Overflow
The concept for this story is an OC the year under Harry, who has a unique magical trait which causes him to have exponential growth. He is basically supposed to have plenty of power, enough to eventually dwarf Voldemort and Dumbledore. Similarly to a character like Naruto, he will have a more difficult time in the beginning with control, but when he finally gains that control he'll be a force to be reckoned with.
I do not own Harry Potter, though I wouldn't mind if Rowling just handed me the rights.
I was different. I had known this all my life. When I was a toddler, my toys danced eagerly to my whims, and my sister's hair turned into a kaleidoscope of colours whenever she made me burst out in gurgling laughter. With age, these incidents became more noticeable. My toys started floating in the air. It was like they had tiny wings! Sometimes I would make an ice cream grow to twice its size! These happenings didn't cause any major incidents up until the age of 6, that is, when the frequency of them began increasing.
These unexplainable incidents happened more regularly, and other kids had opted to stay away from me. This, of course, made me lonely, as any child would be. At school, I retreated inside the library, immersing myself in books during breaks, while the other kids played with their friends.
It was around the time when I turned 7 that these incidents ramped up in intensity.
They had always happened in response to strong emotions, but as time went on, the need for intense feelings lessened. Soon, even a slightly potent emotion made changes in the surroundings. And as I would soon find out, stronger fluctuations had larger, and sometimes dangerous, results.
And find out I did. Incidentally, the worst of the incidents happened on my 7th birthday, as a matter of fact.
The date was 28th July 1988. The school year had concluded, and the sun cast a bright glow in the sky, even as it descended. It also happened to be the birthday of a now 7-year-old lad, Elias, who was presently seated in a car traversing a road on the southern coast of England.
In the back seat beside his elder sister, Elias engaged himself by observing the passing scenery. All the while, he attempted to ignore the escalating arguments between his parents, a recent and more frequent occurrence.
They were en route to spend a couple of days at their summer cottage for Elias's birthday, and he fervently hoped that they wouldn't quarrel upon arrival. His birthday celebrations were typically joyful, and he wished they would remain so.
As the car decelerated, he was snapped out of his thoughts, realising they were turning onto a gravel road. Recognising the new route, Elias knew they were almost there.
A few minutes later, the car came to a halt beside a charming, red wooden cabin. Stepping out, Elias was promptly handed his luggage by his father and was instructed to go and unpack.
Half an hour later, having unpacked and changed into his swimming trunks, Elias was eager to plunge into the ocean. Entering the living room of their cottage, he found his elder sister, Rebecca, setting up her new Nintendo Entertainment System, or "NES" for short, connecting it to the television.
His parents had just settled in after completing their unpacking, walking through the glass sliding door leading to the sandy beach.
"Dinner in an hour; don't wander too far," his father shouted after him as Elias strolled through the warm sand towards the ocean.
The weather was pleasant; with the temperature reaching 29 degrees, the water was pleasantly warm. Swimming posed no issue, and Elias had always loved the water.
After frolicking in the water for approximately an hour, Rebecca beckoned him in for dinner.
As he entered the dining room, the atmosphere was tense as his parents locked eyes.
He sat next to Rebecca, and they quietly filled their plates. His mom and dad were too busy yelling at each other. He wished they would stop arguing; it was his birthday, after all. Dad tried to talk to my sister, but mom just got madder. Why can't they stop? Elias looked at Rebecca, but she looked as lost as me.
Her mood worsened progressively, and eventually, she snapped at Rebecca as she discussed a new game she had been playing. Rebecca shot Elias an apologetic look, her eyes silently pleading for patience. She was unsure of how she could make things easier for Elias amid their parents' relentless arguing.
Attempts by Dad to calm her down were futile, as she hurled insults his way, and they swiftly descended into an argument. This was not an unusual occurrence, and it was wearing Elias down. They couldn't even keep it together on his birthday.
Exhaustion settled in. Why couldn't Mom just be happy on his birthday? The other kids blamed everything on him at school. Was it the same now, or was this his fault? Was he the thing that was making his family unhappy?
Unnoticed by the siblings and the arguing parents, the surrounding air began to swirl, and the sea's currents intensified into a violent pitch. As their parents screamed at each other, a whooshing sound was heard before a loud crash enveloped them. They had little time to react as a large wave crashed through the glass door facing the ocean. Rebecca dived at Elias just as the violent torrent of water rushed in, slamming them into the back wall as Rebecca cradled him.
