Chapter 3: Magic, All Around You
Everyone quietly stared at Simon who stared at the letter he was holding, confusion on his face. It had his name on it.
Mr. Simon P. Ares
The Attic Room At the Top
Number 16, Greek Lane
Godric's Hollow
Simon looked at the small letter. In is entire life, he had never received a letter from anyone, but curiosity struck him as he wondered who had sent him this letter. He turned it over to see that it was sealed with wax that was in shape of some kind of family crest or something. He then picked up his head and looked around, noticing that everyone was staring at him, some smirking and smiling while others, like Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, were looking calm, glancing at one another.
"Uh," Simon breathed out, then looked over at Hugo who was looking excited.
"Go on, Simon!" he said. "Open it!"
Simon nodded and tore open the letter, and began to read it:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Gabriel Zeno Leonidas Orpheus(Order of Merlin Second Class and Third Class)
Dear Mr. Ares,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enfvclosed list of all of your equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Neville Longbottom
Deputy Headmaster
Simon looked up at Hugo. "What does this mean?" he asked, then looked at some other faces, and then to Mr. Potter. "I mean I don't understand."
Mr. Potter stood up. "Why don't we take this somewhere private for the moment," He said, motioning for Simon to follow him. "Ron," he said, indication that he should go with him. Simon stood and began to follow the two adults, Hugo stood as well, ignoring the calls of his name.
Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley led Simon back into the sitting room, where he sat in the middle of the couch, while Mr. Potter sat in a chair across from him, and Mr. Weasley stood against the wall.
"Why did we have to talk in private?" Simon asked, but Mr. Potter held up a finger, pulling out a nearly twelve inch stick. Simon watched as the older man waved it and was shocked to see that the door behind them, shut on its own. "How'd you do that?" he blurted out
Mr. Potter smiled. "Magic," he said simply, waving his wand at the door again, which gave off a bright blue glow and then faded away. "Tell me, what do you know about Magic?" he asked.
"Just stuff I've seen from t.v., those magicians doing their tricks," Simon replied, turning away from the door and back to Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley snorted.
"Magic is actually more than just card tricks, disappearing acts, optical illusions, etc." Mr. Potter began to explain. "Magic is inside of you, and with proper training, you can do a whole lot more with it if you put your mind to it."
"So, what are you saying?" Simon asked. He didn't feel like he magic inside him. He felt like an ordinary boy. "Are you saying that I'm a magician?" he confusedly asked.
"No, not a magician, Simon," Mr. Potter replied. "You are a wizard."
"A what?" Simon said, his eyes widening in shock. "A wizard? I...I can't be a wizard. I'm just...I'm just...a boy."
"A boy who is a wizard," Mr. Potter easily replied, and then pointed at the letter in Simon's hands. "Trust me, that letter doesn't go to everyone in Britain, Ireland, or Scotland. It's sent to children who are born with magical potential. Yes, Simon, you are indeed a wizard, just like your mother and father," he suddenly revealed, stunning the eleven year old.
"My mother and father?" Simon repeated, his brows furrowing. This man knew of his parents. "You knew my parents?"
Mr. Potter nodded, and then looked at Mr. Weasley, giving a nod. Simon looked over at the redheaded man who pulled something out of his back pocket and handed it to Simon. Simon saw that it was a moving picture of a couple; a beautiful raven-haired woman with blue eyes in a white dress, standing next to a smirking man, with grey eyes, blond hair, and a handsome and calm looking face, dressed in a black tux.
"These are my parents?" Simon asked, looking up at Mr. Potter who nodded. More curiosity coursed through his mind. Did these men know more about Simon and his life before becoming an orphan. "You knew I was a wizard before that letter came. You knew me before I even met you. Why?"
"Because of what happened to your parents," Mr. Potter simply answered, and then sighed, "Simon, your parents were murdered by a mad man, and it was up to me to put into a safe location. I chose to put you into a muggle orphanage for a few reasons. One of them being that this mad man could be after you, and another was that I was not aware of any other family you had, and I haven't been looking for them as I should, but now, I will."
"So they didn't abandon me," Simon whispered, his eyes brimming with tears, staring at the picture of his parents and brushing it with his fingers. "Why were they murdered?" he asked, looking up at Mr. Potter.
Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley looked at one another, and then looked at Simon, "To that, we don't know," Potter answered. Simon nodded and looked down. "I'm sorry," he added.
