Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? Welcome back to another chapter in my Fablehaven and Harry Potter crossover! I'm still kind of surprised that there aren't more of these given that it would be such a great opportunity to combine the chaos of the Magical Preserves with the shit show of the Wizarding World. But oh well. Here we are anyways and I hope you guys are enjoying yourselves!
Like always, I enjoy comments, in fact I thrive off of positive comments and love constructive critique ones cause it shows an author that their readers are actually paying attention and enjoying their work. Thanks for reading this story! Virtual hugs and cuddles to y'all.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except any OC's that may come up, any world building that has not yet been officially stated by the books and any plot points/structures that have not been used in the books.
Warning: No beta, we die like Stingbulbs.
Chapter 1: We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizarding World
XXXXXX
Seth sat on his chair, bored as hell, as he leaned against the kitchen table with crossed arms and watched his grandpa pace back and forth. The poor old man was ranting and lecturing his way to a heart attack.
"I can't believe you would do something so blatantly reckless and you even had the audacity to drag your sister along with you," Grandpa exclaimed with his hands thrown up in the air in exasperation. "You could've gotten killed! And don't you dare try and say that you also had Bracken with you as backup. As capable as he is, the Red Dragon is a completely different level of magical creature than you're used to."
"How long has it been?" Bracken leaned over the table to whisper to Seth.
He glanced down at his watch and raised an eyebrow in bored surprise. "It's been almost an hour," he whispered back.
Bracken quietly whistled, impressed. Even Kendra was impressed albeit in a more annoyed and exasperated fashion.
"Well you really messed up this time," she whispered with a judging look with an eyebrow raised.
Seth pouted, resisting the urge to burn that judging eyebrow away again, possible evisceration be damned.
"Are you three even listening?" Grandpa sternly demanded, frown etched deep into his patented disappointed grandparent expression.
"Uhhh...no?" Seth helpfully answered with a shrug. "To be honest, I kinda stopped listening as soon as you started."
Kendra nodded. "Same."
Bracken smiled sheepishly. "I as well. Sorry about that Stan."
Grandpa's frown somehow grew deeper to the point where they were all afraid his mouth would fall off his face the lower his lips curled downward. "Alright then, to sum it all up then, Seth," Grandpa said with a sharp glare, "You're grounded till the next century."
"Oh come on," Seth whined like the champion whiner he was. He'd spent years perfecting the technique into an art form that even Kendra had given reluctant acknowledgement towards.
"No arguments, you're grounded," Grandpa ordered sternly.
Seth sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Well at least I still have my shadow charmer abilities."
"And you've also completed your debt to the Singing Sisters," Bracken chimed in with the reminder of that lovely silver lining.
Seth nodded eagerly like that suddenly made everything better. "Yeah, that too."
Kendra side-eyed them with a scowl. "Guys," she grit out as she tilted her head towards their slowly angering Grandpa, "Not helping."
"Give me one very, very good reason why I shouldn't just lock your reckless self in the attic for the rest of your life," Grandpa demanded as he placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot impatiently.
"Weeelll-" Seth dragged out as his mind scrambled for an answer.
Thankfully, his savior came in the form of an owl flying towards the open kitchen window and smacking right into the house's barrier. It fell down with an indignant screech and a soft thud.
All four occupants in the kitchen stared incredulously at the spot where the owl hit the barrier.
"Was that an owl?" he asked, confused as hell.
"I think I also saw a letter attached to its leg," Bracken added unhelpfully.
"Who in the world uses owls for communication anymore?" Kendra asked, more curious than confused.
Bracken hummed thoughtfully. "I believe those of the mystic society still use such outdated practices."
"The what?" both Sorenson siblings asked.
"Oh you know, witches, wizards, warlocks, sorcerers, and what have you," Bracken answered as if they should've already known this even though they definitely didn't.
Kendra groaned, smacking her forehead in exasperation. "Of course, because magical creatures and all the danger involved with them just weren't enough for us to deal with." She glared at Seth. "This is all your fault."
