It was the day before his family headed to Diagon Alley; the first time he would truly enter the wizarding world.
He was looking forward to it.
The last April Fool’s battle had a bittersweet ending, but it made him appreciate his family more.
He was falling down a terrible spiral, and they all grabbed a hold of him and pulled him back up.
He meant the promise he gave them.
He enjoyed exploring magic, getting better at his magic, but he did not want to become the type of wizard that overwrote others agency in that process.
He never had to confront that reality due to being talentless at Legilimency, yet somehow despite that, he had to confront that principle anyways by finding a technical workaround by accident.
When Aunt Abi described that his process of assimilating the illusion with her magical senses, meant that he had bypassed her Occlumency, he was shocked.
That was so far from his intentions, yet it was what happened.
I need to do better.
I need to be better.
Magic was a wondrous ability, but it could be dangerous.
Like Mr.
Craig said regarding knowledge.
There was no evil knowledge, only what you use the knowledge for, mattered.
The ancient Celtic wizards and witches had the same view on magic.
There was no such thing as dark magic or normal magic.
It was just magic, and the actions of the wizard and witches decided the rest.
Kieran was unsure if he could fully agree with the ancient Celtic wizards and witches.
Dark magic was capable of terrible things, yet it was also a fact that not everyone that used dark magic was a bad person.
Maybe he would one day develop his own principles on this matter; either way he had no reason to delve into dark magic at this point, so why spend his brainpower on the topic.
He was getting his wand tomorrow; he would soon be able to test his theory on what a wand did for a wizard like him that already had wandless magic.
Project THP hinged on it.
Either way, he looked forward to seeing all the magical shops in Diagon Alley.
…
His family consisting of Aunt Abi, his mum and his dad arrived the 20th of April at the closest hidden magical inn near Hook Heath.
They had used the Floo Network to visit Grandma Agnes, but his parents still took some time to get used to the experience.
Kieran wasn’t much better; it was a novel experience each time he used the Floo Network.
It was such a different experience compared to apparition or portkeys.
Knowing that you could mis-say a word and end up in the nearest other fireplace in the network did fill him with some trepidation every time he used the Floo Network, though.
He didn’t want to end up in the other side of the country accidentally.
They arrived early morning, his parents were fascinated at feeling the anti-muggle charms disappear as they were pointed out that the inn existed.
The inn was bare and barely any visitors were present.
Aunt Abi waved at the innkeeper.
“Mr. Robert, lovely to see you again. Is the fireplace ready, I reserved it for this time,” said Aunt Abi, while Kieran observed the innkeeper Mr.
Robert, an average looking middle-aged man with some greys in his bushy brown beard.
He nodded and led the family to the fireplace, providing a sack of floo powder, and Aunt Abi went on to give instructions to her family.
“It is just like last time! What you are going to do, is step into the fireplace. Loudly say the destination of Leaky Cauldron and throw down your handful of powder,” Aunt Abi said, before smiling.
“The flames that appear are harmless; it is part of the transportation. How about you do it first Hector?”
Kieran listened and heard as his dad mumbled under his breath.
“Of course she picks me again…”
His dad stepped into the fireplace and took a deep breath.
“Leaky Cauldron!” he said loudly, as he threw the powder down and the green flames swallowed him up, leaving mum to gasp.
Kieran looked with fascination, reading something was a very different experience from actually seeing it happen.
His mum shook her head and went second, disappearing into the flames too.
He noticed the expectant look of his aunt and nodded while stepping in.
He picked up the handful of powder.
“Leaky Cauldron!” he said, as he threw the powder down.
His view became green; he refused to close his eyes.
He felt a warmth feeling embrace his entire body, and the next thing he knew he was within a small room, staring at the soot-covered faces of his mum and dad, who moved to hug him once he was out of the fireplace.
Behind Kieran, Aunt Abi appeared and with a swish of her wand she casts a Scourgify on all of them, making them clean again.
“So…how was the magical transportation Hector and Victoria?” Aunt Abi teasingly asked.
His mum shook her head.
“Surreal, but I am happy we do it.” His dad nodded his head next to her and gave his wife a side hug and small kiss on her cheek, which made her and Kieran smile. Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.
They walked outside the room, which Aunt Abi told them was the transportation room for those travelling in from afar.
