James shot up, his heart pounding. What was this feeling? He felt... empty. Like someone had taken away a limb.
Sirius gave him a grim look. "How're you doing, mate?"
"Where's Lily?" James spat, trying but failing to move his legs. "Where are my boys?"
"James - " Sirius began, before James finally took in where he was. The walls were white marble, with pretty stained glass windows allowing the sun to peek through.
He was at St. Mungo's, and Voldemort had attacked his family. "They're all dead, aren't they?" he gasped out, before he groaned loudly and began to sob and shudder like a little boy.
"James - " Sirius lay a careful hand of James' back and began to rub soothing circles. "James, Harry and Charlie are fine but Lily- Lily's dead, James. She gave her life to enact the Sacrificet Salvum Familia ritual."
The translation of the Latin words came easily to James and he let out another harsh sob. She'd saved them all, at the sake of her own life.
"He's a mess." Sirius spoke bluntly, leaning against the ward door. Dumbledore nodded, his eyes dim.
"How are the boys?" Dumbledore asked, calm and collected. "Especially young Harry..."
"Charlie is fine; he's shaken up, but... Harry? His magical core is absolutely depleted and there's a dark mass of something clinging to it. It has tendrils that have his magical core trapped, so we can't remove it without damaging Harry's magical core. For the time being, it's benign, but it needs to be monitored." Sirius voice shook with uncontrolled rage. "Fucking Snape- How dare he do this to them-?"
"Sirius... There is also the matter of the Secret Keeper."
"We swapped to Pettigrew at the last moment..." Sirius admitted. "If we hadn't, Lily would be still alive - It's all my fault!" Dumbledore said nothing as the grown man began to cry.
The aurors would have to be sent out for Peter Pettigrew.
James tucked the two boys beneath his chin and gave Sirius a look.
He swathed the pair in blankets before leaving the hospital, stepping into the busy street. He'd need to go to Gringott's. He walked up the street with his head kept low, Harry snoozing lightly in his arms while Charlie eyed the world with bright eyes. His hair was a shade of coppery red that was so much lighter than Lily's that it made James' heart ache. Harry's beautiful little eyes hadn't opened either, which made him feel better.
He quickly stepped up the marble stairs that led to the bank and he nodded respectfully at the Goblin soldier's that guarded the entrance.
James walked up to his favoured Goblin, Tanemor, bowing his head in another show of respect. "James Potter," the Goblin gave him a sharp smile. "How may I help you today?"
"I would like to discuss the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter with Jaggertooth."
"Of course," the Goblin lowered his voice considerably. "We are terribly sorry for your loss, wizard. Lily Potter was a formidable woman who garnered the Goblin's respect the moment Griphook was pushed to the ground."
James gave the teller a tiny grimace but his eyes were shining. "Thank you."
The teller nodded again and his sharp voice rang out. "Griphook!"
A much smaller Goblin, probably just over a foot tall, stood to attention and took James into the bowels of the bank. "I am sorry, sir."
Griphook could remember Lily Potter - the only witch he'd ever bothered to take note of. A snooty woman, fifteen generations of Pureblood ancestry behind her, had pushed the Goblin to the floor once he'd sneered at her remark. Lily Potter, brazen in her Muggle blood, had hexed the witch seven shades of green before giving her such a mouthful that the woman was ready to cry. It was only James' hand on Lily's waist that stopped the woman from retaliating, because the Potter blood was purer than most - possibly even the Malfoy's.
Griphook had been shocked by such an event and treated Little Miss Evans with such kindness she was beside herself in worry!
"It is fine..." James hummed, shushing his red haired child. Griphook said nothing more and rapped on Jaggertooth's door.
"Enter!" The Goblin opened the door for the wizard and held it there, before closing the door and guarding it.
James lay Charlie down on his lap and nestled Harry beneath his armpit. "Mr. Potter."
