The Wand

After Madam Malkin kindly explained that he could rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron for a little money and browse books at a secondhand bookstore for a small fee, Breeze began making plans for his time before school.

"Sorry, Emmeline. I'm just used to having more freedom," Breeze said to himself.

Breeze had always been very rational. Even when he was lost, he seemed to watch the crossroads of his life from a third-person perspective. He had refused Emmeline's offer to adopt him because he knew exactly what he wanted.

"I think I'll have to change my goals in life a little—to graduate from Hogwarts smoothly and learn useful magic. There must be a way to advance in the Wizarding World."

"Still, I don't know why I'm a wizard. The Wizarding World must be prejudiced against outsiders, too. After all, at least half of my blood is Chinese."

Breeze didn't know who his family was, and Betty had never told him. All he knew was that he'd been left at the Orphanage as an infant, with nothing but a worn-out blanket that he'd since lost and a diary with his name written in it.

The diary was in Breeze's shoulder bag, but he'd never written a single word in it. He'd only drawn a cute cat face on the first page. After all, who kept a diary?

But from now on, Breeze decided, he would record the magic he learned in it.

Just then, Emmeline returned from shopping and reached the entrance to Madam Malkin's shop. Breeze had been waiting there for quite a while.

"Breeze, I've bought everything. I also got you a suitcase. It has special permission from the Ministry of Magic, though it doesn't have much space."

Special permission?

Noticing Breeze's confusion, Emmeline explained, "It's been enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm and a weight-reducing charm. The space inside has been doubled, so it'll be enough for you. The Undetectable Extension Charm is forbidden without authorization from the Ministry of Magic, and goods enchanted with it need special permission to be sold."

Breeze took the small suitcase from Emmeline. It wasn't very big, but he could feel that it had some weight to it. It seemed to be packed with quite a few things.

"Thank you, Emmeline. Can you tell me how much it cost?"

Emmeline ruffled Breeze's hair and teased him. "Well-behaved children always get special treatment, don't they?"

Breeze understood. It was a present for starting school.

"Come on, let's go buy your school present. A pet would be nice."

Breeze didn't move. Emmeline stopped and looked at him.

Breeze looked up at her, squinting with a smile. "I... Thank you, Emmeline, but I'd like to visit Hogwarts first. I'm not sure I can look after a pet while I'm getting used to the Wizarding World. If I can, I think I'll buy one in my second year. You've already helped me so much."

Emmeline nodded.

"Then let's go buy your wand. It's our last stop today."

"Okay, Emmeline!"

Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

Ollivander's Wand Shop was the best wand shop in all of Britain—and the only one, of course. Nearly every British wizard had found a partner here.

It was easy to see that the shopkeeper had perhaps let the place fall into disrepair because of his great reputation. Still, he didn't seem to need to advertise.

Emmeline looked at Ollivander's Wand Shop with an exasperated expression. "It's just as shabby as it was years ago. But you'll be happy with it. After all, you need a wand, and Mr. Ollivander treats the wands very well."

As soon as Breeze pushed open the door, he heard a loud crash. He looked up at rows of wand shelves, stretching as far as he could see, arranged at different heights and in a jumble. At the sound, all the wand boxes on one shelf had toppled over.

An old man sighed. "Oh, how very strange. I thought this wand would choose Malfoy, but apparently not..."

He was quite a strange old man.

That was Breeze's first impression of Ollivander.

The shop didn't look very big, but its long, narrow layout stretched into darkness. At the only counter, the Malfoy family were choosing wands.

Breeze had already met Draco Malfoy and his mother. The other man, tall and slender, with platinum-blond hair and a snake-headed cane, was Malfoy's father. He was easy to recognize: he had the same platinum-blond hair as Young Malfoy. The whole family was golden-haired.

Malfoy's father seemed never to lower his head. He held it high and looked at his son disapprovingly.

"Draco, mind your manners. Don't frown for no reason."

Draco Malfoy saw Breeze enter, but ignored him. He was quite unhappy after taking so long to find a wand that suited him. But he didn't dare argue with his father's words. He immediately straightened up and looked at Ollivander with a solemn expression. "Sir, I think you can try another batch."

Mrs. Malfoy smiled and placed a hand on her son's shoulder. "Draco, be patient. A wand is very important."

"Of course, Mother. Malfoys deserve the best."

When Draco Malfoy took the wand Ollivander handed him once more, a streak of red light shot out and struck the wand shelf beside Breeze. The wand boxes on it came cascading down.

