[28] The Wand That Chose Him

The next morning, Hall slept in.

He strolled to the Great Hall, relaxed, carrying a book. Students rushed past him in sharp contrast.

"Henry!"

Harry waved from the Gryffindor table. He was playing wizard chess with Ron.

Hall sat down next to him. He needed Harry's Parseltongue, so he couldn't let things be awkward.

"Harry, aren't you going home for Christmas?"

"Ron's parents are going to visit his brother. I'm staying."

"What a coincidence," Hall said. "My family's away too."

Ron frowned. What a coincidence.

Hall shrugged. Of course it was a coincidence. They had the same parents.

Christmas break stretched before him.

The first day of Christmas break. Dumbledore had sent a message the night before — meet at the school gates at nine o'clock. Diagon Alley. A new wand.

Hall dressed in his cleanest clothes. He'd been waiting half an hour when Dumbledore appeared.

"Good morning, Headmaster."

"Good morning, Henry. You seem excited."

Hall couldn't deny it. He'd barely slept.

They passed Filch on the way out. Hall greeted him warmly. Filch looked different now — healthy, radiating a faint magical aura. The Squib potion was working.

The short-acting version lasted three days. Five Galleons a bottle. A month's supply cost fifty, with three bonus bottles. Affordable.

Lucius Malfoy had already written to Draco, asking if a long-lasting version was coming. Hall had no intention of sharing his plans. The long-lasting version required the Philosopher's Stone, and that was a secret.

What surprised him was that non-Squibs were buying it too. A wizard had tested it out of curiosity and found his magic — unchanged for years — had actually increased by 1.83%. St. Mungo's had confirmed it.

The first batch sold out immediately. The second batch was already pre-ordered. The Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's had placed large orders, some offering to pay extra to jump the queue.

Hall had assumed it was a plant by Lucius Malfoy to boost sales. Dumbledore confirmed it was real.

The next morning, he slept in.

They crossed the covered bridge to Hogsmeade. Dumbledore extended his hand.

"Ready, Henry? It will be a little uncomfortable."

Hall took his hand. The world compressed. He felt like he was being wrung through a drain.

When his feet touched solid ground, he found a corner and vomited.

"Hahaha. Everyone's like this the first time."

Hall wiped his mouth and silently vowed to invent a more comfortable travel method.

He looked up. The pointed roof of Gringotts rose in the distance.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Come on, Henry. Let's get your wand, then we can visit Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. I hear they have a new flavour."

Hall followed. A super-sized chocolate ice cream with raspberries and crushed nuts.

Apparition was worse than he'd imagined.

Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC.

The shop was small and shabby. A single wand sat on a faded purple cushion in the window. Inside, thousands of narrow boxes piled from floor to ceiling.

"Amazing. It's rare to see students buying wands at this hour." Ollivander emerged from the back. "Oh — Headmaster Dumbledore."

"I'm here to choose a wand for my student."

Ollivander's eyes fixed on Hall. He leaned over the counter, examining him closely. "Amazing. Truly amazing."

Hall's heart tightened. Ollivander was perceptive.

He knows.

"Eleven inches. Holly wood. Unicorn hair core. Try it."

Hall took it. He flicked it.

The sofa burst into flames. Ollivander extinguished it smoothly. "Not this one."

He offered another. "Eleven and a half inches. Rosewood. Thunderbird tail feather core. Excellent for Transfiguration."

Hall pointed it at the rug. The entire house began to shake. The floorboards writhed like living things.

"Finite Incantatem!" Dumbledore cast quickly.

"Not that one either," Ollivander said, relieved.

"Blackthorn, yes! Blackthorn will do." He rummaged through the chaos, pulling out a cobweb-covered box from the bottom. "This was made by my grandfather. Very old. I always thought it would remain alone forever."

Hall took the wand. It was dark black, shorter than average. He gave it a light flick.

A soft breeze swept through the shop. Warmth. Comfort. Happiness.

"Eight point eight inches. Blackthorn wood. Dragon heartstring core. This wand only recognises the powerful, child. You must be a powerful wizard."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Blackthorn is suited to a warrior. Dragon heartstring creates the most powerful wands. Their combination is loyalty and power."

Hall noticed Dumbledore's brow relax.

"Seven Galleons."

Dumbledore paid.

Ollivanders smelled of wood and dust.

They stopped at Florean Fortescue's for an extra-large ice cream each, then returned to Hogsmeade. Hall had prepared a sour fruit for the journey back — it helped with the nausea.

Back at Hogwarts, the common room had been transformed. A massive Christmas tree stood near the fireplace. Under it lay a box and a letter.

The sender: Lucius Malfoy.

Hall opened the box. A storage coin purse. Heavy. Very heavy.

Back at Hogwarts, a surprise waited.

The coin purse was finer than the previous ones. Beside it lay several packaged herbs.

Hall read the letter. The first batch of potions had sold out in half a month. Five thousand bottles. After costs, total profit: 21,388 Galleons. Hall's share, as researcher and maker, was 60%. Plus material costs.

The purse contained 13,833 Galleons.

He emptied it onto the carpet. A small mountain of gold.

[Ding]

Available Galleons: 18,031 Galleons, 6 Sickles, 23 Knuts

"Upgrade Charms talent to A-Rank. Upgrade Disguise Mage talent. Learn Occlumency and the Disillusionment Charm."

Quirrell was like a cockroach. Unkillable. Hall had found a clue in the Restricted Section. Exorcism spells in the magical world required high-level talent, usually passed through family bloodlines. But Hall could upgrade his talent level.

He learned Occlumency because Ollivander had seen through him. Dumbledore already knew he wasn't Henry William. But Ollivander's perception was dangerous. He suspected Ollivander was a natural Legilimens.

The Disillusionment Charm was for the library. School rules prohibited staying after bedtime. The charm would let him read freely.

[Ding — Panel Update]

S-Rank Abilities: Memory Palace (Upgradeable), Disguise Mage (Upgradeable)

A-Rank Abilities: Potion Making (Complexion-Cleansing Draught, Squib Restoration Potion, Radiant Glow Potion, Smooth Hair Potion, Slimming Draught, Joy Potion, Felix Felicis, Veritaserum, Venomous Tentacula Juice), Spells {Wandless Magic, Silent Spell} (Patronus Charm, Basic Transfiguration Charm {Self-Learned}, Petrificus Totalus, Finite Incantatem, Silencio, Immobilising Charm, Trip Jinx, Leg-Locker Curse, Confundus, Alohomora, Wingardium Leviosa, Accio, Diffindo, Lumos, Reducio, Occlumency, Disillusionment Charm)

Available Galleons: 3,011 Galleons, 6 Sickles, 23 Knuts

---