Looking down on the map Harry decided that he should go and collect the potions ingredients first then make his way down to Ollivanders. Weaving his way through the crowds turning the corner Harry saw a large potion's shop called auld caldrons with a sign proclaiming Hogwarts potions kits for ever year in neon green writing. Confused as Harry had thought that the potions shop was called potent potions checked the map to confirm. Seeing that the shop was not on the list of recommended store Harry continued down the street trying not to gag at the rancid smell of the potion ingredients emitted from the auld caldron.
Eventually harry found potent potions a small store with a dark green sign proclaiming professional potions, potion equipment and ingredients. Entering the small shop Harry was immediately surprised at how nice the room smelt a small cauldron in the back of the shop appeared to be the reason. Wafts of minty scented steam flooded the room and left Harry glad that this shop didn't smell like the other one.
Rifling through the bundle of parchment Harry located the list of potions ingredients.
5 bundles of pungous onions
5 bundles of dried nettles
5
viles of powdered ginger root
10 valerian sprigs
5 bags of standard ingredients (6measurments per bag)
36 mistletoe berries
5 vials of boom berry juice
5 bundles of mint sprigs
5 stewed mandrakes
5 vial's of essence of lavender
5 bouncing bulbs
5 foxgloves
36 snake fangs
25 horned slugs
10 porcupine quills
20 viles of flobberworm worm mucus
5 bundles of shrake spines
s horned slugs
70 lionfish spines
5 freely given unicorn horns or 5 unicorn horns harvested from a unicorn that died of natural causes
10 vials of horklump juice
10 vials of salamander blood
5 jars of Potion grade honey
5 bezoars'
5 vials honey water
5 flitterby moths
5 vials of Lethe river water
Scanning through the list Harry quickly noted that the ingredients where split into plant based and animal based then Lethe water which didn't fit into either category. The shop itself was split into three main sections with Walking over to the plant section of the shop Harry scanned the labels of the jar's, and vials. Each jar had a clearly written label that stated what was in the jar, when it was harvested, if it had been processed at all when it had been processed and when the potion ingredient would start to lose potency or had to be thrown out if not used.
Spotting bundles of onions hanging in closed of display cupboards. The two main bulbs displayed where Bouncing bulbs and pungous onions. Scanning the labels of the bunches of bulbs Harry faces his first problem the list just said the name and amount each potions ingredient while the labels had a lot more information such as one bunch of bulbs was harvested at midday on the 7th of July under a full sun while the bulbs next to it where harvested at 2am on the 21st of July under a waxing gibbous moon.
As Harry began riffling through the sheets of parchment checking to see if he had missed something, he was unaware of a man dressed in black sweeping robes enter the shop from a door at the back of the shop. Frowning in frustration Harry looked up only to jump in fright as he saw the imposing man walking towards him. As the rather sever man drew up to him he said, "If you are looking for potion Master Swopstikes she I am afraid that she is not available at the moment and I have been left to run the shop for the meanwhile."
Blinking for a moment Harry quickly decided that this man probably had a short temper or was over stressed so getting state to the point was probably a smart idea clearing his throat with nerves as the man seemed to tower imposingly over him Harry quickly replied, "my list of potion ingredients for first year at Hogwarts only has the name and quantity of what I need however the labels on all the ingredients list when it was harvested under what type of sun or moon."
Looking down at the list the dark man muttered, "better include that on the list next year." As he began picking glass jars, vials and bundles of ingredients off the shelf. Every time he picked a bundle of ingredients from an enclosed cabinet, he wrapped them in a muslin cloth. While doing this as he said, "My name is professor Snape and I am the potions professor at Hogwarts I will teach you that in the vast majority of cases the extra information is only really useful if you are a potions master and producing complex potions such as the wolfsbane potion or veritaserum."
Placing the potions ingredients on the desk next to the till Proffesor Snape quickly punched the keys on the till while saying, "that will be 10 galleons and 4 sickles please." Handing over the money Harry then opened the compartment in his trunk that said potions and placed the bag of ingredients in it. Thanking professor Snape for his help harry wondered why he looked a touch conflicted but brushed it off.
Just before Harry left the shop Professor Snape said, "I knew your parents Harry and they were both talented in potions I am intrested to see how much of their talent you have." Before Harry could acknowledge what, the professor Snape had said the professor swept back through the door he had entered leaving the empty store front.
Leaving the store Harry decided to give his potions textbooks a though looking over before getting to Hogwarts. Checking the map Harry began to make his way down to Ollivanders. As it was getting closer to midday the crowds had increased and Harry was forced to begin weaving in and out of all the shoppers while following the directions on the map.
Turning around a sharp corner Harry spotted Hagrid staggering drunkenly down the street sending the occasional shopper flying to the ground and knocking over more than one shop stand. Looking around desperately Harry spotted a small dark door way the way partially hidden by a large barrel labelled ready to charm charms for your charm bracelet. Ducking into the doorway Harry watched until Hagrid was further down the street leaving a trail of chaos behind him.
Quickly making his way to Ollivanders Harry barley slowed down to look at everything. Ollivanders was an older looking shop with peeling paint and dusty windows compared to the shops on either side it was easy to overlook it.
Entering the shop Harry immediately disturbed the thick layer of dust that coated every inch of every surface in the place. Tall bookcases that stretched to the celling were jam packed with slender rectangular boxes. As choked on the dust an aristocratic man with white hair that had a soft wave and piercing silver eyes giving him a eccentric professor vibe slid down from a previously unseen ladder.
