A/N: Hey guys and welcome to chapter 4 of Hollow Inside. We're finally getting towards the more interesting things and the changes within Harry. Wonder what will happen~?
Enjoy!
It wasn't until classes started that Harry began to realise just how much his inheritance had affected him.
His wand seemed to struggle with him almost as much as possible and when he tried using spells they would either not happen or try to blow up in his face. The sparkle in Malfoy's eyes at lunch later that same day told him exactly what he needed to know about how quickly that piece of gossip was spreading. The problem was that there was nothing he could do.
He had attempted using wandless magic instead of casting the spells to get around it but even that refused to work, considering he would still have to be holding his wand and the magic tried to go through it consequentially.
"I wonder if this is how Neville felt when he was using his dad's wand…" He mumbled to himself as he stalked through the corridors. There truly was very little else for him to do between classes other than study and wander.
Even though his ban on quiddich had been lifted, he hadn't felt like rejoining the team. Especially considering there was still a great gaping hole in his chest and he would be found out if someone spotted it. Not that he thought they would know what he had become but his instincts told him not to risk it.
After transfiguration, McGonagall told him to stay after class, earning him pitying looks from his friends and snickering from the Hufflepuffs they had been sharing the class with.
"Mr. Potter, could you tell me why you have been unable to cast even a single spell since you have arrived?"
That was a difficult question to answer. As far as he knew the transformation had changed his magic (as had been warned by the books he had read, containing information about creature inheritances) and thus left him incompatible with his wand. Apparently his magic had changed enough to be completely rejected by the Phoenix and Holly wand that had been his companion through many adventures on the grounds and beyond.
"I don't know professor. It's just that my wand doesn't feel right anymore, like it's fighting me when I try to cast." He admitted reluctantly, though he didn't say why. He had a good guess but no reason to tell her, especially since he didn't want anyone to know about the change in him.
McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "And you don't know why, do you Mr. Potter?"
He shook his head mutely; almost afraid of what she would say next. Had she seen through him already?
"On your sixteenth birthday, you went through what is called a magical inheritance, which explains your new height, lengthened hair and lack of glasses. This also means you may inherit certain genetic changes and your magic alters, though usually not to such a degree. Your magic has changed enough to be refused as a match with your current wand, odd as that is. I cannot allow you to continue going to class like that."
Relieved yet disappointed at the same time, Harry hung is head. "Does that mean you'll expel me?" He found himself asking softly. He'd always doubted his magic and powers despite having seen and felt it all first-hand.
"Of course not, Potter." She scoffed at the absurdity of his words. Expelling Harry Potter? Now that would be a scandal. "No, we are going to take you to Diagon Alley first thing in the morning to find you a new wand." Having the Saviour of the Wizarding world without a wand would be a complete catastrophe.
With that she dismissed him, warning him to be up before his classes so that they could go. What wasn't mentioned was that finding Harry a wand had taken quite a long time before and that it was likely to do the same now. Having a wand that accepted the changes within him would be marvellous, though it still stung that his old one refused him.
The rest of the day passed fairly silently, though Ron had attempted to ask what had happened with McGonagall, right in the middle of their potions lesson. Luckily they had a new professor this year and were only told to shut up but had it been Snape they would most certainly have lost points and been given a detention each, despite the fact Harry tried to stay quiet.
It was only at dinner that Harry explained in very hushed tones that his wand refused to work with him and that McGonagall was taking him to Ollivanders the next morning. Hermione pitied him and Ron was confused but all in all, it was a very aggravating discussion for Harry, considering he hated being pitied like that. Yes, the current loss of his wand bothered him but then there was nothing he could do and finding a new wand would likely help him a lot more than clinging to this one would in the long run.
Thankfully Malfoy hadn't caught up to him yet as Harry entered the common room that night and headed straight upstairs to the dorm. He really didn't want to be around anyone and his frustrations were only making it worse.
It was a good thing he was used to getting up early, otherwise there was no way he would have been able to get up as early as he was supposed to without the use of an alarm; one he couldn't set due to the malfunctioning of his wand.
The next morning found one very nervous Harry Potter entering Ollivanders as the first customer of the day. McGonagall followed closely behind him, ushering the boy in as he seemed reluctant.
"Minerva McGonagall, Fir and dragon heartstring, 91/2 inches long. I am assuming everything is in fine and in working order?" The wand maker didn't even wait for a reply as he turned on the younger of the two. "Mister Potter, Holly and Phoenix feather, 11 inches. Am I correct in assuming something has happened?"
