"Muffalito." Harry whispered, waving his wand. The potions book lay comfortably in his lap as he looked over its contents, trying spell after spell. It's just- his wand wouldn't work!
"Muffalito!" He tried again, groaning when Ron shook his head no. Guess nothing was working. It didn't make sense! His wand had been behaving strangely since he left the hospital wing, not that he had used it much since then anyway. Most of his classes had been theory, and even when he had had a chance to use his wand, one of his friends had done the small task for him.
Truth be told, he was struggling.
"What could have happened with your wand?" Neville asked, looking over from his bed. "I mean, it's not like you lost a fight or something, and even then, wands rarely choose the winner."
"Maybe it liked the tasty basilisk venom more than it liked Harry." Ron joked, getting smacked in the head with a pillow.
"You should go see Dumbledore, mate." Dean told him, sketching the scene of Harry's potions book laying on the pillow. "I mean, he would know what to do in this case."
"Yeah, I doubt you're the first person whose wands stopped working." Seamus piped in quietly. Harry just groaned, sliding from his bed and onto the floor like the dramatic boy he was. Neville just rolled his eyes, placing his book down as he stretched.
"Come on, let's go speak to Dumbledore, Harry." Neville told him, gesturing to their open door.
"He's not in, I already tried."
"Then let's go see you know who." The room went silent, all eyes turning to Neville. "Not- no I didn't mean- not, him, the other him!"
Harry and Ron burst into laughter, Dean and Seamus sitting with conflicted looks on their faces. When Ron and Harry noticed them, they just laughed even more.
Neville hated everyone.
"You guys are mean," he pouted. "Fine, I guess I can do the herbology work myself then,"
Harry and Ron scrambled after him, eventually having to come back into the dorm and grab their bags. Dean and Seamus just chuckled at them, the pair heading out as well to go look around the castle.
"There are still secrets to find," Dean had told them. "And I want to paint them."
As the group of three wandered around, twisting and turning, taking secret hallways, Harry waved his wand. From levitation spells to a Bombarda Maxima, nothing seemed to leave his wand. The most he got was a few sparks out of the latter spell, and even then it was like it zapped his energy out of him. Ron and Neville were concerned. Harry was just angry.
"This doesn't make any sense!" Harry said, kicking a small rock across the hall, huffing as he rubbed his hands through his hair. "This is stupid!"
"Harry, maybe you're stressed! I know that's how I was when I first joined Hogwarts, maybe it's the same for you?" Neville tried to reason, but Harry was having none of it. Over and over again, he cast. Nothing came, and he was seconds away from snapping it. He didn't need a damn wand, he'd just use his illusion magic, damn it!
"What," A voice began. "Is going on here?"
Severus Snape.
"Nothing, sir, I'm just-" Harry began to say, being swiftly interrupted by Ron.
"Harry's wand isn't working. Hasn't worked since his hospital visit earlier."
Harry stared at Ron, pissed and a little betrayed. The redhead just shrugged.
"Harry, you and Hermione both told me to go get my wand fixed, and I didn't. You know what happened because of that. Now, I'm making you get yours fixed."
"Come with me, Mr Potter." Snape drawled, turning and walking away. Harry sighed, following after him, sending two glares at Ron and Neville. The boys didn't even look upset, slowly following after Harry and the potion master.
"How long has this been an issue, Harry?" Snape asked calmly. Harry just shrugged.
"Since the whole… fang…thing, I just thought it was angry at me, but it's not working at all. Even Hermione tried it yesterday, but nothing would work."
"Why didn't you come to a teacher immediately?" Snape asked, tone rising. Harry couldn't tell if the man was genuinely curious, or if he was about to deduct a million house points from him.
"I didn't really use it to cast this week, and most easy things I do without magic…" Harry said, doing his best to stay calm. No sense snapping at Snape when the man knew he couldn't cast magic. In actuality, though Harry played it off as humorous, he was scared. Was he losing his magic? It wasn't likely, he had cast perfectly fine through Neville's wand after a few tries, but his own wand still refused to work.
"Here, P- Harry. Go talk to Madam Pomfrey, I will go get Dumbledore." Snape said before he departed.
Snape was being…nice. Harry didn't hate it, but it was odd. Snape had been a massive prick since it was revealed they were related. What changed?
Oh god, was he being nice because Harry was turning muggle?!
"Mr Potter, what are you doing here?" Pomfrey asked, gesturing Harry to a bed.
"No, I'm not sick, at least, I don't think I'm sick. I just- my wand isn't working. Snape went to go talk to Dumbledore about it, but he told me to come here for whatever reason."