"Hey!" he cried out indignantly.
"Should we perhaps go check on the owl?" Bracken quickly interjected, hoping to prevent another famous Kendra v Seth death match from occurring.
Both siblings grumbled as they reluctantly backed down and agreed with his suggestion. The three of them quickly went outside before Grandpa could kick up another fuss. They cautiously circled around the house towards the back where the kitchen was and spotted an indignant looking barn owl ruffling its wings in annoyance.
Kendra crouched down before the owl and offered her hand but the owl turned itself away from her and hopped on over to Seth. It ruffled its wings again before flying up to land on his shoulder.
He jerked in surprise and could only stare at the owl on his shoulder before it lightly pecked his ear, chirping impatiently. He cried out more in surprise than pain and gave the owl an indignant look. The owl merely bent its head down and used its beak to point at the envelope attached to its leg.
Seth, getting the message, removed the envelope with a scowl and read the address.
Mr. Seth Sorenson
The Attic or The Kitchen (depending on time of arrival)
Fablehaven Preserve
Connecticut, USA
He whistled, impressed. "Damn, these wizard guys sure have some impressive compasses."
"What's inside?" Kendra asked, stepping up behind him so she could look over his shoulder.
He flipped the envelope over and broke the wax seal. He pulled out a folded two page letter and opened it.
"The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Kendra asked in bewilderment as she read over his shoulder, "Where in the world is that?"
"More importantly, what's a Hogwarts?" Seth asked with a thoughtful frown, "Is it just some hog with a bunch of warts all over it? And why in the hell would anyone name their school that?"
His sister gave him a look to which he just shrugged because he really was curious cause what kind of name was that?
"Just read the letter," she huffed out in annoyance.
He grinned back at her before doing just that.
Dear Mr. Sorenson,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry located in the Scottish Highlands of Great Britain.
Normally, a prospective student from North America would only be eligible to attend the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, due to extenuating circumstances involving numerous legal matters surrounding those affiliated with the American magical preserves, Hogwarts has the privilege of welcoming you into its halls instead.
Please find enclosed a list of all the 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
XXXXXX
"So you've basically been accepted to a magic school in Britain?" Grandpa asked, examining the letter with a critical eye as the four of them sat around the kitchen table. "Huh, I know all about these magic schools but they usually stay out of preserve related business."
The delivery owl rested in the middle of the table with its head tucked under its wing.
Seth nodded vigorously, excitement coursing through his veins because this letter, this pretentious looking piece of paper, basically admitted that there was another part to the magical world he's come to know. And he was so ready to explore it.
"But why didn't you get this letter back when you were actually eleven?" Grandpa asked skeptically, "Something smells fishy here and it's definitely not the seafood surprise your Grandma cooked last night."
Kendra hummed in agreement. "Yeah. I mean, I can believe that there's probably magic schools cause if there's magical creature preserves there has to be magic schools as well. But how come you're only getting a letter like this after you've been cursed...again."
"Oh come on, guys," Seth whined, "Don't go bursting my bubble here. It's a magic school! Magic. School. That's like a whole new world just calling for me to explore it. I wanna go!"
Grandpa and Kendra shared a look.
"Pro and con game?" she asked.
Grandpa nodded in agreement while Seth dropped his head onto the table with a groan. "But I hate the pro and con game."
"Well too bad. If you want Grandpa to even consider sending you to another country to attend some magic school that's only accepting you for possibly sketchy reasons, you're gonna have to suck it up," she retorted.
"Ugh. Fine," he grumbled, admitting begrudging defeat.
"Alright then, I'll start," she said, "Con - if their society's so behind the times that they're using owls to communicate, it means they're probably riddled with stereotypes and prejudice against people with abilities like you."
"Pro - I'm going there to learn new kinds of magic so it doesn't really matter what kind of powers I already have," he shot back.
"Con - it's in Britain," she crossed her arms with a frown.
"Pro - it's in Britain," he crossed his arms and frowned as well.