Simon wiped his eyes and nose. "What's a muggle?" he asked, looking at the picture of his parents and remembering the strange word Potter had said moments before; a word he never heard before.
"A non-magical person," Mr. Weasley simply answered.
"If I'm not a Muggle, and both my parents were magical," Simon began, looking up. "What does that make me?"
"Pureblood," Mr. Potter answered with a small smile. "Like my children or Ron and his family."
"Hugo's mum isn't pure-blood?" Simon curiously asked.
"My wife is what we call muggleborn," Mr. Weasley spoke, crossing his arms. "She is a witch born of muggle parents. Sometimes muggle offspring are born with magical potential, we're not sure why, maybe they're ancestors of witches and wizards or maybe its just because it's magic that does it."
"And when there's a wizard and a muggle," Simon started, "That makes them half-blood?" Both me nodded. "So, I'm a pureblood wizard. How can you still be sure I am one?" he asked.
"Simon, have you ever been able to make things happen?" Mr. Weasley asked. "Things you couldn't explain when you have been afraid or angry?"
Simon shrugged and thought back his whole life, thinking of any of unusual things he couldn't explain, but he couldn't think of anything, though he did have very strange dreams. "I don't think so," he said, shrugging. "But I do have strange dreams sometimes."
"What kind of dreams?" Mr. Potter asked.
Simon shrugged and scratched his head, "Sometimes I dream of a red bird in flames flying around the sky, and I'm below watching it, and I feel as it's there, watching over me," He explained. "And then there's one where I'm holding a silver, red diamond sword, battling something with yellow eyes, but I can't really see it's body, just darkness. And then I'm standing at the edge of a dark forest, and through the forest, all I can see is flashes of different colored lights, mostly red and green."
Mr. Potter glanced at Mr. Weasley and then back at Simon. "I say these dreams are just as normal as other dreams," he said. Simon saw the truth in his eyes, but the way he said it was unconvincing.
"Exactly," Mr. Weasley spoke up. "Why, last night, I was dreaming about flying away from this flying spider, though that sounds more like a nightmare than a dream. Wouldn't want to run into a flying spider, sounds pretty scary, mind you."
"Why don't you look at the other part of the letter," Mr. Potter suggested to change the subject. Simon nodded and looked at the second piece of paper attached to his acceptance letter.
Uniform:
First Year students will require:
3 Sets of plain work robes (black)
1 Pair of protective gloves (Dragon hide or similar)
1 Pair of black dress shoes
A winter coat
And bring extra clothes for when not wearing uniforms.
COURSE BOOKS:
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may bring of desire an owl, a cat, or a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"That is a list of thing you will need for School," Mr. Potter spoke.
"Where do I get all these?" Simon asked, looking at the list. He couldn't believe this was all real. It was too good to be true, but he had no idea where to get any of these things on the list.
"In Diagon Alley, a magical shopping center for witches and wizards, hidden in London," Mr. Potter answered.
"When do I go?" Simon began to as, looking up at Mr. Potter. "Am I going by myself? How am I to pay for all this? How do I get there?"
"Whoa, slow down there," Mr. Weasley said, holding up his hand. "Starting to sound like my kid. Harry has all the answers you're looking for."
"Well, we are taking our kids to get their supplies on Saturday," Mr. Potter started. "And I suppose we could take you with us then. We will probably flooing there, which is a way to travel through fireplaces."
"But what about paying for this stuff," Simon repeated. as his heart quickened a little. He was an orphan, what money did he have? "I'm an orphan, and I don't have any kind of money."
Mr. Potter smiled. "Don't worry about that," he said, standing up. "I'm sure we'll figure something out. Now, let's go enjoy lunch, and then Hugo and Lily can tell you all about the Magical World and Hogwarts." Simon nodded and stood to his feet, pocketing his letter. After lunch, and after the Potter/Weasleys sang 'Happy Birthday' to Simon, and even had a cake; Simon, Lily, and Hugo went up to Hugo's Room to chat about the Magical World.
Simon entered the room last and looked around. It was almost a pretty normal room, except the few pictures that were around were moving, and so were the posters of people on broomsticks in orange kind of uniforms, flying in the air. Simon was in awe of the movie pictures.
"Happy Birthday, Simon," Hugo said. Simon turned from the movie poster and towards Hugo who was holding out a small box. "I know we only met, but well, it's a way of me and Lily saying thanks for standing up to us. Lily does have her brothers, but no one has ever stood up for me." Simon smiled.
