Chapter Twenty One
Arcturus was pacing back and forth in his office at Black Castle, his actual home. He was going to be meeting up with the wizarding law lawyer, Isold Kaiser later that afternoon, and he wanted things to go right. He needed things to go right. He walked over to the birchwood sideboard along the far wall of his office and selected a low glass and a bottle of Ogden's finest fire whiskey and went back over to his desk, plopping down into the leather wing back chair. He let out a sigh and poured two fingers worth of the amber liquid into the glass, not bothering to replace the cork on the bottle before he slammed back the whiskey. It was not often that Arcturus drank anymore, what with him always being around the three children at his sister's house, but for this meeting, he felt it was better suited to be held here at Black Castle. He checked his faithful pocket watch to check the time and noted to himself that Narcissa would be arriving at his floo step at any minute, and waved his hand lazily to light the fire in the fireplace. Not a few moments sooner did the fire flare up from a dull orangey low fire to a roaring green flame, and out stepped a prim and proper aristocratic woman with platinum blonde hair and steel grey eyes, who just exuded an air of indifference.
"Ahh, Narcissa, right on time, as expected. Isold is not here yet, so you may have a seat wherever you wish. We still have approximately another..." Another check of his watch read that only two minutes had passed since he last looked. "We have exactly fifteen minutes until it is ten past two p.m. which is when she specified to have the floo open for her to come through. Are you prepared?" He asked his great niece.
"Yes, I have the... evidence... that you and I have gathered in the past few months. Do you have the paperwork from Gringotts and the copy of the will and testament of James and Lily?" She asked as she settled gracefully into an armchair, still looking prim and proper.
"I do. I have them both as well as the newspaper articles from the archives of the Wizengamot office from November 1st 1981 to March 12th 1982 from the Daily Prophet as well as from The Wizarding World News; all of the relevant articles that mention Death Eater activity as well as any known marked Death Eater hearings, captures and trials. Admittedly, there aren't many, but I contacted the head of Le Cri de la Gargouille and Die Welttribüne, as well. They were big on reporting the trials and accusations of Great Britain at that time, so hopefully there's something in there about Sirius.
"One can only hope. I did always believe that Sirius didn't have the capability of murdering someone, even if that person betrayed him. Black madness or not, Sirius was never a murderer." Narcissa said offhandedly. It was food for thought. Narcissa and Sirius were cousins, but they were never close. Rather, Narcissa was betrothed to one Lucius Malfoy, Abraxas's son. Seeing as he was a dark wizard, and the Blacks were darker in nature by default, Sirius rebelled against anything that was even remotely grey let alone dark alignment.
"No, he was decidedly not that kind of wizard. He might have been overzealous, but he never had it in him. The fact that the Minister of Magic, Milicent Bagnold herself had decided to throw witches and wizards in Azkaban without a trial or due process being upheld, was a down right travesty. Arcturus knew that by opening the gates even by just a little bit, as in, proving that they threw an innocent man in Azkaban without a trial, would open an entirely different can of worms on the Ministry, but he could not bring himself to care. Not when the horrid miscarriage of justice was harming his grandson physically and mentally by the second. He wouldn't wish a stint in Azkaban on his worst enemy let alone his own kin, his own blood. And yet here they sat. It just wouldn't do.
"Come, stand up straighter and stand next to me. We need to exude absolute power to her; she won't help just anyone. We need to convince her to take on our case. Isold Kaiser is a damn good lawyer, and she is our best bet at getting Sirius freed in any sort of fashionable time limit. Otherwise, I fear that we might not get him out before..." Narcissa trailed off, looking like the little girl she used to be. Back when they were just innocent little kids, they all got along. Andromeda, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Sirius and Orion... But then they grew up, and the Black madness began to set into Bellatrix.
Arcturus got up from his desk and flicked his wand at himself. His perfectly tailored suit straightened itself out to be impeccable as was needed and expected for a meeting like this. He strode over to stand slightly behind his niece. Just this once, he would let her take the reins of this meeting, seeing as she was the one who personally knew Miss Kaiser. Not too soon after he joined her, the wards began to buzz, letting Arcturus know that someone not of Black ancestry was trying to gain access to his private office in his castle. Out stepped one Miss Isold Kaiser, Germany's greatest wizarding affairs lawyer that money could buy. She stepped out of the hearth and Narcissa moved to greet her.
