Onward we go
‘… wand bonds are a fascinating phenomenon that is still not fully understood.
Wands themselves are a recent magical invention. Popularised by the roman empire. Swiftly spread throughout most of the western hemisphere and some of the eastern, wands have become a staple for every witch or wizard.
They are unique in their ability to help cast most every magical school, and indeed enabled the creation of some magical schools thought before to be impossible.
Where once druids cast mass spells with the use of staves and the Pictish used their mazes to create ward-like effects spanning entire regions, wands themselves allow a fine degree of control over ones magic.
The process of creating a wand bond is unique among magical aids. When correctly crafted by a wand smith, wands have the ability to form a bond with a wixen’s magical core, allowing easier transfer of magic.
The process of creating this bond leaves the bonder with an intense feeling of ecstasy, followed by a period of extreme fatigue as the magical core stretches to accommodate the new bond, similar to bonding a familiar.
This bond grows with the wixen, strengthening as time passes, adapting to the bonders preferred magic style. This adaptation can be inherited, which has led to prominent families developing specialisations over time. An example being the most noble and ancient house of Nott’s predilection for string magic and warding…'
An excerpt from ‘wand lore for the uninformed’ by Recrim Ollivander.
‘… the magical world is rife with creatures of all shapes and sizes, however the most interesting of creatures to roam the world must be those that are sapient. Sapient creatures, or magical beings, are non-humans capable of complex thought and emotion.
An oft made mistake among those of muggle descent is to interpret intelligence with humanity. Magical sapiens do not think like humans. They do not feel emotions like humans. To lay human qualities upon a magical being is among the highest of insults.
These beings have evolved in far different conditions to humanity and attempting to rationalise a non-human as human is an exercise in stupidity.
An example is the goblins. Goblins are a warrior race. During their infancy they grew as warring tribes in the under-earth before inter breeding with the fey, leaving the goblins we know now.
Violent tricksters and bloody combatants.
After many hard-fought wars in which the victor is up to debate the goblins have moved their battle grounds from blade to gold.
Never think a being to be human due to shared tongue, take care to learn of there customs as much you can before interacting with them…’
Excerpt from ‘magical beings for the misinformed’ by Cedric Selwyn.
Early in the morning, a week later, I once again found myself lounging around my room as a new visitor arrived. This time a short, heavy looking lady with wild grey hair. She wore sensible trousers and a large overcoat made from a thick fabric.
This professor looked very cheery. A happy smile and a bounce in her step as she walked into the room gave way to an absolute flood of words.
“Hello young Charles, and a very happy birthday to you. It’s wonderful to be able to finally meet you. I am professor Sprout, the herbology professor at Hogwarts. I’ve heard about your special circumstances from the headmaster. Now quick quick, we have much to do today but before we leave-“
“I’m sorry professor,” I quickly interrupt, “It’s nice meeting you too, but did you say it was my birthday?”
“Why of course it is Charles. Today is the 17th, did you forget?” she says with a worried tone, flabbergasted someone could forget their own birthday.
“Uh, no professor.” I say sheepishly, “I didn’t know today was my birthday. The orphanage has my birthday registered as the 7th, not the 17th. I was dropped on the doorstep, no one really knew the real date, you know? Can I ask why you think its today?”
“Oh, you poor dear.” Before I can react, she envelops me in a hug. Its… nice. I haven’t been hugged since I’ve come to this world.
“Hogwarts records all children’s birthdates and times when they’re registered to attend. It’s an old magic dear. I can assure you that today is the day you were born.” She steps back and looks at me with a strange expression, not quite pity but something close. She continues in a quiet, gentle voice.
“As I was saying Charles. Before we go to Diagon we need to decide upon a surname for you. All your possessions will need to be labelled. I’m happy to help you all day long if necessary dear, I’ve made sure that I’ve nothing else to do today.”
“Nite.” I say, no hesitation in my voice, “Charles Nite.” Ive thought on a name since I’ve come here and id settled on Nite a while ago.
“A wonderful name deary. Is there a reason?”
“Well, its Latin for shine. It’s also like the word night, but spelt wrong you know? And it sounds cool.” I mumble out the last bit as she lets loose a hearty laugh.
“That dear, is a perfect name Mr Nite.” She chuckles again, “Now, if you’re sure you’re happy with that, why don’t we head towards Diagon. I’m told you know the way, so instead I’m going to introduce you to apparition. Do you know what that is?” At my nod she gestures for me to continue.
