Chapter 1
In the frosty grip of December 1977, snow descended heavily upon the bustling streets of London, England, blanketing the city in a shroud of white. Yet, nestled within the heart of this wintry scene lay an old orphanage, its timeworn walls untouched by the lights. Here, in the shadows of neglect, the chill of the season found its way into every corner, leaving its mark upon the forgotten souls who called this place home.
Mrs. Nancy, weary from a day's work, was bidding farewell to Sister Mary, the caretaker of the orphanage. Today, she had volunteered her time to tend to the children. Though not wealthy, Mrs. Nancy couldn't sponsor a better life for these children. Yet, her kind heart always found time to care for them—it was her only way of helping.
"This winter has been particularly harsh. Fortunately, the donations we've received will see the children through," Mrs. Nancy remarked to Sister Mary.
The plump Sister Mary crossed herself before responding, "I always believe that God watches over His children. I hope all the orphans here find good homes, with parents to love and warm houses to live in."
"You're always so kind..." Mrs. Nancy was about to leave when a small cardboard box near the entrance caught her eye. "What's that?"
Following Mrs. Nancy's gaze, Sister Mary spotted the box. She approached and opened it, exclaiming, "Oh! Good heavens, it's a baby!"
Gently touching the infant, Sister Mary felt the cold of the winter seeping into the tiny body. Without delay, she scooped the child into her arms and hurried inside. "Help me, Nancy! She's still alive."
Upon hearing this, Nancy swiftly picked up the box from the ground and followed Mary back inside. Perhaps it was the warmth indoors or the sincere prayers and efforts of the two women, but the baby seemed to recover.
"Look." Mrs. Nancy handed Sister Mary a small piece of paper she found in the box. The handwriting was delicate, clearly that of a woman. It read: Esmeralda Trist, born October 7, 1977.
"Poor little Esmeralda. Abandoned by her parents just two months after birth," Nancy said, her heart aching.
Mary, still wiping the baby's body, looked up and said, "Perhaps her parents had some hidden struggles..."
Before Sister Mary could finish, Nancy interjected, "Even so, it's not right... it's just... too heartless! She nearly died!"
"Sigh..." Sister Mary let out a long breath.
Years passed, seasons changed, and time slipped away unnoticed. Suddenly, it was the summer of 1989.
The orphanage remained the same, albeit more decrepit. Sister Mary had aged into a gaunt middle-aged woman. Esmeralda, now twelve, was usually called Eda by Sister Mary, while the other children in the orphanage secretly referred to her as "the freak."
The sky was overcast, adding to the gloominess. Eda frowned and closed the window, as if shutting out the damp, stifling air outside would make a difference.
Eda was of average height, appearing somewhat frail, perhaps due to inadequate nutrition. Her golden hair had lost its luster, her skin was pale, but her eyes, like emeralds, still shone bright.
Dressed in oversized old shirts and worn-out faded jeans, she shuffled around in slippers. Despite this, anyone would see her as a beautiful girl.
"The weather in the British Empire is simply dreadful!" Eda muttered to herself before burying herself in her bed, devoid of any semblance of composure.
Since being rescued by Sister Mary, Eda lived in the orphanage like the other children. However, unlike them, she had been adopted twice, only to be returned to the orphanage each time. Strange incidents seemed to follow Eda wherever she went, frightening her adoptive families. Hence, they all made the same decision—to send her back to the orphanage.
Abandoned since birth and twice over, Eda harbored a growing resentment towards herself and the strange abilities she possessed.
She had changed. Once obedient and sensible, she became rebellious and volatile, often clashing with the other children in the orphanage.
When Eda was ten, one evening, she was harassed by thugs from the neighbourhood. It was then, with her life in danger, that the power she had hated and suppressed erupted, protecting her with a frightening force.
Saved but unconscious, Eda returned to the orphanage like a lifeless puppet, collapsing onto her bed.
For the next three days, her body mechanically performed the tasks of an ordinary person, maintaining its normal functions. As for the children in the orphanage, they weren't particularly friendly towards Eda. Despite their fights, they refrained from troubling her further, and Eda had no desire to continue confronting them. Her future didn't lie within the walls of that orphanage.