"Hello, Madam Kaiser. It is a pleasure to see you again, although I admit, we must stop meeting up with each other under these circumstances." Narcissa said to the witch in question.
"Grüss Gott, Lady Narcissa, Lord Black." Madame Kaiser greeted her two clients.
"Come, let us sit down. I will call for tea. Rose." Arcturus called out
An elf popped into the room.
"I want a full tea service for three in this room." He commanded.
"Yes master, I will get it for you right away." The elf in question nodded and popped away to do as he commanded. The three of them moved to the three chairs that were positioned around a coffee table; it was set up for this particular meeting in question.
Madame Kaiser waited patiently for everyone to make her tea all the while she opened up her ever expanding briefcase and pulled out two sets of self inking quills, ink pots, and two long rolls of parchment. She waved her wand over one set, and it sprung to life, and began writing out notes for her of the meeting. Arcturus glanced at what the quill was jotting down and saw that it was noting the time and date, as well as who the meeting was being held with.
"Let's get right down to it, shall we? I received your letter requesting for myself to investigate into the matters of one Sirius Orion Black's incarceration on November 1st, 1981. Correct?"
"Yes. It has come to light that Sirius Black was not in fact the secret keeper for James Potter and Lily Potter née Evans-Rosier. It was also revealed that one Peter Pettigrew, who was awarded posthumously the Order of Merlin First Class, is in fact alive as well as the fact that according to the legal and binding document, Peter Pettigrew was the Potter's secret keeper for the fidelius charm placed upon their house in Godric's Hollow by one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. I feel that a great miscarriage of justice has been done by both the Minister of Magic, as well as Albus Dumbledore seeing as he has yet to come forward with the key information that could have and would have prevented Sirius Black from going to Azkaban prison in the first place."
"I have reached out to both the Wizengamot Administrative Services to get the court transcriptions that mention any and all Death Eaters entering incarceration at and during the November of 1981 time period as well as the current head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones. I am aware that she was not the one who ordered Sirius Black as well as quite a few others to be incarcerated without a just trial. Innocent of crimes or not, it was not for Bartemius Crouch Sr. to decide if someone went to Azkaban prison alone on his word; that was a matter for the Wizengamont to decide. If you are in fact correct, this could be quite possibly the case of the century." Madam Isold spoke in a thick Austrian accent, but her English was impeccable.
Arcturus stole a quick glance over at Narcissa and saw her face set in a careful look of contemplation. He knew about the possibility of what this case could stir up. On one hand, he had the nearly desperate need for his family to be together again, and Sirius was in fact an innocent man locked away for life in a hellscape of a prison, rotting away in some jail cell. But that also meant investigating every incarceration from that era of the war, including one Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa's husband. This would quite possibly turn the wizarding world as they knew it up on it's head. He needed to choose his words carefully.
"I think I would like you to continue your investigation. I want to also appoint you as my legal aid to represent the Black legacy including my grandson Sirius Black. I want this miscarriage of justice resolved to the highest extent of the law." Arcturus said firmly.
"I see. In that case, sign read over this contract and if it is amicable towards your party, sign here with this special quill." Madam Isold indicated to the different spots where Arcturus would need to place his signature. He inspected the given quill, and noted with mild surprise that it was a blood-quill. It was expected, seeing as this would be a magically binding contract. Here in Britain they were a government controlled object due to the nature of them being used in specific dark and grey aligned rituals and magics. He firmly grasped the quill, preparing himself for the sharp sting that would be upon his hand as he began to sign his name onto the parchment in front of him.
"I, Arcturus Sirius Black III, do by agree to the terms upon me on the parchment before me, of one legal investigation of Sirius Orion Black and the involved legal fees and court costs as well as any unseen fees."