"Thanks," he said, accepting the box, and then opened it. Inside were some colored oriented candy and small bottle filled with clear liquid. "Cool, I like candy," Simon said, taking a red one out and began opening it.
"No, Don't!" Lily shrieked, shocking Simon and Hugo as she slapped the candy out of Simon's hand before he ate it.
"Hey, what gives?" Simon said, looking down at the candy that was now on the floor, now covered in germs.
"You can't eat that!" Lily told him.
"Well I'm not going to now," Simon replied, turning to the redheaded girl. "It's on the floor."
"Sorry, Simon," Hugo spoke up. "I should tell you first. That candy does things, things to get you out of things you don't want to do."
Simon's eyebrows shot up in curiosity. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"Like for school, for instance," Lily said, picking up the red candy and tossing it into a nearby trashcan. "If you have a test you didn't study for, you can eat this which gives you a really bad nose-bleed. Teachers take you to nurse and you take the test another day."
"Wow, that's pretty fortunate," Simon said, looking at the other colored candies. "What about these? What can these do?"
"The green ones make you puke, and the orange ones make you break out in boils," Hugo easily answered. "And the purple ones, well, they're like for when you have an emergency and you really need to go to the bathroom, but not in the way you think."
"What do you mean?" Simon asked with a raised eyebrow. not understanding what Hugo meant.
"They're basically like super laxatives," Lily explained. Simon nodded in understanding, an idea forming in his mind, and smiling to himself. Then he picked up the small bottle of clear liquid.
"And what's this?" He asked.
"That's the Luck Potion," Lily said. "I nicked it from my Uncle's stash, just a little bit though, one drink. He doesn't have a lot left. It's why I only took so little."
"Thanks," Simon said, smiling at Lily. "What's it do? Make me lucky?"
"Basically," Hugo answered, opening a box of jelly beans. "Want some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans?" he offered, holding out the box of jelly beans towards Simon.
"Every Flavor?" Simon said, eying the box full of different colored jelly beans.
"Yes, like every flavor known to Bertie Bott," Hugo replied. "Like Black Licorice, Spinach, Potato, my Uncle George swore he got a Bogie Flavored on once. So, do you want one?"
Simon looked at the jelly beans. "Erm, maybe later," he said, then pointed at the poster of the people on broomsticks. "And what are they doing flying on brooms? Can we do that, really? Fly into the air?"
"Oh, yeah we can," Hugo said, grinning. "We use it for travel and we use it to play the greatest sport in the world! Quidditch!" And Hugo continued to tell Simon about Quidditch in great detail, all about the three balls used, positions, and rules.
After a couple of hours of Simon learning about the Magical World, It was time for him to go back to the Orphanage. Mr. Potter walked Simon back, and when they arrived, He asked if he could speak to the headmistress, Mrs. Harris. Simon showed him to the Headmistress's office and went in to talk to her while Simon waited outside.
Half an hour later, Mr. Potter emerged with an accomplished look on his face, and walked near Simon who asked, "What did you guys talk about?"
"Well, I told her I was an admissions officer for a boarding school and that you have been accepted to go for free," The older man started as the two walked towards the entrance. "I told her you'd b getting the best education possible for the next seven years, and all your school supplies are already paid for."
"What about the magic, did you tell her about that?" Simon asked, looking up at the older man.
Mr. Potter shook his head. "No, she didn't really need to know about that," he answered, then looked down at Simon. "But you must not tell her or anyone else in this orphanage that magic exists. Promise me that."
"Okay, I promise," Simon said, nodding.
"Alright, good," Mr. Potter said. "I'll see you Saturday morning," he added before leaving the Orphanage.
Simon entered his attic room and walked over to his desk, opening the drawer and putting his letter, candy, and lucky potion inside, next to his galleon, all his first and most treasured items. He would never let anything happen to them. He was going to make sure of it.
Simon woke up a little early on Saturday Morning. As he sat up, all he could think of that all that had happened in a couple of days was just an ordinary dream, but to make sure it was real, he moved over and opened his desk drawer where his treasured items were, seeing they hadn't moved at all. It wasn't a dream at all, but real life. He was still a Wizard.
A couple hours later, Simon was sitting on the front steps of the Orphanage when Mr. Weasley and Hugo arrived, and then took him back to the Weasley Residence, and a half hour later, Simon was standing in front of a fire place with a confused expression etched on his face.