Eda had more important things to do. For an orphan seeking to change her fate, there were only two options: crime or education. Fortunately, Eda had a sharp mind, not eidetic but certainly intelligent. In her spare time, she took odd jobs to earn money, as the orphanage was truly impoverished.
Despite her hatred for her abilities, Eda experimented with them cautiously. She saw them as a potential means of survival, as they had protected her in critical moments.
And so, Eda spent two orderly years in the orphanage, preparing for what lay ahead.
A peculiar sound at the window brought back Eda's attention. Looking up, she spotted a grey owl pecking at the glass with its beak, as if mimicking the action of a human knocking.
Owls were not uncommon in this area, at least Eda often saw them, but their human-like behaviour amused her. Eda hopped out of bed and opened the window to let the owl in.
The grey owl flew in through the window, circling the small room twice before landing gracefully on the desk. It extended its leg proudly towards Eda, bearing a letter. Eda reached out, removed the letter from the owl's leg, and then crumbled the remainder of her bread into crumbs before it.
The envelope was made of sturdy parchment, the address written in emerald green ink, and no stamp affixed.
Eda turned the envelope over, revealing a wax seal—a crest with a shield, bearing a large letter "H" surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.
She extracted the letter from inside and began to read:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump, Order of Merlin, First Class)
Dear Miss Twist,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed with this letter is a list of required books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1st.
Given your unique circumstances, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be sending someone to your residence to address any questions you may have and provide necessary assistance.
Deputy Headmistress
Minerva McGonagall
As if in a dream, Eda found it almost unbelievable. She read the short acceptance letter several times, her fingers tracing the thick parchment paper.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the orphanage, a group of younger children played football under the guidance of a few older ones. The football was somewhat worn, the yard not very large, but everyone was still having a good time, unaware of the sudden appearance of someone at the entrance.
It was a tall woman with a serious expression, dressed in a long emerald green coat and wearing square glasses. Her jet-black hair was tightly pulled back into a bun, giving her a very professional appearance.
As the woman entered the orphanage, the playing children stopped, some beginning to straighten their clothes. They saw this woman, who arrived alone, as a beacon of hope, hope of leaving the orphanage. The woman tried not to look at the pitiful children as she strode purposefully toward the square buildings of the orphanage.
Reaching the door, the woman happened to see a young girl wearing an apron coming out, looking somewhat flustered.
"Good morning, I have an appointment with Mrs. Mary here, is she in?" the woman waved to the young girl and asked.
"Um, yes, she is," the girl responded, not recalling Mrs. Mary mentioning anything about a visitor today but still said, "Please follow me."
The young girl led the woman to a room and knocked on the door. "Mrs. Mary, there's a lady here who says she had an appointment to see you today."
Shortly after, the door opened, revealing Mrs. Mary, who, once slightly plump, now appeared gaunt with exhaustion evident in every crease of her face. It was apparent that Mrs. Mary hadn't had an easy time over the past decade.
"Hello, I'm Minerva McGonagall. I've written to you before," said McGonagall.
"Please come in," Mrs. Mary vaguely remembered such an arrangement, allowing McGonagall into the room. The room was plain and modest, lacking decorations or decent furniture. She gestured for McGonagall to sit on a chair while she took her place behind the cluttered desk, nervously watching McGonagall as she struggled to recall the contents of their correspondence.
"As I've stated in my previous letters, I've come here for Esmeralda Trist," McGonagall, noticing Mrs. Mary's tension, spoke first.
"Are you planning to adopt her?" Mrs. Mary asked anxiously. "Or do you know her?"
"Neither," McGonagall replied.
Hearing this response, Mrs. Mary's expression turned somewhat despondent. "Then what are you here for?"
"I am a teacher at Hogwarts. I've come regarding Miss Trist's enrolment at our school."
The name of the school was one Mrs. Mary had never heard of, nor had she heard Ada mention applying to such a school, so she asked sceptically, "Why would you be interested in her? Has she applied to your school?"
"Her qualities align perfectly with our admission standards, hence my visit today," McGonagall replied, showing no sign of impatience. "Her name has been on our records since birth..."
"Who registered her? Her relatives, or her parents?" Mrs. Mary inquired, her recent memory lapses not indicative of her confusion.
McGonagall sighed inwardly, finding Mrs. Mary, who appeared less intelligent than expected, unexpectedly stubborn. McGonagall drew her wand and waved it at Mrs. Mary, then picked up a blank piece of paper and handed it to her.