Breeze hurriedly stepped back to avoid being hit.

"Tsk!"

Draco Malfoy curled his lip in displeasure. Breeze could tell that Draco Malfoy regretted that the wands hadn't hit him.

"Oh, I've got it. This should be the one. For you, an unusual combination: hawthorn wood and Unicorn Hair. I remember where I put it..."

"Thump... thump..."

As Ollivander thought, a beautiful, ancient-looking wand rolled to Breeze's feet. Its green body was wrapped in Mithril, and it didn't look like the lively sort.

Ollivander stopped muttering and stared fixedly at the wand by Breeze's feet.

For some reason, Breeze picked up the wand that had appeared uninvited. At once, a breeze rose from it. As the air swirled around them, the wand boxes returned to their places, and fresh Green Vine Wood tendrils spread out, blooming into beautiful blue flowers. Flecks of light like little House-elves danced across the blossoms.

"Oh! What an incredible combination. Mithril is rigid, but it's also the most adaptable material, with a powerful affinity for magic. The Mithril has been delicately woven around the Green Vine Wood, concealing its lively, changeable nature..."

"However, unfortunately, I never found a suitable core for it. It has no core at all. Without the Mithril, it probably couldn't even be considered a proper wand."

Ollivander seemed conflicted. Without a core, he had always considered it a half-finished wand. Yet the Mithril was so extraordinary that it gave the wand the ability to cast magic. And it had already found its owner.

Ollivander came over to Breeze and gently stroked the wand. "Green Vine Wood combined with Mithril, but no core. Nine inches, exquisitely made, and extremely flexible. It could even be worn as a bracelet... Tell me your name, please?"

He was staring at the wand, but Breeze understood that he was speaking to him.

"Breeze Order, sir."

"Oh, right, Mr. Order. Ahem. I hope to hear of your accomplishments someday, because I've no idea what this wand will give you... Nine Galleons. I'm sorry, I can't lower the price just because it has no core. Mithril is far too rare."

Breeze quietly took nine Galleons from his shoulder bag and handed them to Ollivander with a smile.

As Breeze took out the Galleons, the wand curled into a beautiful bracelet and slipped onto his right wrist.

Ollivander raised an eyebrow. "I can see it's a little willful and mischievous."

Then he headed farther into the shop...

The Malfoys all looked at Breeze with curiosity. When Mr. Malfoy glanced at Emmeline, who had said nothing since they'd entered and seen the family, his expression shifted. A moment later, he resumed his haughty air.

"All right, let's go, Breeze."

Emmeline ignored the Malfoy family, looking as though she'd run into a fly. A graceful lady like Emmeline should have spoken to them and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Breeze didn't give it much thought. He followed Emmeline out, and only after they'd left did Mr. Malfoy speak. "Have you met him, Draco?"

Draco Malfoy replied disdainfully, "He's just a Muggle-born wizard."

Lucius nodded silently and said nothing more.

"I'm sorry, Emmeline, but I can't accept."

Emmeline had offered to adopt Breeze once again, but he firmly turned her down.

Emmeline looked quite helpless. Breeze hadn't just refused her offer; he'd also declined to stay at her home for a while.

"I think I can live at the Leaky Cauldron for a while. I want to learn more about the Wizarding World, and I can read lots of books at the secondhand bookstore."

"All right, as you wish. I'm not your guardian. Well, Betty was always your guardian, but she didn't transfer that responsibility to me before she died. I have no right to order you around."

"Emmeline, don't be angry..."

"Oh, you should call me Ms. Vance, Mr. Order."

Breeze had no choice but to stare at Emmeline with wide eyes. Emmeline shook her head helplessly and waved at him, not at all elegantly. "All right, Mr. Breeze. I think our journey ends here. This should have been the Hogwarts professors' job, but... I don't mind that it took up my precious morning."

"Goodbye, Breeze. Take care of yourself. If you change your mind, write to me anytime. You know my address."

"Goodbye, Emmeline. You take care, too."

With a soft pop, Emmeline used magic to leave Diagon Alley. Breeze blinked in surprise.

"Oh, what kind of magic was that? I hope I can learn it at Hogwarts."

Breeze let out a relaxed breath. It felt wonderful not to have anyone holding him back. Now he could plan how to spend the time before school started.

First, he needed to take his small suitcase to the Leaky Cauldron and rent a room. He hoped it wouldn't be too bad.