"Quite right! On the bed you get, I've got a few charms to cast." Harry sighed but complied anyway, sitting on the hospital bed as the nurse began to cast. Some were red, others blue, but the more she cast, the deeper her frown got.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, pulse racing. "Am I losing my magic? Does it even work like that? Merlin, am I dying?"
"There is no need to fret, Harry." Dumbledore said as he walked into the room. "I'm sure it's nothing as drastic as that, right Poppy?"
"Mr Potter, you have never been healthier. It's puzzling. Here, look at this graph." Pomfrey waved her wand, a magical graph appearing in front of them. It was covered in waves, jumps of a little green line all about the pages.
"This is a graph of your magical activity from the past thirty days, as you can see in the beginning, it is calm, with a few jumps here and there but mostly level, which is common for Hogwarts students. Then, there was this giant spike, and resulting fall from your…incident so to speak. However, what's puzzling is, that there was another spike right after you were released, and it seems to level off there."
"It's higher than before the incident." Harry noted, tracing the green line with his eyes. "Why?"
"I don't know, but it is proof that you aren't the problem. Mr Potter, I believe you have grown out of your wand."
Huh?
"Poppy, are you sure? He's so young!" Dumbledore announced. "Most wizards don't get a new wand until they're at least thirty."
"Mr Potter isn't most wizards, is he?" Poppy asked him, continuing when Dumbledore stayed silent. "I recommend you get a new wand as soon as possible, Mr Potter. Today, if you can. Of course, the school has many backup wands for situations such as these, but it would be best to speak to Olivander for a new one."
"Does this happen often?" Harry asked. Pomfrey thought about it for a moment.
"Not often, per se, but we get about one student every few years whose magic just- shifts. There is actually a branch in the ministry devoted to studying why this happens, not that they've come up with anything. It's normally caused by extreme stress, life-threatening injury, or emotional turmoil so great it changes how your magic works. Yours is likely the result of being saved from basilisk venom."
At the mention of that, his leg began to itch where the runes had been carved in. They were likely going to scar, even the ones that were magically healed. Oh well, Harry preferred pants over shorts anyway.
"I was bitten by the same basilisk in my second year, but this didn't happen." Harry pointed out. All three adults looked puzzled before Dumbledore sighed, stroking his beard with a gloved hand. Odd, but Harry would ask about it later.
"Well, a trip to Ollivanders is needed. Professor Snape, would you mind taking Harry today?"
Harry froze, eyes going wide when the man nodded.
"We shall go now if that is all." Snape said. Pomfrey and Dumbledore nodded, and Snape and Harry were soon on their way to Snape's private quarters. They were going to floo there. He'd take that over apparating.
"Har-Harrison."
"Yes?"
"I am going to glamour you before we go. I would rather not be fawned at while we make our way through Diagon."
"Oh, yeah sure." Harry agreed, barely flinching when Snape brandished his wand and muttered a spell. When Harry opened his eyes, he heard Snape let out a soft gasp before putting his wand back into his sleeve. Nudging Harry forward, Harry stood in the fireplace.
"Leaky Cauldron, Harrison." Snape said, passing him the bag of powder. Harry nodded, taking some out and throwing it down.
As he shot up out of the fireplace, his stomach twisted. God, he hated wizarding travel. Couldn't they have taken a bus?!
Landing on the floor of the pub, Harry's vision swam. A few moments later, Snape stepped out and helped him off the floor, vanishing the soot that rested on his face.
"I hate that." Harry muttered to himself. Snape snorted softly as he nodded.
"Indeed, Silas." Snape agreed, Harry's head shooting up at the use of his actual middle name. What the hell was Snape doing?
"Ah, Severus! What brings you here during the school year?" A worker asked, his dirty blonde hair tied up in a loose ponytail. "We usually don't see you until the summer!"
"Just passing through, Layson. My ward Silas requires his first wand." Severus explained, pushing Harry towards the brick passageway. "We'll be out of your way soon."
"I didn't know you had a son! He looks just like you, eyes and all!" Layson laughed, returning to his sweeping. "Have fun!"
Snape practically dragged the shocked Harry out of the room and to their entry point.
"What did he mean? And why did you call me Silas?"
"Keep your voice down, Harrison. I'd rather not let it be known to the public who you are." Snape said, tapping his wand on the bricks. "You have a glamour on you that makes you look like a younger version of myself, Harrison."