"Con - you're probably going to be expelled if you act out in any way which will definitely happen the first day so what's the point?" she said with a smirk.
"Uh, rude. Also Pro - I've learned enough self restraint these past ten years so would it kill you to have a little more faith?" he snapped at her.
"Con - how do we even know if this is a real magic school?" she shot back.
"Pro - Grandpa basically confirmed that magic schools exist so your question is invalid," he rebuked with a smug grin.
"Oh, I'll make you invalid you little-"
"Okay!" Bracken quickly interjected, physically stepping in between the two siblings before their 'game' could devolve into a sword fight...again. "I think you all need to sleep on it because real or not, this is a big decision that needs to be made and it's definitely one that needs a lot of thought put into it."
Kendra grit her teeth before she turned away with a huff. "Fine! Do whatever the hell you want. Not like I've ever been able to stop you anyway."
Then she stormed out of the kitchen, stomped up the stairs, and slammed the door to her room with a force that shook the walls.
Seth gaped in surprise at his sister's dramatically angry exit. "Wow, drama queen much?"
Grandpa sighed and ran a hand down his exhausted looking face.
Bracken shrugged at him. "She's worried about you, Seth. You're her little brother who just got de-aged by enchanted water and now an unknown magic school in a country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean wants you as a student. Can you blame her?"
And now he felt like a major jerk for getting annoyed at her for trying to rain on his parade. He sighed heavily as he rubbed at the back of his head. "Guess I should go apologize, huh?"
"Might be best to do it tomorrow," Bracken said sympathetically, "She's going to need some time to cool down and think. You should as well."
"Oh absolutely," Grandpa agreed, "Especially since you are still grounded so you better march yourself up to the attic right now, oh reckless grandson of mine."
"Seriously?" Seth whined, pouting like a child he now physically was.
"Yes," Grandpa replied, completely undeterred in the face of his pleading eyes, "Now march."
And Seth did so, albeit with a lot of grumbling and muffled swearing. But it was all for show because everyone knew that Grandpa was only worried about him and the fact that he got cursed...again.
Man, he really needed to stop getting into trouble like this cause one day he really was going to get into some deep shit and then where would he be?
In London apparently.
After sleeping on it for a night (but was actually three), Seth, Kendra, their parents and grandparents all sat down in the kitchen to have a more in depth conversation about his future then he's ever had since his last teacher-parent conference.
It took a lot of methodical pleading and strategic begging as well as a quick check in with Grandpa's contacts, before Seth was eventually allowed to head off to Great Britain and attend magic school.
Hip Hip Hooray!
But only on the condition that Kendra and Bracken accompanied him like he was still an impulsive twelve year old who needed to be babysat by his big sister and her boyfriend. Not that Bracken was her boyfriend or anything.
Apparently that ship had long since sailed away after the two had one date and decided they were better off as friends because the entire time they felt like a brother and sister hanging out. Which, one, was gross, and two, must be a fairy kind thing. Not that it'll ever stop him from teasing Kendra about how she used to think that Bracken was hot as hell and still was to this day.
Regardless of the unwanted addition of the fun police, Seth could care less because here he was, popping through a magic portal and onto the streets of London. Also, thank almighty for magical travel cause plane tickets were way too expensive.
"Where are we supposed to go to buy your school supplies again?" Bracken asked as he lifted Seth's wrist up to check the time on his watch. "I highly doubt there would be a magic shop hidden somewhere on such a busy street."
Seth's tongue decided that this would be a great time to weigh a ton as heat started to gather in his cheeks and the skin on his held wrist began to tingle pleasantly.
Thankfully, Kendra decided to be helpful for once in her life and answered, "If I'm remembering right, we're supposed to go to this place called Diagon Alley by entering through a run down pub called the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road."
Seth smiled gratefully at her but of course, as big sisters were want to do, she shot a suggestive grin in his direction to which he responded by sticking his tongue out. She rolled her eyes at him and mouthed 'Real mature.' He smiled and bowed because he always tried.