Their terrified screams were muffled as the water covered them, and before Elias knew it, everything went black.
Beep, beep, beep. Opening my eyes, I found Dad standing by my bedside. The room was too bright, and my head felt heavy.
Looking to my right, I saw my sister sitting on a stool with her left arm in a sling.
That was the day I found out how dangerous my emotions were. It was also the day I lost my mother.
The wave that burst through our house knocked out my 7-year-old self, but the adults were just bruised up a little. My sister was a little worse for wear because she had taken most of the impact for me when we were flung into the wall.
After driving me to the hospital, my dad stayed beside my and Rebecca's beds while my mother left. The day after, my mother served my dad divorce papers, leaving him in full custody. She at least seemed to care about us enough to not bring any more strife into our lives.
It's been almost 4 years since I saw her for the last time; she completely disappeared from my life that day. It was my fault she left, like everything else.
Today was June 28, 1992. My 11th birthday was just a month away. As I walked down the stairs from my room on the second floor, I felt happy knowing there was no school and the weekend was here. From the kitchen, I could hear my sister's voice.
"Elias, come here!"
Walking into the kitchen, I saw a 20-year-old Rebecca feeding some bacon to a brown tawny owl. "For you," she said, as she handed me a letter made of old parchment.
Upon receiving the letter, I observed it curiously. My name and address were written on the back of the letter in neat handwriting with elegant green ink. Oddly, it also said the second bedroom on the second floor, my room, now that I thought about it. In the front, sealing the letter was a red wax seal, and imprinted upon it was a crest. The crest includes an "H" in the centre, surrounded by four animals. An eagle, a badger, a snake, and a lion.
Breaking the seal and taking out the parchment inside. I started reading out loud for my sister to hear, and I was surprised by the contents as I read.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards).
'That's a lot of titles'
Dear Elias Valor,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1st, and we await your owl by no later than July 31st. Your ticket for the Hogwarts Express will also be included.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
On another parchment was the list of supplies.
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions"
Encased in the letter was also a ticket for the Hogwarts Express.
Looking up at my sister, neither of us were very surprised. Ever since the incident, I have actively fought to control my emotions in an effort to prevent the incident from repeating itself. I had also gained somewhat of a grasp on the energy that welled up within me as they flared, at least enough so that I wouldn't cause anything to spontaneously combust.
Rebecca had always loved fantasy and fiction, and so she was often buried in a book or other similar means of entertainment like movies or video games. I felt that maybe she could help me find a solution to my problem.
My sister, weary at first, soon grew enthusiastic about my prospective powers, and, although excited, she wanted to let me come to her in my own time. So when I finally decided to talk to her, she was ecstatic. And as I described my experiences, she drew some parallels with the concept of the force in Star Wars, though I certainly didn't have some higher power telling me what to do, I think.
Nevertheless, I still thought that it could help, so we sought out someone to teach us meditation. Soon I had learned to control both the energy and my emotions to a decent degree so that I could suppress any spontaneous uprising.
The issue was that I needed to regularly train this control. Because the energy noticeably grew every day, so unless I wanted to lose control, I would have to continue improving it.
So I'd made a habit of circling the energy throughout my body continuously. This was intended as a way to familiarise myself with the energy and to enhance my control. I had received some welcome boons from this action; I had noticed that I was more energetic, I recovered faster from exhaustion, and I felt more healthy overall. Today, the energy is several times larger than it was four years ago.
"I'm going," I told her, and she nodded in response. It wasn't a question really; we already knew I had some sort of power; this just gave us a name for it: magic.
Now I just needed to show my father. And after a while, my dad emerged out of the creaking door of his bedroom, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
He naturally knew of my strange abilities; I mean, how could he not? So he quickly agreed to let me go to Hogwarts, as long as I wanted to do so, which I of course did.
Making myself some toast, we sat in silence for a few minutes while eating. The owl flapped its wings and jumped up to the windowsill. After finishing breakfast, I went to get some paper, a pen, and an envelope. We didn't have parchment, so this would have to do.
Writing my letter as neatly as I could, I addressed it to Professor McGonagall, responding that I would indeed like to attend Hogwarts but would like somebody to escort me to get my supplies and answer questions. Rebecca looked over the letter before handing it back to me, gesturing for me to attach it to the leg of the owl.
