"I was once a child with innocent eyes."
~~~
Shiyo walked through Diagon alley, passing all sorts of shops. He did his best to get out of the crowded areas of the path, nervously looking around. He'd gotten a few skeptical stares but other than that things were going smoothly.
Putting the pen in his mouth, since his other hand held his trunk, he used his main hand to hold up the notepad and see what was first- Gringotts & take out hundred galleons. Shouldn't be too hard- all he had to do was find Gringotts.
He stowed the pen and notepad away in his jeans pocket, gripped his trunk handle and walked briskly. He looked around- it was interesting to see all the different shops and hear the sales people yelling their offers. He passed a dark shop with a sign reading 'Eeylops Owl Emporium' followed by a list of owl types, he supposed that's where people got owls to deliver messages- and they kept them as pets. Would be nice to have an owl, he mused. But he knew there was no room for having pets- John wouldn't allow it and it would be a waste of money, his words- minus the expletives.
As if he had money to waste anyways.
There were shops selling robes, telescopes, books, globes of planets, and so many other things he couldn't recognize. Soon enough he saw Gringotts- A snowy-white building that practically loomed over the little shops. It was beautiful and radiated with an elegant energy, complete with burnished bronze doors.
He climbed the white stone steps, his eyes widened as he saw what looked like a gremlin- or was it a goblin? He'd go with goblin since his mother told him goblins ran the place. It was a head shorter than him, and wearing a regal scarlet uniform. As he nervously walked inside the goblin bowed deeply- he bowed his head in return as a form of respect, to which the goblin looked pleasantly surprised, though he wasn't sure- and he continued, a set of silver doors facing him.
There were words engraved upon the doors;
ENTER, STRANGER, BUT TAKE HEED
OF WHAT AWAITS THE SIN OF GREED,
FOR THOSE WHO TAKE, BUT DO NOT EARN,
MUST PAY MOST DEARLY IN THEIR TURN,
SO IF YOU SEEK BENEATH OUR FLOORS
A TREASURE THAT WAS NEVER YOURS,
THIEF, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, BEWARE
OF FINDING MORE THAN TREASURE THERE.
The poem filled Shiyo with a strange sense of security, he found himself placing more trust in a bank than any human he'd ever met. He longed to write down the whole poem for some reason but decided against it, he needed to book that room in the Leaky Cauldron quickly. He didn't want to be sleeping in the streets by nightfall.
We'd know a lot about that, wouldn't we. Fresh start, yes?
Another pair of goblins bowed, he bowed his head back in respect, as he entered. He found himself in a vast, wealthy looking marble hall. He couldn't help but look around while walking- it was the most beautiful and elegant place he'd ever been to. Shiyo felt alien in this place- with the clothes he wore and his entire self. He wondered what wizard libraries looked like. There must've been about a hundred goblins sitting behind a long counter, doing various actions such as weighing coins on brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses and so on.
Some goblins were showing people in an out of the doors leading off the hall. Shiyo inhaled, mentally preparing himself for his first interaction with a person of magic origin- or even his first interaction with a goblin.
"Erm- good morning, I'm here to take some money out of a vault?"
Okay, how about the next sentence we speak isn't in a shaky pathetic voice?
The goblin looked up, "And you're going to tell me who's vault that is, sir?"
"O-oh right- the Hanako vault, please."
An attempt was made.
"You have the key, sir?"
Shiyo blinked at being called 'sir' and replied with yes, taking the small, golden key out and handing it to the goblin. The goblin examined it, looking at it closely.
"Everything seems to be in order. And what might be in that trunk of yours?"
"Thank you- and uh, it's just.. personal items."
"Hand it here, you might damage objects inside of it on the way down to the vault."
Shiyo hesitantly handed the trunk to the goblin, feeling a bit uneasy but remembered this was a secure place, and thanked him. The goblin gave him back his key, which he again thanked him for and stowed away safely in his pocket.
"Alright, I'll have someone take you down to your vault. Clutchclaw!"
Shiyo masked his surprise at such a bizarre name, he supposed not everyone could be named 'Matt' or 'Fred', especially when it's in the wizarding world and a goblin. Perhaps it was culture. He did admit clutchclaw sounded pretty cool.
