for Xsi, Cassie, Harry and Alamar. Harry was surprised – who would write him a letter. He had no relatives outside Blackshire or the castle that would write him. Yet there it was a letter, addressed so plainly that there could be no mistake:
Mr. H. Potter
Living room
Solmyr Castle
Blackshire
The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp. Turning over the letter, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.
Harry broke the envelope open and read:
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. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of the necessary equipment and books.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Thant slapped himself mentally, "Of course, Saptienna, we need to reply at once." Saptienna nodded in agreement, "I'll go to fetch Hiemis. You write down the answer for all of them," she said and left the room, the cutting knife still in her hand.
Saptienna returned with an old grey owl with cold blue eyes. Thant came back with four parchments, attached them on the leg of the owl and said, "Hogwarts, Deputy Headmistress, McGonagall," the owl left a little shriek and flew away.
"Harry." – Thant called.
Harry turned to him. Thant gestured him and his sisters to follow. They came into Thant's working office. It was an almost perfect rectangular room with dusty shelves, full of old books, rust shields on the wall above Thant's desk, a few portraits with dark wooden frames, and a few chairs whose color was difficult to determine, maybe once they were silver. Yellowish parchments, quills and ink bottles stood scattered on Thant's desk in such chaotic order that only Thant knew his way through.
Thant sat behind his desk while Harry, Cassie and Xsi sat on the chairs front of it. Thant looked Harry straight in the eyes and spoke.
"Harry as I have told you, your real parents were wizards. And every wizard's child attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." – Thant looked at his daughters and continued. "The school was founded a thousand years ago by the four, most powerful wizards and witches of the time – Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. They instituted four houses in their names. Each house has its own values. The Gryffindors are courageous and brave. The Slytherins are devious and cunning. The Hufflepuffs are truthful and diligent. And the Ravenclaws, well, they are the smart ones."
"In which one was you?" – Harry asked intrigued.
"I was in Slytherin."
"Aha, the devious one." – Harry chuckled. There was no surprise there.
"And Mom?" – Xsi asked.
"Saptienna, well, she was a Gryffindor."
That fact was an odd one for Harry and for his sisters.
"And Moandor?" – Cassie asked.
"Ah, well, he was in Hufflepuff." – Thant replied.
"And the Dark Lord?" – Harry couldn't resist asking.
"Well, as Professor Dumbledore told me…"
"The Headmaster?" – Xsi inquired.
"Yes, the headmaster." – Thant nodded. "So as he told me, the Dark Lord was in Slytherin."
"Well, that's one house I do not wish to be in." – Harry said firmly.
"Why not?" – Cassie inquired.
"Well, sis, it's perfectly understandable why." – Xsi answered instead.
"Well, yeah, it is but still." – Cassie agreed. "But it must be interesting."
"Yeah, it falls into your category." – Harry observed sarcastically. "Devious!"
"And his parents?" – Xsi turned to Thant. Harry looked also at Thant. He was indeed curious to know.
"They were in Gryffindor."
"Both?"
"Yes."
"How do you know that?" – Harry asked.
"Well, I had a little chat with Professor Dumbledore." – Thant answered. "Apparently, after their death, he wanted to place you with the only living relatives to your parents."
"You never mentioned this!" – Harry reproached him.
"No, I didn't for a good reason. They are Muggles. Your mother had a sister – a muggle that as I learnt subsequently hates everything related to magic and wizards." – Thant explained.
"Oh, well, good riddance." – Harry concluded though he would have liked to know them.
Thant was sure Harry did not mean it the way it sounded. He was sure that Harry would give anything to be able to speak to someone that knew his parents.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore knew your parents well so he's the one you can ask about them."
"I will." – Harry said. Cassie and Xsi exchanged looks and hugged their brother.
"Oh, Harry."
"But I won't be in Slytherin." – Harry said. Everyone laughed.
"Of course, not." – Cassie said. "But I will."
"No surprise there." – Xsi observed.
"And you?" – Harry turned to Xsi.
"I don't know." – Xsi shrugged. "I guess I'm the smart one so…"
"You?" – Cassie exclaimed.
"Well, I am." – Xsi pretended to be offended.
"You all are." – Thant concluded the banter.
"And Alamar would be in the losers track – Hufflepuff." – Cassie said.
"I heard that." – Alamar said while entering into Thant's office.
"I know. I was joking." – Cassie grinned.
"Alright, boys and girls, find yourselves an occupation." – Thant said. "Tomorrow, we go shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Yes, shopping." – Thant nodded. "We have a lot of things to buy. You're going to school after all. And you'll see your vaults at Gringotts."