Mrs. Mary took the completely blank paper, her gaze becoming distant as she stared at it for quite some time, as if the paper possessed some sort of magic. "I understand now. The acceptance of Ada by your school is entirely reasonable and procedural. Thank you for valuing this child so highly," she returned the paper to McGonagall.
Watching the now more cooperative Mrs. Mary, McGonagall also breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Mrs. Mary was quite responsible for the children. Although unsure why Dumbledore had asked her to pay extra attention to Trist, McGonagall decided to comply with Dumbledore's request. So she inquired of Mrs. Mary, "If you may, could you tell me about Miss Trist? Was she born here? Have you been taking care of her all this time?"
"No, she wasn't. We found her at the orphanage gate. It was twelve years ago, on a December day after continuous heavy snowfall that lasted until evening, freezing cold. Nancy and I... Oh, poor Nancy, I hope she's at peace in heaven. Nancy and I found her at the orphanage gate; she was already somewhat frozen. Luckily, she came to..."
"Is there anything else?" McGonagall continued to inquire.
The room fell into silence, the only sound being the creaking of the overburdened chair – it was truly quite old.
"She used to be a very well-behaved child, even when she was just born, she rarely cried. A cute, well-behaved child is always pleasant," Mrs. Mary reminisced.
Upon hearing Mrs. Mary's words, McGonagall furrowed her brow. "You said 'used to be'?"
Seeing McGonagall's expression, Mrs. Mary felt uneasy. She was unsure whether she should share Eda's story with this woman, feeling a sense of concern. After contemplating for a while, Mrs. Mary hesitantly said, "Will Eda definitely be able to go to your school?"
"Of course," McGonagall affirmed, not understanding why Mrs. Mary suddenly brought up this question. She was becoming curious.
"Regardless of what I say about Eda, will it not have any impact?" Mrs. Mary asked, directing an inquiring gaze at McGonagall.
"Whether she can attend Hogwarts depends on Miss Trist's personal wishes, nothing else," McGonagall assured once again.
"Very well." Mrs. Mary let out a long sigh, and the worry on her face disappeared. "She's a somewhat peculiar child."
"Peculiar? Did you discover that?" McGonagall inquired, thinking that Trist's magical fluctuations might have been noticed.
Seeing no change in McGonagall's expression, Mrs. Mary continued, "No, we didn't discover it. Initially, it was a couple who adopted her who noticed."
"Adopted?"
"Yes, that was when Ada was four. One day, the Gleens came to the orphanage. They had been living together for many years but hadn't been able to have children. So, they decided to adopt one." Mrs. Mary recollected.
"So they chose Miss Trist?"
"Yes, I asked for their preference, and they wanted to adopt a slightly younger child. Ada was among them. She blended in with the children, quiet and not fussy at all, but the Greens still noticed her. It's hard not to notice a girl like a little angel, so they decided to adopt Ada. After completing the formalities, the couple happily left with Eda."
"But eventually, they returned Miss Trist."
"Yes," Mrs. Mary's expression became pained. "I thought Eda could finally leave the orphanage forever, but three months later, they brought her back. The Gleens seemed terrified. When they brought her back, they kept their distance away from her, I asked them what had happened. At first, they refused to say anything, but finally, Mr. Gleen reluctantly told me that Eda is a monster!"
Mrs. Mary took out a handkerchief, wiping her tears, and continued, "They said that ever since they adopted Eda, objects in the house would often change position for no reason; there would frequently be animals appearing around their residence; and Eda would unconsciously manipulate objects from a distance. The most frightening thing was that although the couple clearly went to bed in their bedroom, they would wake up the next day finding themselves sleeping on the sofa in the living room. So, the terrified couple made the decision to send Eda back..."
"Have you ever witnessed these occurrences?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Never, not once," Mrs. Mary shook her head repeatedly, "I've never seen such occurrences. At the time, I thought the Greens had come up with a poor excuse to send Eda back."
"Poor child," McGonagall sighed.
"After that, Eda remained a very sensible child. Even if occasionally some children bullied her, she never said anything. When Eda was seven, she was adopted again."