Squinting at Harry for a moment the man looked at him critically from head to toe before he then burst out, "Mr Potter I thought I would be seeing you soon. I apologise for the dust but wands are extremely sensitive to magic and using any spells to clean could permanently damage them or create a magical explosion"
Pausing Ollivander grabbed a slender black tape measure of a hook as he said, "only low powered runes can work near unbonded wands such as this tape measure which will help me to get a starting point on what length range of wands to start with." Nodding Harry stopped the tape measure from measuring him and asked, "Will you swear a vow to ensure my privacy?"
Laughing Ollivander quickly placed a hand over his heart and swore, "I Garrick Ollivander swear on my magic that the measurement's taken and the wand that Harry James Potter receives will remain private unless heir potter enters any competition, career, or situation that dictates the need for a wand weighing."
Thanking Ollivander Harry watched as the runic tape measure flew over to Harry and began measuring a wide range of seemingly random body parts while Olivander made quick notes with a white a quill and parchment to record the measurements before continuing to say, "I Remember when your parents came for their wands your father was a rather powerful young wizard and required a custom made wand that was 11 inches mahogany wood and a powdered basilisk fang core. An excellent wand for transfiguration."
Pausing for a moment Ollivander seemed lost in a memory. Shaking his head Ollivander laughed, "When your father came he took so long going through all the wands determined to find one that fit that Serena Prince came in and told your father that if he was a powerful wizard then he should accept it and get a custom wand. I don't belive your father knew what to do with himself but they were lifelong friends until Serina died shortly before the end of the war amazing runes mistress she was 12-inch acacia with powdered unicorn horn."
Leaning forward Harry asked, "What wand did my mother have?" Frowning Ollivander replied, "Lily Evens wand was one of my premade wands 11-inch willow with unicorn hair core a good wand for charms quite a powerful wand."
Shaking himself from his memories Ollivander removed the tape measure which was now measuring Harry's nostril for some unknown reason. Spinning around Olivander disappeared into the maze of shelfs leaving a cloud of dust chocking Harry in his wake. Returning in a equally big cloud of dust Ollivander carried a selection of boxes which were placed on a dusty countertop setting of Harry in another couching fit, between coughs Harry wheezed, "perhaps Mr Ollivander you should look into muggle cleaning products as I can attest that despite no magic they are very effective at cleaning." Pausing in shock Ollivander looked at Harry before muttering, "of course I could hire a squib familiar with the muggle world."
Turning his attention back to the wands Ollivander handed a wand over stating, "cypress and dragon string" almost as soon as the wand was in Harry's hand Ollivander had removed it and was holding out a new wand. They repeated this process for 10 minutes Ollivander getting more and more excited until he pulled out a beat up old box. Removing the wand from the box Ollivander stated, "Holly and phoenix feather."
Grasping the Wand Harry was surprised when a burst of sparks shot out the wand. Gazing at the sparks in wonder Harry felt his heart drop when the sparks fell limp to the ground. Humming Ollivander carefully picked the wand out of Harry's hand and began to examine it before exclaiming, "Of course?"
Whipping around Ollivander disappeared into the cloud of dust. Leaving Harry staring forlornly at where the wand had been as for a few glorious seconds he had felt a strong connection to the wand then nothing.
Interrupting Harry's internal mopping Ollivander reappeared and beckoning for Harry to follow him. Weaving through the towering shelfs of wands they approached a small door that lead into the back of the shop. Hesitantly Harry followed Ollivander.
Stepping through Harry was surprised to see that he was in a large workshop and that not a spec of dust touched any surface. Placing the Wand on the workbench Ollivander Pulled out piles of wood and boxes labelled cores while saying, "The Ollivander's have always been exceptional wand maker's due to having a touch of seer blood enabling us to foresee what wands are needed though not who needs them."
Laying the wood and jars out on the table Ollivander continued to say, "However on occasion a customer requests that a wand is made and unless the combination is dangerous to the witch or wizard the wand is intended for, I will not make the wand."
Placing the holly wand on a worksurface Ollivander, ran a finger down it as he said, "Now this wands core came from the tail of a rather lovely phoenix. typically, a phoenix feather wand core is a breast feather or a wing feather however the phoenix plucked the feather out of his tail. Phoenix feathers themselves are rare but a freely given tail feather even more so. In fact, the last wand made from a phoenix tail feather from the same bird was over 70 years ago although that was a case of natural shedding."
Wondering where Ollivander was going with this Harry wandered over to look at the woods and cores displayed Harry continued to listen to Ollivander's strange but informative ramble. Shaking his head again Ollivander turned to look at Harry as he continued to say, "I couldn't see what wand this feather was to be a part of but the phoenix was the familiar of Dumbledore. Dumbldore insisted that it should be placed in a holly wand as the phoenix was Dumbledore's familiar, I was legally obligated meaning that when you came along you partially bonded with the core but not the wood."
Slowly waving his wand Ollivander removed the phoenix feather from the wand. The feather was a magnificent sight Gold's yellows and reds blending together. For a moment the two of them admired the beautiful feather before Ollivander guided Harry over to the table full of feathers, fangs, horns, hair and other items.
Softly Ollivander whispered, "you need to close your eyes and cast your magic over the cores and tell me what reacts the most to your magic." Closing his eyes Harry imagined his magic flowing over to table only for nothing to happen. Next Harry imagined pushing his magic onto the table with no success.
Growling under his breath in frustration Harry took a deep breath in and relaxed deciding that instead of trying to do something with his magic first he would identify it after what seemed an age Harry found a swirling shifting mass that seemed to glow both white and with many colours at the same time while sparking, twisting and flowing with hidden power.
Familiarising himself with this mass Harry imagined himself reaching out to it in his mind. Suddenly Harry found himself immersed in the sensation of the magic running through him. Gathering his thoughts Harry imagined moving the power threw him causing it to build up in certain areas of his body before releasing it allowing it and watching as it flowed back into what Harry had named the core.