"Are you two coming along?"
Seth and Kendra turned away from each other to see that Bracken had walked ahead of them. Down the street they could see a dark, dingy pub just off the corner by a nearby dark alley that happened to have the words 'Leaky Cauldron' stamped in faded lettering above the rundown front door.
The two exchanged looks before making their way over to him and the three meandered down the street, idly chattering away about this and that to pass the time on their short walk.
They all stepped through the entrance of the pub and it's like they've jumped through time from the modern era and smog filled streets of London to the medieval period where all sorts of shady characters brooded with a tankard of ale while seated around wooden tables and on stools that looked a pound away from breaking at the legs.
Seth whistled. "Damn. This place is old like great, great, great Uncle Patton old. Maybe even older like great, great, great-"
Kendra lightly smacked him upside the head in interruption. "Alright we get it. The place is old. Don't be rude."
A light, airy laugh caught their attention. The trio turned to see a wizened old man with a prominent hunch wiping a glass with an amused expression.
"There's no need to worry, lass. The boy's right. This pub indeed be very old," the old man said with a toothy grin. "Now, is there anything I can help ya with?"
"Uh, yeah. We're supposed to go to someplace called Diagon Alley to buy some school supplies?" Seth asked more than said.
The old man eyed him curiously. "So ye off to Hogwart's aye? Ain'cha a yankee? I thought ya had yer own school there?"
Seth shrugged helplessly since he knew as much about wizarding politics as the guy snoring into his tankard of ale in the corner. "Well yes but legal issues and-"
"Say no more, boy. I getcha," the old man said with empathetic understanding. "Me name be Tom, the caretaker of this here pub. I take it ye must be a muggleborn then?"
"I guess?" he answered with another shrug to which Tom nodded.
"Alrigh' then. Lemme open the entrance for ya."
Tom shuffled out from behind the bar and made his way out to the back of the pub. He moved over to a large brick wall in a small, dusty courtyard. The Fablehaven trio followed after him warily since secret passages and entrances have never meant anything good for them.
Tom stopped in front of the wall and tapped the brick three up and two across from the garbage bin three times. He stepped back as the brick pushed in on itself with the bricks up, down, and around it pushing in as well. Then the bricks shifted to the sides to form a large archway entrance.
"Enjoy da rest of yer day now folks," Tom said before shuffling his way back to the pub.
But the trio completely ignored him as they were too busy gazing in awe at the sight before them. Past the archway was a long winding road chock full of a colorful assortment of shops, restaurants, and other delightful sights all around that just screams 'Magic Alleyway full of Magic Shops.' There's an antiquated feel all around and there were crowds of people dressed in a variety of robes and stereotypical witch hats wandering up and down the street.
"Wow," Seth breathed out in wonder as he stepped past the archway and took in the sights before him. "Look at all these shops. Where do I even start?"
Whether it be the question he asked or the way he asked it, Kendra snapped out of the awe filled daze she was in to quickly clamp her hands down over her brother's shoulders.
"Hold your horses there, little bro," she sternly demanded.
"I'm not little," he grumbled petulantly in response, the reminder of his sudden and unwanted lack of height snapping him out of his own daze.
"Whatever," she brushed him off before continuing, "We need to go to the bank first and get some money cause I have a feeling this particular magic community doesn't take U.S. currency."
Seth smiled slyly as he dug through his trusty satchel. "Then it's a good thing I did some digging with Newel and Doren before we left," he said as he pulled out a handful of gold nuggets with little bits of mud still spattered across its surfaces.
"Seth!" Kendra cried out, scandalized.
"Oh I'm just messing you ya, sis," he said with a snicker, "Grandpa had a bunch of these lying around in the basement and he thought it'd be a good way to use them without me crashing the international economic market."
"Well as long as Grandpa was the one who gave them to you, I suppose it's alright," she sighed in relief. "Let's go find that bank then."
Kendra walked off to talk with one of the meandering citizens who looked rather delighted to be speaking with her.