"But Mom said we'll see them next year." – Cassie said.
"She did? Really?" – Thant exclaimed. "No, you're going to see them tomorrow."
"Cool!" – Xsi exclaimed.
"Now, you're free to go." – Thant said.
The four left, heading outside to play while Thant returned to the living room where Saptienna and Synca were already discussing the shopping tomorrow – women, Thant thought happily.
The next morning, all prepared for the trip to Diagon Alley. Thant took the pot with the Floo powder. Lady Synca, Saptienna and the girls went first, then Harry, Alamar and Thant. They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Inside was as usual dark and shabby. An old woman was in the corner drinking from a tiny glass of sherry. On the opposite corner, a man was smoking a long pipe; a little man in a top hat was talking to the bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. A pale young man with a turban on his head, his eyes twitching was sitting also in one of the corners drinking something probably very hot, given the vapors coming from the glass.
Thant was about to lead his family out the room when he stopped rooted on the spot. His eyes narrowed and red flames appeared in them.
"Dear, what is it?" – Saptienna was asking but she soon took his posture.
"What's going on?" – Cassie asked.
Lady Synca had joined her parents in the apprehensive stand. Thant looked inauspiciously around. His eyes fell on the young wizard with the turban on his head. Thant did not hold his gaze long on him but it was clear that Thant didn't like the wizard.
"Let's move." – He said hastily.
They walked into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but trash. He tapped the wall three times with his wand. The brick he touched quivered and wriggled. In the middle of the wall a small hole appeared which grew wilder and wilder till a second later they were all facing a large archway, which led onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Welcome all," – Thant said, "to Diagon Alley."
The adults grinned at their children's amusement. They stepped through the archway. Harry heard something and turned over his shoulder only to see the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.
Thant quickly took them by the hand, heading for the ice-cream shop, which was the closest while his children admired the wonders of Diagon Alley.
Alamar, Harry, Xsi and Cassie wished that they had at least ten more eyes. Harry was turning his head in every direction trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people.
"Harry, look!" – Alamar exclaimed suddenly showing him a sign saying Eyelops Owl
Emporium -- Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Then there were several boys about their age, their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it.
"Look," – They heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus 2000, the fastest ever. "
There were shops selling everything – robes, telescopes, silver instruments, barrels stuck with bat spleens, eel's eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of moons and stars…
They arrived at the ice-cream shop. Thant sat the children on the tables outside while he went to buy them ice-creams. He then returned and sat down after distributing the creams.
"Dad, what happened in there?" – Xsi asked.
"There was a dark wizard in there." – Thant whispered.
Everyone looked up intrigued but also concerned.
"We're can't be sure, dear." – Saptienna interjected.
"Why?" – Cassie asked.
"We, Necromancers, are sensitive towards force threads of dark and light." – Synca explained, whispering. "We can sense exceptionally gifted wizards."
"And we can also sense those that are dark or light wizards." - Saptienna added. "So if there is a dark wizard around us, we will know."
"Yes, and Thant believes that there was a dark wizard in the pub." – Synca said.
"It's not a matter of belief – it is a fact." – Thant said firmly. "Though I think he works for one."
"You sure, dear?"
"Well, you can never be sure but I cleared sensed him." – Thant said then nodded more to himself than to the others. "He's definitely working for one and that one is strong. He has left a lasting imprint in the young one."
"You mean to say that he was possessed?" – Synca asked bewildered.
"Possibly but we can't be sure." – Thant nodded again. "And I'm not going approach someone just based on this undefined feeling. We'll talk about this no more. We have something else to do here."
"Then by all means, let's move to the bank." – Synca said.
They ate their ice-creams and headed to Gringotts. As they arrived in front of snowy white building that towered above the rest of the shop buildings they noticed standing beside its burnished bronze door, wearing uniforms of scarlet and gold…
"Yes, those are called Goblins." – Lady Synca said seeing their expressions, walking up the white steps. The goblin was about a head shorter than Harry, with a swarthy clever face, a pointed beard, and as the boys noticed, very long fingers and feet. Now they faced a second door, silver this time, with words engraved upon it:
Enter, stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed, for those who take, but do not, earn, must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors, a treasure that was never yours, thief, you have been warned, beware, of finding more than treasure there.
A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver door and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind long counters, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Thant took Harry and his sisters to a counter.
"Good morning," – Thant said to a free goblin. "We are here to make a withdrawal from Mr. Harry Potter's vault, as well as from Xsi and Cassie Solmyr's."
"You have the keys, sir?" – The goblin asked without looking.