Magic sparked and crackled around them as the legally binding contract completed itself. Madam Kaiser tapped her wand over the now rolled up parchment, and it duplicated itself. She reached into her bag and immediately pulled out a jar of salve, and passed it over to Lord Black to rub onto his fresh wound on his hand. He took it with a quiet thank you and watched as she picked up the copy and passed it on over to him, and deposited the original into her briefcase before they all stood up.
"It was a pleasure to do business with you, Lord Black." Madame Kaiser said as they made their way to the awaiting hearth.
"The same to you, Madame Kaiser. I look forward to doing future business with you. Farewell now." She grabbed a pinch of floo powder and threw in, stepping into the awaiting flames. Arcturus felt her exit the wards and sighed deeply, sagging into an awaiting chair in front of the fireplace.
"Well that went sufficiently enough. But are you okay with my decisions?" Arcturus asked Narcissa who was delicately perched upon the other chair.
"I see no other choice, Arcturus. Lucius Malfoy is a dangerous man. If he is drawn in for a retrial... Who knows what the outcome this time could be." She said with a rare hint of true emotions in her voice.
"As Lord Black... I can annul the marriage between you and him, if and when you feel it becomes necessary."
"But, would I still have custody of my son, Arcturus? You know as well as I do of the sway that man holds. I will not, cannot do that to my son."
"He wouldn't have any other living relatives, would he? I made sure of that myself. A powerful man, Lucius Malfoy may be, but he is not irreproachable, my dear. No one is above the law, and I feel that will come into play more so as this investigation goes on. Who knows just how deep this injustice runs. The Ministry of Magic has become corrupt in it's old age, it seems. We need a wave of new blood to refresh the entire system."
"Who knows what the future will hold. I must be going, before he returns from the Ministry. Farewell, Uncle." Narcissa left Arcturus alone in his too quiet, too empty office. His entire castle seemed too still these days; he was much too used to the commotion of Black Manor, filled with his sister, great-grandniece, and her two friends. His own home just felt untouched, uninhabitable anymore. It's why he spent most of his time at the Manor. He stood and grabbed floo powder, calling out the name of his true home. It was time to return.
It was a few weeks later, nearing the end of January, and it was quietly approaching Theo's tenth birthday. Twas the night before he was to turn ten, and Theo was sitting quietly in his chambers, resting against the settee, staring out the window wistfully. Arcturus was going to be taking him to select his wand in the next few days, and he was unsure if he wanted to go to Olivander's Wand shop or Gregovich's store yet. He would have to ask Arcturus what the plan was but for now he was happy to just let things be what they were. It was five minutes to midnight when Theo heard a soft knock at his bedroom door.
"Come in?" He called out curiously. Who would be awake at this time of night. Azalea softly padded into the room and over to where Theo was curled up. He scooted over enough to make room for the smaller girl, drawing his knees up to his chest to curl in on himself. It was not often that Theo showed this level of vulnerability, but he felt comfortable around Azalea. Theo reflected on the fact that if she hadn't run into him that fateful day in Diagon Alley, he most likely wouldn't be celebrating his birthday at all this year. If it weren't for Azalea, Theo highly suspected he wouldn't ever have this level of closeness with anyone, especially a friend. The level of trust that flowed between him and her, and him and even Neville; Theo felt safe and happy for one of the first times in his life.
"Hey Theo, are you okay?" Azalea asked him, drawing him out of his reprieve.
"Yeah, I was just thinking about things."
"Well don't think too hard, it's about to be your birthday!" She smiled over at him, unaware of his own melancholy thoughts and perspective. He forced himself to smile at her, she deserved it at the very least.
Somewhere in the stillness of the quiet Manor, the antique grandfather clock wrung out twelve melodic chimes, signifying the change of date. It was midnight; it was official. Theo was ten years old, and he had not heard from his father in half a year at the very least. Inside of Theo, the palest red bond snapped completely. The parental connection between him and his estranged father had severed itself in an effort to protect the boy from further harm and emotional pain. Theo let a single tear out; he mourned for the father figure he never had. Azalea noticed and pulled the older boy into a tight hug, not saying a word, just silently letting him know she was there for him. They stayed like that for what felt like hours before she felt him start to pull away.
"Let's go to bed. It's getting late Theo."