Harry said nothing, following Snape through the windy alleys of Diagon. Does he look just like Snape? That-
Well, it didn't turn his stomach as much as he thought it did. It was honestly a bit comforting, now no one would know who he was!
Harry stopped at a glass window, inspecting his face in the glass. Snape was right! Especially his eyes! No longer were they the bright green he shared with his mother, but a cool black, like the colour of coal before it became diamonds. Snape stopped with him, raising his eyebrow as Harry touched his own face. Even his jaw seemed sharper, his cheekbones higher than he remembered them being. The only thing that looked different to Snape's was his nose. It was longer, sure, but it didn't have the same large bump the man had. And- why was he so short?!
"I look just like you." Harry said. Snape rolled his eyes. "Just, short?"
"Obviously, H- Silas. Now come, we don't have all day."
Harry followed, walking near Snape so as not to get lost. It wasn't as busy as Harry remembered, but there were still plenty of people around. Some regarded Severus with glares, others giving Harry pitying looks as they passed. Harry did his best to ignore them.
"Ah, Mr Potter! Mr Snape! Or should I say, both Snapes?" Olivander said as they walked in, both black-haired men instantly on guard. "Do not worry, your little secret is safe with me. So, what is the matter?"
"I need a new wand." Harry told the man, walking up to his counter. "It just- stopped working all of a sudden."
"Ah, do not fret. I think I know how to help." Olivander disappeared into the back, bringing out three boxes. "The first, Dragon heart string and Cherry. And odd combination for me, but it may work well with your newfound… freedom, so to speak."
Harry was confused but gave the pink wand a small wave. Nothing happened, so Olivander passed him the next one. Mahogany and unicorn hair. Giving it a wave, a few red sparks came out before the wand began heating up. Harry dropped it, hissing as he held his hand close to his chest. Olivander hummed, summoning the wand and stuffing it back in his box. The third wand, Redwood and Phoenix Feather did much the same as the first, only this time it flew out of his hand and into the back of the shop.
"Curious, very curious."
"What is it?" Snape asked, stepping forward.
"Much like you, Severus, Harry here may need an uncommon core." Olivander explained, heading further into the back than he normally went.
"What does he mean?" Harry asked, turning to face Snape.
"The three main wand cores in Brittain are phoenix feathers, unicorn hair, and dragon heartstring. From my knowledge, this is because those are the three cores that will suit the most wizards in most situations, like how you were able to use Longbottom's wand. However, those cores don't react best with everyone, which is why there are core types set aside for such cases."
"And you were one?" Harry asked. "Of those cases, I mean."
"Indeed," Severus said, pulling out his own wand. It was long and skinny and two-toned as well. Harry thought it was quite pretty. It was like the wood swirled around each other, soft pink almond mixing with beige. He slipped the wand back into his sleeve. "It's core is erkling fang."
"One of my finest creations, I must say." Olivander said, returning with a singular dusty box. "Quite the troublemaker, too. Severus was able to get it under control."
"So, do wands really have that much character?" Olivander nodded, clapping his hands.
"They do! The wood and core matter plenty when both crafting and selling wands. The wood used to make Severus' wand was Cedar and Hazel. While they share similar magical properties, both being woods kin to the mental arts, they are rarely seen together. My, tie that in with an erkling fang, I thought it would be impossible for Severus to break it in!"
"Why?" Harry asked, curious.
"Cedar and Hazel, when combined, make what you would call an inflexible wand. The two woods refuse to mix or work together. Cedar wands represent insight and perception. Some even say loyalty. Hazel wands are sensitive, and when mixed with the wrong temperament are volatile. Erkling fangs are used to make faster wands, which I believe counters the heaviness of the wood types. I'm prattling, don't mind me. Here." Olivander handed him the dusty box, letting Harry open it up. It was beautiful! A spiral wand, similar in colour to Severus's own. He picked it up gently, letting it rest in his palm before quietly casting a leviosa on the box.
It shot into the rough, and Olivander clapped.
"Wonderful! Dogwood and Hippogriph feather. A sturdy wand, so you may want to practise getting your magic under control before you do any classwork. Another unusual combination, but very adaptable."
"What makes it unusual?" Harry asked.
"Dogwood wands are like children, Harry. They're playful and like to make mischief. However, when paired with an ingenious owner, the magic they can perform is astounding, especially used in more… dire situations."
"Dire?"
"Dogwood was originally used to make daggers, Harrison." Snape told him. Olivander nodded.
