socalfunplaces Chapter 4 The Wizard's Birthday Feast
Chapter 4 The Wizard's Birthday Feast
As soon as Harry entered the shop, he called out, "Is there a master craftsman here? I'd like to forge a short staff that reaches my eyebrows!"
Ollivanders Wand Shop has been around for a century; it's an ancestral business. Even after searching all of England, you'll find a truly excellent master there.
Yet, no wizard ever asked for a short stick that reached his eyebrows.
Upon hearing this, Ollivander stumbled and nearly fell.
Merlin's beard, these days all the little wizards are so weird... Can't a wand satisfy you?!
Ollivander composed himself and replied politely, "I'm sorry, my dear, I only sell wands here. And wizards only need wands."
Having said that, Ollivander opened a wooden box, inside which was a thin stick about ten inches long.
Harry frowned. "I've heard that wands are made of a core and wood?"
Ollivander smiled and said, "Of course, but some magical affinity is also needed to create a good wand—"
"In that case, I'll have one custom-made, seven feet long. You can choose the wood for the core, and I'll add a groove to the top so it's easy to attach a spearhead or blade..."
"Shut up!"
Ollivander shouted, and the old man trembled, taking a large sip of tea before recovering.
Seven feet long? That's called a magic wand? That's called a magic stick!
That's utter heresy!
Ollivander pushed the wooden box into Harry's hands. "Mr. Potter! A wizard only needs one wand like this!"
Harry was about to explode at the old man's ungratefulness, but Hagrid advised him against it, so he held back.
Harry thought to himself: This is the only wand shop in Diagon Alley, and it's not convenient to find another one. I might as well just buy one and make do, and then go somewhere else to get a better one later.
With that thought, Harry closed the wooden box. "What kind of wand does Voldemort use? I want one exactly like his."
"Well!"
Upon hearing this, Hagrid's hair stood on end, and Ollivander was terrified, waving his hands frantically, "A raging water sprite! Mr. Potter, please don't mention that name again, I'm too old to be easily frightened."
Seeing him decline again, Harry snapped, "You old codger, so many excuses! What? He can use me, but I can't? Voldemort was just a human being!"
"Oh, Mr. Potter! In this respect, your father is not even one ten-thousandth as unruly as you!"
Ollivander called out, then disappeared back into the cabinet, emerging shortly after with a wooden box. "Hollywood, phoenix feathers, eleven inches. Its twin was sold to a mysterious man..."
Now, these phoenix feathers are extremely rare and precious. Ollivander spent his entire life searching for only two feathers and managed to make two feathers.
One of them was sold to Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents.
Ollivander rambled on, "Well... phoenixes are picky and proud creatures, and so are their feathers, Mr. Potter. Wizards and wands are a two-way choice..."
Harry, unwilling to listen to his rambling, snatched the wooden box, gripped the wand tightly, and for a moment the tip of the wand shimmered, as if a thousand warm currents flowed through his limbs and bones, and a warm breeze hummed in the wand shop.
The way is:
A warm breeze suddenly swept through the shop, making the candlelight appear dim.
Twin wands recognize their master; the flickering tips reveal their destiny.
Harry held the wand with ease, feeling as if it were one with him, and exclaimed repeatedly, "Wonderful! It is indeed a fine wand."
Ollivander stared intently, muttering, "Wonderful, wonderful... Mr. Potter, you are destined to use this wand... It's fate..."
After saying that, he wrapped Harry's wand and saw the two of them out of the shop.
"Alright, the most important task is done." Hagrid perked up. "Now all we have left is the purchasing list."
He was in a hurry to get back to Hogwarts, so he and Harry split up. One of them went to buy things according to the list, while the other went to have a robe made.
Enough of the long story. Harry went to the robe shop, where the proprietress, Madam Malkin, was a diligent woman. She helped him put on a robe and took out safety pins and measuring tapes to take his measurements.
Before long, several wizard robes were sewn and packed into bags.