Shiyo followed Clutchclaw towards one of the doors leading off the hall. He held open the door, expecting perhaps an elevator or stair case- not a stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It reminded him of coal mines.
Clutchclaw whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the railway tracks. The both of them climbed in- and were immediately hurtled through a maze of twisting passages in every direction. He noticed Clutchclaw wasn't steering, he supposed it was magic.
Due to the cold air rushing past them Shiyo squinted, trying to keep his eyes open, but failed and ended up closed them shut. They plunged deeper for a while and came to a halt. Shiyo opened his eyes and rubbed them, then got out of the cart following Clutchclaw.
They were beside a medium sized door in the passage wall, Clutchclaw unlocked it. Shiyo had to fight back a gasp- in the vault there were mounds upon mounds of gold and silver coins, and some heaps of bronze ones too.
"Gold ones are galleons, silver ones are sickles and bronze ones are knuts."
"Oh- alright, thank you-"
Shiyo stepped inside, then realized he didn't have the pouch. He looked back at Clutchclaw.
"Um- excuse me please, I was told I would get a uh-"
"Ah yes, the enchanted pouch. Here you are."
Clutchclaw cut Shiyo off and handed him the pouch. It was a small brown leather pouch, but Shiyo supposed it was enchanted to hold a lot of coins. Shiyo thanked him and started picking up galleons, as quick as he could. He'd pick up the galleons in tens so that he'd move quickly. Clutchclaw spoke, making Shiyo jump slightly, almost making him drop the few sickles he was holding.
"Seventeen sickles to a galleon and twenty nine knuts to a sickle."
"R-right, thank you."
Shiyo collected his money, atleast 90 galleons,
85 sickles and a few handful of knuts. Surprisingly all of it fit comfortably in the pouch, it felt a little heavy but ordinarily so. Well, he thought so. It's not like he ever had this much money at once.
"I... I think that should be enough, thank you."
"Back into the cart, I'll take you back up sir."
Shiyo did a double take, blinking, for the second time, at being called sir. He wanted to tell them they didn't have to call him that, he wasn't used to it at all and he really didn't deserve such a formal title, but he felt it might insult some... work tradition or something. They both climbed into the cart, the vault sealed shut, and sped off. After one wild cart ride they reached the top. He climbed out and thanked Clutchclaw. He walked back to the front counter.
"I trust everything went well?"
"Mhm.. thank you"
He nodded. The goblin at the counter handed him back his luggage.
He thanked him again, before giving a small bow, and walking out. Shiyo went through the silver doors yet again, and then remembered the poem- He took out his pen and notepad and quickly scribbled down the entire thing.
That certainly was an experience. Lots of thank you's. Not... bad.
The sunlight was shining down upon the shops and pavement. He looked up, squinting. It seemed to be about midday, judging by the sun's position. Next thing was to book that room. Repositioning his scarf, he gripped his trunk and briskly walked in the direction of the wall.
Once he was near the wall he wondered how to get back. Subtle panic was blooming in his chest as he realized his mother hadn't told him exactly how to get back through. He looked around- then saw a woman, well- witch, stand infront of the wall, which opened back into the archway, and walked through. The archway closed up the moment the witch walked through.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he walked forward and stood infront of the wall- praying it wouldn't keep him inside. To his relief, the wall had shifted its bricks into an archway, like it had for the woman before him. Softly sighing in relief, he walked through. He headed back to the pub, through the back door.
The whole pub was filled with idle chatter and laughter. Shiyo walked to the front desk, where a tall lanky man was standing, making idle chat with a woman on the other side of the counter. He stopped talking once he saw Shiyo, and gave him a toothy grin.
"Good afternoon, what can I do for a lil lad like you?"
"..Good afternoon, I'd like to book a room-? Please-"
"And where your parents at?"
"They're.. at home, sir."
"No need to call me sir, the names Tom. How long are you staying, kid?"
"Until September first."
"Bit of a long stay, eh? And what's your name?"
"Shiyo- Shiyo Hanako."
Tom's eyes looked him up and down, lingering on his hair.
"I should've known you were a Hanako- Your hair is a dead giveaway. I knew your mother of old, boy."
Oh right, he remembered his mother saying something along those lines. Knowing him of old.
"How's she doing now? Haven't seen her in a while."
