Owl Post
‘Far out at sea the water is as blue as the petals of the loveliest cornflower and as clear as the purest glass, but it is very deep, deeper than any anchor cable can reach, many church towers would have to be placed on top of each other to stretch from the sea-bed to the surface. Down there the sea-folk live.’
‘You alright Ophelia?’ asked Stefan going into his nieces bedroom. Ophelia was three now, and was an even bigger reader than she used to be.
‘You got someone in here with you?’
Stefan looked around the room, and there was no one else in the room, but there was a disembodied voice coming from somewhere in the room, and it sounded like Remus. Ophelia was lying on top of her bed, listening and looking at her book. The voice stopped, and Ophelia turned the page. The book was reading itself to her.
‘Remus!’ called Stefan.
‘Stefan it’s half past six,’ yawned Lyall, ‘what’s the matter.’
‘See for yourself,’ stammered Stefan pointing to Ophelia who was still listening to the book.
‘Is she doing magic?’ gasped Lyall.
‘Ophelia,’ he stammered, ‘how are you doing that Cariad?’
‘Don’t know,’ shrugged Ophelia turning the page again, ‘I wanted a story, but everyone’s sleeping.’
‘Can I try something quickly sweetheart?’ asked Lyall.
Ophelia nodded, and Lyall took the book from her.
‘Ok now stay there,’ said Lyall, ‘and summon the book over to you.’
Lyall walked to a few metres away from Ophelia.
‘What are you doing Da?’ asked Remus joining Stefan in the doorway.
Ophelia squinted her eyes, and sure enough, the book began to fly very slowly across the room, and landed right in front of Ophelia on the bed.
‘Remus,’ beamed Lyall, ‘she’s a witch.’
‘She’s a witch!’ asked Remus his eyes popping open.
‘And a bloody good one if she can do that at three,’ laughed Lyall.
‘Who’s Daddy’s wonderful little witch?’ asked Remus hugging Ophelia.
‘Me!’ laughed Ophelia.
‘Am I the only one who thinks that Ophelia getting her books to read themselves to her, means she’s ready to learn how to read?’
‘You’re right Stefan,’ nodded Remus, ‘but as for today we celebrate!’
That morning, they told Hope and Harry all about Ophelia’s magical abilities.
‘I can’t do magic,’ grumbled Harry.
‘You can fly toys down from the top shelves,’ said Hope.
‘Yeah but I can’t do anything cool, like having books read themselves. That’s cool!’
‘In two months you’ll be starting school Harry,’ said Remus, ‘and you can learn to read to yourself.’
‘I can’t wait to start school,’ said Stefan dreamily, ‘there’s only one bad thing.’
‘Perc?’ asked Remus knowing that Stefan didn’t want to go to school without Percy. But Percy was three years below him.
‘Yeah,’ sighed Stefan.
‘Post!’ called Harry as an owl with the daily prophet slammed into the shut window.
Lyall opened the window, and two owls came hopping in.
‘It’s for you Stefan,’ beamed Lyall handing Stefan a thick letter.
‘It’s not,’ muttered Stefan staring at the school crest.
Stefan opened the envelope his hands trembling.
‘The train leaves on the first of September,’ he muttered.
‘I’m getting the train,’ he said astounded.
‘I’m going to Hogwarts!’ he exclaimed.
‘Well done Stefan,’ chuckled Remus.
‘You’ll be a Ravenclaw before you know it boyo,’ said Lyall proudly.
‘What if he’s a Gryffindor?’ asked Harry.
‘Then I’ll know you’ve been plotting against me, and I won’t talk to Remus or you for a week!’
‘Lyall,’ said Hope raising her eyebrows.
‘I think this means a trip to Diagon Alley today,’ said Remus, ‘just you and me Stefan.’
‘Really?’ asked Stefan surprised.
He didn’t mind Harry and Ophelia, but they did sometimes get in the way. They were just so much younger than him.
‘Really,’ said Remus.
‘I’ll get my cloak!’ beamed Stefan.
Stefan came back five seconds later with his cloak on, worried that Remus might have changed his mind.
‘Hold your horses,’ said Remus finishing his tea.