"Jaggertooth." James replied, finally sagging down and showing his weakness to the Goblin. Jaggertooth frowned and clicked his fingers, summoning another Goblin.
"Bring Mr. Potter two baby bottles of milk, lukewarm, a bowl of chicken broth and a mug of warm cider." The Goblin nodded and left.
James seemed shocked but quickly wiped the expression; he didn't want to seem like he wasn't grateful. "I need to check the funds-"
"Mr. Harry Potter has currently received 3462 galleons, 389 sickles and 1097 knuts for his act for the Wizarding world." James' brow furrowed in confusion; what?
"Harry Potter has been crowned as the Boy-Who-Lived, Mr. Potter," Jaggertooth told him carefully. "For defeating the Dark Lord Voldemort."
Anger immediately overtook James' expression and Jaggertooth carried on. "I have already split it in half to be shared between both children, because sending it back would be classed as rude and you would be ostracised. I am sorry if this is not your desire."
James deflated and gave the Goblin in a smile. "You know me, Jaggertooth. I would have done that myself. Has he received anything else?"
"We also took the liberty of redirecting any items to the Potter vault and he has received 46 jinxed, hexed and cursed letters, as well as four family ceremonial daggers and marriage proposals. The marriage proposals were declined, the family daggers were placed into the Potter family vault and those letters..." The Goblin grinned darkly. "Well."
James didn't bother to ask, but he tucked Harry a little more closer into his body. His lips were suddenly very dry and licked him nervously. "A-and Lily?" His voice cracked.
"Lily Potter has received a large sum of Galleons, much more than Harry here, as well as items of furniture and condolence letters." Jaggertooth took the moment of silence to lean back in his chair. "We took the liberty of putting aside a Trust Fund for your two boys for Hogwarts."
The Goblin returned with the food and James sipped the cider delicately, thanking the Goblin with a nod. He bounced his legs up, waking Charlie up fully, before placing the teat of the bottle into his eager little mouth. Harry sneezed and James stuck the other bottle into his mouth. Harry smiled around the teat and snuggled into James' body, sucking happily on the bottle. James smiled weakly and began to sip the broth thoughtfully.
"There is the matter of where you are going to stay, James." Jaggertooth dropped the formality and began flicking through his book. A gnarled finger dragged down the page until he stopped at a long list of properties.
"Are we going to see if we can salvage anything from Godric's Hollow?" James nodded yes and Jaggertooth wrote it down in the book. "Would you like to sell any properties? You have the Cheshire Cottage, Cheshire Castle, Devon Manor and the Staffordshire Mansion in your name."
"Please could I get rid of the Cottage?" James begged, even though that was probably the best property he owned. He didn't want to go near a cottage any more.
Jaggertooth nodded, marking -MARKET 150000 G- next to the property. It was a very expensive property, even without the items it held.
"Where would you like the items to be moved to?"
"We'll be moving to Cheshire Castle, so could they be transferred there?"
Jaggertooth nodded, placing an X next to castle. It was a beautiful property; it was surrounded by lush gardens and a large moat protected the area. It even had Merpeople living in it who'd protected the Potter family through centuries gone by.
"Now, is there anything else you require?"
"No, thanks."
Once James had removed a considerable amount of gold from his vault, he first stopped by "Baby Baby", a popular baby and toddler shop that had opened very recently.
He quickly bought a double-seater pram and seated his two boys in it, Harry wearing a tight beanie that hid his scar from view. He also bought some self-cleaning nappies and wipes, as well as baby powder and oil.
He faltered at the clothing, before sighing. James picked out several sets of clothing, as those had destroyed once Godric's Hollow went up in flames, that expanded and grew as the boys grew.
He bought little boots, gloves, hats, scarves, before buying and leaving. Harry was babbling to himself, something about "Mummy" and "Marvulo" but James didn't pay much attention.
Harry gave mummy a little wave before asking, "Where are you, mummy?"