"She's doing alright, sir"
Even better with me gone. The feelings' mutual.
"Told you to call me Tom, no need to be formal kid," Tom chuckled.
"Oh- my bad, I'm sorry si- Tom.", Shiyo stuttered out an apology, cursing himself internally.
"Ah it's alright. Tell you what- I'll give you her old room. Usually we charge 5 galleons a day but since I haven't heard from your mother in so long and you're her son, I'll allow you to stay for free."
Huh. The one time being related to her does something good for me.
"O-oh- you don't have to do that Tom I can pay-" Shiyo stammered nervously, he wasn't used to any special treatment and didn't want to rob Tom of any money. Robbing him of 5 galleons a day for a month and some just seemed cruel, and a wasted opportunity.
"Ay, it's my decision. Here's your key and room card, go settle down. I'll help you get back into Diagon Alley if you need to."
Shiyo tried to bargain with Tom a last time, but ceded defeat. He thanked him, still a bit in surprise from the entire thing. Tom pointed to the staircase where the rooms were. He climbed up to the third floor, looking for his room. His room card read '444'. He always heard triple numbers were something of lucky numbers. He wondered if that was right.
He saw his new room while walking down the corridor, unlocking the door and peeking inside. He stepped in and looked around, it was quite pretty; It was small but not suffocating, he supposed all rooms looked the same. Wooden floors, birch bed, dresser table, everything one would need for a bedroom. Even a walk in bathroom. He had one at... home, but it wasn't really his room.
And neither is this one.
He closed the door behind him and set down his things. He'd unpack later, he thought. He opened the trunk and put his vault key safely buried in his clothes. He took out whatever he had on hand- His money pouch, pen, notepad, room card and room key. He put his room card and key deep in his pocket, then checked the notepad; He'd scratched out go to Gringotts and get money, and book a room in the Leaky Cauldron.
Next was to get his wand, the last being getting his other school things. He took out the letter that had the list of things he needed to get. Folding it up and zipping up his trunk, he put all his other things in his other jeans pocket. He closed and locked his room door and head down to the main floor of the Leaky Cauldron.
Once Tom spotted him he waved him over to the back. Tom helped him get back to Diagon alley. This shouldn't be too hard, he supposed.
Alright- get a wand, get a few school things and that's it. Maybe we should spread out getting school things across different days since we have practically a month and some.
He walked briskly with a purpose- getting a wand. Realization dawned on him that having a wand would seal the title of him being a wizard. Once he got his wand, there was no going back. Not that he would want to go back anyways.
Let's not screw up this new life.
Shiyo couldn't deny himself a small feeling of excitement, as it sparked in him as he walked. He soon spotted the shop- it looked a bit shabby and dark, but Shiyo knew better than to judge. Peeling gold letters read 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC'. Now, Shiyo was impressed. Dating back into BC was many centuries ago, and the thought of it made him wonder about wizarding history. Maybe history of magic won't be so bland.
Yet again though, his doubt rose up again. What if Ollivander, which was such a nice name honestly, told him that he didn't have enough magic for a wand? What if he wasn't worthy of a wand?
The spark of excitement inside him shifted a little. He shook his head, and gathered up what remaining determination he had. He was going to become a wizard. Hopefully. He could see a wand laying on a faded purple pillow through a dusty window- it was a nice touch, Shiyo thought.
He inhaled and opened the door, walking it. He heard the twinkling of a bell once he did. He looked around, surveying his surroundings.
"...Erm- Good afternoon," he said, nervously.
"Good afternoon," spoke a soft voice. Shiyo didn't jump but his head quickly turned towards the voice. An old man stood before him, smiling kindly. His eyes were wide and pale, mysterious but in a friendly manner.
"Hanako, is it? I'll assume by your hair, and your eyes. You're the spitting image of your mother, I remember her wand exactly. Ten and a half inches long, supple, and made of birch. Extremely powerful, to say the least. Your father-" Shiyo perked up, "preferred a twelve inch long wand, swishy and made of willow. Perfect for charm work."
...woah.
Ollivander observed Shiyo for a few seconds- Shiyo straightened his posture a bit, anxiously.
"Of course, I do hope your mother has been keeping well. Right then Mr Hanako, which is your wand arm?"
