Where is that damned phoenix?

Neville was pretty nervous. "I don't know why I was brought. I have a wand – it was my father's."

Ollivander nodded. "And how as that worked for you?"

Neville thought about it. "I think that I just don't have enough magic to get the spells right."

Ollivander tuted at him. "Mr. Longbottom, the wand chooses the wizard. You will never get as good a result with someone else's wand as you would your own. Bring out your father's wand."

Neville pulled the wand out of his pocket. Ollivander took the wand and carefully inspected it. After a long moment he tried to cast a spell with it.

"This wand is full of anger and defiance. I would assume that it was present when your father defied those who attacked him. It will not work fully for any other than for who held it at that time. You will need your own wand."

Neville considered that. "Okay, then. But I don't have the funds on me. I will have to contact my grandmother."

Suddenly, the phoenix that had brought Neville there cried out and then flamed away. Ollivander looked at the empty spot curiously and then turned back to Neville. "Your family has been buying wands at Ollivanders for generations. I am certain that you will honor the debt. Come now. Let us find your wand – or perhaps I should say, let us allow the wand to find you."

Ollivander was testing wands with Neville when the phoenix showed back up and dropped a pouch on the counter and then settled on the chair in the shop.

Ollivander reached for the pouch and opened it. He looked inside curiously and then reached in. He pulled a small piece of parchment from the pouch and then poured the rest of the contents onto the counter.

The number of Galleons far exceeded the amount needed for Neville to get his wand. And so he read the parchment. His eyebrows rose.

"Mr. Longbottom, you will not need to contact your grandmother to pay for you wand – it is paid for. Let us finish this."

It took a short time but Neville found his wand: 13 inches, cherry, with a unicorn hair core.

Ollivander handed the box with the wand over to Neville. He picked up the small slip of parchment and read it again. "Do you know Ronald Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Rubeus Hagrid, Ginevra Weasley, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger?"

Neville responded, "Yes. Well, I know most of them. Luna Lovegood is Ginny Weasley's friend."

Ollivander nodded. "Wait here."

He went in the back and then returned with several small boxes. He put them onto the desk. He then reached under the counter and retrieved some parchment, a quill and some ink. He wrote three different noted and sealed them. "Please deliver these to those addressed." He then wrote three different names on another piece of parchment and separated them into different pieces. He attached these to different boxes with sticking charms. "These three should be delivered to those addressed."

He pulled the last box to Neville and said, "Open this."

Neville did so saw what was inside: There was an inexpensive wand holster and items needed to care for a wand. "A properly maintained wand is a healthy and happy wand. I expect you to use these items. Whatever agent that is behind that phoenix has taken steps to ensure your success. I do not expect you to shun such assistance."

Neville replied, "Yes. I'll do that." He paused. "You have a bag or something to carry the boxes to deliver them?"

Ollivander looked below his counter and came up with another piece of parchment which he transfigured into a bag. The items for him to deliver fit into it. "That will last only a short time so empty it as soon as possible."

Neville nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Ollivander. I will deliver the other items and messages as soon as I get back to Hogwarts."

Ollivander nodded. The phoenix, which had been waiting patiently, flapped over and grabbed Neville once more and flamed him away.

Neville appeared at Hogwarts during the Lunch meal. He immediately noted that it seemed to be full. He saw Harry enthusiastically telling Ron and Hermione something. He noted that several people seemed to be listening in.

Before he could say anything, he heard song from the phoenix that had dropped him off. Strangely, the phoenix didn't seem to be the one singing. Everyone looked at the phoenix and everyone was astonished when the phoenix changed into a person.

Before anyone could take note of details beyond that the man seemed to be dressed as a Muggle, the man said, "Ta!" and disappeared into a ball of blue light. The phoenix song that was left behind sounded somewhat comedic.

Professor McGonagall stood up and walked over to the newly returned student. "Mr. Longbottom. Where, praytell, did that … creature take you?" She sounded somewhat disapproving.

Neville replied, "He took me to Ollivanders to get a wand of my own. Ollivander also sent back a few messages and some things to deliver."

"To whom?" she asked.

He pointed to Harry and his friends. "Them. And one to Hagrid."

She nodded. "Then, perhaps, you had best deliver them."

He nodded and rushed over to the Gryffindor table. He dumped the bag onto the table. "Hello. I have a few things." He picked up one of the letters and said, "This is for you, Ron." Ron took the parchment and opened it. "This is for Hermione," he handed her a box, "Ginny Weasley," he passed her a box, "Harry," he handed him a box, "And Luna Lovegood." He handed her a letter – she looked wide-eyed at it. "Excuse me, I have one more to deliver." Neville rushed up to the Head table and went in front of Hagrid. "Ollivander sent this." He put it one the table.

"Thank ye' Neville." Neville nodded and quickly retreated.

Ron was talking. "… said it's already paid for – I just have to come pick it up."

Harry said, "That's great, Ron." He looked down at the blonde girl with Ginny. "And is yours the same?"

Luna said with a dreamy expression, "Yes. It says that I need to come and get a wand made for me. I don't know why – I've been using my mum's wand."

Neville, sitting down, said, "Ollivander said that a wand has to choose the wizard … or witch in this case. He said my da's wand wasn't right for me. And now I have a new one: Cherry with Unicorn hair." He didn't explain further as to why his father's wand wasn't right for him.

Harry, who was listening is, said, "Yeah. When I got my wand, he said that someone else's wand would never work as well as a wand that picks you."

Ron, enthusiastic about getting a wand that worked, quickly finished his meal and went up to see Professor McGonagall. Luna, who had also finished eating, followed along.

"Professor?" McGonagall looked at him. "Neville brought back a letter saying that Ollivander will be giving me my proper wand as soon as I can visit. Is there any way I can go to Diagon Alley?"

She had seen the spello-taped wand he was currently using. "And Ms. Lovegood? You also got a letter saying that you need to go get a wand?"

"Yes," she said in her normal dreamy voice.

"Very well. Hagrid also has to go and visit Mr. Ollivander. Do either of you have an objection to going with him?" Normally, she would send this to the Headmaster, but he hadn't returned from the Ministry yet.

Ron said, "No. That's great!" Luna nodded in agreement.

She turned to Hagrid. "Do you object to taking two students to get wands this afternoon?"

"No, tha's fine. I'll be goin' meself."

Arrangements were made and Ron and Luna went with Hagrid to floo to Diagon Alley.

The timeline proceeded closely to what had occurred in other universes. The exception was that Gringotts got involved in chasing the various bits and bobs which contained Voldemort's soul – the Diary had alerted them and they didn't want to see a disruption of business.

And while Voldemort resurrected himself during the Tri-Wizard tournament, controlling the new Head of International Relations, a woman named Dolores Umbridge, the Wizarding world was more prepared.

Harry Potter still ended up fighting Voldemort but it was a much better trained, competent and confident version of the Boy-Who-Lived. His closest friends and comrades were instrumental in helping him overcome the Dark wizard.

All in all, it was much better than it could be, though the various people lost were mourned.