"Yes, they are all here." – Thant replied, holding up three tiny golden keys.
The goblin examined the keys very closely then gazed a long time at Xsi, then at Cassie and lastly at Harry.
"They seem to be in order." – The goblin announced. "I will have someone to lead you to your vaults. Griphook!"
Griphook was yet another goblin. They followed him toward one of the doors leading off the hall. Griphook held the door for them. Harry, who expected to see more doors, was due for a surprise. They were in a narrow stone passageway with lit torches. It slopped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart came toward them. They climbed in and Cassie sat in Thant's lap to fit in. Thant had no desire to make two trips so they had to fit in.
At first they hurtled through a maze of twisting passages and Harry tried to remember the direction – left, right, right, left, left, left, middle fork, right, but it was impossible. The cart seemed to know where it was going, because Griphook was not steering.
Their eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but kept them wide open nevertheless. The cart plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites that grew from the floor to the ceiling.
The cart suddenly stopped beside a small door in the passage hall, and they all stood up leaning beside the wall. Griphook stood before them.
"Vault 673." – Griphook announced and added. "Key, please."
Thant handed him over the key. Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins, columns of silver, heaps of little bronze coins.
"All yours!" – Thant smiled.
Harry's heart leapt. It was incredible. He had a small fortune buried deep under London.
"The gold ones are called Galleons." – Thant said. "Seventeen silver sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine bronze Knuts to a Sickle…"
"Dad, we know." – Cassie interrupted.
"Right." – Thant plunged into the vault and grabbed a decent amount of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. Thant then turned to Griphook, "Vaults Seven hundred fourteen and sixteen, please."
They were going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air become colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners. Soon they arrived.
"Vault 714." – Griphook announced, took the key Thant handed him and opened the vault. Xsi was sure to faint. The vault was full from the ceiling to the ground with gold, and here and there were mountains of silver and bronze. While Thant was taking the amount needed from the vault, Harry looked at the vault beside Xsi's. That vault, 713, had no lock, which looked strange. Harry turned to Griphook.
"Ar…excuse me."
"Yes," – Griphook said.
"This vault is different, it has no key. How do you open it? I mean if it has no key is it easy to open?" – Harry asked curiously.
Griphook eyed Harry then smiled. "This one is top security vault. If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tries to open it, they would be sucked through the door and trapped inside."
"How often do you check if someone's inside?"
"About once every ten years," – Griphook said with a rather nasty grin.
"I'm done." – Thant said.
Then they walked by the narrow passage till they reached vault 716 – Cassie's vault. The content in there was the same as in Xsi's. Thant quickly took another bag and filled it in then turned to Harry.
"Harry, come this way. Girls, stay here."
Harry followed Thant. They reached vault 720. Thant gave Griphook a silver key. Griphook inserted the key and turned it. Then Thant approached the vault and whispered something. The vault door opened with a cracking sound. Thant gestured Harry to come and peek. Harry looked and his jaw fell. The vault was full entirely of columns of Galleons.
"This is your vault, Harry, and when you become seventeen, it will be all yours. Until then, I'm its keeper. This also means that only I can open this vault."
"What?" – Harry gaped. "Could the goblins open it?"
"No, only I can. Right?" – Thant said turning to Griphook who nodded.
"What would happen if someone else tries to open it?" – Harry asked curious.
"You don't want to know." – Thant replied mysteriously. Griphook also agreed and his grin grew even nastier.
One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts.
"We'll go first to get your uniforms." – Thant said.
"Our what?" – Harry asked.
"Look at your lists." – Thant said.
They took out their letters and unfolded a second piece of paper they haven't noticed before, and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes must carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPEMENT
Wand
Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) set
Glass or crystal phials
Telescope set
Brass scales
Students may also bring an owl, OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"Wow." – Harry exclaimed after examining his list.
"Tough, ah?" – Thant smiled. "Now, let's go for the uniform at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions."
They entered the shop. A squat witch smiled at them. She was dressed in mauve.
"Good day, Madam Malkin." – Thant greeted.
"Good day, sir." – Madam Malkin greeted, and then turned to Harry and the girls. "Hogwarts, dears? Got the lot here – another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."
In the back of the shop, a pale boy with pointed face stood on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin placed Harry first on a stool next to the boy while the girls stood nearby. She then slipped a long black robe over his head, and started to pin it to the right length.
Cassie and Xsi scanned with curiosity the boy who also looked at them. Cassie then winked at him and giggled with her sister. Harry looked at them and scolded. He never could understand girls.