"You're right. Merlin only knows what Arcturus and Cassiopeia are planning for us to do today, we have the day off from lessons after all."
The next morning found Azalea and Theo curled up on top of the covers of his bed, clutching each other tightly like the world might end if they separate. Cassiopeia found them, and couldn't help but smile. They really were as thick as thieves; they treated each other as siblings would, and it wasn't far from the truth either. Theo and Azalea were related distantly. Her mother's father married Isold Nott, who was Theodore Nott I's sister. Theodore Nott I was Theo's grandfather. It worked out in the end, Theo gained a sister and Azalea gained a friend and more family. She glided over to the curtains that were shut tight so as to not let the sunlight in, and parted them enough to illuminate the room in the soft glow of the winter morning sun. This awoke Theo first, and he blinked and lazily rubbed at his eyes. He didn't usually stay up so late, and he never slept in usually, so this was a first. Theo noted that Azalea was curled against his side, still sound asleep.
"Good morning Theo, happy birthday. I see you two must have been up late last night."
"Yes Auntie Cia. I couldn't sleep very well last night so Azalea came to keep me company. Have you heard anything from my father?" Theo asked softly, already knowing the answer.
Cassiopeia pursed her lips in careful consideration. "No, I'm sorry Theo, I have not." She decided the honest truth was the safest route of action.
"I see. Thank you for being honest with me and not sugar coating the truth." He sighed out, forlorn.
"Come now, don't be so glum. It is your birthday after all. The elves have out done themselves with breakfast, and they'd be devastated if you didn't attend your own birthday breakfast. Let's get you two up and ready for the day. We're going to get you your wand today after all." Cassiopeia said with a smile, trying to cheer up the boy.
Theo simply nodded and turned back to his sister. "Aza, we need to get up. It's morning already. You spend the whole night sleeping in my bed Aza. It's time to get up." Theo said while gently shaking the girl's shoulders. She finally blinked her eyes into existence and let out a huge yawn.
"Why is your bed so much more comfortable than mine?" She pouted at her big brother.
"Because it's mine dear sister, now get up. I bet the elves are making pancakes and waffles again like they did for your and Neville's birthdays. You don't want to miss them do you?" Theo asked Azalea.
She let out another big yawn and stretched her arms out to loosen up the stiff muscles. "I guess you're right. Let me go to my room to get dressed for the day, and I'll be right down. You should do the same, we don't know what time we're heading to Diagon Alley do we yet?" She asked as she scooted herself to the edge of his big bed.
"No, I am still unsure. Of course, we will not know until we actually leave and go down to where Uncle Arcturus, and presumably Lady Augusta and Neville are waiting for us." He glances at the clock on his nightstand, "It's nearing closer to nine a.m. already, we mustn't keep them waiting much longer Aza."
She nodded and left his room to head to hers. Cassiopeia had long left the two alone now that they were awake, probably to head downstairs herself.
He wanted to dress up today, but he didn't know exactly what the agenda for the day was. As it was his birthday, he and the others didn't have tutoring lessons so that was crossed off the list. It was the second to last day in January and the weather was blisteringly cold still; spring wouldn't come for a while yet. He went over to his wardrobe and opened the doors to reveal his collection of different hand tailored suits and other impeccably fitted clothing; the one good thing about father was that he always got the best of the best available. He usually wore a button down dress shirt and dress pants with his favorite Italian loafers, but he wanted to change it up a bit. Today he was ten years old, and this time next year he would be collecting his Hogwarts letter.
He finally settled for a dark navy blue three-piece suit with a white dress shirt and a swirly dark navy blue matching tie, with his favorite pair of his favorite brown Italian loafers. He reached into the jewelry box that was on one of the wardrobe shelves and picked up the pocket watch his father had given him all those years ago, and inspected it. In reality, it was his grandfather, Theodor Nott I's pocket watch, and it was the only thing of his that he really had to possess. Theo threaded the pocket watch through the slit in the inside of his suit pocket and secured it to his person. He was ready; Theo felt like a million galleons today and nothing could change his mind.