"Er, okay, what am I suppose to do?" He asked, turning to some of the Potter/Weasley children and their parents.
"Why don't you show him, Hugo," Mr. Weasley suggested.
Hugo nodded and moved towards the fireplace. Simon watched as he took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot next to the fireplace, stepped up to the fire, and threw the powder into the flames. With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Hugo, who stepped right into it, shouted, "Diagon Alley!" and vanished.
"See, you must speak clearly, dear," Mrs. Potter told Simon as James dipped his hand into the flowerpot. "And be sure to get out at the right grate…"
"The right what?" Simon said nervously as the fire roared and whipped James out of sight, too, and then it was Rose's turn to disappear through the green flames.
"Oh, nothing to worry about, Simon," Albus spoke up as Mr. Weasley's wife disappeared next. "It's pretty simple!" And then he moved over to the fireplace, disappearing into the green flames. Mr. Weasley was next to leave and then Mrs. Potter. Simon turned to find Lily and her father were still left.
"Why don't you go on and give it a try, Simon," Mr. Potter suggested. Simon nodded and moved forward.
He took a pinch, threw it into the fire and stepped into it. He opened his mouth, swallowing ash. "D-Dia-gon Alley," he coughed.
It felt as though he was being sucked down a giant drain. He seemed to be spinning very fast — the roaring in his ears was deafening — he tried to keep his eyes open but the whirl of green flames made him feel sick —something hard knocked his elbow and he tucked it in tightly, still spinning and spinning — now it felt as though cold hands were slapping his face — squinting his eyes as he saw a blurred stream of fireplaces and snatched glimpses of the rooms beyond — he closed his eyes again wishing it would stop, and then…
He fell, face forward, onto cold stone.
Dizzy and bruised, covered in soot, he got gingerly to his feet.
"That is the worst way to travel ever," Simon said to himself, dusting off his person. After a couple of seconds, he looked around. He was alone, and he had no idea where he was. All he knew was that he was standing in the stone fireplace of what looked like a large, dimly lit wizard's shop.
A glass case nearby held a white eyeball on a stand, a bloodstained pack of cards, and a horn of some kind. Evil-looking masks stared down from the walls, an assortment of human bones lay upon the counter, and rusty, spiked instruments hung from the ceiling. Even worse, the dark, narrow street Simon could see through the dusty shop window and wondered if this was Diagon Alley. Feeling a little scared but still curious, Simon began to swiftly and silently make his way towards the exit door. He exited the shop just as someone shouted, "Look out!"
Simon turned his head to see a tall cloaked and hooded man run right into him, violently knocking him to the ground. The disguised man nearly fell, but still kept his footing, stopped and turned towards Simon who groaned as he sat up and looked up at the man. Simon's blue eyes connected with the man's yellow ones, which was all Simon could really see as the man's face was hidden inside a hood. And if someone was watching, they would haven't noticed how both persons' eyes glowed for a second.
"Get back here!" shouted someone. The man looked behind Simon who too looked for who shouted out, and when he turned back to the hooded man, he was gone, no where to be seen.
Simon rubbed his arm as he stood up to his feet, feeling that something strange had just happened. Other than that, he saw none of the faces he was familiar with. He saw many witches and wizards and dark clothing, some more tattered and ragged than others. His heart began to quicken its pace as he began to think that he might have ended somewhere far from Diagon Alley.
"I knew I'd find you here," spoke another voice. Simon sighed in relief as he turned around again to see Mr. Potter walking up to him with Lily and Hugo following; both curiously and frighteningly looking around the dark alley..
"How'd you know where to find me?" Simon asked, wiping his nose with his sleeve.
"When I was young, something similar happened when i had my first floo travel, almost the same like you, ended up in Knockturn Alley," Mr. Potter said, waving his hand, indicating that the alley there were in was Knockturn Alley. . "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just..." Simon started, looking at where that hooded man had once stood. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Okay, good," Mr. Potter said, patting Simon's shoulder. "Come on, let's go get you some money for you supplies."
"But I don't have any money," Simon replied, as Mr. Potter led the three kids out of Knockturn Alley and into the brighter and happier Alley; Diagon Alley. Simon's eye widened in awe. This was the most amazing place he had ever seen. It was an alley way with many kinds of different shops on both sides.
"This way to the bank," said Mr. Potter as they started walking.