‘Tell you what, why don’t we pop in on your Uncle Mike while we’re in Diagon?’
‘Awesome,’ beamed Stefan.
Stefan and Remus headed over to the flu, and Stefan threw the powder into the fireplace.
‘Diagon Alley!’ he called clearly.
Stefan span away, and found himself in The Leaky Cauldron, standing next to him were Bill, Charlie, Percy and Mr Weasley. They had clearly left the others at home.
‘You get in too?’ muttered Percy as Stefan brushed the soot off of his clothes from the fireplace.
‘Um yeah,’ said Stefan awkwardly.
‘I wish you were coming too,’ said Stefan quickly.
‘Me too,’ said Percy smiling slightly.
‘Hey Perc,’ said Stefan, ‘it’s only three years.’
Stefan pulled the acorn out of his cloak, and Percy touched it with the ring.
Remus came spinning out of the fireplace, and the Weasleys went with Remus and Stefan into the alley. Remus had already got the money out for Stefan from Gringotts a few weeks ago, knowing this trip would be coming up.
‘Well we’ve already got your books,’ said Remus checking the list.
‘We can still go to Flourish and Blotts though, right?’ asked Stefan urgently.
‘Wild hippogriffs won’t keep me away,’ said Remus.
‘What do you want first mate?’
‘A wand,’ breathed Stefan. He had been dreaming of owning his own wand since he was small.
‘Olivander’s it is then,’ said Remus leading the way to the wand shop.
It was still early, so there was not anyone already in the shop.
‘Good morning!’ called Remus.
‘Where’s Mr Olivander?’ asked Stefan looking around.
‘Stand back!’ said Remus holding his arm out.
That second a step ladder came flying into the room. It was so fast, that all Stefan saw was a blur.
‘Woah!’ he exclaimed.
An elderly man got down from the stepladder and smiled at them in welcome.
‘Good morning Remus,’ said Mr Olivander shaking Remus’ hand.
‘Hi Garrick.’
‘How’s Lyall?’ asked Mr Olivander.
‘He’s good,’ said Remus, ‘Ministries working him hard as always. I think he’s enjoying a day off with the Prophet if the kids let him.’
Mr Olivander chuckled appreciatively.
‘So this must be Stefan?’ asked Mr Olivander.
‘Yes sir,’ gulped Stefan.
‘Ah yes,’ said Mr Olivander, ‘you look like your parents. Your mothers hair, but other than that you’re Ignatius to a t.’
‘You knew my parents?’ asked Stefan.
‘He knows everyone,’ chortled Remus.
‘Hmm,’ said Olivander not denying the fact.
‘You’ll be wanting your wand then young man?’
‘Yes please sir,’ said Stefan.
Olivander started to measure Stefan with a tape, and eventually came back with a box of wands.
Stefan waved what felt like a dozen wands, but none of them worked. Stefan was starting to get nervous, they would never find a wand for him.
‘I wonder,’ muttered Olivander looking at Stefan’s bright blonde hair.
‘There is a rumour that your great grandmother on your mother’s side was a veela,’ said Olivander bringing out a dusty wand box.
‘I don’t work with Veela hair myself, my father made this wand many years ago. My father was enchanted by your great grandmother, and made this wand with a single hair that she left behind.’
Olivander carefully lifted the lid off the dusty box. The wand was made of a light hazel coloured wood, and the handle was intricately carved with runes.
‘Go on,’ beamed Remus excitedly, ‘give it a go.’
Stefan lifted the wand out of the box, and he didn’t even have to wave it. The door slammed open off its own accord and a huge gust of wind flew through the shop as Stefan felt a huge jolt of magic run all the way through his body.
‘Congratulations Mr McKinnon,’ beamed Olivander.
‘Now Veela wands are quite temperamental, so don’t let anyone borrow it, because it will almost definitely not work.’’
‘Yes sir,’ nodded Stefan.
Stefan paid for his wand, and bumped into the Weasley’s on their way into the wand shop.
‘What do you want next?’ asked Remus.
‘Cauldron and equipment,’ said Stefan, ‘I can carry my kit in it.’
‘Wise thinking young Ravenclaw,’ smirked Remus as they went to the equipment shop.