He made his way through the winding halls and down to the dining hall where the others had already gathered. It seems that most everyone had decided to dress for the occasion today. Neville was wearing a smokey charcoal grey suit with an emerald green Paisley vest and a white shit. Azalea was wearing a royal blue sleeveless dress draped in lace with a cinching ribbon belt around the upper waist that was covered and hand sewn on jewels.
"There you are Theo! We were waiting for you, come on! Let's eat!" Azalea called out to him excitedly. She was indeed right. The table was blanketed in different pancakes and waffles with so many different toppings that his head spun trying to name them all. The elves really outdid themselves even more every year.
"Happy Birthday Theo!" Azalea and Neville called out loudly as he sat down between them.
"Thank you, you two. Thank you everyone." He graciously thanked his family for being around him. Family, that's what they were to him. Neville was like a brother and Azalea was like a sister. They filled the void in him that he didn't even know was there. With a nodding look of approval from Cassiopeia that it was okay to begin eating, he filled his plate with different types of pancakes and some fresh fruit and drizzled on the syrup lightly. He wasn't too overly fond of sugary sweet things, but he did like them occasionally and why not indulge on your birthday. Once everyone was done eating, they sat there talking as the elves cleaned the table around them.
"What would you like to do today Theo?" Azalea asked excitedly as she bounced in her seat.
"I would like to get my wand today if that is possible. Otherwise, I am unsure of what I would want to do. It's too cold to spend much time outside today, so maybe we could play some exploding snaps, or maybe we could read for a bit?" He asked politely, looking from Azalea to where the three adults were seated with their respective cups of tea and coffee.
"Sure, that is not a problem, I believe we can definitely take a trip to Diagon Alley. I know exactly just the place too. We will leave in half an hour's time so gather yourself, and dress warm. It's windy and cold today. Azalea dear, have Zilly help you pin your hair up, so it doesn't blow into your face." Arcturus called out to the three children. They nodded and Azalea and Theo went to their rooms to don their winter outer robes and hats and gloves. Thirty minutes later found all three children at the base of the stairs, walking into the floo room where Augusta, Cassiopeia and Arcturus were sitting sipping tea.
"Are you three ready to go?" Augusta asked the group of children.
"Yes Ma'am we are. Where are we heading first?" Azalea asked excitedly.
"First stop will be to Gringotts to withdraw money. Theo, you will not be paying for anything today, do you hear me? It is my pleasure to treat you for your birthday. When I marked you as a ward of the Black family, I took on all physical and financial responsibilities as well. Do not object, think of it as a birthday present if you must." Arcturus cut in before the boy could protest.
"I- Thank you Uncle Arcturus. It's very generous of you." Theo said quietly, with poorly masked emotion in his voice.
"Do not feel the need to thank me, dear boy. It's what family does." Arcturus reminded gently. One day the boy would really realize they were family and that's how family really acted. He would extend him the same gentle patience that he gave to Azalea, and as he would to any child in that particular situation.
Once they flooed to Diagon Alley, Arcturus led the group though the windy lane and into Gringotts, where he commanded for them to stay while he went up to the teller.
"I would like to withdraw from vault sixty and transfer some to a new vault, for a ward of mine." He asked firmly.
"It will cost 100 galleons for the new vault to be opened and a key to be created. How much would you like to transfer?" The goblin asked.
"Fifteen thousand galleons even please. I want it to be accessible to only myself, or the wardee." Arcturus said firmly.
"Certainly. It will take approximately fifteen minutes to do so; please have a seat over there while we create the fund." The goblin teller explained to Arcturus.
About fifteen minutes later he was approached by another goblin and handed a set of two shining golden keys, and he pocketed one and turned to Theo.
"This key is for you, to use for whatever you like until you are of age. It is given to every Black family child on their tenth birthday, and you will be treated no differently. Do not say no; it's already done and can not be undone. Please accept this gift"
Theo looked at the key shocked, but knew he wouldn't be able to say no, not without making a huge thing of it. "Thank you, Lord Black, I accept your generous offer." He took the key from the awaiting outstretched hand and held it reverently in his own. This was a gift of the type that would be from a parent to a child.