Tying it around its leg, I pet it tenderly before gesturing to the window. I watched it idly as it flew off.
Now I just had to wait for somebody to respond or for somebody to arrive to bring me to get my supplies.
The next couple of days were spent in suspense; the days at school consisted of being bored, even when being in a higher grade than my age suggested. At home, I was constantly listening for any word from the magical world.
Finally, 5 days after the letter arrived, just as I was settling down in my room after coming home from school, exhausted from a week of going to classes, I heard a rapped knock on the front door. My eyes widened, and my exhaustion was forgotten as I rushed towards the stairs.
Stopping midway, I checked myself in the mirror beside the stairs, sweeping my golden blonde hair to the side. I quickly assessed if I was presentable, my blue eyes meeting their reflection and not seeing anything out of place before nodding in satisfaction.
Arriving at the entrance, I was about to swing open the door when I remembered that I was a lonely kid with social anxiety and very limited positive interactions outside of my dad and sister. So, I took a deep breath to steady my now-shaking hands. These people were like me; perhaps I could finally find friends.
With my resolve strengthened, I opened the door—maybe a bit too quickly. Gazing at the driveway, where I expected someone who would introduce me to magic, I found nobody standing in front of the door. Glancing towards the fence on the other side of the lawn, I noticed a small black-haired girl standing beside it, accompanied by an older clone of her who looked to be in her 30's, if I had to guess.
The little girl grinned and waved enthusiastically as she saw me. I waved back hesitantly, furrowing my brows slightly, wondering if they had knocked on the door from all the way over there.
Hearing a chuckle right in front of me, I looked down, meeting eyes with a diminutive man standing right in front of me. 'He's tiny.'
"Yes, I suppose you could say that," he said amusedly. I realised that I'd spoken aloud.
"I apologise for my rudeness. I am Elias Valor," I said hastily as I bowed my head, embarrassed by my comment.
As he extended a hand for a handshake, I looked up shyly as he grinned at me. "Not to worry, young Valor. I am Filius Flitwick, professor of charms at Hogwarts and the head of Hufflepuff. I am here to guide you to get your supplies. Are your guardians home?" he asked.
Nodding in reply, I turned around and shouted into the house.
A few moments later, my dad and Rebecca stood behind me as they introduced themselves to the diminutive professor.
After a brief explanation, we quickly got ready, locking the door behind us and following Flitwick out towards the street.
"The four heads of houses usually guide new first-year Muggle-borns, that is, first-generation magicals, to Diagon Alley, the most prominent shopping district in magical Britain. To be more efficient, we pick you up in pairs," he explained. "So, this young woman will be your future classmate, Miss Bennet," he gestured to the little girl, who I noticed was about my own height.
Grinning enthusiastically, the girl introduced herself. "I am Charlotte Bennett. It's nice to meet you. I hope we can get along."
Taken aback by her enthusiasm, I took her hand softly, answering quietly. "I'm Elias Valor. It's nice to meet you, too."
Spinning around, her bright mood could not be understated. "Isn't this great? Magic is real!" She laughed joyously as she turned to the professor. "So, professor, how do we get to this Diagon Alley?"
Smiling at her enthusiasm, Flitwick instructed the group to gather and hold hands. As we did, he took out a copper coin from his pocket before announcing, "Diagon-alley."
Not a second later, I felt the strangest sensation of my life. A hook went around my navel before yanking me at incomprehensible speeds. The world around me blurred into a kaleidoscope of colours. It was not enjoyable, but luckily, it only lasted a few seconds, five at most, before five bodies slumped to the ground, groaning in discomfort as we landed unceremoniously on the concrete road.
As we sluggishly made our way to our feet, Flitwick cheerfully informed us, "That was a port key, a common means of magical transportation."
Straightening ourselves, the professor gestured for us to follow him.
Walking down a street, I realised that the few pedestrians around us seemed to part around our group, and nobody even glanced in our direction; they didn't when we arrived either, for that matter. Flitwick, meanwhile, explained that we were on "Sharing Cross Road.".
Nobody questioned him, assuming he knew best. Moments later, we stopped suddenly as the professor announced that we had arrived.