They entered the main room, seeing the tiny, grubby-looking pub.
It was nothing fancy.
It was dark and shabby, but it had a warm and cozy feeling to it despite its simple exterior, at least according to Kieran’s own opinion.
Maybe it is because I know it hides the wizarding market.
Aunt Abi greeted Tom, the old bald bartender.
Kieran didn’t remember all specific details about the books, but he did remember this bartender being described as looking like a toothless walnut.
I guess I can sort of see the resemblance, but that is not a flattering description… he looks fine!
Aunt Abi took them out the back, and they stopped in front of a brick wall.
He saw his parents’ glance around; they obviously knew by now that magic always hid itself in the mundane.
“Kieran remember this sequence for when you need to travel here on your own in the future” said Aunt Abi, as he nodded and watched her tap the bricks with her wand.
Three bricks up from the middle, two across.
She tapped three times and the bricks started rearranging themselves until they revealed a large archway.
The archway leading onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
Kieran gulped nervously, as he took the hand of his parents in each of his hands.
With Aunt Abi in the lead, they turn the corner and Kieran opened his eyes wide as he watched the colourful street filled with shops, and various people in wizardry robes wandering to and from.
To his right was a small quaint shop with a stack of small cauldrons outside it.
He saw the sign mentioning cauldrons of all sizes; copper, brass, pewter, silver.
Some being self-stirring, others being collapsible.
“Oh, we need a pewter cauldron from there,” his dad mentioned casually, as he nodded toward the shop.
First however, they needed to exchange muggle money to wizard money.
The family walked down the street; Kieran focused on watching all the shops.
Broom shop, apothecary, Eeylop’s Owl Emporium, book shop with quills and parchment; all sorts of magical shops.
Eventually they reached a big imposing building guarded by two goblins at the entrance.
Gringotts.
Luckily Aunt Abi had already debriefed his parents about the other humanoids in the wizarding world, so they didn’t gawk.
His dad politely nodded to the goblins as they passed by, with Kieran following his dad’s example.
Before they walked inside, Kieran read the famous passage from the books.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
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.
Once they entered, Kieran opened his eyes wide, seeing the massive room.
Chandeliers hang from above; hundreds of booths surrounded the centre of the room with hundreds of goblins busy with their work.
The massive room had countless doors leading to various places, with goblins going out and in of the doors.
Aunt Abi guided them to a free counter where a professional-looking goblin sat.
“We are here to exchange British Pounds to Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. Preferably at least one of each,” Aunt Abi said with a polite nod to the hook-nosed goblin.
“Very well, muggles I see. Please wait a moment, Ma’am,” said the professional looking goblin with a small nod.
The exchange was fairly painless, his dad brought out the two thousand pounds he had withdrawn from the bank, wanting a lot just in case.
Aunt Abi seemed surprised by the amount once they all headed back outside, but his dad’s response was level-headed.
“My son is a wizard; this is the money for his society. Of course he deserves some allowance.” He then quickly backpedalled just a little bit.
“Obviously, he won’t get it all at once. Otherwise, knowing Kieran he will spend a thousand pounds in Galleons on magical candy,” his dad said, ruffling Kieran’s head, while Kieran rolled his eyes, unable to really defend himself.
It wasn’t an entirely incorrect statement.
The family entered the bookstore Flourish and Blotts; his dad went to find the books Kieran needed.
Sure, he had some at home, but those were his aunts’ books, Kieran wanted his own.
Kieran went back and forth between the rows of bookshelves, looking at the many books he wanted to read, trying to find some fun ones.
As Kieran walked by some books, he spotted a dark green book out of the corner of his eye and went to check it out.
Wandering with Werewolves, by Gilderoy Lockhart, huh.
After a small bit of hesitation, he picked up the book and went to add it to his dad’s arms already carrying the books, his dad and mum did say he could add a book if he found an interesting one.
Never judge a book by its cover…or its author.
Finally, Kieran stood silently in front of the narrow and shabby shop, seeing the peeling gold letters over the door.
Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
He glanced inside, seeing a single wand laying on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
Kieran taking a deep breath, stepped inside, followed by Aunt Abi and his parents, hearing the tinkling bell ring somewhere in the depths of the shop.