Simon looked around. Many people, children, witches, and wizards were bustling around, carrying bags full of items, and shopping. He turned his head in every direction as they began walking up and down the walkways, trying to look at everything at once: the stores and the items outside them. He saw shops selling wizarding clothing, telescopes and some unfamiliar silver instruments, tall piles of different sized books, rolls of parchment, potion bottles and jars, globes of planets and moons, and other interesting things.
"Where's everyone else?" Simon asked, walking next to Lily and Hugo, remembering about everyone else.
"Oh, they're all went to go get their things with the friends," Hugo answered. "My mum, Rose, and Lily's mum went together, Ron went with Albus and Scorpius Malfoy, and James left with some friends, and we came to get you."
They walked all the way down to the alley to the enormous bank named Gringotts. The snowy white building towered over all of the shops in Diagon Alley. Mr. Potter led the three kids inside the marble hall and Simon jumped back when he saw them. The room was full of short men with pointy noses and ears, sharp teeth, and claws, all wearing suits. They were sitting on high stools behind a large counter, scribbling in ledgers, weighing coins on brass scales, and examining precious stones through an eyeglass.
"Er, Mr. Potter, what are they?" Simon asked, pointing at the strange creature.
"Those are goblins. They manage the wizarding banks around the world, very clever, but not so friendly," Mr. Potter explained. "Still not very happy having me around here," he muttered as a couple of passing goblins glared at him.
Mr. Potter led Simon, Hugo, and Lily to one of the counters, clearing his throat towards the Goblin behind the counter with a name plate that had the name Bronz Madgibber on it.
"Morning," Mr. Potter said to the Goblin named Bronz who looked up at Harry, narrowing his eyes at the man. "We're here to claim a vault."
"Who's vault would that be?" Bronz asked, suspiciously glaring at Potter and then at the three children. Simon shuddered and quickly looked down. "And why?"
"The Ares Vault," Mr. Potter answered, and then pointed at Simon. "Because Simon Ares is here and alive, and would like to claim his mother's vault as his own."
Bronz looked down at Simon. "Right," he said with a nod. "If the child would give me his hand."
Simon's eyes widened in fear. He didn't want to give his hand to that Goblin, what if it tied to eat him or something. He looked over at Mr. Potter who nodded and waved him over. Simon swallowed and walked up to the counter, reaching his hand up to the counter, and watched as Bronz grabbed his hand with both mangy fingered hands. The goblin's hands were slightly cool and rough, but a second later, it was red hot, and then back to normal.
Bronz released Simon's hand. "He is the Ares Heir," he said as Simon took a few steps back, next to Hugo and Lily, feeling relieved to have his hand back. "Grundle!" The goblin suddenly shouted.
A few seconds later, a small and skinny goblin wearing a blue suit without the jacket, came bouncing up to the group. "Yes, Bronz?" he said.
"Takes them to the Ares Vault," Bronz said, and then waved his hand in a circle and his thumb and first fingers touched, and a key magically appeared between the two fingers. "Here is the Key," He said, handing the key to Mr. Potter.
"Very well," Grundle said. "Follow me." He then led Simon and the others to a door leading off the hall and entered through it. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Grundle whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks towards them. They all climbed in and took off in a really quick speed.
At first, they hurled through a maze of twists and turns. Simon had no idea where they were going, and knew if he had flew out of the cart, he would be lost there forever, not knowing his way back. Otherwise, he was enjoying the ride, feeling like he was on a roller coaster, and he never had been on one before. But all he knew was that he was going deeper and deeper into the earth. After another minute, the cart finally stopped beside a tall metal door in the passage wall. Everyone got out and walked over to the vault door, with the number 726.
Grundle reached the door first, unlocked it, and opened it. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Hugo and Lily gasped. Inside, were small mounds of golds, heaps of silver coins, and piles of bronze coins, but not just that. There were many old looking books, many rolls of parchment, and silver and gold trinketss that looked like they were worth a fortune. Simon's mouth fell open in awe. This was all his?
"All yours," Mr. Potter said as he led Simon into the vault. "All left to you by your late parents."
"All of it?" Simon said, looking at the golden coins that looked the same as his Galleon. He looked up at Mr. Potter who nodded, and then went on to help Simon fill a couple of bags of coins.