“Um, it’s like teleportation, right? And it’s supposed to make you sick along the way.”
She beams, “Excellent Mr Nite. You are a hundred percent correct, though with practice you feel less and less sick. You see it really is a convenient way to travel. Now grab my hand Mr Nite, we have places to be!” And with that she took us to Diagon.
---o-o-o------------
Apparition isn’t as bad as described. It is like being squeezed through a pinhole and spun around but outside of transit the feeling disappears and your left just a little nauseous. No vomiting necessary.
Professor Sprout is an absolutely amazing person. Throughout the entire day she was bubbly and cheerful and constantly used my last name to try and help me get used to it.
First, she took me to Gringotts to collect the orphans fund and taught me about the goblins.
“Now Mr Nite, you must remember that goblins aren’t humans. We are completely different species. We don’t have the same ethics or thoughts. The goblins are a warrior race that came from vast caverns underground. Don’t be polite, don’t smile and above all, don’t waste time. Be short and concise. The goblins can make your life very difficult if they decide to. Do you understand?”
Following this she told me not to speak unless addressed and walked into the bank. We waited in line for roughly 15 minutes before reaching the teller.
“Business.” It said in a gravelly voice.
“Hogwarts orphan fund collection.” The professor stated before plopping a letter and a series of files on the desk.
The goblin bared its teeth at Sprout before reading the letter and skimming the files. Eventually it nodded and called out to another goblin. After another 5 minutes a purse was dropped onto the table in front of us. Professor Sprout took the purse and led me out immediately.
“That was quick.” I said, “Everything I’ve learnt about goblins says they take ages to do anything?”
“It usually takes so long because while wizards understand that goblins don’t work like we do, they don’t attempt to accommodate the goblins Mr Nite. The goblins take this as a challenge and respond in kind. I however, act as I told you to and in respect of my attempt, they help me faster.” At this professor sighs, “remember Mr Nite, a little bit of compassion can take you very far in any world.”
After that we stuck together in search of my supplies. Some things, like a cauldron and gloves needed to be bought new, for everything else Professor Sprout showed me areas in Diagon and Vertic where you can get things for cheaper second hand. She gave me tips on looking for certain texts that have notes to make studying easier and how even though the robes need to be new you can get them a couple of sizes bigger with a fitting charm so that they last longer. She helped me through the entire process so that in the end I still had money for the train and next summer.
And that leads us to the final stop, Olivanders: makers of fine wands since 382 bc. She stopped by the door and addressed me.
“Alright Mr Nite, this is our last stop. Your first wand is special, and the process of bonding to it is unique and deeply personal. I’m going to leave you here, Garrick is an expert at this, you’re in good hands. When your done I’ll be right outside.” I gave a firm nod, and she watched me as I entered the shop.
The interior was clean but cluttered. Towering shelves, filled to the brim with wands. This shop seemed to have a presence like no other place besides maybe the Temple. it almost seemed more real than anywhere else I’ve visited.
“I don’t believe I recognise you.” Came a voice from behind. I jumped, startled and turned to stare at the man. Large spectacles sat upon a crooked nose, with wild silver hair framed his wrinkled face. Not quite grey, almost like his hair was naturally silver.
“Garrick Olivander, at your service. You are a muggleborn I believe, yes. Yes, it must be.” He said.
“yeah, uh, I am, Charles Nite. Nice to meet you?” It came out more as a question then anything else as the old man muttered to himself walking around the store as a tape measure proceeds to measure every inch of my body.
He reappeared with a box in hand. “Here we go, 9 and a quarter inch, unicorn hair, oak. No particular specialisations but no struggles either. An exceptionally loyal wand.”
I grasp the wand and give it a wave. Immediately smoke starts expelling from the end and Olivander steals the wand from my hand.
“No, not unicorn hair, definitely not unicorn hair. Hmm, try this. Hawthorn, phoenix feather. 11 inches and rather supple.” As I reached for the wand, he pulled it away from me shouting in the negative.
And so began the mission to find a wand suited for myself. It took nearly an hour. We tried every type of wood and every type of core, from apple wood to ivy, Olivander really struggled to help me.
Wand cases were blasted off of shelves, his hair set on fire, the floor exploded and colourful sparks of all types rained through the air. Strangely the more he failed to find me a wand the more excited he got. I tried to ask questions while waiting but he ignored me, getting more and more lost in his own world.