Seeing that the boy was becoming emotional and not wanting to embarrass him too much, Arcturus called everyone to attention and the group left Gringotts bank. He led the group towards Knockturn and walked past it, heading for a smaller alley of stores that Theo, Azalea, and Neville had never seen before, or at least not paid attention to. They continued on and stopped eventually in front of a storefront with a hanging sign that read 'Septimus Wandsmith Extraordinaire'. Theo could feel the nerves and excitement building within him. He had thought they would be going to Olivander's Wand shop, but this was a completely different thing altogether. He had heard of Septimus Silverthorn's work before; all purebloods had. Septimus Silverthorn was a world known wandsmith that created the wand in front of you.
"Uncle Arcturus, are you absolutely sure about this? I could never repay you for this..." Theo trailed off.
"I'm sure my boy. Are you ready to go in?" Arcturus asked the nervous but excited boy.
"I am." Together the six of them entered the small shop, and a bell rang off overhead of them.
The shop was long and narrow, not much unlike how Olivander's shop would be. But instead of the walls being lined with wand boxes, they were decorated with shelves upon shelves full of books and other things. Finally, a tall old man came out of the back of the store.
"Ahh, it seems we have a customer. And who might you be?" The man said in an accent that Theo could not for the life of him place.
"I am Theodore Nott. I turned ten today and my Uncle brought me here to get a wand."
"Well you came to the right place. Here, come over to this table and lay your hand out flat, palm side down over these." The eccentric wizard led the boy over to a table of what looked like long blocks of different woods. Theo did as expected and placed his palm out flat above the different woods, expecting nothing to happen.
"Okay now close your eyes, and focus as if there was a ball of power in your hand, we're going to try to focus your magic into one spot." The wizard instructed Theo. He cleared his mind, and focused the feeling he usually got in his core during meditation into his hand, and felt something gently rise up to brush into his palm. He caught it upon instinct and opened his eyes in shock. In his hand was a heavier than it should be block of wood that was a deep reddish orange in color, and it felt like it was thrumming in his hand. Theo looked up at the wizard in waiting for further instructions.
"Excellent. I will take that from you, now onto the core. Again, close your eyes and extend your hand out, palm side up Thai time. Will the core that chooses you, to float into your hand."
Theo waited for what felt like ages before something happened. Two objects collided with his palm with such a force that his eyes snapped open. There was what looked like a car whisker, but there was also a smooth but jagged scale that was an iridescent purplish color as well. He looked at the wand maker quizzically. He knew wands had cores but to have two cores? He knew that was unusual. When he looked to the wizard for an answer as to what was going on, the wizard looked just as perplexed as he was.
"Interesting, it is very unusual for a witch or wizard to have two cores, and especially in that combination. Powerful, very powerful indeed." The wizard murmured to himself as he gathered the different cores from Theo's outstretched hand.
"Your cores are very rare; rather, I have never had a wand made with a Sphinx whisker, let alone a wand made with a Sphinx whisker and a true mermaid's scale. I need to measure your arm and head circumference, stand still boy." Theo bristled at being called boy, but complied with the request as an enchanted spool of measuring ribbon swirled out around him and his still outstretched arm, before circling his head briefly and then flying back to the strange wizard.
"This will take some time, yes a great deal of time, to create. Come back in exactly three hours, no less no more." The man said before he walked away from them and into the back of the shop behind the closed curtains once more.
Theo turned to look back at his uncle Arcturus and the others, and they looked back at him just as perplexed, before Arcturus led the group back out into the street, the door shut firmly behind him, the bell jingling in his ears as they did leave.
"That was an interesting experience, now where else would you like to go? It is," and Arcturus stopped to check his own pocket watch, "It is now eleven thirty-seven. We could head to a café for an early lunch, or we could check out some of the shops. Theo, it's your birthday, you get to decide. What would you like to do next, son?" Arcturus turned, putting all of the attention onto the boy in question.
"Well I'm not quite hungry yet, and we just ate around nine this morning; Can we go to the bookshop? I wanted to check if the new Mathilda The Great book was out. I have most of the series already and the new one should have come out last month, but I never got a chance to go and get it." He asked hopefully. It wasn't often that Theo actually read fictional books, but the series was very informative on its subjects, and he always ended up doing more research after he read or reread each of the author's books.
