Author's Note: Please forgive the shortness of this chapter. I worked a bunch of overtime this week, and after typing all day at my job, coming home and typing more has not been something I could do. Honestly, I am trying to get better. Thanks everyone. MNF

Chapter 26:

Pureblood Stupidity

Friday 1 December 1995

The morning of the second arrival of wands dawned cold but clear, and quietly the escorts met the aircraft the wandmakers had arrived on. This time the makers were from Brazil and South Africa. The wandmakers and their assistants would be staying with Sirius and friends again, and they were taken to his home for breakfast before heading to the Ministry to do the fittings. Again, conversation flowed easily, and Harry, Remus and Sirius were intrigued by the different woods they used.

Sirius had decided he would remain with the wandmakers while they did their distribution, and Harry had gone along to study their process. After his experience in San Francisco, Harry considered wand-making as a career since very little else held his interest. However, after his encounter with Voldemort and the Death Eaters in June, he knew he didn't want to be an Auror anymore. He would have gone along with Ron if they were still friends, but it was never Harry's dream.

Cards had been owl delivered to members of the general public, starting with Hogwarts students, as Minerva intended to open Hogwarts in six weeks. There were members of the Hogwarts student body Harry had no desire to see, but his thirst for knowledge outweighed any discomfort their presence would create. Harry and Sirius had also agreed to speak with the press, and Sirius had a prepared statement from Amy, who was working from home, returning to the office the following Monday.

When Sirius, Harry, the wandmakers and assistants and their Auror escort, which included the Deputy Minister for Magic as he was still an Auror at heart, there was a longer than expected line. The tickets were timed, and there would be no 'leftover' sales at the end of the day today, as it was the first day. Those sales were also at the discretion of the wandmakers, and neither gent was amiable.

Benicio Santos, ninety-eight from Brazil, looked much older than his years. His face was leathered and cracked, and a ring of scraggly white hair accented his tanned skin. Sirius had joked with Harry when they went down to the kitchens to speak with the staff regarding their guests that the man was a walking advertisement for the need for sun-protection charms. He didn't appreciate being called away from his home and his business, although his son did the majority of the running of their shop. Grumpiness aside, he was intrigued by Harry's astute questions and had agreed to let the lad ask more later that night. He grumbled something in Portuguese that Sirius suspected was a swear word, but he wasn't going to ask.

Lubanzi Mohapi was the wandmaker from South Africa and was only half the age of Master Santos. He inherited his business from his grandfather, who had been a popular wandmaker for nearly one hundred years. The younger man had dark skin and hazel eyes that were so light they appeared golden. He was nervous about such a venture as he was on today, as it was the first time he would ever fit so many people in such a short time. His anxiousness made him appear brittle and unfriendly.

"Should there be so many?" Master Mohapi asked. He spoke English well, but he'd explained at breakfast that it was his second language, as Afrikaans was his first.

"No," Sirius answered. "Kingsley, can you get some extra Hit Wizards down here or even a few cadets? I think we're going to need help with crowd control."

The Aurors on duty quickly moved the wandmakers and their assistants to the room where the fittings would take place. At least with them in a room, the number of people allowed to enter at any given time would be few. The Atrium, however, was crowded and unruly.

Each wandmaker brought several different woods with common cores for the area they were from. Sirius admired the woods, and when he saw a Mahogany baton-styled wand, he was drawn to it.

"My first wand, the one I bought from Ollivander's shop when I was eleven, was Mahogany. Thirteen and a half inches with a Ukrainian Ironbelly heartstring. It was broken when I was twenty-one."

"That isn't Mahogany," Master Mohapi stated. "That is a local wood called Afelza. The look is similar. That particular wand has Grootslang scales; it is a magical snake."

"Well, it's a beautiful wand," Sirius said.

"Would you like it?" Sirius pulled out the wand he made with Ms DuBenefe's help. "No, thank you. I took my son and best mate to San Francisco to buy wands a few weeks ago. I crafted this one, and it feels like an extension of not only my arm but my magic."

"That is a beautiful instrument," the wandmaker stated. "I sense the flight of a bird and strong loyalty in that wand." He fingered the piece gently, stroking the runes and smiling at their meanings.