"Did Stan really give all this gold to you?" Bracken asked genuinely curious.
Seth gave him an innocent, wide-eyed smile. "Of course, he did! Are you really questioning the integrity and honesty of your best bro?"
Bracken gave him a flat stare.
"Alright, fine. Gramps gave me some of the gold, the rest were from my own personal stash," he reluctantly admitted.
Bracken shook his head in fond exasperation. "And there it is. Good ol' Seth. I was getting a bit worried with how honest you've been acting."
He huffed indignantly. "Yeah? Well don't get used to it. Honestly, who only gives five measly gold nuggets for a shopping spree in a magic shop? That's like only giving five bucks to a kid in a candy store and telling them they can only have one thing."
The unicorn smiled indulgently before ushering him off to meet with Kendra who was impatiently waving them over. Guess she found the bank and he hoped to the almighty powers that it wasn't as boring as every other bank.
XXXXXX
"This is the best bank ever!" Seth shouted in excitement as he held his fists up in the air.
Kendra sat next to him with a white knuckled death grip on one of the railings of the rickety mine cart. She was both pale and slightly green in the face with her eyes screwed shut. Many prayers in various languages were being mumbled continuously under her breath.
Behind them sat Bracken who was completely chill and unaffected by the dangerous speeds the mine cart was racing at. He smiled as he took in the reactions of both Sorenson siblings while looking completely breathtaking with wind swept hair.
Besides Bracken sat the goblin, Odbert, who smiled wickedly with his hand resting on the handle controlling the brake mechanism of the cart. He was a very nice and polite goblin but that was probably only because Seth 'charmed' him over with his proficiency in Gobbledegook.
In between the four of them rested a bag of coins taken from the International Magical Preserves bank vault that none of them ever knew existed until their Grandpa gave them a small key and stone charm with zero explanation and a cryptic smile.
If it weren't for the fact that the amount of gold they brought wasn't enough to buy half of the supplies on his list, they never would've known what the key was for or about the vault it unlocked. So, yay for high inflation rates?
It was also a startling surprise to see the five artifacts that were known as the keys to the Demon Prison, Zzyzx, and also a huge pain in their ass. But that wasn't the important part of this bank trip. No, that part belonged to the amazing, Lord of the Rings style roller coaster that was the bank vault transportation system.
His sister would beg to differ but she's just a killjoy like that.
XXXXXX
At least his sister wasn't a racist killjoy cause honestly, Seth would actually disown if she were.
There he was, coming off the high of the bank rollercoaster, starting the process of being fitted for school robes (and really? Robes? Could this magic society be anymore behind the times?) while watching a magical tape measure fly and wrap about his body every which way.
He was just minding his own business when a scrawny little kid with black hair sporting an impressive bed head, startling green eyes made wide behind large round, wire frame glasses, and drowning in clothes three times his size, came into the store.
"Are you off to Hogwarts as well, dear?" Madame Malkin, the owner of the tailor shop, asked kindly.
The kid mumbled and nodded in answer, blushing a bit under her attention. Madame Malkin smiled before turning her attention to another kid who'd been standing a bit off to the side while another magic tape measure flew around him.
Seth startled a bit at the appearance of the other kid being measured cause one, he never really noticed him until now, too engrossed with the flying tape measure to bother paying attention to his surroundings. And two, the kid looked like a frat boy douchebag in the making. Like what kind of pre-pubescent boy actually used so much gel that it made his platinum blonde hair look like plastic. The kid also had that sort of superiorly proud expression only spoiled brats could pull off and a smug smirk on his face.
"I'm assuming you both are also first years as well?" the smug kid said in such a pretentious voice that Seth actually shuddered upon hearing it.
The scrawny kid nodded again and Seth merely shrugged and voiced his agreement.
"Are you excited about the chance at being able to play Quidditch without any restrictions? Well, I heard that first years aren't allowed their own brooms yet but I'm sure my father could convince the Headmaster to pull a few strings. Do you know what house you'll be in?" the smug kid asked, not really making conversation so much as talking because he liked the sound of his voice.