Until eventually, “Now try this Mr Nite. 13 and a half inches, unyielding. Aspen wood, collected from a particularly young tree in a forest of very old growth. This particular tree survived a lightning strike during its sapling years. A dragon heartstring from a peculiar Hebridean black. This dragon never grew past 20 feet, rather short for its species, yet was feared by most of the colony. Even stranger it was never aggressive unless provoked.”
Before even seeing the wand, I knew this one was mine. As soon as Olivander opened the box the wand flew straight into my hand as if summoned and shot out an enormous array of black and silver sparks. The sheer warmth I felt coming from the wand, almost as if it was alive in my hand, was incredible.
“It would appear that we have found your wand Mr Nite. That is the wand of a warrior. A powerful wand, best suited for martial magic and those who seek adventure. Take care of it and you will struggle to find a more loyal wand.” I nodded, numb from the feeling of completeness the wand gave me.
While paying for the wand I also used some of my funds to buy a simple holster made from cow leather and a wand care kit before thanking him and leaving. The entire experience was incredibly tiring and at this point I just wanted to sleep.
Outside I found professor sprout waiting for me.
“Well that took an awful lot of time deary, did it go well?” at my tired nod she smiled before leading me to a new area. It turns out it was Florean Fortescue’s ice cream Parlor. As a happy birthday gift she bought me ice-cream. Professor Sprout really is wonderful.
After a busy day Sprout took me back to the orphanage and gave me the last of the orphan fund. Once she’d left, I collapsed in bed, for some reason today took a lot out of me.
---o-o-o------------
As I made my way onto the Hogwarts express, I thought back on what happened at the orphanage. The head matron used some of the savings to buy me a brand-new hoodie. Getting anything new that’s not a donation is rare, and usually you have to fight for that right. The matron decided that getting a scholarship to a prestigious school was worth it though and bought me a hoodie out of her own money. It’s the perfect hoodie for me as well, made from a thick material, autumn colours with a ufo picking up a cow painted on the back. The tractor beam is psychedelic and the whole think looks like you’d find it on Esty. Its just a thoughtful gift and I really appreciated the effort.
So here I was, struggling to get an oversized trunk onto the train in my fancy hoody and faded jeans. As much as I would love to be super strong, I’m only 11, and this trunk is nearly half my weight even with feather light charms. It has a solid metal cauldron in it after all.
While struggling two gingers walk up to me, one looks like a first year, the other older.
“Can I help you there mate?” asks the older one.
“If you wouldn’t mind, this thing’s bloody heavy. The names Charles, you?”
He chuckles, “no worries, the firsties always need help. I’m Bill Weasley and this is Charlie, I’m third year and Charlie’s in your year.”
My smile strains a little. How I’ve managed to meet the older two Weasleys before I’ve stepped foot on the train, I don’t know. We end up finding a compartment and chatting a bit before Bill leaves to find his friends. A little while after settling down Charlie breaks the silence.
“So, uh, what’s it like. Finding out about magic I mean.” After a thinking for a bit, I decide to just be honest about finding Diagon. Theres no real point in lying, no benefit at least.
“I mean, professor Sprout was really nice. And I got to meet Dumbledore. I actually knew about magic before the whole ‘you’re a wizard’ moment though, discovered Diagon by accident one day.”
He leans in, “That’s pretty cool, how’d you manage that then?” after telling him the same story I told Dumbledore he laughed. “Core, that’s brilliant mate. Did you go back?” At this point all the prior awkwardness had faded. Charlie seemed to be a pretty cool guy.
I smirked, “Of course. Mostly just wondered around. Ended up exploring Unkan and Knockturn too.”
“No way! That so cool, mum never lets us down there!”
At this the door bursts open and in comes a girl with bright pink hair. She attempts to rush into the compartment but trips at the doorway and lands face first into Charlie’s lap.
He jumps and shoves her off with a yelp. She groans as she hits the floor.
“What was that for!” She yells at him from her spot on the floor.
“What do you mean what was that for, you’re the one that burst in here!” he yells back. The girl seems to remember something at this. Her hair turns a vibrant shade of red and she hurries to close the door.
“Hide me.” She hisses out before climbing under the bench by my feet. As Charlie and I look at each other confused the compartment door bursts open for a second time and in walks a pissed off Slytherin prefect.