"Hogwarts, too?" – The boy asked.
"Yes." – Harry replied.
"My father's next door buying my books and my mom's up the street looking at wands." – The boy said. He had a bored voice. "Then I'll drag them off to take at the racing brooms. I don't see why the first years can't have ones."
"Couldn't agree more." – Cassie said.
The boy looked at Cassie with interest then turned back to Harry.
"Have you got your own broom?"
"No." – Harry replied.
"Play Quidditch at all?"
"No, but my sisters do." – Harry replied motioning at Cassie and Xsi who only grinned.
"I also do. My father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say I agree." – The boy went on. "Know what house you're going to be in?"
"No." – Harry simply said.
"Well, its true no one really knows till they get there, but I know I'll be in Slytherin. All my family has been though I can't imagine being put in Hufflepuff; I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
Here Harry did not reply but it did not seem that the boy was interested in an answer anyway.
"Where are your parents?" – The boy asked.
"Oh, my parents are outside. Being inside here gives them a headache." – Harry replied.
"Oh, I can understand that." – The boy said. "They are our kind, aren't they?"
"Meaning?" – Cassie shot silently suddenly looking murderously at the boy hopefully he did not hear her.
"They are." – Harry replied with pride in his voice.
"Good." – The boy smirked. "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? Some of them haven't even heard about Hogwarts until they got the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your name anyway?"
Harry had to admit that there was something about this boy that he did not like at all but other than that he looked fine. Fortunately before he could answer the boy, Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear," and Harry not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy stepped down from the stool.
"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts." – The boy said.
"Sure." – Harry said.
He winked at his sisters, and headed for the exit, however not before he saw the devious smiles on their face. They were up to something he could swear it. Thant was waiting patiently outside. He left Saptienna to wait for the girls and took off with Harry. As they walked, Harry wanted to ask him a question that burned him while they were buying his other equipment but decided on asking later.
"Now, what would you like a toad, a cat or an owl?"- Thant asked.
Harry pondered for a moment as they have stopped in front of the shop. "An owl," Harry replied.
"Very well, I shall take you one." – Thant said. "Stay here."
Thant entered into the shop and soon returned with snowy white owl. She was sleeping with her head under her wings.
"There you go." – Thant said and handed him the cage. "We'll name her later. Now, what's left?"
"A wand." – Harry said.
"A wand, well, Ollivander's – one of the best." – Thant said.
A wand, this was what Harry was looking forward to all day long.
The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read: Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
A bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single chair that Thant sat on to wait. Harry felt strangely as though he had entered a strictly forbidden library. He looked at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
"Good afternoon." – A soft voice said. Harry jumped, Thant didn't even move as though he had not heard anything at all.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello." – Harry said.
"Ah, yes," – The man said, "Yes, yes, I thought I might be seeing you, Mr. Potter." It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy made of willow, nice wand for charm work."
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry. Harry wished he could blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit scary.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. It was eleven inches, pliable, a little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it but it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Mr. Ollivander had come even closer, and he and Harry were almost nose to nose.
"And that's where…"
He touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger.
"I'm sorry to say that I sold the wand that did it." – He said almost whispering. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches, yew. Powerful wand, very powerful but in the wrong hands…well if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…"
He shook his head and then to Harry's relief, Ollivander spotted Thant and froze in his place.
"Lord Solmyr," – He said with reverence in his voice. "Fourteen inches, elder with the most unusual core, horn string of the long extinct silver dragon, if I'm not mistaken?"
"No, you're not." – Thant smiled.
"Yes, yes, also very powerful but well…" – Mr. Ollivander said then turned back to Harry." Which is your wand hand?"
"I'm right handed." – Harry replied.
"Right, hold out your arm. That's it." – He measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. "Every Ollivander wand has a core of powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of a dragon. 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."
Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure was measuring on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"This will do." – He said and tape measure crumbled into a heap on the floor. "Right then Mr. Potter, try this one. Beachwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible, just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and waved it but Mr. Ollivander snatched it immediately out of his hand and handed him another.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Try it…"
Harry tried but Ollivander snatched that one too and gave him another.
"Ash and unicorn hair. Ten inches. Try it…
Harry tried and tried but the pile of wands was mounting higher and higher although Harry had no idea what Ollivander was expecting and looked at Thant but he remained silent. But the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere – I wonder, now – yes, why not – unusual combination – holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Harry took the wand. He felt sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, and waved it. Usually, a wand would produce a stream of sparkles but once Harry touched the wand something totally unexpected happened. A golden fiery oriole appeared high above Harry's head. As it grew, the oriole turned into a wide circle like a portal and from it with a song, a song that fills with joy, appeared a fiery bird all in flames.