"I know I'll be in Slytherin because everyone in my family is a Slytherin. Only the best and most noble are from there after all. I highly doubt I'll be sorted anywhere else, but if by bad luck I end up in Hufflepuff, I think I'd rather leave. Of course, even being a Hufflepuff is better than being a muggle-born. Honestly, what ever is the Headmaster thinking, letting in those of dirty blood attend a prestigious school like Hogwarts?"
Seth deadpanned at the kid because great, he'll have to go to school with some pretentious, racist spoiled brat. The scrawny kid didn't really say anything but he did shuffle a bit nervously.
The pretentious brat narrowed his eyes when he realized they weren't responding. "You two are both pure-blooded wizards aren't you?"
The scrawny kid nodded hesitantly. "Both my parents were," he mumbled out.
The pretentious brat nodded and turned to Seth. "And you?"
"Nope!" Seth cheerfully answered without an ounce of shame, "Both my parents are as non magical as you can get!"
The pretentious brat sneered at him. "Then you should crawl back into the hole you came from mudblood. Your kind aren't welcome here after all. You only steal magic from their true owners," he spat out venomously.
The scrawny kid shrunk under the tone of the brat and glanced at Seth in concern for his reaction. Instead of blowing up or running the brat through, Seth nodded sagely. "Sure, sure, that sounds like something someone would do. After all, magic is pretty amazing."
The brat smiled smugly as if he'd won some argument but Seth wasn't done with him yet.
"However, the same could be said of your family," he said, lips pulling into a wide predatory smile, "How did your ancestors get their magic? Did they suddenly wake up able to do all sorts of crazy shit or did they steal magic from someone as well?"
He shrugged nonchalantly. "If you think about it, I may be a watch-a-ma-call-it 'muggleborn' without a drop of magic in my family tree but I could also be the start of a new magical family bloodline. And besides, what makes you so special besides being born with magic? I bet you if you walk out into the non-magical world right now, you wouldn't last a day. After all, we can fly without the help of magic. What about you? What are you if you take magic away? Just another ordinary, non-magical person."
The pretentious brat gaped at him while the scrawny kid nodded along thoughtfully.
"Also, why the hell would you be so proud to be in a school house that sounds like a bad sex joke?" Seth asked, genuinely curious but also just messing with the brat, "I'd honestly rather be in a house that sounds like they'll feed you with cream puffs for days."
Now both the brat and the kid were gaping at him in shock. But he just shrugged it off and thanked Madame Malkin when she finished her measurements and handed him a bag full of fitted robes. He then walked out of the store with his head held high before breaking down into laughter.
Bracken and Kendra both stared at him like he was a total nut case but they never asked him why he was laughing. They'd already learned that lesson the hard way.
XXXXXX
Seth zipped around the various shelves and tables with all sorts of ingredients, magical or otherwise, out on display.
Even though he already bought the standard kit put together for all incoming Hogwarts students, he couldn't help himself from checking all of the merchandise being offered.
One of the many useful hobbies he'd picked up in the past few years was potion making. At first it just started out as a little thing he'd do to make it easier to prank his sister or stay relatively unscathed during quests. But his natural curiosity fuelled his interest in the subject beyond simple fun or practicality.
Honestly, his grandparents were just glad he found something to waste his chaotic energy on and even had a separate kitchen built just for him so he'd stop blowing up the one in the main house.
Ah, good times. Good times.
Maybe he should blow up the main house kitchen again, just for the hell of it.
XXXXXX
Seth stood there like a deer in headlights. He was completely frozen stiff as he stared out fearfully at his worst nightmare.
Books.
Off to the side, Kendra snickered at his reaction to the bane of his existence like the unhelpful older sister she was. Bracken stood next to her and at least had the decency to not laugh at him to his face. Though he had the strong suspicion that the unicorn would break down the moment Seth was out of earshot.