There were countless boxes on the bookshelves, reaching up toward the ceiling.
Kieran felt convinced that magic was ensuring they didn’t just fall down, it didn’t look very secure, at all.
He glanced at his dad who also seemed to believe it is a matter of time before the boxes fell off the shelf, while his mum and Aunt Abi headed to the counter.
“Good morning,” said a soft voice.
Kieran had been paying attention, so he heard the small footsteps coming towards them from behind a bookshelf, and he looked up, seeing the famous Ollivander.
Ollivander was an old man, wide, pale eyes that shined like moons with white spindly fingers, yet he seemed fit and agile.
Kieran had already been told about Ollivander by his aunt, so he felt it was only natural he greeted the old man with a bow, bowing had started becoming natural to him the more time he spent with Theodore.
“Good morning Mr. Ollivander, it is an honour to meet you, I am Kieran Gray,” he said, while be did a courteous bow, making the old man give a faint smile and bow back.
“Pleasure to meet you Mr. Gray. You must be here for your wand I presume? I can promise you that that we at Ollivanders produce the finest wands…” said Mr.
Ollivander smoothly, before turning toward Aunt Abi.
“Ah, Abigail! Abigail Gray! How nice to see you again… Rowan Wood, thirteen inches, very sturdy. Good for defensive charms, I hope it has served you well!”
Aunt Abi smiled as she nodded, “It has been a wonderful companion throughout the years, now I am here to see what companion my nephew will get.”
Mr.
Ollivander started measuring Kieran’s right arm, and while the measuring tape continued its mission alone, Mr.
Ollivander headed to his bookshelves filled with boxes to start retrieving wands.
Kieran felt himself getting nervous, this was it.
He was getting a wand.
“Mr. Ollivander, if it is not too presumptuous of me, may I know what kind of wand a wandmaker such as yourself possess?” he asked with a clear voice to the old man.
Mr.
Ollivander looked at Kieran and gave a faint smile.
“My, what a curious young fella,” he said, as he showed his wand, looking as if it was carved from a tree twisted with age, with runic marks along the wrinkled wood of the handle.
“Hornbeam wood and dragon heartstring, twelve inches and three-quarters, slightly bendy. I was told it was a wand that follows the passionate, a statement, I believe, that I have lived up to!”
As Kieran nodded in thanks for the information, Mr.
Ollivander continued with the business at hand.
“Right then, Mr. Gray. Try this one. Fir wood and unicorn hair. Eleven inches. Nice and sturdy, take it and give it a wave.” Mr.
Ollivander said as he hands Kieran a wand.
Kieran barely raises his arm, before the wand is snatched out of his hand.
“No, no, here, hazel wood and phoenix feather, nine inches, springy, go on!” Mr.
Ollivander said as Kieran tried again and felt nothing.
The process continues for five more wands, be it ebony wood and dragon heartstring, hornbeam wood and phoenix feather, wand after wand, nothing happens.
Mr.
Ollivander was not deterred; if anything, he seemed to get more excited with each failed wand.
Finally, after tapping his bottom lip for a while, Mr.
Ollivander retrieved a dusty old box, pulling out a fine light brown wand, “Try this one Mr. Gray, red oak wood and dragon heartstring, ten inches, light, durable and flexible,” Mr.
Ollivander said, giving Kieran the wand to hold.
His eyes widened as he was consumed by a wondrous feeling that surged through his entire body, he closed his eyes and viewed his mental magical landscape, the forest was growing in real-time.
Surrounding the middle lake, a ring of towering red oaks formed, their bright red leaves fluttering in the wind, protecting the lake alongside the forest.
He came to himself upon hearing a clap, finding himself surrounded by a glowing red light and a clapping Mr.
Ollivander and the happy smiles of his family.
“Wonderful, Mr. Gray, it seems the wand has chosen you. Red oak wands are very picky with their masters, they want a quick witted and adaptable master, but also one that understands nature!” Mr.
Ollivander said, as he seemed to have a glint in his eyes.
“It has been a long time since I have sold a red oak wand, over half a century! I look forward to what you accomplish together with this wand!”
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You-know-where/Murtageyra
We are at Hogwarts in there ^^
I wonder if people had guessed the wand wood due to my cover 😀