"Again?" It was evident that this outcome was also not good; otherwise, she should be in some house right now facing her parents, not in an orphanage. Although McGonagall didn't have children, as a woman, she still felt sorry for the little girl.
"This time, the Taylors were both doctors, successful individuals, and the couple were very interested in mysticism, enjoying researching various legends. Although I've never seen those strange occurrences, Eda was a suitable choice, wasn't she?" Mrs. Mary said, but she clenched the handkerchief in her hand tighter. "This adoption lasted for six months. After half a year, the Taylors appeared much thinner, and their terrified demeanor was even worse than the Greens."
"I suppose they were frightened by Miss Eda again?" McGonagall suggested.
"Yes, they were. However, the Taylors said Eda voluntarily showed them these abilities. And since then, Eda has never been adopted again, and people who come here usually don't choose older children."
"I suppose she was trying to please her foster parents who liked mysticism... Have you ever seen this... um... ability of hers?" McGonagall asked tentatively.
Mrs. Mary still shook her head. "No, never. Even after that time, I once loudly questioned her, but she still didn't show any signs of this ability. She, who was always obedient, actually started fighting with the other children, and her temper became worse, and she became more and more solitary."
"I think these two adoptions and abandonments must have traumatised her..." McGonagall pondered for a moment.
"My thoughts are the same as yours. It's probably because of the blow she received; she made me feel somewhat unfamiliar. Since two years ago, the children in the orphanage no longer dare to bully her. Although I don't know what happened between her and the children, I'm sure something happened that made the children very fearful." Mrs. Mary spoke to herself.
Mrs. Mary dried her tears and said solemnly, "Please, in any case, you must believe me, Eda has always been a kind child, and she is growing up gradually... Oh, I think it's better for you to meet her. She's really a very good child." As she spoke, Mrs. Mary stood up.
"No trouble at all," McGonagall said, also standing up. She came today for Eda, naturally she must see her.
Guided by Mrs. Mary, the two walked out of the office and went upstairs. In the corridor of the second floor, the children who were jumping and playing politely greeted the two.
"Here it is." The two walked through the corridor on the second floor and stopped at the door of the last room. Mrs. Mary knocked twice on the door and then walked in.
"Eda, this is Ms McGonagall. She has come to see you." After saying this, Mrs. Mary closed the door and left, but she didn't go far.
"Hello, Ms McGonagall." Eda gestured towards the only chair in the room and poured a glass of water for McGonagall.
McGonagall looked at Eda, who was wearing ill-fitting clothes, and couldn't help but admit that Eda was indeed a very pretty young girl. McGonagall had used her Animagus ability as a tabby cat on numerous occasions to secretly observe Eda.
As McGonagall looks at Eda, she is also sneakily observing McGonagall. When Mrs. Mary mentioned McGonagall's name, Eda recognized the serious woman with meticulously combed hair in front of her as Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, as stated in the acceptance letter.
"Greetings, I'm Minerva McGonagall." McGonagall stepped forward and extended her hand.
Eda shook it and then placed the previously poured water on the table. "I'm sorry, we don't have tea here. Water will have to do."
"That's alright." Looking at Eda, who seemed mature beyond her age, McGonagall said, "I assume you've seen the letter."
"Yes, Ms McGonagall, but I'm having trouble understanding..."
"You can voice your concerns," McGonagall said, gesturing for Eda to sit down.
Seeing McGonagall take a seat, Eda finally sat down on the edge of the bed. With a puzzled expression, she asked, "I saw that your school is a magic school, but, sorry, does this magic refer to sorcery?"
"No, it's real magic. Also, you can call me Professor McGonagall."
"Magic... Can you show me?" There was anticipation and pleading in her tone.
McGonagall took out her wand and pointed it at an empty cup on the table. The cup transformed into an exquisite snuffbox and then into a goblet.
"Incredible!"
"Hogwarts is a school specifically for individuals with special abilities, a magic school where only wizards can attend. If you wish, you will start in September." McGonagall restored the goblet back to its original form.
"So, some of the strange occurrences around me are... also magic?"
"I heard some things about you from Mrs. Mary, and yes, it is indeed magic. It usually happens to young wizards who have not yet entered school. Through studying in Hogwarts, you can learn to control this ability and prevent it from getting out of hand. If you wish to attend Hogwarts, of course, if you don't, no one will force you." McGonagall observed Eda's emotions as she spoke. But Eda's expression went from excitement to disappointment, her pale face looking even more pitiful.