Still, he needed help so all he could do was suck up his pride, turn to Kendra, and ask for her help.
Then she and Bracken both broke down into tears of laughter while Seth glared at them and pouted in annoyance, which only served to set them off again.
XXXXXX
Seth smiled widely at his silently fuming sister. A small black owl was perched comfortably on his shoulder. The owl was a magical breed of owl called an Obsidian Owl, a species known for being extremely loyal, able to travel through shadows just like him, and was also extremely cute and soft and perfect for cuddling.
"Oh come on, sis. I thought you'd be flattered," he sing-songed.
"I'm not a tiny ball of darkness, Seth," she hissed at him with a burning glare and were those sparkles coming out of her hands? Oh ho, she was definitely mad.
"No," he agreed and because he had a death sentence she'd yet to fulfill, he gave her a shit-eating grin, "You're a tiny, cute ball of darkness."
"I'm fairy kind, you little imp! That means I am of the light," she bristled like a cat.
But he ignored her in favor of cooing at Kendra, the owl, who tilted her head in question before nuzzling her soft, black feathers against his cheek.
He smiled at Kendra, the human big sister, in victory as she screeched in outrage.
XXXXXX
"Oh hey! You're here too," Seth said as he walked into the dusty old wand shop and spotted the scrawny kid from the clothing shop. The kid was holding a dark brown wand with a tree trunk-like handle, staring at it with a reverent look in his eyes.
The scrawny kid looked up and his eyes widened in recognition. "You're the boy who made that inappropriate joke!" he cried out.
Kendra turned to give Seth a look to which he crossed his arms defensively. "What? It's not my fault that Europeans are prudes."
His sister didn't even bother to answer and just shook her head in fond exasperation.
"Sorry about that," the scrawny kid apologized, "I didn't mean to offend you."
"Nah, it's all good," he said, waving the kid off, "That's just my sister's default expression. Anyway," he put his hand out for a shake. "I'm Seth Sorenson. Nice to meet you."
The scrawny kid stared down at his hand like it was an alien about to attack him before tentatively taking it. "My name is...uh...," he started to say before wincing and bracing himself, "It's Harry Potter."
Seth tilted his head in confusion cause what kind of introduction was that? Either Harry was a painfully shy introvert or the unfortunate victim of poor parenting. "Uh...okay? It's nice to meet you too, Harry."
Harry visibly deflated at his reaction, smiling gratefully. "Oh!" he exclaimed as if just remembering something, "I wanted to let you know that I thought what you said to that other boy earlier was actually kind of brilliant. After you left, he looked really thoughtful and conflicted."
"Really?" Seth asked, intrigued, "Well I do try my best to put pretentious spoiled brats in their place while also trying to teach them valuable life lessons. It's a hobby of mine."
Bracken snorted and Kendra snickered. Harry smiled like he got the joke even though he really didn't.
"Well, I have to go now," Harry said as he handed a bunch of coins over to the smiling, crazy haired old man standing behind the counter, "I hope to see you at school though, maybe we could meet up on the train there?"
"Sounds like a plan," Seth grinned, "See you on September first."
Harry smiled brightly at him before exiting the shop and walking off with a giant man wearing ragtag patchwork clothes and sprouting a magnificent beard.
Seth unconsciously rubbed at his own chin before snapping out of his daydream when his sister jabbed him sharply in the ribs. He gave her an indignant glare but she tilted her head towards the old man and cleared her throat pointedly. He rolled his eyes, getting the completely unnecessary message, and made his way over to the counter.
"Nice to meet you, young man," the old man said before humming thoughtfully, "But you are not quite as young as you seem, are you?"
"Uhhh…." Seth smartly responded.
"That's alright, no need to answer. Everyone is entitled to their secrets after all," the old man said, "My name is Ollivander, maker of wands and the owner of this quaint little shop."
Ollivander pulled out a measuring tape and smiled at him. "Now, which hand is your preferred hand?"