"They tend to have a violent streak, which is why it's unusual to be paired with a hippogriff feather. You see, hippogriff feathers as a core need to be shown respect, just as the animals themselves do. They need to be cleaned, often, and must feel safe with their owner to be of any use." He paused for a moment, giving the pair a large smile. "If legend has it, you may just share the same core as Garrison the Great!"
"Oh, cool!" Yeah, Harry had no clue who that was. "Thank you, sir. How much?"
"As much as any other wand, seven galleons." Harry handed over the needed amount and left with Severus, his stomach growling. Olivander was left alone with his thoughts.
Why would a boy so near adulthood have a wand wood that usually preferred children?
"Silas."
"Sir?"
"Pick somewhere to eat, lunch has already passed," Snape said, pointing at a row of restaurants nearby. Harry chose a small tea shop, the father-son duo settling outside after they received their food. Harry decided, for once, he would stick out the olive branch of friendship.
"Did you feel weird when you got your first wand?" Harry asked. "You know, it being two woods and all."
"This was not my first wand," Snape told him. "I received this one when I was twenty-one."
"Did you grow out your wand?" Harry inquired, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"No. I snapped my original one." Harry said nothing, mouth agape as Severus continued eating. "Close your mouth, Silas, I can see your food."
Flushing, Harry quickly chewed his lunch and swallowed, deciding to ask his next question.
"Why Silas? Like, as a middle name. How did my mum pick it?"
"Why all of the questions?" Snape shot back. Harry didn't say anything, more annoyed than anything. Yep, still an arse. Snape sighed. "If you must know, it was the name I decided to name my child if I had one. However, we decided this when we were young. I am… surprised she remembered it."
"What did she choose?" Harry asked, hopeful. Finally! He could learn a little more about his mum!
"Rose. She always insisted she would have a girl."
"Oh." Harry didn't say anything. Had his mum wanted a little girl and not a boy? Was she disappointed?
"Although I am sure that opinion changed later in life," Snape told him. It didn't really help his thoughts.
Finishing their lunch, the pair headed out of the alley and back to the cauldron. Severus' friend wasn't there anymore, this time it was a young woman serving drinks. She nodded to them as Snape added two knuts to the jar, gesturing for Potter to go through first.
"Severus Snape, Flower," Severus told him as he stepped in, throwing down the powder and appearing back in Hogwarts as a sick mess. He didn't throw up, thankfully, but it was a near thing.
"Practice with your wand, Harrison. I won't have you blowing up my classroom because you were too lazy to do so." Harry rolled his eyes, heading for the door. He stopped suddenly, turning around to see Severus sitting back at his desk.
"Professor?"
"What?" Snape asked back, glancing at the door.
"What made you snap your wand?" The words rushed out before he could stop them, but he needed to know. He had been under the impression that wands were sacred, that snapping them was the worst thing in the world. It was why they were snapped when you were expelled or went to Azkaban.
"Your mother's death." Snape admitted, quiet as a brush of wind on your neck.
"I'm sorry," Harrison said, not waiting for a response as he fled out of the room.
"Come on, Harry!" Ron said, racing down to the carriages. "We're sixth years, we don't have to walk!"
Harry and Neville laughed, watching Ron marvel over the carriages. The first Hogsmeade visit of the year, and Harry had a lot to do. Shopping for Christmas gifts, including something small for Blaise and Daphne. Maybe even something for Snape, not that he planned on getting something in return.
The group had marvelled over his wand, Hermione and Daphne rushing to the "W" section of the library to look up wand lore. Blaise thought it was extremely cool, even asking the wand if he could hold it. He didn't dare risk casting with it, both for his own safety and because they were in a library. He fawned over it for a moment, passing it back to Harry. He made sure to give it a thorough shine after they got back to the common room. It was broom polish, but it would do until his wand-cleaning kit came in.
"You stroke it like a baby all the time, Harry," Ron grumbled as the carriage made its way to Hogsmeade village. "You won't get any girls like that!" Harry just rolled his eyes, sticking his wand into its holster. He had caved and ordered one the moment he had gotten back from shopping, and it had arrived today. Hermione was instantly infatuated with it and decided that her afternoon was going to be spent studying wand stuff. She had invited Daphne, but she and Blaise were going to go on a date.
"What do you want for Christmas?" Harry asked them, peering out the window. "We have practice on the next Hogsmeade visit, so I want to pick up gifts now."
"I'm good with anything," Ron said with a shrug. "You know what I like. Ooh, but if there is a Cannons poster in one of the shops, I want one of those." Harry nodded, turning to Neville. The other boy shrugged as well.
"I don't really want anything to be honest, I'm happy enough with what I have."