Lily smiled warmly and stroked his hair gently. "I'm gone, Harry, but I'm still here."
"What did Marvolo do, mummy?" Harry cooed, blowing a tiny bubble and giggling when it popped on his mouth.
Lily frowned and attempted to wipe the spit away, but her hand passed straight through him. Harry burst into tiny giggles and he leaned forward, pressing a wet kiss to her face. Lily's eyes widened in disbelief when she felt the sticky wetness on her face; what? It was odd enough that he could see her, but for him to be able to touch her?
"Love you, mummy."
Lily swallowed heavily before whispering, "I love you too..."
What was Harry doing? What... was Harry?
James flooed into the castle and juggled the items he'd bought between the two bouncing boys. A set of five house-elves popped in as he left the grit.
"Master Potter!" they chorused, bright blue eyes staring at the man. One of them, an excitable house-elf called Dolly took the boys from him and began to shush them in her arms, while another one, Timmy, enlarged the shrunken items.
"Sir, we gots sent some kitties!" The smallest one told him brightly. "And some jewels and clothes and furniture- oh but where is miss Lily?"
"She- ah- died," James stammered, licking his dry lips. "We- we were attacked and-" The room was too hot; James couldn't breath, there was a sharp lump at the back of his throat-
Before he was aware of collapsing, he was crying and sobbing and dry-heaving while the house-elves snapped into work. One of them soothingly rubbed his back before he felt the claws of unconsciousness pull him into a dull slumber.
Lily watched in stoic silence, ghostly tears running down her face. Only Harry could see her, but her husband needed her most. Harry watched as the man fell dispassionately, his eyes glinting darkly, almost calculatingly, before the expression left his cherub face and he looked straight for Lily.
It was the twins second birthday, but it was the first time James had baked a cake without Lily telling him what to do.
Sirius and Remus were sat at the mahogany kitchen table, Remus cutting Harry's food into bite-sized pieces and Sirius cutting up Charlie's. Harry's attention always seemed to be elsewhere...
Harry gave his gran a massive smile, picking up a tiny piece of sausage and putting it in his mouth. "I'm two today!" he told her excitedly and she smiled warmly, nudging Charles with her corporeal elbow.
"Look at our big boys, aye?" she cooed, passing a hand through James' body absent-mindedly. James froze and quickly put the flour into the bowl.
Charles grinned cheekily and ruffled Harry's hair, before fading away.
Lily gave her in-law a confused look. "Why do you think Harry can do this?"
Dorea sighed, smoothing out her pale blonde hair in thought. "In the Black family... We have Necromancer blood and it skips so many generations, we assumed it would be gone from our blood forever. Look how bright Harry's eyes are, Lily."
Lily stared into Harry's eyes but she didn't know what to look out for; sure, they were emerald and even brighter than her own, but...
"They're too bright for a normal human, Lily." Dorea sighed again. How could she tell Lily that her baby boy was dangerous? That this was dangerous? This small interaction could have twisted Harry's blessed soul beyond repair.
Lily hummed and studied his eyes even closer. Harry giggled loudly at the interaction and that's when she saw it; if Harry was happy, his eyes brightened slightly but they glowed.
"Necromancy?" she whispered weakly.
James grinned triumphantly as his cake had risen and looked pretty damn snazzy with the icing!
Happy birthday, Harry
Happy birthday, Charlie
Two today!
He'd even managed to enchant little snitches to whiz around on the icing- just how amazing was he, huh? Sirius watched him in bemusement before picking the two boys up and taking them into their shared bedroom. Remus quickly took Harry and changed him out of the dark blue and white polka dot romper suit, opting for some little jeans and a cute little hooded shirt.
Remus' sensitive ears picked up the sound of floo and knew it was nearly time for the little party; James had been very reclusive months after Lily had died but enough had been enough. Remus and Sirius left the twin boys with Molly and Authur and took James out for a royal piss-up, until they were all sick from firewhiskey but laughing and happy.