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't go..."
McGonagall looked at Eda, whose emerald eyes had lost their sparkle. "What's wrong, unwilling to go?"
"No, I'm very much looking forward to the magical world you described, and I'm eager to go to Hogwarts!" Eda raised her head, her eyes gleaming for a moment before dimming again. "But I don't have money. My savings probably aren't enough to support me going to Hogwarts."
"This is an easy problem to solve." McGonagall took out a leather coin purse from her pocket. "Hogwarts does not require tuition fees, and we also have a scholarship fund specifically for those who need assistance purchasing textbooks and robes. However, you may need to buy some second-hand items."
"No problem." Eda replied and then pointed to her own clothes. "I grew up here and have been using second-hand items since I was little, so buying second-hand goods is not a problem at all. I just don't know where to buy them."
"All the things you need can be found in Diagon Alley. I can take you there, and you can also exchange some of your savings for wizarding currency if you need to."
"When can we leave?"
"Now. You can tidy up first, I'll wait for you at the orphanage gate. Remember to bring your list; it was sent with the letter," McGonagall said as she got up and walked out, leaving Eda alone in the room.
Eda was somewhat satisfied with her performance just now. Eda didn't want to appear too extraordinary or attract too much attention. At this moment, she felt terribly insignificant, not even as strong as an ant.
After organizing the items in the room, Eda took out all her possessions—part of it was earned from her work, and part of it was given by the two couples who had once adopted her. These funds couldn't do much, but for Eda, they were her entire fortune at the moment.
The magical world, it seemed like a dangerous but fascinating journey. Eda walked to the window and saw McGonagall standing in the courtyard. Despite her old age, McGonagall's figure was still upright.
Eda chose to accept her fate and face the challenge.
McGonagall and Eda crossed half of London via Muggle transportation to arrive at this ordinary street, filled with ordinary people.
"We're here, the Leaky Cauldron," McGonagall stopped. "Muggles won't notice it."
Following McGonagall's pointed finger, Eda also saw the legendary Leaky Cauldron. It was far from living up to its illustrious reputation, dirty and cramped, hardly attracting any attention. If it weren't for McGonagall's guidance, Eda would never have noticed it.
Entering the bar, it was indeed dark and dirty, living up to its façade.
There were a few wizards sitting in groups of two or three in the bar. They all seemed to know McGonagall, greeting her as she passed, even the bartender came forward to greet her.
"Professor McGonagall, would you like something to drink?" the bartender, Tom, asked hospitably.
"No, thank you, I have some business to attend to." McGonagall said as she walked forward, and Eda hurried to follow.
Passing the bar counter, the two came to a small courtyard enclosed by walls on all sides. There was only a trash can and some weeds here.
"Remember, Miss Trist, count up three and then across two." McGonagall first gestured for Eda to come and watch her count the bricks on the wall, and then, when Eda saw clearly, she asked Eda to step back. McGonagall lightly tapped the spot on the wall where she had counted earlier with her wand three times.
As McGonagall tapped, the brick began to move, and a small hole appeared in the wall, which then grew larger. After a while, a wide arch appeared in front of them, leading to a cobblestone street that seemed endless.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Miss Trist." McGonagall glanced back at the astonished Eda before leading the way forward, and Eda hurried to follow.
The constantly moving crowd made the originally spacious street extremely crowded, people speaking loudly, greetings and bargaining voices echoed continuously. There were cauldron shops, owl emporiums, and broomsticks stores surrounded by boys, as well as many other strange shops. The things sold by the merchants in Diagon Alley seemed to include everything you could think of and nothing they didn't sell.
"Do you need to exchange some Galleons? Galleons are the currency circulated in the magical world, one Galleon can be exchanged for seventeen Sickles, and one Sickle can be exchanged for twenty-nine Knuts." McGonagall said to Eda.
"I have some savings and want to exchange them for wizarding currency."
"Follow me closely."
Under McGonagall's lead, the two arrived at a towering, snow-white building. Beside the gleaming bronze door stood a goblin in a crimson and gold uniform. On the way there, McGonagall had introduced Eda to Gringotts, naturally mentioning the goblins.