Following his gaze, I looked across the street, noticing one that stood out. It was a bar, looking very old-fashioned, with a sign hanging above it, proclaiming it to be the Leaky Cauldron.
"What are you looking at?" Hearing Rebecca's question, I looked back to see the confused expressions on the faces of the grownups.
Flitwick instructed the adults to touch us, and my sister took my hand while Dad laid a hand on my shoulder. They startled, and their tightened grips told me that something had happened.
The professor grinned as he walked across the street, explaining what had happened. "The Leaky Cauldron has been charmed to be visible only to those with enough magic. By touching something magical, in this case, the children, a fraction of their magic will flow into you, momentarily giving you enough magic to see it."
Looking to the side, I saw that Mrs. Bennett was imitating Rebecca.
Stepping into the pub, we were greeted with the sound of rowdy patrons. As the professor led us through the crowd of oddly dressed people, with pointy hats and colourful robes, my sister's hand tightened around my own, and it seemed like she had no intention of letting go.
Emerging out of the back door without incident, Flitwick led us up to a brick wall. Taking out his wand?, he tapped some bricks in a seemingly random order.
I watched in awe as the wall opened itself up, the bricks sliding away and seemingly melding into each other to reveal the other side.
Flitwick turned back towards us, grinning. "Welcome to Diagon Alley."
I stared in amazement as I got my first look at what the magical world had to offer.
Cobbled streets were filled to the brim with wizards and witches as they milled around the various stores.
I felt myself being pulled along, and I put up no resistance as I looked on in awe.
As we danced through the crowds, I managed to catch a glimpse through a store window as the crowd parted slightly.
On display through the glass was a bubbling cauldron; around it were vials of various sizes and with various brightly coloured substances within, which were rhythmically being poured into the cauldron as they levitated in the air. Each time a vial spilled its contents inside, sparkles of various colours burst out, matching those of the substance. Above the window was a sign with the words "Potions Pride" carved in neat handwriting.
Staring at it stunned for a second, I felt myself being pulled along by the hem of my shirt as Rebecca guided me around a group of chattering witches. She was just as awed as I was, but she was more composed as she pulled me along.
I stared in wonder as we passed stores of all kinds with all sorts of magical nicknacks.
Instruments played by themselves, levitating brooms swept the outside of a store, and a toy train flew through the air on glowing golden rails while kids stared at it in amazement. Before forcing their reluctant parents to follow them inside the toy store.
I was still looking around as the group came to a halt. Looking forward, I saw that we had stopped in front of a building that contrasted greatly with the rest of the alley.
It was a large marble structure with beautiful architecture, which made it stand out from the rest of Diagon's more casual theme. Above the entrance, imprinted upon the smooth marble surface with bold letters, was "GRINGOTTS BANK." On the very top of the building stood a marble sculpture of a dragon, whose maw opened in a representation of a roar; it seemed almost alive.
Following the professor, we walked up the front steps. On either side of the entrance stood two short creatures, clad in heavy armour with spears on their sides. As we approached the entrance, the guards tensed as they observed us before their eyes landed on Professor Flitwick.
They relaxed minutely as he greeted them in a language I could not understand, not responding to the greeting, but I could tell that it was appreciated. He strode past them with a cheerful disposition, and after a moment of hesitation, the rest of us followed, although my dad and my sister positioned themselves closer to me.
As we walked through the entrance, the professor casually explained that Gringotts was a goblin-run bank. As we walked down a dimly lit corridor and towards an archway leading into a larger chamber, I looked up and spotted some writing on the wall above it.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed of what awaits the sin of greed. For those who take but do not earn, they must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors a treasure that was never yours, thief, you have been warned; beware of finding more than treasure there.".
That sounded ominous, but then again, I didn't plan on stealing anything, so I should be safe.
Walking through the archway, we emerged into a larger, well-lit chamber. Lining the walls were black desks, manned by goblin tellers, most of whom were tending to a wizard or witch who sought their services.
Walking behind my dad towards the counter, we stopped and looked up at the goblin, who was ignoring our presence in favour of something on his desk, paperwork, if I had to guess.
"Excuse me."
As dad spoke up, the goblin held up a hand, signalling for us to wait.
A minute later, he looked up from the papers on his desk. His voice came out in a gravelly drawl as he addressed us.
"Yes?".