It was hard, but James was coping. There were days where he didn't want to get out of his cold bed because he felt sick and he was tired and cold and sad, but then his baby boys would cry and whine and he'd grudgingly get out of bed.
There were some days where he was full of life and would shout "Morning Lily!" when he'd go into the kitchen, to find Harry's blinking emerald eyes staring up at him with his hand in the cookie jar.
Sirius laughed as Charlie hissed and spat, objecting to wearing clothes. "No, no, no Padfoot!"
Charlie writhed off the table wearing his baby boy boxers and nothing more, which made the man laugh harder. He locked the door and picked the boy up around the wast, tickling him as he squealed. Harry looked at him with an expression of childish distaste, which set Remus off.
Massive time skip
Aged eleven
Remus and Sirius had officially moved into the Potter Castle and Remus had become the boys official tutor, getting paid a sum of ten Galleons for every hour he taught the boys.
The boys were a pleasure to teach, absorbing information like a sponge. Remus had them take an IQ test when they were ten and they were both genius' in their own right- Charlie's IQ was 127 while Harry came in at 159.
Harry grinned happily and changed into suitable robes, before clutching Sirius' hand in his own.
Charlie took Remus', and they were off to buy their supplies for Hogwarts.
They were spat out of the Floo at the Leaky Cauldron but Sirius retained his grip on Harry and kept him stable; he smoothed the ruffled hair back over the distinctive scar and waited for the other two.
Charlie stumbled to the floor while Remus sniggered quietly to himself. Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance and tugged on the man's hand. "Can we split up? It will make this take less time, we can meet up at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, right?"
Remus shrugged and Harry grinned, waving "Hi!" to Tom. "Where to first, Siri?"
"Probably the Apothecary... What is that you need again?" Sirius tapped the bricks and entered the dingy Apothecary quickly.
"Erm... Cauldron, pewter, size two, but Dad said we could get anything for pranks." Harry hummed to himself as Mum picked out the items for him with a fond smile, while Charlie chose the most expensive scales in the store.
Harry ended up leaving with several cauldrons, collapsible scales and large sets of phials for his potions. Sirius shrunk them down and placed them in Harry's pocket.
"Where to now, boss?" Sirius asked, twirling down the busy street.
"I need an owl... Dad said it could be a birthday present from you." Harry grinned cheekily, avoiding the arm that was swung over his head.
"What about Felix and Calypso?" Sirius sighed; his wallet was going to empty by the end of this, he just knew it.
"Charlie said that Calypso was staying with Remus, so Felix is too." Harry informed him, holding the door open for a young (presumably Muggleborn) witch to go through first.
Harry browsed through the owls before he took notice of a lovely snowy owl sitting in the rafters. "That one, Siri!" Harry pointed to the owl in awe and Sirius groaned. It was beauty, but how much would it cost?
"Oi, mate!" Sirius called the shopping assistant over, pointing up at the owl. "How much for it?"
"That one?" the assistant grinned wickedly. "You'll have to get her down, first. Tell you what - get her down and she's free."
Harry smirked and whistled through his teeth. The owl's head snapped to him and her beady yellow eyes watched him curiosity. He held out his arm invitingly and she swooped down, nipping affectionately at his dark hair.
Sirius smirked too and looked at the speechless assistant with an expectant eyebrow risen. "I'll need mice, treats, water and food bowls and a decent cage, please."
The assistant groaned and nodded, getting them the required items.
"Where to now, squirt?"
"I need quills, parchment, ink..." Harry trailed off. "Give me the money and I'll go get it."
Sirius handed over the money and Harry shot off, crossing the street and buying the required items. He met Sirius outside and entered Flourish and Blott's.
"The Standard Book of Spells grade one, A History of Magic, Magical Theory, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, Magical Drafts and Potions, Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them and The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection." Harry recited to Sirius who groaned loudly and went about finding the books. Harry grinned; Dad had given them extra money to buy sweets, but Harry was going to buy more reading material.