Ollivander and Thant gaped. It was hard to believe.
"The Sacred Phoenix!" – Thant exclaimed finally, stunned.
The flaming bird made a few circles then landed before Harry. The phoenix was as tall as Harry. It looked him straight into the eyes. It was very strange. Harry felt warmth like no other and in the same moment joy, happiness and strength. The Phoenix then reached Harry's shoulder and pinched him gently. Harry sensed a surge going straight down to his wand, which burst into flames. Harry's instinct was saying to let go off the wand but something deep in him told him to keep it firmly. A feather came out of the wand – a phoenix feather, which soon integrated itself into the phoenix while another flaming one took its place. The phoenix then took off with a single blow of its wings, and without any warning in a burst of flames vanished.
Thant and Ollivander were standing still rooted on the spot blinking in total bemusement. The appearance of the sacred phoenix was something extremely unusual and just as well improbably rare.
Ollivander cried, "This is indeed very curious and how curious…very curious…very…"
"Excuse me but what is curious?" – Harry asked bemused.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail resided in your wand gave another feather, just one other. It was curious that you were to be destined for that wand as its brother had given you that scar. "
Harry swallowed bitterly.
"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious how these things work. The wand chooses the wizard; remember…I think we must expect great things from you Mr. Potter… After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things…terrible, yes, but great."
Harry shivered. However, after this statement, for the first time in his life, Harry remembered something more the dreams he had. He clearly saw the wand that killed his parents but now he saw something else – the hand that was holding it, then the whole figure – hooded.
"But then…" – Ollivander did not finish his sentence.
"I don't understand."
"Harry, the appearance of the Sacred Phoenix is extremely rare." – Thant informed.
"And it has not happened for nearly six centuries." – Ollivander added then continued. "No wand since that time has ever carried a feather of the Sacred One as power core. They are considered to give the wand a great power even greater than the one of the Silver Dragon. I think we can surely expect great things from you, Mr. Potter, very great and exceptional since you have the blessing of the Sacred Phoenix. This is very unusual."
Harry wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander too much but paid the seven golden Galleons for his wand, and Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
Thant then took Harry back to the ice-scream café, and there they waited for Saptienna and the girls. They appeared after an hour. Stunningly, Cassie and Xsi had almost the same type of wands as Harry. Saptienna told Thant of their wand acquirement. It was not as stunning as Harry's but still impressive.
Cassie had holly and dragon heartstrings, ten inches, flexible, and Xsi had willow and thunderbird feather, twelve inches, supple. Then Alamar and his mother came. Alamar had birch and strings of unicorn horn, nine-and-a-half inches, swishy. They all passed their wands looking at them.
"Time to go." – Saptienna announced.
"Oh!" – Cassie groaned.
"Now!" – Saptienna said. "Synca, Alamar, we'll see you on next weekend or…?"
"On September first, I'm afraid." – Synca replied. "We have to visit Alamar's grandfather Bish in Cornwall."
"Oh, alright then." – Saptienna said, hugged Lady Synca, and wished her good bye.
Thant did the same and then they headed back to the castle. Once they arrived, Thant made a hand signal to Saptienna. She understood and nodded. After leaving the girls and Harry, she headed for Thant's working office.
"Dear," – She said.
"Ah, my darling."
"What is it, dear?"
"Well nothing really."
"Come on." – Saptienna insisted.
"Well, it is our children and Harry." – Thant said but seeing Saptienna's expression elaborated. "Well, mostly Harry. He got a feather of the Sacred Phoenix who came in personally to grant him it and then Cassie and Xsi. Cassie with holly and dragon heartstrings, but not just any dragon – the golden dragon, there is only one to my knowledge left. I don't think that Ollivander even knows that part. And Xsi got willow and thunderbird feather. It is an unusual combination. It might seem like coincidence but I have the feeling it isn't. Also that young man who is serving the dark lord."
"We don't know whether he is serving a dark lord or not." – Saptienna objected.
"No, we don't but I'm rarely wrong." – Thant said sighing deeply.
"I know, dear. But maybe they are all destined for something great. And if you do feel uncomfortable, you could always speak to your brother – Lord Gelu." – Saptienna added softly.
"You're right I do feel uneasy with it. I'll call him tomorrow."
"Now, get some rest, dear. It was a long day."
"I will, dear. Thank you!"
"Always." – Saptienna said with love, kissed her husband and exited, leaving Thant along with his disturbed thoughts.
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Lordheaven