"Okay, the bronze coin is a Knut, the silver coin is a Sickle, and a gold one is a Galleon," Mr. Potter explained as Hugo and Lily were examining the interesting trinkets to the side. "Twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, and seventeen Sickles to a Galleon. Do you understand that?" Simon nodded. A couple of minutes later, the group exited the vault and the door closed behind them, locking instantly.
Grundle walked up to Simon and held out his key. "This key is now yours," the goblin said, Simon nodded and took the key, pocketing it. "Do not lose it." Simon nodded again, and they all climbed back into the cart that quickly made it's way back towards the Bank Hall, and minutes later, Simon, Hugo, Lily, and Mr. Potter were exiting Gringotts Bank, but not before he saw some goblins glaring straight Mr. Potter.
"Why are the goblins glaring at you, Mr. Potter?" Simon curiously asked. "Do they not like you that much?"
"Well, there was a small incident where I kind of broke a few things when I was seventeen," Mr. Potter answered.
"Oh." Simon nodded. "So, where to first?" he asked as they re-entered the Alley.
"How about we get your books?" Mr. Potter suggested to the three kids who nodded. "All right, this way." And they all followed the older man to the book store, Flourish and Blotts Bookseller.
It took about 15 minutes for Simon, Hugo, and Lily to get their books; and 5 minutes just to find Hugo who was stuck in a corner reading a book. After getting their books, Mr. Potter took the trio to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to get their robes and other clothing. After that, they went to an Apothecary to get cauldrons and some potions ingredients. Then they went to a store where they each got a telescope and some dragon hide gloves. A few minutes later, they were all standing in front of a wand shop. Simon looked up, a bit excited about getting his own wand.
"Alright, let's go," Mr. Potter said, holding the door open for the trio who then walked inside.
Simon, Lily, and Hugo looked around the small shop. It was full of boxes of wands on shelves that went up to the ceiling. There was a section of different hairs, strings, and feathers in glass cases, and there behind the counter, he saw someone hiding behind a newspaper obviously reading it.
"Hello," Mr. Potter greeted.
"Yes," said the person as they lowered their newspaper. Simon saw that it was a middle-age, or so he thought, man with blonde hair and blue eyes, which flickered over to Potter's forehead. Curious, Simon looked up at his forehead and saw the faded lightning bolt scar, which, for some reason, he hadn't noticed before. It sort of reminded Simon of his cross scar on his chest that he had since he could remember. He never knew where it come from and just guessed that he was born with it. "Oh, well hello Mr. Potter, How may I help you?" the man asked.
"These three Kids here would like a wand," Mr. Potter spoke, waving towards Simon, Hugo, and Lily.
The man smiled. "Well, of course they do" He said. "Who's - "
"Potter!"
Mr. Potter and the trio turned around as a man had dashed into the wand shop wearing uniform robes. "Potter, sir," he said, breathing heavily. "I could really use your assistance!"
"Alright," Mr. Potter said, giving a reluctant nod, then turned back to the children, pulling out a small bag of coins and handing it to Lily. "Get you wands and then wait outside the shop for you mother," he said to Lily who nodded. Mr. Potter then left the wand shop, following the man in uniform.
"Alright, so, who's first?" the man behind the counter asked the trio who turned and faced him, all looking a bit shy.
Hugo went first. The first wand he was given turned out to be the right one for him. It's core was a Centaur hair with oak. Lily was next with took a couple of tries. Her core was unicorn hair and willow. And then, it was Simon's turn.
"And what's your name, son?" The wand-maker asked.
"Its Simon, sir," Simon responded.
The man chuckled. "You don't have to call me sir, I'm not my father. Name's William Ollivander, but you can call me Bill," said the man as he shook Simon's hand. Then he placed a tape measure on the ground and waved his hand and the tape measure started measuring Simon. "Hold still, all right," He instructed. Simon nodded. A few minutes later, Bill waved his hand again, picked up the tape measure and put it up, and looked up his writings. "Now are you right handed or left handed?" he asked.
"Right," Simon answered, instinctively holding up his right hand. Bill nodded and went to a row of boxes, examining them as he passed by.
"Each wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Simon. We use unicorn hairs, centaur hairs, hippogriff feathers, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons, and the occasional Thestral Hair, but those are hard to come by these days. Now, no two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, hippogriffs, centaurs, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And, of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand. The wand chooses the wizard, Simon. And to me, it's not always clear as to why. Ah, aere we go," said Bill as he walked back towards Simon with a box. Bill opened the box and pulled out a wand. "It's 11 and 2/3 inches, Cedar and Phoenix Feather, a very powerful wand."