"Standard Book of Spells grade two, three, four, five, six, seven... Theory of Transfiguration? Go ahead. Defensive Magical Theory, Advanced Potion Making, Moste Potente Potions, A Dunderhead's Guide to Ingredients by Severus Snape?" Harry sniggered to himself and added it to his massive pile of books. "Enchantment in Baking? Dad could do with that one... The Healer's Helpmate? Don't mind if I do! Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed, Spellman's Syllabary, Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts..." His pile of books was even taller than himself! How many books was it? Seventeen? He added four blank books into the pile as well, so he could write notes from the Hogwarts library and record spells, potions, anything!
He bought them all and waited for Sirius to find the other books he needed. When the man finally appeared, looking flustered but holding the books in triumph, he looked at the other books he'd bought and hoped Sirius would shrink them down.
"Jesus Christ, kid!" Sirius groaned. Harry grinned; Sirius had gotten the Muggle saying from Lily.
"Madam Malkin's next." Harry told him as he shrunk the purchases. "Let's go."
The strode to Madam Malkin's and Harry entered on his own, feeling nervous.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve, a rather unflattering colour. "Hogwarts, dear?" she said before Harry could open his mouth. "Got everything here - another young man being fitted right now, in fact."
In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned his school robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long dark robe over his head and began to pin it to the right length. Harry was a rather short boy, standing at a dismal 4'8.
"Hullo!" greeted the other boy. "Hogwarts too?"
"Yes," Harry said.
"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands." He had a very bored, drawling voice. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first-years can't have their own - I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."
Harry smirked in agreement; he was very studious, but he loved to fly. He was a good Seeker.
"Have you got your own broom?" the boy carried on.
"Yes, I got the Nimbus 2000 for my birthday," he admitted sheepishly. "It's today, see- I'm not spoiled or anything!" Harry hastened his speaking - the boy seemed all right but he lacked proper social skills.
"Did you really?" The boys eyes seemed to light up. "Well, happy birthday. I'll have to tell father... What position do you play?"
"My favoured position is Seeker," Harry told him excitedly. "What's yours? What broom do you have?"
"I'm a decent Chaser and I have the latest Cleansweep." The other boy seemed passionate about the sport, just like Harry. "Know what house you'll be in yet?"
"No," Harry admitted. "Both of my parents were in Gryffindor, but I think I'm more of a Ravenclaw or Slytherin..."
"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin! All our family have been - imagine being in Hufflepuff; I think I'd leave, don't you?"
Harry hummed in agreement, until dark figures outside caught his eye. He turned to see his Dad grinning and waving at him, holding his favourite type of ice cream! Vanilla, generously coated in raspberry sauce and chocolate buttons.
"I say - is that James Potter? Why is he - " the boy squinted at Harry and the tip of Harry's scar became visible. "Harry Potter?" He gasped loudly.
Harry gave him another sheepish smile. "Got it in one, huh?"
"Well, I'm Draco Malfoy!" Draco Malfoy stuck his hand out expectantly and Harry took it with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Draco Malfoy."
"You're done, dear." Madam Malkin interrupted their conversation and gave Harry a small clap on the back. "Do you require anything else, besides the uniform?"
"Please may I also have some dragonhide boots? And thermal socks?" Harry gave her a charming smile and she obliged, sighing happily. It seems she made a good impression on the Boy-Who-Lived.
She handed him his purchases with a smile and shrunk them herself. "They're self-repairing and self-cleaning!"
"Good bye, Draco Malfoy. I shall see you at Hogwarts, I assume?" Harry asked teasingly.
Draco Malfoy gave him a cocky smirk in reply. "I bid you farewell, Mr. Potter."
Harry strode out of the shop and wordlessly handed Sirius his purchases, before throwing his arms around James. Charlie gave Harry a tiny smile, licking at his strawberry and chopped nut cone. "Hi, dad!"