When Harry remained quiet, McGonagall stepped in, explaining that he had just gone through his magical inheritance and that his wand no longer functioned for him. Harry was told to demonstrate and a simple light charm blew up a few boxes against the wall. he could only wince and set his wand down, though he was still reluctant to part with it.
"Heavens, that's not a good sign indeed. It seems we will have to find you a new wand Mr. Potter… Curious indeed." The wand maker mumbled the last bit as he vanished between the many rows of wands in his shop.
It looked like there was nothing Harry could do but wait. He did feel better as his magic flowed freely through him again. It had felt like the wand was attempting to suppress his power, now that he thought about it. Closing his eyes he felt his senses stretch out towards the shop. Only a few models vaguely reacted to his magic and shuddered slightly in their casing but it wasn't until he reached a tightly closed door, that he realised his wand was there.
"Mr. Ollivander? You won't find my wand here, it's behind that door…" He called to the old wizard as the man approached him with a stack of boxes in his arms, none of which would work for him. Both the wand maker and his transfigurations professor looked at him in shock.
"And why is it you think to know better, Mr. Potter?"
He cringed slightly at her accusatory tone but dutifully explained.
"My magic got a boost this summer and I find it easier to feel my magic now. All I had to do was close my eyes and try to see if I could sense my wand. Only a few seemed to like me a little bit but there's a stronger energy coming from behind that door."
Ollivander seemed to disappear into his own mind as he mulled on that information before nodding to himself. "Behind that door is my personal shop, Mr. Potter. It is where I craft wands." Another small moment and the wizard nodded, dragging the boy along. "Come, come. You will pick your materials and core."
An hour later Harry had picked everything that was needed for his new wand and promised to send over a vial of basilisk venom that very same day so Ollivander could get started. The man seemed nearly giddy with the prospect of such a challenge and would get started as quickly as possible. By Wednesday, Thursday at the latest, Harry Potter would have a new wand.
The next few days were nearly hellish with the amount of taunts and barbs Harry received. He was allowed to keep from participating in the practical aspects of his classes as long as he kept up with the theoretical part until he had his wand back. Malfoy and a fair amount of others took great pleasure in attempting to hex harry in the corridors and to insult him at every chance they got. It was aggravating, but he could deal with it.
Now if only he had his wand…
His wandless magic allowed him to shield from 'stray' curses and kept him safe throughout the two days he was unarmed and Wednesday was really excruciating for him.
That evening he was caught in the hallways as he was about to go meet professor McGonagall to go fetch his wand. It had been finished and she had received a floo call from Ollivanders; wisely she had decided to go fetch the wand right away.
"Oh look, it's helpless Potter. What are you going to do now, Potty? You still can't defend yourself, it's pathetic really." Malfoy was once more attempting to annoy him and land him in detention. Somehow Snape was always ready to deal out punishment when Harry tried to retaliate to the bullying. It was getting more and more unfair but he refused to be bothered any longer. He didn't want to miss his appointment.
"I have a meeting with professor McGonagall, Malfoy. Let me though." Crabbe and Goyle simply laughed at him, attempting to cast a leg-locking jinx at him. The spells were easily deflected, though he just made it look like easy dodging and terrible aim.
As Malfoy scolded the two buffoons for their sad attempts, Harry dashed past them and made it to McGonagall just in time. She was about to scold him but when she heard footsteps coming after Harry she simply nodded and flood them away.
"English Oak, Thestral hair and Basilisk venom. A most unusual combination."
Harry accepted the wand and gasped as the energy flowed through him, connecting with his wand and flowing with his magic like he knew it was supposed to. When he swished it to cast lumos, the room was brightened incredibly and he could only grin in satisfaction. This wand was beyond perfect for him!
"Thank you so much Mr. Ollivander!"
The wand maker nodded simply in obvious pride at his craftsmanship and charged 14 galleons, which included the wand holster he advised Harry to take. The fourteen galleons paid, the two made their way back to Hogwarts, where breakfast was just starting.
As he looked around, he found he could feel a lot more than before from the castle. The walls were saturated in magic and he could have sworn he saw a spark when he touched the walls.
And now let them come, he thought, I'm not going to let them walk over me ever again.
A/N: Thanks for reading and leaving reviews for those who did~ I'm replying to the guest reviews here below from now on and reviews from accounts will be answered through PMs. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, let me know your thoughts in the box below and see you all next time~!
Love,
~Lumina
Review Replies:
Nina: Well, that's because he's been so busy that he didn't know about it. When they were there before, they were just cleaning and he didn't know anything was being thrown away, not to mention that it wasn't his call to object to that because Sirius was still Lord Black at the time. Now that he does know, he's taking measures.
