A little later than usual uploading, however this chapter is just over 1,500 words, rather than my 1000 set, so I hope that makes up for it :D

Things are really beginning to heat up here, so I look foreward to seeing what you think - canon is slowly fading, and my own world is beginning to form *evil author laugh*

Please enjoy, and review

Kyae x


Day 9

Wandlore

"Hey Neville – have you seen Hermione?" It was eleven o'clock – half an hour before he and Hermione were due to meet Sirius, and Harry was worried – he hadn't seen Hermione since breakfast three hours prior, and his quick scan of the maraunders map hadn't shown her in the library...

"Not recently – I saw her a couple of hours ago heading to the dorms though." He told Harry, sitting next to him. "Are you going together to Hogsmead?"

"Yeah... well... not together together, just... you know..."

"Together." The shy boy nodded in understanding, looking around for the bookworm too. "Mind if I tag along?"

Harry was about to say 'no', coming up with some excuse, but then he realised something. In the previous timestream, even though he had been cautious, he had never judged anyone before meeting them – both Sirius and Remus were well respected by the boy then, despite being seen by the public as lower.

But was this the same boy?

Well, He supposed there's only one way to find out...

"Oh Harry – Hermione asked me to tell you that she'll be down in a moment... she seemed distracted..." An airy voice came from behind the boys, and Harry jumped up in shock, surprised to see that Neville didn't. "Hello Neville."

"Hey Luna." The Griffindor nodded in greeting.

"Do you want to join us too?" It was a spur of the moment thing, but maybe if the two were together, they wouldn't mind so much that 'snuffles' was with them. "Neville was just asking if he could come with us – maybe it would be nice to make the trio a quartet."

"Okay... what about Ronald though – Ginevra used to tell me that you were inseparable. I never thought him as kind as she made him out to be though..." Luna trailed off, mumbling something about some magical creature, as Hermione turned up.

"He's gone with Dean and Seamus." Hermione turned up, holding a massive tome in her hands. "Anyway – look at this!"

Turning to a set page, Harry saw that it was a book on Wandlore.

"Look what it says here – 'There have been many powerful wands known throughout history, however, it is not only the wizard in question that defines the power of a wand, but also the combination of ingredients that make it up. Woods such as mahogany, elder and silver birch have all been known to create powerful wands, although ebony, derived from the same word as elder in the ancient languages has also, although rarely used, created exceedingly powerful wands. Although wands usually stay with their "master" throughout their lives, major life shifts can change the allegiance of a wand, the woods no longer suiting."

They all remained silent, looking up at Hermione in confusion, until she sighed, running her fingers through her long dark hair.

"Harry – look what you've gone through in the last few years – if anyone's needed a shift in wands it's you! The goblins sent you a wand – you should get Mr Ollivander to check it out – goblins are known for their intuition. Don't look a present from them in the mouth, and thank them as soon as you can – Flitwick told us that. Besides, two wands may come in handy during the tournament."

The four were walking by this time, Harry and Hermione to one side, and Neville and Luna at the other, Hermione in the centre. Of course, as they were all engrossed in what they were doing, none noticed a huge black dog leap at Harry, knocking him to the ground.

"Snuffles – Ew!" The boy moaned as the dog slobbered over him, the other three humans laughing at their friend's predicament. "Gerroff!"

"Hello Stubby" Luna greeted, and Sirius almost seemed to growl as he got off his godson, although Luna laughed at it, patting his head. "Don't worry – they'll realise someday."

"Urm... guys..." Harry decided to get this out in the open now – after all, they were nearing the town now, so it was best to get it done before townsfolk saw him rather than after. "You see..."

Ten minutes and an animagus transformation later, Neville and Luna were staring at Sirius Black, who immediately placed powerful glamour's on himself to make him a tanned blond with muscles – a figure that had some of the local women drooling after the maraunder as he moved through Hogsmead, straight into the Hogshead where he flirted with Rosmerta.