"I would like to open up an account and also make an exchange."
He observed Dad with an uninterested glance before nodding in affirmation. "One moment"
Pulling out a piece of parchment from a compartment on his desk, he wrote something on it using a quill, which he retrieved from an inkwell to his left.
As he puts what I am guessing is a punctuation, the parchment flashes faintly before an invisible wind carries up into the air before flying away through a hole that opens in the wall behind him.
The goblin went back to his paperwork, and after a minute or so, the hole reopened and another letter flew out, along with a bronze key.
Landing gracefully on his desk, it was picked up in one hand before the goblin's hand went under the desk and retrieved another inkwell along with a quill. "This will take your blood; sign this line. Also, have any other bank holders do the same, and they will gain access."
He handed the quill to my dad. He startled slightly before nodding and signing where the goblin had indicated.
Handing it to me, I was knocked out of my curiosity as I felt a brief sting where my fingers had touched the quill before it was gone the next instant. Writing my name on the dotted line, right beside my father's, I handed it to Rebecca, who had approached after being beckoned by my father.
Looking down at my hand, I noticed not a scratch on my skin, even though I was sure that the quill drew blood. Maybe it healed me?
After following our example, she handed the parchment to the goblin, who took it and read it over before snapping, causing it to dissolve in golden sparks.
Handing the key to Dad, he asked how much we would like to deposit.
"Do you take credit card?"
Receiving a nod in response. Dad took out his card and soon we had around 700 pounds deposited. We were quite well off, as my dad was quite successful in his field. Though I don't understand how the deposit worked since there was no scanner.
I asked Flitwick how many gallons we would need, which turned out to be about 12 gallions for just the basics.
Dad took out about 20 gallions for any additional purchases, along with some sickles and knuts, which were smaller currencies.
After asking Flitwick later, I found out that they took blood in case one of us requested a new lock in the event of losing the key or it being stolen.
Soon enough, we were emerging out onto the stairs of the bank with the rest of the group.
For the next twenty minutes or so, we were led around the alley into various shops. We were fitted for robes, we bought some potion supplies, and along with the rest of the things on the list, now only a pet, the books, and the wand were remaining.
I was heading to the closest bookstore to buy the books, while Charlotte was heading into a store called Olivanders to get her wand. Apparently it was a very personal event, so the rest of us scattered. My dad went to get me an owl, while Rebecca and Mrs. Bennet were going with me to "Flourish and Blotts," which was just as vibrant as all the other stores in this place.
After asking for the Hogwarts 1st year books, I went to have a look around. The different shelves around the store were labelled with different categories like Potions, Astrology, household charms, Jinxes, History, Transfiguration and so on.
Spotting a smaller section labelled Magical Theory, I walked over to it while Rebecca drifted towards the history shelves.
'Wand-waving and incantations... Astrology and magic... Chantless casting... Ley Lines… Magical sounds… Spell colours and lights... Magical surroundings… Ambient magic… Where does your magic come from?' All of these sounded intriguing, but as I could only pick one, I pulled out the last one from the shelf, 'Where does your magic come from?'.
Opening it and reading from the first page, which introduced the topic, which was exactly as the title described it.
'I'll take this one' I decided.
"That will be 3 gallions; anything else?" Just in time too, as I heard the employee's voice from the counter in the middle of the store.
Briskly walking towards the voice, I saw Rebecca and Mrs. Bennett standing in front of the counter. Rebecca had several books piled in her arms, outside of the Hogwarts ones, which were piled on the desk.
"Yes, we'll have these... And that one too," Rebecca answered as she caught sight of the book in my arms while I walked towards them.
Handing her my book, she waved her wand above them before announcing the final price of 5 gallons.
After waiting for Charlotte's mother, we walked out of the bookstore, meeting the waiting professor Flitwick, just outside. He had Charlotte just beside him, and I followed him as he gestured to me to follow him.
"Here it is. Olivander's, the best wand shop in the British Isles."
Olivander's shop was very different from every other store surrounding it. The building was made of bricks with a dull grey colour, which made it stand out from all of the much more vibrant stores. In the window display sat a multitude of rectangular boxes in different shades of grey and brown in unorganised piles.
A deep trembling breath entered my lungs as I steeled myself and walked through the door into the wand store.