"Thank you, it's American Dogwood with an Augurey feather. The runes are for love, family, friends and magic."

"I believe that sums you up well. Little Melisende is very talented at leading people through the process of finding their wand."

"You know the DuBenefes?"

"Wandmaking is a small community, Lord Black; we know one another well. Don't let the cantankerous nature of Master Santos fool you; he loves what he does and was honoured to have been invited to assist in re-wanding the UK."

"Good to know." Before Sirius could say more, a loud disturbance came from the hallway, and he went to see the problem. He immediately recognized Theodore Nott, yelling at two young boys he'd been introduced to as friends to Harry.

"Teddy Nott, what seems to be the problem?" Sirius asked authoritatively. He'd used the boy's childhood nickname to remind him of his place. Sirius may not have moved within the pureblood circles when he was younger, but that didn't mean he didn't keep track of their births and deaths. Auntie Cassie had taught him that and provided him with much of the information. He'd also seen the boy when his mother attempted to take old Cantankerous' seat.

"These two are in front of me," Theodore complained. "They're Muggleborn. A pureblood, like me, should go first, don't you agree, Lord Black?"

"I know who 'these two', as you so eloquently put it, are. Colin, Denis, nice to see you again. The Aurors have put you into line, have they not?"

"Yes, Sir-er, Lord Black," Colin answered. Sirius remembered how hyper the two lads could be. Harry had invited them for a swim in October, and the pair were nearly bouncing off the walls while there. "We are numbers one and two."

They held their green tickets up, and Sirius saw they were indeed those numbers. "Theodore, let me see your ticket, please." Begrudgingly, the older boy presented his ticket, numbered seventy-eight.

"Mister Nott, this ticket is numbered well into the seventies. I'm sure an Auror or Hit Wizard can help you get in line in the appropriate place. Go on," Sirius said.

"Problem, Pater?" Harry asked as he stood behind Sirius, hidden from view by his father and the wall. He'd greet the Creevy boys when they came in, but for now, he wanted to know if he needed to be on guard while helping.

"Not really," Sirius answered. "Theo Nott was attempting to pull some pureblood sh-er, baloney."

"Since when are you attempting to curtail your swearing?"

"Since my fiancée asked me to," Sirius said with a sly smile. Harry didn't answer but did make a sound like a cracking whip.

Sirius stepped aside and let the Creevy boys in, taking time to speak with their mother. The boys had been studying at home as best as they could, continuing to learn about Herbology, Potions making, although they didn't brew, Magical Creatures and History. They'd also worked with them on their penmanship (which was horrible with a quill) and kept them up on maths, science, reading and public speech and writing skills.

"You've done a good job giving them a well-rounded education," Sirius said. "It's not an easy thing for a non-magical family to do."

"We'd have been lost if Hermione hadn't called and brought over her textbooks and class notes for the boys to use," Mrs Creevy explained. "She's a darling girl."

"My godson thinks so as well," Sirius said with a knowing smile.

"Oh, that's grand!" the woman cried as she clasped her hands together. "She deserves someone special, and my Colin has only the most lovely things to say about Harry. He's a good lad."

"I'd like to think he is," Sirius said. "Well, it looks like the boys are done. We'll have you over to swim again, maybe as a Yule party."

"What's Yule?" Colin asked when he'd arrived at his mother's side.

"It's the shortest night of the year, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. For magicals, it's the night when we lay aside the darkness and look forward to the light arriving in the world again," he explained.

"That sounds lovely," Mrs Creevy said. "We'd be honoured by any invite we'd receive. So come along, boys; we need to get a few things if you return to school in January."

"Harry said he's not coming back," Denis said sadly.

"That's true; he's not. Harry has been studying at home with tutors and has moved past the fifth-year materials in several classes. He's also studying the things he would have been brought up learning since he will one day be the head of his house. Harry and Neville are working on it together," Sirius explained.

"It's not that I don't want to be with everyone, but I need to be home with my Pater more," Harry said as he came over. "I have so much to learn. But I promise I can come and visit sometimes. I'll bring Hermione and Neville with me."

"Okay, sounds good," Colin said, and the family left.