"I have a meeting with Mr Ollivander – would you be able to tell me which room he's in?" Harry asked politely as she poured Sirius firewhisky, batting her eyelashes at the convict.

"Sure – just go through the third door on your left." The barmaid instructed, and, splitting up, Harry, Hermione and Sirius went into Ollivander's room, Neville and Luna deciding to go to Honeyduke's for them all.

"Hello Mr Ollivander." Harry remained at the door until the wandmaker invited them in warmly, a selection of boxes in front of him. They were all bigger than the individual wand boxes, leading the trio to assume they had many wands in each.

"Hello Mr Potter." The wandmaker pointed to the boxes. "Last time we met, I believe you caused me some difficulty in finding you a wand, but this time, I think it will be simpler to allow the individual components to choose you, and then I will create it into the perfect – reasonably speaking – wand for you."

Seeing the three nod, Ollivander turned to Sirius, looking him in the eyes for a moment, almost looking into the wizards soul. Panicking as Sirius began to shudder, Harry glared at the wandmaker, but became even more confused when he smiled softly, nodding.

"Your wand was a fine one Mr Black, but I believe it will not suit you either. Nevermind, we shall find you a new one. Mr Potter first though..."

Standing above the boxes, Harry closed his eyes as instructed, hovering his hand over each box. For the first few, he didn't feel any connection, however as he continued to move his hands, only one place commanded his attention for any length of time. Putting his hands into the box, Harry pulled out one stick, a hollowed out thing that felt right, but empty in his hands.

"Ah, Mahogany – 12 and a half inches. Mahogany is often associated with growth, both physical and spiritual... I can see a lot of scars upon you Mr Potter – not just on your forehead, but in your eyes. Holly is good for wands, but it is often perceived as a more naive wood, and is a lot more supple... Mahogany on the other hand is brittle, and as such is often good for large amounts of power, as the magic only strengthens the wood, making it near impossible to bend the will of the holder of it. Now, the cores..."

Looking in a silver tray, Harry saw a variety of cores – dragon heartstrings, phoenix feathers, unicorn hairs and many more.

"I usually use the three main ones, however sometimes, when the user is more... picky, the rarer materials are more suited. Please take your time."

Again, like the wood, Harry seemed to get a calling from the materials – in fact, to a particular feather. It was long, and black – absolutely beautiful, and skeletal.

"Ah yes... the wing feather of a thestral... this particular one was dying herself at the time – I believe you remember the incident of the chamber of secrets. Of course, none of us realised it was basilisk venom at the time, but after you defeated the creature in your second year, the feather became even more prized. It was freely given, both venom and feather, and so should aid you perfectly well, although patronus charms may be slightly harder..."

Trailing off, seemingly in thought, he directed Sirius to get his wand (Maple wood, 11 and three quarter inches, hippogriff feather), who left soon after, eager to try it out.

"Mr Ollivander." Hermione spoke for the first time, the book on wandlore still clutched in her hands. "Harry received a wand from one of his vaults today... it doesn't have the trace on, and seemed to elect as powerful reaction as this one, if not more... would you be able to identify it for us?"

The two glanced at each other, and Harry could tell that Hermione was worried that she'd overstepped, so he smiled at her, mouthing 'thanks', letting her know he appreciated her asking.

After all, he wanted to find out what it was.

"Oh my..." Ollivander gasped, sitting down, twisting the wands in his hands. "Eleven inches... Ebony wood – the most powerful around, reserved only for... and what's this...?" He almost seemed to breath the wand in, his eyes unfocussing. "Hair, but not of a creature I've seen... female... and of death... young..."

Suddenly he stopped, passing the wand back to Harry, his eyes serious.

"Mr Potter – I would suggest that you keep this wand out of duels – there is no knowing what would happen if you lost." He nodded once, before passing a parcel. "This is complimentary with your wand – say a good luck gift for the tournament. Use it well."

As they left, Harry realised something.

The Elder wand was made with the hair of a Reaper – the daughter of the Grim Reaper himself.

Cassi.