God, these formal titles are so— bizarre... Is that the right word?
"I'm um- am.. ambidextrous sir, but I mainly use my right arm, sir."
Oh did we really have to mess up that word... it's not even that hard to pronounce! Let's hope he doesn't care...
"Interesting, interesting- well hold out your arm, that's right."
Shiyo hesitantly held out his arm, wondering what on earth was going to happen. Ollivander then grabbed a long measuring tape with silver markings from the counter and measured from shoulder to finger, wrist to elbow, and many other places.
As he measured he spoke, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Hanako. We mainly use unicorn hairs, Phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. Though in rare cases we use Sphinx hair, Veela Hair, and so on. No two Ollivander wands will ever be the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, phoenixes, sphinxes or veelas are the exact same. Once a wand chooses you, you'll never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Shiyo ran that information through his brain. It was all very interesting, and his theory that wands are deeply connected with what makes a wizard (or witch), well- a wizard, was proven. He wondered if wands had to be polished or anything, like how he cared for his violin. If yes, then he could easily do that. He saw Mr Ollivander was taking down boxes, and was a bit surprised to see the measuring tape working on its own.
"That will do." The tape measure fell to the floor. "Right then Mr Hanako, try this one- Maple and Phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Just take it and give it a wave."
Feeling anxious, and rightfully so, Shiyo took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once, which startled him a tad.
"Alright, perhaps Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible."
Shiyo took it, even more anxious than he was before, and before he could even wave it the wand was snatched out of his hand once more.
"Another tricky customer? Not to worry, I've got hundreds if not thousands of wands here. Try this, willow and Veela hair. Eleven inches, quite firm."
Shiyo tried and tried, but nothing seemed to work. Shiyo was beginning to think this was a lost cause and he'd never become a wizard. In contrast to his worrying, Ollivander seemed happier and happier the more Shiyo tried more wands.
I'm starting to lose hope. Why does he seem so happy though... is this a good thing?
"Ah yes- This one is quite unique- don't know why I didn't have this out before. This is a very special wand, Mr Hanako. It has two cores. Very rarely do we use wands with twin cores, as the first one was an accident and was deemed too unstable. After a couple tens of hundreds more tests, few twin core wands worked. Your mother had an extremely powerful wand, you know. Ten and a half inches long, supple, and made of birch. Extremely powerful, had unicorn hair and sphinx hair."
Again with the mother thing... It's unavoidable, but still...
"Try this one, Ten and a quarter inches, willow with dragon heartstring and unicorn hair. Firm but still a bit flexible."
The moment Shiyo held the wand he felt his palm warm up. He held it in the air and brought it down, gold dancing light followed while orange and white sparkles emitted from the tip of the wand. Ollivander clapped, "Bravo, bravo! A spectacular wand. How splendid!"
Hey, look! We did something that's not completely horrible!
Shiyo couldn't help but feel his lips tug upwards ever so slightly as he held his wand. He gave it back to Ollivander, who put his wand back into its box and wrapped it with brown paper. "I expect great things from you, Mr Hanako. Both of your parents did wonderful things, I'm sure you'll do the same."
God I hope so. But my mother, wonderful things- really? What happened? Oh, right. Me, probably.
"Thank you, very much Mr Ollivander. I have a question though-"
"Yes?"
"Does... my wand need any sort of cleaning?"
"No, not necessarily, but a good polish once a month won't hurt. I'll put in the polish and cloth for you, for free."
What is with these folks and free things? Don't tell me this is normal... it's too much honestly...
Shiyo opened his mouth to protest but Ollivander was quicker, handing him the box. Shiyo paid 7 galleons for his new wand. They both bowed to each other, and Shiyo left the shop. He had a wand. He was a wizard. He couldn't wait to get to Hogwarts.
As Shiyo walked back to the Leaky Cauldron he couldn't stop the optimism running through his veins- nor the tugs on his lips, and to be honest, he didn't want to. This was his first step in the wizarding world. And he'd be ready for whatever it had to offer.
~~~
a/n: Chapter is finally out! About 3K words, good lord. I have exams in two weeks- I'm cooked but wish me luck. Writing the next chapter as you read this, most likely. Goodnight all.
Proof read: ✔️