Hogwarts, an Afternoon at Ollivanders Wand Shop

"Yes. Didn't your Senior Brother tell you? You hadn't formally encountered the magical system before, so starting from first year was only right. Besides, children your age grew quickly. Some of the new students were already about as tall as you. Don't worry about it being strange." Dumbledore smiled faintly at the stunned child before him.

"For real? But there are still two months before school starts! What am I supposed to do during that time? And since I'm in the same year as the freshmen, what about my dorm? Do I get to enjoy a single-occupancy room with multiple beds for two months?" Having reluctantly accepted that he would be placed a year below those his age, Bing Huan began asking about what came next.

"Tomorrow, I'll have Professor McGonagall take you to Diagon Alley to buy what you need for school. For the next month, you can familiarize yourself with the school. At the end of July, help me pick someone up. After that, I'll take you to meet a few old friends. Once you've met them, you can prepare for the start of term. Until then, you'll stay in the professors' quarters beside Professor McGonagall. If you have any questions, you can ask her."

"Ah?!" (Pikachu panicked.)

"What is it? Mr. Bing Huan, do you not wish to have an old lady like me as your neighbor?" Professor McGonagall glanced up at him.

"Not at all. I'm just worried about causing you too much trouble, Professor."

"For a professor, being troubled by students is a form of recognition. No need to be so polite." Dumbledore looked at him with the same teasing expression.

After chatting in the Headmaster's Office for a while, it was time for dinner. Professor McGonagall took him to the dining hall, briefly introduced him as a junior who had arrived early, then let Bing Huan find a seat himself. Aside from one table that lost interest upon hearing he was from China, everyone else was fairly friendly.

Although he did not know which House he would join, Professor McGonagall had brought him here, so he ought to show Gryffindor some respect. After asking which table belonged to Gryffindor, he had barely sat down when an older student beside him greeted him.

"Hey, junior. You're from China, right? Then do you know about cultivators?"

Bing Huan looked over and saw a pair of very similar Twins. The one closer to him spoke first. "I'm Fred. This guy is George, my younger brother." "You were only born one second before me!"

"Hello, I'm Bing Huan. As for cultivators, I'm one myself." Bing Huan had always liked lively people who meant well.

"Merlin's lace stockings, that's amazing! So do you all draw and write in midair while chanting spells, then make things go boom and explode?"

"You're probably talking about Talisman Cultivators. Drawing talismans in the air is something only very skilled people can do. Most Talisman Cultivators draw talisman seals on special talisman paper and take them out when needed."

"Oh! Huan, can you do it? Let me see!"

"All right, Fred. Our junior hasn't even eaten yet, so don't trouble him." The speaker was an older student sitting nearby, whose features somewhat resembled the Twins'.

"This guy is Percy. He's running for prefect lately, so he's got the most ridiculous rules." Although they were speaking ill of him, the affection in their eyes was obvious. There was no malice at all, only strong familial warmth.

Bing Huan nodded to Percy. After dinner, the Twins pestered Bing Huan to show them some cultivation techniques. He found an empty corner, cast several elemental spells, and gave them a few low-level talismans. Turning invisible and making gusts of wind would naturally do nothing to the professors, but fooling Filch was no problem at all.

In return, the Twins told Bing Huan many things that he could not learn from the professors: the little quirks of several teachers, the secret passages around the school. They even invited him to sneak around at night with them after term began. Right now? They were not bold enough to sneak someone out from beside Professor McGonagall's quarters.

Early the next morning, Bing Huan dressed neatly and waited in Professor McGonagall's office. Before leaving, he invited the professor to experience the Sword Flight Technique, but she politely declined. Once they reached their destination, Professor McGonagall led him through the purchases until only the main event remained: a wand.

They arrived at Ollivanders Wand Shop. Ollivander poked his head out from behind the shelves. "Oh, unexpected guests. Hello, Professor McGonagall, and this little wizard from the East." "Hello, sir!" "Pika!" "Haha, full of spirit, aren't you? Let me see... You seem more suited to a longer wand. Come to think of it, there was a child from China last year too, though she seemed to have lived in England for many years. Ah, this one. Cypress, dragon heartstring, thirteen and two-fifths inches. Here, child."

Bing Huan had barely taken the wand when it was snatched back.

Ollivander looked at Bing Huan. "Child, you've encountered more than magic, haven't you? There's another, stronger power within you."

Bing Huan could not deny it. "Then that explains it. Here, applewood, unicorn hair, twelve inches. No, no, this isn't right either."

Next, Bing Huan learned the names of all kinds of animal parts and woods. After a full hour, he could not help asking, "Sir, is my talent really that poor?"

"No, child. This has nothing to do with talent. A person's traits may suit many materials, but among all the wands made from those combinations, one will choose its own master. All these wands are willing to go with you, but they do not seem particularly suited to you. In all my decades, this is the first time I've encountered such a case."

"Then why not choose one that is relatively suitable for now? We can't send the child to Hogwarts without a wand," Professor McGonagall said from the side.

"Professor McGonagall, you know me. Letting a young wizard leave with an unsuitable wand is not my way. Let me think."

Bing Huan recalled the holly wand with a phoenix feather core from before. "Sir, you haven't retired from wandmaking yet, have you?"

Ollivander froze. "I haven't announced anything publicly, no. Oh? It seems you have an idea. Let me see." A sharp glint flashed through his tired eyes—the keen instinct of a master craftsman for rare materials.

"Actually, that wand just now gave me the idea. China also has the divine beast known as the phoenix, but Chinese phoenixes carry a greater sense of mystery. On the mountain behind my home, there are two Phoenix Trees planted together. Later, a pair of phoenixes nested atop them, and that was the only pair ever to come. I thought it was quite rare, so I asked them for a pair of tail feathers and took two sections of Phoenix Tree as keepsakes. Please, take a look."

Ollivander accepted the materials with trembling hands. "Wonderful. Once it's finished, it will absolutely be one of my finest wands." Then he looked at Bing Huan. "Child—no, Mr. Bing Huan. Give me one week, and I will make you a wand that truly suits you."

At that moment, a burst of flashing light came from beside them. The three turned to see Pikachu holding a wand, trying to act cute and get away with it. "Dogwood, Thunderbird tail feather... Never before has a magical creature been compatible with a wand from my shop. Child, you truly have brought me many surprises."

"Does that mean I can buy it for Pikachu?"

"Of course. I would be delighted for this wand to find a master suited to it. You must treat it well, Pikachu." Ollivander bent down and reminded Pikachu.

"Pika-pi!" (^ω^) After making his promise in his own way, Pikachu jumped up and kissed Ollivander. Afraid that the others might be jealous, he then leaped into Professor McGonagall's arms and rubbed against her. The two elders were so delighted that they could not stop smiling. Of course, Professor McGonagall still sternly warned him not to use the wand recklessly at school.

After settling the details, no matter how impatient Bing Huan was, he could only return to Hogwarts and wait for a week. When he flew back to the school, it was just in time for dinner. At the table, the Twins were describing how they had used talismans to prank Filch the previous night. Fred was still the main storyteller, with George helping from the side.

When Fred saw Bing Huan return, he hurriedly waved him over. "Hey, mate, you have no idea how exciting last night was. Let me tell you..."

Bing Huan ate as he listened to the Twins' story. Here, he was not the untouchable disciple of the chief seat, but merely a boy from the East, surrounded by kind older students. He began looking forward to the next seven years of school life.

Sometimes, a peaceful and beautiful life was precisely what was ordinary, yet irresistibly appealing.