Seth wordlessly held out both his hands to which Ollivander just hummed thoughtfully again and let the measuring tape fly around and wrap every which way around his limbs. Seriously, what was with wizards and flying measuring tapes?
While the tape continued to measure him, Ollivander asked him all sorts of questions ranging from what his favorite food was to whom would he save in a crisis, his mother or his sister? To which he responded candy and his mother because his sister could save herself and would kick his ass if he didn't save their mother first.
Finally, the tape was put away and Ollivander turned around to start pulling boxes upon boxes off the shelves until there was a miniature recreation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the counter.
Then the real fun began.
Wand after wand after wand got handed to Seth.
Some got snatched back the moment they touched his fingers and others were allowed the chance of a wave before something exploded or caught on fire and were taken away as well.
Some wands sparked with red before getting snatched and others didn't have any reaction before they were swiped away.
One memorable wand actually screeched like a banshee when he lifted it up.
Another wand wept actual tears that dripped down its length which shouldn't be possible but its magic so no one questioned it.
A third just dissolved into a brown gooey puddle that instantly reformed as soon as it touched the floor.
"Another tricky customer eh?" Ollivander said as his eyes seemed to sparkle at the challenge, "We'll find a wand for you yet."
The entire process kept going until it became easier for Seth to distinguish which wand he hadn't tried yet to the ones he'd already tried. Only a few shelves had some boxes still untouched while the pile of tested wands was so massive he could climb it to the top and touch the ceiling of the very tall interior.
Ollivander rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he examined Seth with a laser eyed focus that had him squirming under the dissecting gaze. Finally, he ducked under the counter and pulled out an extremely dusty box. With a flourish of his wand, the dust cleared to reveal a pitch black box.
He eyed Seth thoughtfully with an intrigued expression. "I wonder..."
He opened the box and carefully pulled out a black wand with etched silver designs curled artfully along its length like the way shadows curled around Seth whenever he used his abilities to the fullest.
"Thirteen inches. Ebony. Unicorn hair. Surprisingly flexible. A rather powerful wand," Ollivander said before leaning closely towards Seth, "But the most intriguing part of it are the strips of elder wood woven within. While elder is already a unique wood, the fragments of this particular piece had been touched by a wraith's shadow."
The Fablehaven trio visibly stiffened when they hear that. Bracken and Kendra eyed Seth as they shifted a little closer to him as if for protection. While he was touched, he'd also been a shadow charmer for almost ten years now. He could take care of himself.
Seth cautiously took the wand from Ollivander and the flames on all the candles in the room blew out. In the unexpected darkness, the shadows seemed to grow and curl around his feet.
Ollivander waved his wand, re-lighting all the candles, and smiled triumphantly. "A-ha! Another fine wand matched with another fine soul. That'll be ten galleons, please."
Seth blinked at the sudden whiplash from mystery and intrigue to straight up business. He fumbled with the bag of coins for a bit before handing the necessary amount to Ollivander.
"You know, I remember every wand I've ever sold and every ingredient I ever collected to make said wands," Ollivander said as he put the coins away, "And in this particular wand, a pure white unicorn with such a majestic aura about it, approached me before flicking its tail and granting a strand of its hair."
He pointed to Bracken, eyeing him with a knowing smile. "This young man here reminds me greatly of that unicorn, in fact, he seems to carry the same majestic aura as the proud creature."
Kendra raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the observation. "Oh really now?" She turned to give Seth a look. "How...interesting."
Seth glared at her. "Shut up, Kendra."
His sister snickered but thankfully didn't push the matter any further. Bracken tilted his head in confusion, looking cutely oblivious and Seth just wanted to die right there while his sister continued to snicker like the she-demon she actually was. Fairy kind, pure good light his shadowy, dark ass.
God, September first couldn't come soon enough.
Thanks for reading this chapter guys! I hope the cuts and the jumps weren't too abrupt and that the ending didn't seem as forced as it does to me. I had a plan on how to write the end but as usual, my writing flow took the plan by the neck and tossed it out the window and here's the result. Hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next chapter. Until next time!