The hours before the lunch break passed quickly, and at twelve noon, the doors were shut, and the Aurors dispersed anyone who was remaining. The wandmakers would not be doing extra fittings today, so only those with a card would be allowed in.

Sirius called for Kreacher and Dobby, who was living at Grimmauld Place and keeping it up, and they went to The Doghouse as he called the manor and picked up the meal his staff had prepared. The Lord was surprised when Augusta returned with Dobby on his last trip.

"Augusta, what a pleasant surprise," he said, kissing her cheek. "Please sit down and join us for lunch."

"Actually, I'm here to bring you back with me," she said quietly. "I'll stay with Harry and Neville in your stead. Amy needs to see you."

"What's wrong? Has she had a setback?" Harry asked before Sirius as he was standing at his pater's elbow.

"No, but the darned Prophet has information about your relationship. She's quite upset as she wanted to release the news herself, so she could control the narrative.

"Thank you, Augusta; I'll send Neville back. Dobby, if you would?" The pair were gone instantly, and Neville was in the room a moment later. Dobby then disappeared.

The group, including the Aurors from the hallway, who ate in shifts so everyone could have a moment to sit down and relax, enjoyed the meal of local favourites like meat pies and vegetable pasties, sausage rolls, and several salads featuring items grown in the greenhouses and a wide array of biscuits and pastries.

"Seriously, I'm gaining a bit too weight with how good Nicola's food is," Harry quipped.

"Harry, you've been chronically underweight the whole time I've known you," Neville said. "You carrying a few extra pounds is not a bad thing."

The hour ended, and disruption was heard in the hall before the door opened. Augusta went to stand, as did the Aurors, but Harry stood in the doorway, looking at people arguing and pushing.

This morning, Hogwarts students had already committed to returning to school in January. This afternoon were adults who had been drawn at random. Harry closed his eyes and shook his head at who was making a fuss.

"What is going on out here?" Harry said in a loud, commanding voice. The kerfuffle between the man and the Aurors stopped. The man turned to look at Harry.

"Oi! Look who it is, my best mate, Harry Potter," Ron said and attempted to enter the room, but Harry stopped him.

"Where is your card, Ron?"

"I don't have one, but I need a wand. I'm helping Dad and Bill, and I have to take them to the loo and … I thought with us being best mates, it wouldn't be a problem if you let me in. I need a wand."

"Ron, I'm only here because the wandmakers are staying at my pater's house, and I'm a polite host. Unfortunately, you can't get a wand without a card unless the wandmakers are willing to do extra fittings, which they aren't today. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wait."

"Harry, come on, you and me, we go back, and I've always been by your side."

"Actually, Ron, you haven't. You have frequently believed the lies others have told about me. Last school year was a nightmare, and you didn't help me with any of it. Please, back off. I need to help send the people who have cards get their wands as quickly as possible."

"Some friend you are," Ron said, standing still.

"As my therapist would say, I'm just reflecting what you're giving."

"Therapy, you go to therapy? The great Harry Potter needs to talk about his problems!" Harry surprised Ron by pulling him close by his shirt, dragging him into the room, and slamming the door.

"Yes, Ron, I go to therapy because it wasn't bad enough that my parents were killed when I was a baby, or that I was treated worse than a house elf by my aunt and uncle and beat up by my cousin, or that Voldemort came after me every year I was at Hogwarts, except the year I had to do battle with Dementors, or even that I saw Voldemort come back to life and the murder of Cedric, but what I really needed to talk about was how people seem to ignore me and desert me when I need them most!" Ron had never seen Harry as angry as he'd become. Harry was still panting when Neville reached and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Ron, it's time you go. The exit is that way. We need to let those buying wands in. We are on a time schedule," Neville said calmly but with firmness.

"You're never going to take my place as his best mate, Longbottom," Ron snarled as Tonks came up and started shuffling him to the door.

"I don't need your place, Ron; I've always had my own place as Harry's mate."

"And Neville never walked away when I needed help," Harry added as Tonks shoved him out the door.

"Good job, Neville. I'm impressed," she said as she opened the entrance.

"So am I, Neville. You're someone I'm very proud of," Augusta said before the next group of wand receivers came in.