In truth, Eda was somewhat confused. Wizards emerged victorious in the war against the goblins, yet they willingly handed over control of finance to them. If the goblins were to launch a currency war, the days ahead for the lofty wizards would be bleak indeed. The economic lifeline was in the hands of the goblins, and Eda couldn't fathom which wizard had proposed such an idea.
The two goblins bowed to them and ushered them into a grand marble hall. McGonagall addressed one of the goblins, "Miss Trist here is a student who will be attending this year. She needs to exchange some Galleons."
"Very well. Today's exchange rate is five to one, meaning five pounds can be exchanged for one Galleon," the goblin looked at Eda and asked, "So, Miss Trist, how much do you intend to exchange?"
After exchanging her money, Eda left Gringotts under McGonagall's guidance. Eda exchanged 100 Galleons; it was all the money she had, and she could only exchange so much. Muggle-born children could exchange a certain amount of currency at Gringotts before the start of each school year to ensure they had money to buy their necessary supplies. However, to prevent a run on the bank, the goblins at Gringotts limited the amount that could be exchanged. After all, if the wizards wanted, Muggle currency would be far more profitable than Galleons.
Eda put the pouch containing her Galleons into her pocket. The pouch was enchanted by goblins to expand its interior space for coins, and the carrier wouldn't feel its weight. Magical life was indeed convenient. Eda also had a Galleon in her hand, which she played with. Galleons weren't pure gold; Eda estimated they were an alloy crafted by goblins through magic.
"Professor, where should we go next?"
"To buy your robes of course," McGonagall replied succinctly.
However, at Eda's request, the two didn't go to a second-hand store. Instead, they went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where the prices were much higher than at a second-hand shop. At the entrance of Madam Malkin's, McGonagall decided to split up; it was too inefficient for both of them to shop together. She let Eda buy her robes alone while she went to purchase cauldrons, telescopes, scales, and other items.
Madam Malkin was a squat, jovial witch dressed in purple. She looked at Eda, who had come in alone, and asked, "Are you here to buy Hogwarts school robes, dear?"
"Yes."
"Come over here, dear."
Under Madam Malkin's guidance, Eda went to the back of the shop. Madam Malkin had Eda stand on a footstool and fitted her with a robe, pinning it to the appropriate length for her height.
"Madam, I'm sorry, but could the robe be made a bit larger?" Eda spoke up.
"Of course, dear," Madam Malkin replied as she measured Eda's figure. She heard Eda's words and, knowing that the child had come alone, naturally understood that Eda's circumstances might not be good. She hoped that making the robe a bit larger would allow Eda to wear it for an extra year. Eda wasn't the first child to make such a request.
After trying on the robe, paying, and leaving her address, Eda walked out, and McGonagall was waiting for her at the door.
"Except for books and wands, everything else is sorted," McGonagall said, truly efficient and capable. "Now, let's go buy your books."
"Yes, Professor," Eda replied, then followed McGonagall to a second-hand bookstore. They needed to buy Eda's textbooks there.
Perhaps due to the upcoming school term, the second-hand bookstore had neatly arranged books required for each grade, making it easy for students to select. Eda was meticulous in her selection, flipping through each book carefully. She didn't want any missing pages or blurry text in her textbooks. McGonagall was also helping to choose books, even more meticulously than Eda. The two spent a long time in the bookstore, finally finding satisfactory books. With McGonagall's guidance, Eda also picked out some additional books to help her better understand the magical world. Of course, Eda paid for these extra books herself.
Now, there was only one thing left for the two of them to buy: a wand.
Walking out of the bookstore, Professor McGonagall and Eda were heading to purchase a wand, the last item on their shopping list, and arguably the most important one.
The wand shop was small and dilapidated, with the golden-lettered sign on the door almost entirely worn off, reading: "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC." Inside the dusty display window, on faded purple velvet, lay a single wand.
As they entered the small shop, a clinking sound came from the back room. The shop was tiny, with nothing but a long bench and thousands of narrow boxes stacked nearly to the ceiling.
"In Diagon Alley, Ollivanders sells the best wands. Mr. Ollivander himself is one of the world's finest wandmakers, and many foreign wizards come to Diagon Alley just to purchase one of his wands," McGonagall explained to Eda. "So, you'll find the wand here that's perfectly suited to you."