"Bullshit, he's been looking at this robe in one of Gin's fashion magazines."
"Ron!" Neville groaned, kicking his foot.
"Show me it, and I'll get it for you." Harry told Neville, deciding to do it even when Neville shook his head no.
"What do you want, mate?" Ron asked. Harry thought about it for a moment.
"Not much, probably just stuff to read over for illusion magic and stuff. Or just magic stuff in general."
The trio arrived in Hogsmeade, checking out most of the stores before the three of them rushed into Honeydukes, picking out their favourites and restocking on the cheap stuff. Harry laughed, picking out Lolli's and sour candy he hadn't tried before. Their next stop was the joke shop, where Neville and Harry eventually left Ron to go do their own thing. While Neville headed out to Baywell: Herb and Greenery store, Harry began looking at stores that his friends may take interest in.
He found a small quidditch shop which had a few Chudley Cannon posters scattered around, as well as a few bobbleheads as well enchanted to dance with whatever song was playing in the room. Perfect!
Heading to the checkout with two bobbleheads and the nicest-looking poster they had, Harry had them wrapped in a gift box and shrunk to fit in his robe pocket. He was grateful, he didn't wanna carry around the box. Next on his list was something for Neville.
Well, that was the plan anyway. He had seen Malfoy walk by and it distracted him. The blonde looked pale, too pale, and far too thin. Even from just a glance, you could see the dark circles lining under his eyes, how his cheeks hallowed out as though someone was sucking the very life out of him. Even his arms, holding a brown parcel, looked weaker. He would get thrown off a broom in his current state.
Suspicious. Especially since his family worked for Voldemort. He needed to bring it up with Snape. Wow, what a weird thing to think.
After grabbing some magical soil and plant growth powder from a nearby shop, as well as matching bracelets for Blaise and Daphne, Harry headed back to Zonkos, where he found Ron and Neville waiting for him. After much pleading about what Harry had gotten them, and vice versa, the trio headed to the Three Broomsticks for some butter beers.
That's when they heard a scream.
Rushing over, Harry saw his friend a teammate, Katie Bell, writhing on the road.
"Katie! Katie, come on!" Her friend yelled, trying to hold the girl still. Harry nodded at Ron, who ran off towards the castle to
"What happened? Harry asked, rushing over to see what happened as people circled nearby. Neville pulled out his wand, casting a few charms on her, pointing the words towards a spare stone. They slowly carved in.
"She wasn't herself- she wouldn't drop the package and then I went to look at it, and Katie touched it and- OH MY GOD KATIE!"
White foam began to fall from Katie's lips, Neville cursing as he looked at Harry
"She's been cursed."
"My, Harry. That was very heroic of you to take care of Miss Bell." Slughorn said as he poured Harry a glass of mead, handing it to him with a wink. "Don't tell."
Taking a sip of it, Harry smiled as he settled into Slughorn's couch.
"It's what anyone would do, sir. She needed help."
Slughorn laughed, settling in his lounge chair as they sipped on their drinks.
"So, I must ask, Snape told me your grades seemed to get much better than what they were in his class. Have you been doing some extra studying, my boy?"
"Of course, sir," Harry told him. It wasn't an outright lie, but not the whole truth either. "Me and Professor Snape never really got along, and it made me scared to try my best in his class." look down, look bashful damn it! "I didn't want him to think I was cheating or anything."
"Of course not, my boy! You're much too good to be cheating."
"I used to do a lot of cooking for my aunt and uncle, I started pretty young too, about five I think. It's why I enjoy potions, it's like cooking. Just, a lot more dangerous."
"Ah, so you studied it then?" Slughorn asked. Harry took a breath as he prepared himself for, hopefully, the last lie of their conversation.
"Yes sir, I studied a lot. I did extremely well on the practical, but the written portion kind of messed me up a bit. I'm proud of my Exceeds though."
"As you should be!" Slughorn said, reaching out to clink glasses with Harry. "Do you think you'll go into the field?"
"Probably not. I honestly haven't thought about what I wanted to do. I used to want to be a part of the ministry, but after Sirius passed…"
"Horrible shame, that. I hope you find a profession you like soon, Harry! Say, how about I introduce you to some friends of mine at our next dinner party? I'm sure you'll find something then!"
"That would be wonderful, sir!" Harry readily agreed. He may not like these parties, but a little voice in his ear told them it would be worth it, especially after Voldemort was defeated.
"Harry, I hope you don't mind if I ask you something on a more… personal note."
"Of course not, sir."
"Are you here on Dumbledore's orders?"