"Where to now, son?"
"I just need my wand now, what about you, Charlie?" Harry asked, releasing his dad from the tight grip.
"Wand," he shrugged. "Got everything else."
A magic wand... This is what Harry had been waiting for.
The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single spindly chair which James sat on to wait. Harry felt strangely as though he'd entered the Black family library; he swallowed his questions and looked instead at the thousands of boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. The back of his neck tickled as he felt foreign magic surround him.
Charlie extended a hand to Harry which he took gratefully.
"Good afternoon," came a soft voice. Harry and Charlie jumped as one; Sirius and Remus began to laugh quietly to themselves while James leaned forward with a happy smile on his face.
An old man was standing before them, wide pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop. "Hello." Charlie and Harry chorused.
"Yes..." spoke the man. "I thought I'd be seeing you soon, Harold and Charles Potter. You have your mother's eyes, Mr. Potter. It seems like only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." The pale eyes shot to James.
"James Potter... You favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches, pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration - I assume you still have it?" James flushed like a scolded school boy and nodded. "Sirius Black! Fifteen inches, vine wood, unyeilding- Remus Lupin. Thirteen inches, ash, springy. Good for defence."
Remus and Sirius both nodded their agreements.
"I say favoured- it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course." Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself in those misty eyes.
"And that's where..." Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful wand; very powerful and in the wrong hands... Well, if I'd have known what that wand was going out into the world to do..."
He shook his head and eyed Charlie. "Well, which one of you will go first?"
"I will," Charlie grinned brightly, attempting to ease the dark atmosphere Mr. Ollivander had created. Mr. Ollivander removed a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket.
"Which is your wand arm?"
"I'm right-handed," said Charlie.
"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Charlie from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and around his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical subject, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course you will never get good results with another wizards wand."
Charlie belatedly realised that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing it on its own. Wicked. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"That will do." he said and the tape measure fell into a crumbled heap on the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring, nine inches. Nice and flexible - just give it a wave."
Charlie took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once. "Maple and phoenix feather, seven inches. Quite whippy - " Charlie tried but he'd hardly raised the wand before it was snatched out of his hand.
"How about this? Elder, unicorn hair, fourteen inches, springy. Go on, try it out!" Charlie did as instructed, feeling quite bored, until a feeling of right overcame him. He smiled brilliantly and waved his wand, a shower of white and blue sparks leaving the tip of the smooth wand.
"Excellent!" Mr. Ollivander beamed. "That will be seven Galleons."
James handed him the money and clapped his hand on Charlie's shoulder proudly. "Well done, son."
Harry smiled at Mr. Ollivander and he repeated the tape measure process. Harry tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was expecting him to do with these wands because none were right. The pile of tried wands were mounting higher and higher on the man's desk, but the more wands he seemed to go through the more excited Mr. Ollivander became!
"Tricky customer, aye? Not to worry; we'll find the perfect match in here somewhere - I wonder, now - yes! Why not? An unusual combination - Yew and phoenix feather; eleven inches. A very powerful wand, indeed. Useful for black magic. Unyielding - yes, that's it. Just give it a wave."
Harry felt at one with this piece of wood and he brought it over his head, slashed it down through the dusty air and a stream of red and green sparks left his wand like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on the walls. Charlie whooped and clapped as Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. How curious, however... Very curious indeed..."
"Excuse me..." Harry intervened. "What's curious?" Mr. Ollivander neatly plucked the two wands away from the boys and placed them into their respective boxes, wrapping them in brown paper.
Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with a pale stare. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It just so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather. Just one. It is very curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother - gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed.
"Yes, thirteen and half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember. I think we will see great things from you, Mr. Potter. After all, He Who Must Not Be Named did great things. Terrible, but great."
Harry shivered. He wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander much. Dad paid seven Galleon's for his wand and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.