I emerged through the door into a large room lit dimly by candles, which lit the room filled to the brim with shelves containing stacks of the same kind of boxes as displayed on the outside.
Several ladders stood along the shelves, and as I followed the tall shelves, my attention was captured by floating orbs, which emitted a soft golden light.
"Fascinating"
"AAhg!" I let out a startled exclamation as I staggered away from an eerie voice behind me.
Spinning around, I met a pair of silvery eyes sitting on a pale and wizened face. The old man's expression was one of intrigue as he gazed into my eyes; it felt as if he were inspecting my very soul.
"Very curious. Now, you are here for your wand, are you not? Come with me." He said with a contemplative look aimed my way even as he gestured for me to follow him.
As he began leading me towards the shelves in the back, he pulled something out of his jacket. Prompted by this very action, a tape measure flew out of his grasp towards me.
It sped towards my hands before extending and beginning to circle and measure every inch of my hands, all the way up to my fingertips.
I watched it in wonder before it flew towards Olivander, and he looked at it for a moment before nodding and gesturing for me to follow him.
Leading me between the tall shelves, his strides were filled with purpose, and I had to jog lightly to keep up.
He stopped suddenly, and his misty eyes zeroed in on something further up on the shelves. Stepping up on a ladder a few metres away, he climbed up to a wooden pathway that extended along the bookshelves on a level too high to reach otherwise.
Sweeping his hands over the different boxes, he finally stopped over one and then hesitated for a moment, looking back to meet my eyes, before taking out a black box.
A few moments later, he had climbed down the ladder with impressive swiftness, and he gestured for a desk in the corner by the edge of the same bookcase.
Walking over to it, I waited anxiously as he opened the box carefully before gingerly setting the box down on the table. Inside the box, lying on a red piece of fabric, was a long piece of pale wood with a smooth surface and simple carving, along with what looked like runes running along the shaft.
I picked it up gingerly, palming the smooth handle, which surprisingly seemed to fit perfectly into my palm. Suddenly, a surreal warmth suffused my body, and my magic sung in joy as my world was suffused with a euphoric golden hue.
The overstimulating sensations died down after a moment, and I looked at Ollivander, who just smiled crookedly at me before telling me to.
"Give it a flick."
I did.
"FWOOSH!"
*Thud*
I desperately wrenched control of my magic as a violent tidal wave of vibrant blue sparks exploded out of the wand's tip, rocketing me backwards into the wall behind me. I slumped to the ground as the sparks died down.
"Ughh…"
My pained groan made the wide-eyed Olivander snap out of his shocked stupor, quickly rushing to my side, and I could vaguely make out his wand waving about through my blurry vision.
Seconds later, my sight returned to me gradually, the pain began ebbing away, and before long it had disappeared completely.
"You will be alright."
Helping me up, the old wandmaker looked at me in a mixture of wonder and what I'm guessing is remorse.
"The wand chooses the wizard, and this wand... It very much chose you, mister."
"Valor sir. Elias Valor. But, sir, was that supposed to happen?"
Offering me a small smile, his expression seemed more friendly than before. And he seemed to appear less mysterious than before. "Well, young Elias, the usual reaction of a compatible wand is usually quite similar, but yours was more potent."
Looking down towards the pale wand clenched between my fingers, I noticed just now how tightly I was gripping it. My fingers were white from the strain.
My grip on the wand abated, and I nodded in agreement. I didn't think this was the normal procedure.
"Yew wood, 12 inches, unbending, with the feather of a phoenix as its core."
Swallowing some saliva from my dry mouth, I nod absently, silently observing the different symbols carved upon the shaft.
"That will be 7 gallions."
I had no idea how I found myself in front of the store counter, but I nodded before paying him and thanking him as I walked out of the store, my mind on the earlier incident, even as I felt a scrutinising gaze on my back.
A palm landed on my head before making a mess of my blonde locks as it ruffled them.
"Stop it, Rebecca,"
"No."
I resigned myself to my fate as she asked me to show her my new wand.
"It's pretty, so why did you choose it in particular?"
*Sigh*
After getting my wand, we met up with the rest of the group before purchasing some more supplies, like cleaning kits for our wands, as recommended by the professor.
We were later led out of the alley, and the professor asked us if we wanted to go home now or if we would rather make our own way back.
We accepted the offer, while Charlotte and her mother declined politely, saying that since they were there, they would visit a relative in London.
