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Chapter One: Time to Shop
Waking up with a sore body while sitting upright in a chair is not a fun experience and the creepy matron that was standing over me did not help how I felt. "Ah, you must be the cause of the abnormal letter that has arrived this morning along with the funny little man that just showed up. Please follow me and I will show you to your room before you meet the little fellow that has come to see you Mr. Kong." After her explanation the old matron led me out of the reception area that I had been sleeping in before leading me to the upper floor which was filled with closed doors along the hallway. I was led to the seventh room along the hallway which I soon found out would be mine with its plain furniture of a simple desk, wardrobe, and single bed. The matron was clearly a no-nonsense person as she did not let me dawdle before she continued to lead me around. "Since you have nothing to put down you will follow me to the meeting room where your guest is waiting for you, and you may talk with them while I observe as your new guardian."
Upon entering the meeting room I saw the squat little man that was Professor Flitwick in a little business suit standing at the table. "Thank you for bringing him here madam Prewett." He spoke to the old woman before turning to me and starting in on my introduction to the magical world. "Hello there Mr. Kong, I am Professor Filius Flitwick. I am here to offer you a spot at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where I teach the subject of charms." I could clearly see his normal excitement shining through as he spoke about all that the school had to offer me. "Hogwarts is the best school to learn magic in Great Britton it is led by the current Chief Warlock of the International Conference of Wizards on Albus Dumbledore. While there you may learn the arts of charms from myself a Charms Master and former dueling champion along with transfigurations from Minerva McGonagall who is the understudy of Dumbledore and a Transfiguration Mistress in her own right. Then there is the youngest Potions Master in recent history Professor Severus Snape who shall be instructing you in the art of potion brewing. You shall also learn about plants from Professor Pomona Sprout in Herbology. We four make up the Head of Houses for Hogwarts and will be your primary points of contact between yourself and the staff depending on which of the four houses you are sorted into is who you will meet with." After taking a breath to get himself under control he indicated towards the letter that sat on the table. "If you wish to join our school then please review the acceptance letter and give me your answer before we go shopping."
Matron Prewett spoke up at this point in time. "Of course he will be going I am not going to simply allow a young magical to go unchecked here for the entire school year. You will be taking him with you to do his shopping today and that will be all."
Professor Flitwick kept a smile on his face even as a twitch started to appear over his brow. He then waved his wand and levitate my acceptance letter over to me. I waited for it to get to me before I softly grasped the letter and opened it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Kong,
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 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
The first page was pointless as Professor Flitwick was already here giving me this information and would be taking my answer with him in verbal form which was a yes as I was not going to stay in this world without learning magic. I proceeded onto the next page without pause but making certain that I would remember what it said.
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, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should 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 Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric 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 EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
After reading through the second page I looked to the Professor who could clearly see the question on my face and spoke before I could. "I will be taking you to a special district not too far from here to assist you in procuring the items on that list along with a simple trunk that will let you carry all of your needed items." With that Professor Flitwick led the way out of the orphanage and down the street which I finally realized was Charing Cross Road. I followed the little man without complaint.
Flitwick wasted no time in passing through the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. "For your supplies we will need to get you access to the orphan scholarship fund which means that I or another member of staff will need to escort you to get your school supplies each year until you either find gainful employment or a magical guardian to take responsibility over you. That is of course if you are not expelled from Hogwarts."
I was surprised that the little man sounded so cheerful while discussing the possibility of my expulsion. I kept my thoughts to myself as we went to the luggage shop and purchased a standard trunk since I was limited to my stipend. Most of the shopping went by very quickly after getting my trunk with the robes next at Madam Malkin's followed by books at Flourish and Blots and the apothecary, Slugs and Jiggers. With only a wand left to buy we went into Ollivanders.
So far no one had said anything about my being on a stipend so far which is something that I was thankful for. With our entrance into the wand shop I could feel the eyes of the old man on me or at least my paranoia felt like I was being watched. It was not long before I was met with the old wand crafter standing before me. He quickly asked which was my wand arm and I indicated my left arm before he set the tape measure upon me. It started with the simply measuring my hand and fingers before it moved up my arm measuring everything down from my shoulder. Eventually Ollivander came back with an armful of wand boxes and snapped at the tape measure, which had moved on to measure my head, before he addressed me. "Stop that, now then let us try to find your partner shall we."
I took hold of the first one that he handed me, and it blew up a vase sitting beside the door. The next one sent a chair into the roof as Professor Flitwick chuckled at the sight. This continued for a good ten minutes before I was given my partner wand in the form of a ten-inch beech wand with a Phoenix feather for the core. My mind instantly recalled the information about the wand ingredients most likely from my wandlore perk. The true match for a beech wand would be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands performed very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant. When properly matched, the beech wand was capable of a subtlety and artistry not seen in any other wood. While the Phoenix feather was the rarest core ingredient along with having the greatest range of magic amongst the available cores making my wand quite unique something Olivander wasted no time in mentioning. "That is very interesting, beech is rarely matched given that it is only for those with an open mind and that particular Phoenix feather was personally delivered by a young-looking Phoenix to me before disappearing once again."
I kept my face blank as I listened to what the old man told me about the wand ingredients used in my new wand. With that done Professor Flitwick escorted me back to the orphanage and helped me settle into my room with all of my new belongings. "Before I leave there are somethings that you should know. The train to Hogwarts leaves from King's Cross at eleven in the morning of September the first from platform nine and three quarters which is accessed by going through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. There is also the fact that you must not let anyone know about the magical world as that is a breech of international law in the magical world which will see you expelled from Hogwarts and possibly jailed for the offence."
"Thank you for letting me know Professor. I will be spending my time reading up on the books that I now have tanks to our shopping trip." I told the little professor after he explained the statute of secrecy to me. I followed the professor down to the ground floor and saw him out of the building before I met with the matron who had been waiting on us.
Madam Prewett glared at me before speaking. "You will keep all of your new belongings along with anything related to them out of sight of the other children. This is why you were given your own room, such things come at a cost though in that you will keep it clean and tidy." I simply nodded before making my way into the dining area and dished up my meal before eating quietly without drawing any attention to myself. After I finished my meal I washed my plate and utensils before I went back up to my room to get a start on learning about magic.
What I did not expect was that upon entering my room was a flash of fire to appear before me which turned out to be my new pet Phoenix which was carrying a small pouch in its beak. After I got my heart rate back under control from the surprise I went forward and pet the red and golden swan like bird before taking the pouch and opening it to find the items I bought with my points inside. With these items in had I was slowly reaffirming the plan that I had made to set myself up for the future. After looking over me new Phoenix partner for a minute I came up with a name for her. "I think I shall name you Feng it is Chinese for your species." Feng was clearly happy with her new name as she chirped happily and rubbed up against my neck. I could not help but pet the beautiful bird that would be my companion through this new adventure of magic and beyond. After I finished my ministrations of Feng, I reached over and pulled out the Standard Book of Spells Grade 1. I would be stuck reading this and my other books between making potions for the rest of the summer.