The weather was a little cold.
Ian glanced back at the slowly closing door, then looked up at the faded sign on Ollivanders Wand Shop. He felt he'd discovered the biggest scam in the magical world.
"What a crafty villain."
Ian muttered his judgment of Ollivander. He even suspected that Voldemort had so many followers not only because he threatened people with Avada Kedavra.
Ollivander probably deserved at least some of the blame!
Just think about it!
If, when you were around ten, you met a fortune-teller who told you that you were destined to become a great general, and then, when you grew up, you happened to meet Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.
Who could resist that?
Most people would probably mistake tragedy for fate!
"I've found the root cause of the magical world's chaos!"
Ian was sure that, with this discovery, he could write an excellent paper. Unfortunately, Hogwarts didn't have a journal where his brilliant insight could be published.
"Maybe I should consider the Daily Prophet. A famous newspaper like that must pay well." As Ian's thoughts wandered, he looked around for Snape.
The unreliable professor hadn't abandoned him. Ian spotted Snape standing outside a shop, and hurried over to him.
"Professor, could you teach me how to write a wizarding paper?"
Ian figured that if he could add a Hogwarts professor's name to his article, it might have a better chance of being selected and published by the Daily Prophet.
He might even get a little more for it.
"Mr. Prince, I have no interest in hearing the childish and foolish ideas of children. Now, you should choose a pet that will help with your studies."
Snape shot a cold glance at the wand tucked into Ian's pocket.
Then he knocked on the shop window in front of them. Only then did Ian realize it was a pet shop, with all sorts of animals locked in cages inside.
Cats, toads, owls, lizards, and rats—there was a wide variety, including some little creatures with magical bloodlines. Still, none of them caught Ian's eye.
Admittedly,
Ian did have a soft spot for owls.
But Hogwarts already kept plenty of owls, and in Ian's view, an owl he could pet for free was far better value than one he'd have to pay for and look after himself.
By comparison,
Ian would rather keep some unusual pets of his own.
"Professor, can I buy whatever pet I want?"
Ian asked tentatively.
"Mm."
Snape gave a grunt through his nose.
"Then, could I have a Phoenix?"
Ian blinked.
A lion... Well, lions knew their place, so he probably couldn't ask for one. Faced with Ian's wild idea, Snape's eyelid twitched several times.
"Are you sure you haven't had too much Calming Draught and still haven't woken up?" Snape was genuinely shocked. He'd never met anyone so shameless!
A Phoenix, just for you?
I want one too!
Who's going to give me one?
"A bird with Phoenix blood would do, too. I saw them using Phoenix feathers to make wands in that shop." Ian's meaning was obvious: he thought Phoenixes must be quite common.
For a child who'd grown up in a Muggle orphanage, it was perfectly reasonable for him to think that. But Ian really did want a Phoenix, too.
How cool would that be?
"Other than members of the Dumbledore Family, no wizard in this century has won a Phoenix's favor. I suggest you forget that ridiculous fantasy."
Snape rolled his eyes.
Then, in his usual slow drawl, he said, "Of course, perhaps Mr. Prince has enough pull to get Dumbledore to give you his Phoenix."
Clearly,
he was only mocking Ian.
"Why don't you ask him for me, Professor? Dumbledore would definitely do you that favor!" It wasn't that Ian was shameless. He'd simply figured out how to deal with Snape.
Sure enough,
that one sentence left Snape completely at a loss for words.
"You sharp-tongued brat!"
In the end, Snape could only glare fiercely at Ian.
"If you had any more sense than a Troll, you wouldn't be dreaming about impossible things. You'd just choose a toad or a rat like a good boy."
"They're both ideal companions for your Potions experiments." Snape was clearly trying to hold back his irritation, but he still offered his advice in that slow, measured voice.
Only,
that advice didn't quite fit most people's idea of what a pet was.
"That's a test subject, not a pet."
Ian sighed helplessly.
"Is there a difference?"
Snape gave a cold, mocking snort. "Perhaps you'll end up in foolish Gryffindor. Only those mediocrities would feel sympathy and affection for these animals."
He was taking another swipe at the House he hated most.
Ian ignored him.
"Forget it. I've already spent enough today. I don't want a pet. I can't even support myself." Ian leaned against the glass wall and looked around for a long while.
In the end,
he still couldn't find an animal he liked.
He had the soul of an adult.
His interests in pets were naturally different from those of ordinary children.
"It's your choice."
Snape didn't try to talk him out of it.
He swept his robes around and turned to leave.
"If I can't have a Phoenix, can I keep a snake?" Ian hurried after him, dragging his trunk. Snape had been looking after it until then.
"First-years aren't allowed to bring dangerous pets." Snape slowed down to let Ian catch up, then looked at him with a thoroughly disdainful sideways glance.
"Didn't you just say you'd forget it? Changed your mind already? Too bad. You've lost your chance to buy one." The corners of Snape's mouth lifted slightly. At last, his stony face showed a hint of emotion.
"No. I want to get one in my second or third year." Ian wasn't sure whether Harry Potter was in the same year as him. He might have to rely on the Chosen One if he wanted to get the pet he really liked.
Yes.
Ian wanted a Basilisk.
Now that was the kind of pet an adult's soul would want!
Bigger was better!
"Hah. So Mr. Prince doesn't dislike pets after all. He just thinks the ones in the pet shop aren't good enough for him. I hope you don't regret this foolish decision."
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Even pets with only a trace of magical creature blood in them cost more than a little wizard like you could ever afford."
Snape looked at Ian as if he'd seen right through him.
"Sure. Thanks for the warning, Professor."
Ian nodded.
He didn't look troubled, much to Snape's disappointment.
Meanwhile, Ian kept looking around at the various magical shops.
"Get ready."
Snape suddenly stopped.
Before Ian could turn to ask what he meant,
Snape's hand closed around the back of Ian's neck again.
The next moment,
Ian felt the world spinning.
He knew this was what Apparition felt like. But compared with the earlier trip, when he hadn't felt a thing, this time he was a little dizzy and queasy.
It wasn't too bad.
Maybe Snape's Potion had started to wear off?
While Ian's thoughts wandered,
"Whoosh!"
His vision suddenly cleared, and the Apparition journey came to an end. The bustling streets of Diagon Alley vanished, replaced by a quiet, peaceful village.
The distant burbling of a stream mingled with the occasional hoot of an owl, while the air was filled with the sweet scents of magical food and candy.
This was Hogsmeade Village.
A magical village nestled among the mountains of Scotland.
"You'll be staying here until term starts."
Snape led Ian, who was looking around like a curious child, to a secluded little wooden house. Before Ian could pretend to ask what the place was, Snape had already taken out a key and tossed it to him along with the half-bag of Galleons left over from before.
"If I catch you wandering around again, you'll be sorry." Snape gave him a stern warning, then turned and left without hesitation.
His back looked as though he were in a hurry to deal with something. Surely he hadn't left a pot of precious Potions brewing at home and forgotten to turn off the heat?
"Did he mean I shouldn't... wander around again?"
Ian noticed something unusual in Snape's words.
Still,
looking at the stacks of textbooks in his trunk, all Ian wanted now was to become a real wizard. As far as he was concerned, everything else could wait.
"Magic, here I come!"