So Flitwick decided that now was a good time to show us a magical means of transportation named "The Knight Bus.".
"Stand at a curb and then hold your wand out like this while putting a small amount of magic at the tip."
Doing as told, I channelled some magic into my new wand while raising my arm as if to hail a taxi.
"Boom!"
In a purple blur, a triple-decker bus of the same colour materialised in front of me, coming to a stop in an instant.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this afternoon."
So I've developed an inherent dislike of magical transportation because, while the portkey pulled us at incomprehensible speeds, the Knight Bus was like the worst, least secure roller coaster in existence, as we tumbled around on the seats, which lacked seatbelts for some inexplicable reason.
That reason was beyond me, though, as I was saying goodbye to the professor who was standing at the front door of our house.
"I will see you on September 1st when you come to Hogwarts. Maybe you will go to my house; who knows? Now remember, there is no magic allowed outside of school, and you will enter platform 9 and three quarters through the pillar between platform 9 and 10. Now have a good day, mister Valor."
Smiling at the friendly professor, I shake his outstretched hand. He grins at me before winking mischievously. Spinning around on the spot. He was gone in the next moment; a minute *pop* sound was the only indication of his previous presence, and I could only stare at the empty air in shock.
"I wonder when I'll learn that?"
A hand landing on my shoulder brought me out of my stupor.
"You can ponder that later, right now though... We have some reading to do." Rebecca's voice comes from behind me.
"Ugh" History is by far my least favourite subject. The opposite is true for my sister. Although she's generally not very academically oriented, history has always interested her. And now she has a whole new world to learn about.
I can't help but feel my free time disappearing. The four books she bought wouldn't last all that long, and she was very talkative about her interests. I would probably be the most historically knowledgeable 1st year when I started at Hogwarts.
Though admittedly, the other books will also not last very long. Although history was something I tried to stay away from, I would probably devour the other books; after all, it was magic.
This won't be the last time we visit the alley this summer, I'm sure, though I certainly won't complain about that. I don't believe I could ever get tired of witnessing the various magical feats that were commonplace for those who lived in that world.
"Hoot"
Oh?
As I walked through the brick wall between the platforms with my trolley in hand, I shuddered as I felt a strange sensation pass through me.
Emerging to the other side, I saw the polished red steam engine labelled the "Hogwarts Express" for the first time, and I was briefly awed at its beauty before remembering to move and continuing walking. Rebecca and my father followed after, with her holding my shoulder and him holding hers.
The platform was flooded with witches and wizards, along with their muggle counterparts and their children, as they said tearful goodbyes.
Speaking of…
"You will take care of yourself, OK?"
A tearful voice came from behind me, and I met the watery blue eyes of my older sister.
"And make sure to have some tricks to show us when you get back."
My dad's own voice was shaky, and I could tell that he was trying to hold it together for my sister.
My sister bawled me over as she flung herself at me, though she made sure to not be too rough.
I was finally allowed down onto my feet after several minutes of tearful hugging, which my dad joined in on halfway through.
But I needed to go soon. And so I gave them both one last hug before taking my trolley and walking towards the entrance to the train, where a bunch of other students were boarding.
After exerting myself in hauling my heavy luggage along with a cage that held my adorable pet, "Rydia," a light grey tawny owl, onto the train, I turned around and said a final goodbye to my family before turning around and carrying everything into the train.
'I'll find an empty compartment, or I'll join Charlotte if she's not in a completely full compartment.'
After not finding where Charlotte was sitting, I settled for an empty compartment somewhere in the centre, towards the back of the train.
After struggling to try to lift my luggage onto the overhead racks, I sat down in annoyance; it was way too heavy and too high up.
'Better try again, or maybe...?'
Pulling my pale wand out of my pocket, I recalled the pages that detailed the use of the Leviosa charm in the "Standard Book of Spells.".
Doing the wand movement cautiously, I released some of the tight reigns that I held on my magic, intoning "Wingardium Leviosa.".
"Bang!"
The suitcase shot up into the ceiling with uncontrollable speed, and it was all I could do to not get hit, diving out of the way as it bounced back down.
Sprawling on the floor of my compartment, I lamented why magic seemed to only go wrong for me.
"I need to do something about that."
I got a "hoot" in agreement from my owl.