"Absolutely, I would never say no to another trip to a bookstore. Do you want to go to Flourish and Blotts? Or were you thinking of another store in mind?" Cassiopeia answered.
"Flourish and Blotts is fine enough; they should definitely have the series. It's becoming more of a popular book after all. Thank you."
"Of course Theo, think nothing of it. Let's head that way now, we have plenty of time to do whatever you would like today." She smiled down at the birthday boy.
The group meandered around the alley and its offshoots, and eventually they arrived at the bookstore. There was a golden haired ponce signing books in the front of the store but Theo, Azalea, and Neville quickly ducked through the gathering crowds and Theo led them to where he knew the book he wanted would be.
"I really do adore this series. The author, Devon Bottlestop, really has a way of explaining things that make you want to read more and more. They're very catchy."
"What are they about?" Azalea asked, as she had never heard of the books or the author before.
"They're about this girl, Mathilda, who goes on different adventures with her four friends while they go to a boarding school. They're always getting into different kinds of trouble too. For instance, in the last book, she and her brother Perceen missed the portkey to school, and they ended up lost in muggle London for a day. It really was a good book, I won't spoil it too much if you two want to read it." Theo rambled on as he hunted down the book he was looking for.
"Ahah!" He grabbed the book, which ended up being the last one on the shelf and held it up for Azalea and Neville to see. It was a thick yellow book with blue writing on the cover that gleamed. It read Mathilda The Great: The Adventures of The Lost Ring.
"What's this one going to be about?" Neville asked curiously. He, too, had never heard of these books, but to be fair, Neville had to admit he mostly read books about different plants and other books about herbology.
"I believe it's going to be the follow-up to the last book. If I'm right, the girl and her three friends found a ring that turns them invisible when they wear it, but it comes at a great cost. Everyone, good and evil alike, are trying to get this ring. They were on their way to destroy it, but the book ended before they could get to the volcano to get rid of it."
"But if the ring was gold, why didn't they just fiendfyre it? Wouldn't that destroy it?" Azalea asked, confused.
"It's all explained in the last book, you really should read it; I don't want to spoil too much." Theo said with a big grin.
He was very happy to get this book, it was a guilty indulgence of his. He spent most of his time reading non-fiction; that is, he read mostly text books and the corresponding books that came after that. He wanted to know everything he could about runes, but also he was very interested in artifact creation and spell creation. He understood though that he was just now going to begin the theory on it, and it was all still very above his head content wise. Still, it was slowly becoming a passion of his, and he never thought he would ever have the chance to explore it. The courses his... father... were having him take were mostly dark aligned courses. He didn't want to learn the dark arts, and it's history. He knew it wasn't suited for him, not completely. To learn the dark arts at such a young age when the magical core was still growing and fluctuating could permanently warp or damage him entirely. Accidental magic was just that. It was magic that was untamed, unfocused. Dark untamed magic could lead to accidents and dangerous repercussions. Theo knew he came from a dark family, but that did not mean that he had to be dark himself, and he knew only he could carve his own path, his own destiny.
"Earth to Theo, are you in there?" He heard Azalea calling his name, and came back down to reality and out of his rather deep thoughts. He came to and saw a hand being waved in front of his face.
"Hey, stop it. What did you say? I wasn't paying attention, I'm sorry." He apologized to his sister.
"I said, we should go up and pay for the book. You do still want to buy it didn't you?" She asked, slightly pouting that he wasn't paying attention to her.
"Yes, let's go up front and pay. Maybe the crowds have dissipated somewhat. I do hope that they have; it would be bothersome to have to push through them again." He said as they walked towards where the check-out desk was located.
The crowds had died down, with only a few witches and wizards here and there, and they were able to get out of the store rather quickly, Theo still grinning at the ability to hand over his very own Gringotts bank key. It was his and his alone, to spend on whatever he ever so pleases.
"It's nearing twelve fifteen, we still have a bit of time left. Is there anything else you would like to do today Theodore?" Lady Augusta asked the boy, when the three children finally emerged from the book store.