Simon took the wand and held it, then looked up at Bill in confusion. "Well, try it out.," the Wand-maker suggested. "Give it a little wave." Simon nodded and waved the wand, but nothing happened. "No, I don't think so," Bill said, taking the wand from Simon and went to get another one.
"Let's try this one," Bill said, returning and handing Simon another wand, "Hawthorn and unicorn hair. Nine inches."
Simon curiously waved the wand around and nothing happened once more. He sighed, and Bill snatched it from him and shoved another in his hand.
"Birch, phoenix tail feather, ten inches."
Again, Simon waved the wand, just to have it replaced again.
"Hazel and centaur hair. Ten inches."
Simon tried again, and again the wand was snatched from his hand. He sighed in frustration, as he felt as he was to never ever get a wand.
"Stubborn customer, that's a first," Bill commented with a slight chuckle, looking through his boxes of wands. Simon turned to Hugo and Lily who shrugged and gave encouraging smiles. Simon smiled back as he suddenly felt a magical tug in his navel, causing him to look on the very top shelf, behind the counter, where there happened to be a very dusty, and an old box sitting there, as if had been there for ages.
"What about that one?" Simon asked, pointing to the ancient box at the top shelf. Bill stopped what he was doing and looked up to where Simon was pointing.
"Oh, that?" he said. "That's been there for a while, my great grandfather made that, I believe, I don't recall what it's made of, but I don't think it's one that would fit you."
"Can't hurt to try," Simon suggested.
"Yeah, you're right," Bill said, moving his ladder next to the old wand and retrieved it. He climbed back down and moved over to Simon, opening the box. Bill grabbed the wand and began to feel it, bend it s little, and hold it up to his ear as if he were listening to it. "What is this?" he murmured.
"What is what, sir?" Simon asked curiously.
"I don't seem to know what the core in this one is, but the wood is Elder and it's 11 and 3/4 inches," Bill answered, staring at the wand. "All have to ask my father about it," he said, and then handed the wand to Simon who accepted it.
Immediately, it felt very warm in his hand, and looked at the new wand with curiosity. Suddenly, white and red sparks flew out the tip of the wand.
"That is most curious, don't you think," Bill said, taking the wand from Simon and placing it in it's ancient box. "Alright, let's make this official then, shall we?" he said moving next to the register.
A minute later, Simon paid for his new wand and stuck it in bag with his books and robes, which he just noticed was rather lightweight. Shouldn't the bag be pretty heavy considering what inside? When Simon, Lily, and Hugo were about to leave, Bill spoke up.
"Oh, just one more thing before you leave, young Simon." Simon turned back to the Wand-maker. "That wand there, is a special one. I know it is, I could feel it in its core, which has made me believe that whomever owns that wand is meant to do great things," Bill explained. "A Destiny that awaits him. You." Simon curiously looked at Bill and then nodded. "Don't worry, I'll find out about that core and I will write to you about it."
"Okay," Simon said, and then left the wand shop with Lily and Hugo.
"That was weird," Hugo said as the trio crossed the Alley. "What do you think that core of your wand is?"
Simon shrugged. "Maybe it's something rare," Lily spoke up. "Like a rare creatures feather or hair or scale."
"Yeah, but what creature," Simon said, as he sat down on a bench, wondering what kind of magical creatures lived in the world. "What - " and he abruptly stopped, because at that moment, Simon's eyes flashed, as he began to see something in his mind, as if he was somewhere else looking through someone else's eyes. All he saw were two men, dressed in dark robes, arguing about something. He couldn't hear anything at all, and then the two men began to fight, and a second later, one began to change, from a man and into a black beast of some kind. Simon only caught a glimpse as he was brought back into reality.
"Simon!" Lily shouted in Simon's ear.
Simon jumped and turned towards Lily. "What?" he said.
"You kind of spaced out there for a moment, mate," Hugo said, "What were you thinking about?"
"Oh, uh, just my new wand," Simon lied. "And what kind of magical creatures live in this world."
"Oh, there are a whole lot," Hugo said, who bought the lie, though Lily seemed unconvinced. Hugo went on to list some magical creatures while Simon tuned out, wondering what had just happened to him as many unanswered questions entered his mind. What was that vision? Who were those two men arguing? And what was one of those men changing into?