Just as McGonagall and Eda were conversing, a soft voice suddenly spoke, "Good afternoon." An old man appeared before them, his pale eyes shining like two moons in the dimly lit shop. Without a doubt, this was Garrick Ollivander, the master wandmaker who hailed from a lineage spanning over two thousand years.
"Greetings," McGonagall responded, then turned to Eda, saying, "This is Mr. Garrick Ollivander, the owner of this shop."
"Hello," Eda murmured softly.
"Ah, a new student for Hogwarts, what's your name?" Ollivander inquired.
" Esmeralda Trist, but you can call me Eda," she replied, looking up at Ollivander. She could even see her reflection in his pale eyes.
"Very well, Miss Trist, which hand do you use to wield a wand?" Ollivander asked as he pulled out a long tape measure with silver markings from his pocket.
"I'm more comfortable using my right hand," Eda said.
"Good, hold out your arm," he began measuring Eda, from shoulder to fingertip, then from wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and finally, head circumference. Eda couldn't understand why all these measurements were necessary, especially since Madam Malkin's measurements weren't nearly as extensive as Ollivander's!
While the silver tape was busy measuring, Ollivander was busy rummaging through the shelves, selecting some long boxes to bring down. "Every Ollivander wand contains a powerful magical substance at its core, Miss Trist. We use unicorn hair, phoenix feathers, and dragon heartstrings. Each Ollivander wand is unique because no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are alike. And, if you were to use a wand that rightfully belongs to another wizard, it wouldn't work as effectively."
"Alright," he said, the tape measure slipping from his grasp and coiling into a pile on the floor, "Miss Trist, try this one. Pear wood, unicorn hair core, nine and three-quarter inches. Give it a wave."
Eda took the wand, feeling a surge of warmth through her fingertips. It felt like an extension of her arm, a connection between herself and the wand. She waved it, and the tip emitted a dazzling light, like brilliant fireworks dancing across the walls, casting colourful patterns.
McGonagall, sitting on the bench, applauded, while Ollivander exclaimed, "Very good, excellent! Just like they were made for each other!"
Ollivander carefully placed the wand back into its box, tying an intricate bow with a ribbon. Turning to Eda, he said, "Pear wood wands are quite rare, and they choose their wizards just as selectively. Wands made of pear wood are often associated with ominous rumours, but in truth, they represent life as much as death. They are drawn to wizards with a strong protective instinct."
"Wands choose the wizard, Miss Trist, and pear wood wands can grant immense power, the power to control life and death, a power that enthrals and terrifies. But ultimately, it's the wizard who wields the wand. Remember, while you pursue power, never let it cloud your judgment. Always remain in control!"
Eda listened intently to the wandmaker's words, feeling a bit bewildered but ultimately understanding the last message—control the power, don't be controlled by it!
As McGonagall and Eda left the shop, Ollivander bowed and bid them farewell, leaving a lasting impression on Eda with his eccentricity.
Crossing half of London again, McGonagall and Eda arrived back at the orphanage's doorstep.
"In the envelope, there's a train ticket for you to go to Hogwarts. September 1st, King's Cross Station, all the details are there. The platform is Nine and Three-Quarters..." "Sorry, Professor, I've never heard of a Nine and Three-Quarters platform at King's Cross Station." "It's between Platforms Nine and Ten. You'll find it once you go there. Pay attention." McGonagall continued, "I suggest you arrive early so you have more time to find the platform. Even if you don't find the entrance, at least you'll see others looking for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and you can follow them."
"Alright, Professor, I'll arrive early. I don't want to miss the train."
"Anything else?" McGonagall asked.
Eda thought carefully but couldn't come up with any questions for now. "No, Professor, I don't have any questions at the moment."
"Well then, see you at school. Enjoy your vacation." McGonagall waved goodbye and turned to walk down the street. Just as she reached the corner, she turned back to Eda and said, "Personally, I suggest you read your textbooks a bit more, do some early studying."
After saying this, McGonagall didn't wait for Eda's response and continued walking towards the street corner. As she reached the corner, she disappeared instantly, as if the McGonagall Eda had seen before was just an illusion.
Watching McGonagall disappear around the corner, Eda thought about her clean and neat attire, her decisive demeanour. Though she rarely smiled, always maintaining a serious expression, there was a warmth and reliability in some of her words.