They got Stefan his cauldron, and weighing scales, and knife set as well as a telescope. Then they went to the Potions ingredients shop, and the assistant helped him get all his ingredients.
‘Just your robes and pet left now,’ said Remus checking the list.
‘Oh I don’t want a pet,’ shrugged Stefan.
‘We’ll see,’ said Remus smiling.
Stefan waited as patiently as he could as he stood to be measured for his robes. He just wanted to see his Uncle Mike.
‘Come on Stefan,’ said Remus once he had his robes.
Between Remus and Stefan they managed to lug the overly full cauldron to the offices at the end of the street, where they had things like the Daily Prophet office, and also the McKinnon Publishing headquarters.
‘Excuse is Mr Rolland is?’ asked Remus at the front desk of the small building.
‘I’ll just go see,’ muttered the receptionist.
Two minutes later, a late middle aged man, with a heavily receding hair line came into the room.
‘Stefan!’ said Mike pulling Stefan in for a hug.
‘Hi Uncle Mike,’ chuckled Stefan.
‘Karen, if this young boy ever comes again, please remember he pays your wages. This is Stefan McKinnon.’
The Receptionist blushed bright pink with embarrassment.
‘You getting all your school things?’ asked Mike.
‘Yeah, I can’t wait to get started,’ beamed Stefan.
‘You hit the bookshop yet?’
‘No,’ said Remus, ‘we still need a pet too, but we saved the books for last.’
‘Best and the heaviest,’ nodded Mike.
They left the heavy cauldron in the office so they didn’t have to carry it.
‘Do you have an owl young man?’ asked Mike as they walked to the pet shop.
‘No,’ said Stefan, ‘but we do have Gareth, he’s Uncle Lyall’s, he uses it for work.’
‘Well you need an owl to keep in touch with your family,’ said Mike, ‘me too for that matter.’
The Owl Emporium was very dark and very smelly, but there was dozens of owls. Some were no bigger than balls of fluff, others were snow white, or as black as night. The biggest owls were at the back, and they were looking at the others aloofly.
‘Look Stefan,’ said Remus, ‘they’ve got eagles owls!’
‘Eagle owls?’ asked Stefan his mouth hanging open as he stared at the beautiful owls. Eagles were his favourite animal!
‘Stefan loves eagles,’ laughed Remus.
‘I’ll get you one then,’ said Mike.
‘They look a bit daunting though don’t they?’ muttered Mike to Remus, worried that one would bite Stefan.
Stefan walked up to the eagle owls with an air of confidence, and walked to the end of the row to stroke a silver eagle owl with bright gold eyes.
‘You’re a beauty aren’t you?’ whispered Stefan.
Stefan put his hand up and stroked the owl, and the owl didn’t even flinch, or try and bite Stefan, but bowed it’s head.
‘He’s very well trained,’ said the assistant.
‘We’ll take him,’ said Mike getting out his money bag.
‘What are you going to call him Stefan?’ asked Remus
‘Legolas,’ said Stefan, ‘don’t know why, I just am.’
‘Very majestic,’ nodded Remus.
They went around the bookshop, and Mike showed Remus and Stefan all the new books on the market. He also told them which authors to avoid as their books weren’t worth the compost heap, namely idiots like Gilderoy Lockhart.
Finally they had finished all their shopping, and between Stefan and Remus they managed to get all of Stefan’s things including Legolas home via the flu in the McKinnon building.
‘Hi Stefan!’ said Harry who had been waiting in the sitting room with Ron all day for Stefan to get home.
‘Hi guys,’ chuckled Stefan walking out of the fireplace carrying the owl cage.
‘What’s that!’ exclaimed Ron.
‘This is Legolas,’ said Stefan.
‘I thought Mr Lovegood was Legolas,’ said Harry.
‘We can have two,’ said Lyall, ‘that’s a very fine bird Stefan.’
‘Thanks Uncle Lyall.’
Stefan went to bed that night feeling very excited about starting school in a few months, but there was still the nagging doubt in the back of his mind. Percy. But, he thought, now that he had Legolas, he could write to Percy every day if he wanted to.