“Where is she! Ill skin her for what she’s done!” he shouts.
Almost perfectly in sink me and Charlie say “Who?”. Somehow, we keep perfectly confused faces as the prefect stops for a second and scans the compartment. With a blank face before saying,
“If you see a girl, about this big,” he mimes the height, “with pink hair, come tell me immediately.” And walks out.
After he closed the door there was a tense silence for a few seconds before the girl bursts out laughing and crawls out from under the bench, this time with bright canary yellow hair.
“What did you do?” Charlie asks, still a bit angry from earlier.
Still laughing the girl manages to say “I hexed him while he was kissing his girlfriend. He didn’t appreciate the boils on his bits if you get me.” At this I let out a laugh and Charlie looked slightly awed.
“why’d you do that?” I ask.
“oh, he was insulting my mum.”
She looks at us and then seems to realise something before introducing herself.
“I’m Tonks by the way. Just Tonks. Nothing else. Definitely nothing else. Who’re you then?”
After introducing ourselves I sit back in silence while Charlie and Tonks talk. How is it I’ve managed to meet both the Weasleys and Nymphadora Tonks on the train ride? It’s pretty awesome to be honest. Tonks will become a great auror and a member of the order, while Charlie ends up working with dragons and bill as a curse breaker. At least they’re interesting.
I’m paying enough attention to hear Tonks tell Charlie about her being a metamorphmagus.
“That’s so cool. I wish I could do that.” He says.
“It’s pretty great. It makes me super clumsy though. Mum says its because my legs keep changing shape, but dad says its cause I’m always running everywhere.”
After a bit of this Charlie gets a confused look on his face before blurting out,
“Wait, how did you know hexes?” Charlie asks.
“What d’you mean? Haven’t you tried anything yet?”
“What?! No! It’s illegal isn’t it? Mum said…”
“’Mummy said’” Tonks parroted. “The trace is only put on when you walk through the gate. Even then if your parents have wands or your house is warded your basically ok.”
At Charlie’s shock she laughs before turning to me.
“Have you cast anything yet or did you also listen to ‘mummy’.”
“Well, I’ve got no mom to listen to so...” Her hair turned bright yellow, and she started stammering out an apology before I cut her off. “It’s cool dude don’t sweat. Being an orphans cool sometimes you know? no bedtime. Yeah but nah I haven’t tried wand spells. I have tried a wandless spell that’s going pretty good though.”
With Tonks still looking mortified Charlie jumped in.
“Wandless? Isn’t that supposed to be like, really hard. I know you found magic and everything but.”
“It’s not too difficult. I mean I found this cool library called the Temple-“
“”The temple!”” they both shout.
“mums never even let Bill-“, “I’ve never been allowed near there-“ they both start. I chuckle as they try and shout over each other.
“I mean like, ye its not easy to find but it’s not that bad.” They both look at me with awe.
“I mean I don’t really see the big deal? It’s basically just a large library.”
“Just a large library my bollocks!” shouts Charlie.
“Yeah it’s a pretty big deal Nite. Visiting the Temple is a rite of passage for most families. After you’ve done your owls, you know?” continues Tonks, her hair shining a vibrant pink.
“Mate its bloody cool that’s what it is. The Temple is where you go to learn a bunch of stuff that Hogwarts doesn’t teach. Bill won’t stop talking about how excited he is to visit it. No kids are allowed, how’d you even get in?”
“Ah well, I think that’s my secret isn’t it.” I snicker. Theres no way I’m telling them I just walked in, that’s not nearly impressive enough.
After a lot of badgering, they ask me to show them my spell. With a bit of effort, we manage to haul my trunk off the rack and pull out one of the rat skulls I have.
“That’s a bit grim Nite.” Charlie says looking at the small pile of skulls I managed to scavenge and bring with.
“Nah, that’s awesome.” Tonks says staring at the pile, “Plus it’ll be dead useful for messing with people.” Charlie and I both give her look. I turn back to the skull in my hand and start the process, chanting the spell and channelling my magic. After blowing on the skull a relatively big, greyish black rat forms in front of us.
At their looks I make it move around a bit before diving at Tonks. She jumps in her seat as hits her leg and dissipates.
“you wanker! Why would you do that?!” she shouts as Charlie laughs at her.
I smirk at her before packing everything up. At least I’ve got friends in this shitshow.