"Can we go to the stationery store? I need to get more quills, mine all are either too dull or nibbled on." He shot a meaningful look towards where Azalea was standing. She looked away abashed, knowing she had been caught red-handed. She couldn't help it, she chewed on her own too, when she was lost in thought or solving a particularly hard puzzle.
"I'm sorry Theo, here, may I offer up to replace them?" She apologized.
"It's more than ok, the ones father bought for me were by far substandard. They were right winged feathers when I am right-handed, I always ended up with the barb of the vane pressing into my hand, they needed to be replaced anyway." He smiled at his sister.
"Let's head that way now, it's on the way to where Septimus's shop is anyway." Neville pointed out.
Once they got to the stationery shop, Theo spent quite a bit of time looking at the different varieties of quills and inks they had to offer. He favored the black swan feathered ones with the platinum tips, they were both beautiful and practical at the same time, what with the harder metal that wouldn't dull out so easily. Gold and silver tipped quills were pretty, but the soft metals warped and bent with the pressure quicker than how platinum or mithril would. Theo ended up getting a full writing set of the black swan quills, complete with new ink. He got five black wells, two red, and a set of gold and green each. It was more than he would need for a while, but it was always nice to have extra in case he ran out. He also picked up a set of new journals to write his notes in, as his latest one was becoming rather full. He figured he should pick up one just for the sketches he had been starting to do in his spare time as well. He liked drawing but father always reprimanded him when he was caught drawing rather than reading up on different torture methods.
By the time that all of them made their way back to Septimus's shop, it was exactly five minutes past one forty p.m. and Theo was itching to pick up his wand. When he entered the shop again the bell sounded familiar in his ears and he strode purposefully into the store. It seems the eccentric wizard was waiting for him as he came right out this time, with a silver long box in hand.
"Here is your wand, open it. Give it a flick, why don't you." He instructed while passing the wand box over to Theo. He carefully took it and lifted the lid. Inside nestled between layers of silk and velvet was a wand unlike anything he had ever seen before. He picked it up and marveled at it. The handle was smooth and rounded out, and came down to a point, with spherical features on either end of the rounded over handle grip; it felt sleek and polished in his hand. The shaft of the wand was a carefully curved continuous spiral that showcased the beautiful grain of the wood of the wand, rather than being a plain wooden stick, this was a piece of artwork in his hand. He did as was asked and gave the wand a gentle flick, feeling absolute delight and ebullience at the rush of magical energy that flowed through him. The room lit up in beautiful golden sparks. It was magic. It was his magic that he just did.
"It is Kingswood, with a single Sphinx whisker and a Norther Mermaid scale, ten and a half inches. Now, onto the matter of pricing." The wizard said as he turned to Arcturus. "This is a one of a kind wand, and it is without the tracing that the Ministry insists I place upon wands. They always did like to interfere with my works of art. The cost will be fifty galleons exact." Arcturus simply nodded and handed over his key before Theo could even balk at the idea of spending that much on a wand. One from Olivander's would cost you usually only between five and ten galleons at most. This was outrageously expensive, even to him.
"Thank you for your patronage, do have a good day." He called out as they left the shop.
"Where to now, Uncle Arcturus?" Theo asked curiously.
"Well, we have your wand; let's get you fitted for a wand holster. Have you thought about where you want to keep your wand stored at on your body?" He asked the excited boy.
"No. It never occurred to me that I would need a holster. Is there a leather shop we can go to, to look at some?" He asked his uncle.
"No, not here in Diagon Alley, but I can have a traveling leathersmith come to the Manor and have you custom fitted for your wand, if you like." Arcturus offered.
"Yes please. I would like that option better than just picking out a premade one. This wand is a work of beauty and I want to keep it safe." Theo beamed up at him.
Arcturus ruffled his hair affectionately and smiled, a rare show of public emotions. "Let's head back to the Manor, it's well pastime for lunch and I know the elves were planning a nice meal for you for your special day today." He led the group to the Leaky Cauldron and they flooed home, all the while Theo held onto the box with his wand in it tightly. It would be his most precious belonging for years to come.