Mrs. Malkin smiled gently and said, "Take care, my dear. If you need anything, you can come back to me again."
Harry bowed and said with a smile, "I'll come and ask you for advice again then, Madam."
Having said that, he went to find Hagrid.
Mrs. Malkin stood at the shop door, stunned by what she heard.
What was that little wizard just saying? Is this still 1991? I almost thought it was 1391...
Harry walked to the center of the pedestrian street and saw a disheveled man, two or three people tall, walking towards him. This man was Hagrid.
He bought Harry books, a cauldron, and other items, and carried a birdcage with a pure white owl inside.
Sir, tell me what this white owl looks like. Well, here it is:
Its entire body is like a snow-white ribbon, its silver feathers as cold as frost. Its wings spread wide, like a white silk battle robe; its golden eyes open and close, like two cold stars. Truly, it is a flying general among birds, an arrow among fowl.
Seeing Harry staring intently at the owl, Hagrid knew he had made the right choice in acquiring the pet.
He laughed and said, "I originally wanted to buy a toad, but toads haven't been fashionable for many years, and people would laugh at me. I also don't like cats; they always make me sneeze. An owl is much better; it can deliver letters and packages for you."
Anyway, happy birthday, Harry.
Harry was taken aback and exclaimed, "Oh dear! I was so focused on killing Voldemort that I forgot it's my little brother's birthday today. I should treat my big brother to a drink."
With that, he dragged Hagrid to the Leaky Cauldron and ordered the bartender to bring out a barrel of brandy, fresh fish, tender chicken, cooked beef, and fruits and vegetables, which were then spread all over the table.
Hagrid's mouth watered, but he said, "Oh, Harry, that won't do. How can I let you treat me to dinner?"
Harry laughed and said, "My younger brother wishes to show his respect to his elder brother; how can that not be allowed?"
The two of them talked to each other, and as the bar owner, Tom, overheard them, he became suspicious.
Who is this little wizard? He actually wants to invite Hagrid to dinner.
If you didn't see his young appearance and only listened to what he said, you would think he was an Auror who had been driven mad by dark magic.
He couldn't help but glance at it a few more times, and his movements slowed down for a moment.
"This is—this could be…oh dear!" The Leaky Cauldron fell silent for a moment. Tom rushed out from behind the counter, grasped Harry's hands, and exclaimed, "Harry Potter, it's an honor!"
Tom felt as if he had seen his deceased parents reborn, or as if he had seen his savior visiting him; his eyes were filled with tears. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."
Upon hearing the name Harry Potter, the chairs in the bar clattered and rattled as customers rushed to shake hands with him.
Harry was astonished. How could I be so prestigious in the wizarding world?
In my previous life during the Song Dynasty, I only gained fame after killing Ximen Qing and beheading Jiang Menshen with my second brother. Now, I'm just a child, and I haven't made a name for myself yet. Why are these heroes all coming to pay me homage?
Hagrid chewed on a piece of tender chicken and whispered, "Don't take offense, Harry. You're a hero in the wizarding world, after all, you killed... well... Mysterio."
"Back then, he really put the entire wizarding world in a state of panic."
Upon hearing this, Harry understood, jumped onto the bar, raised a glass of brandy, and drank it down:
"My lords, I am none other than Harry James Potter, and I do not change my name or surname!"
"Thank you all for remembering me; this cup is offered to you all!"
"No! Harry! You can't drink alcohol!"
Before Hagrid could stop him, he had already downed a glass of wine.
The wizards, seeing their hero and being so generous, disregarded his underage status and raised their glasses, "To Potter!"
Harry slammed some Galleons on the table, "Bring on the good wine and meat, everyone! It's all on me!"
For a time, all the wizards in the bar followed Harry's lead, drinking and eating heartily without a care in the world.
Poems as proof:
Porter was a man of great generosity and righteousness, scattering gold and silver like clouds and smoke.
He is the leader of the magical world, and dares to change the world!