It's obvious that the Weasleys were a friendly group.
Mr Weasley had plenty of know-how in handling muggles, and once Evan and Hermione introduced him, he comforted both parents' worries. He wasn't flawless, occasionally revealing his fascination with muggle items and making a shocked expression, but was otherwise faultless.
When Mrs Weasley emerged from the fireplace, she immediately hugged several children, including Evan who received an especially long hug. She repeatedly thanked Evan for helping Harry, even though he was a bit embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Percy greeted Evan and Hermione with strict formality, reminding Evan of certain aristocrats due to his meticulous appearance.
Behind Percy, who was a model student, were Fred and George, a fascinating set of twins. They seldom did wrong, besides thinking up occasional pranks.
Ron, Harry's closest companion, was freckled and a little clumsy. He boasted that he had plotted to save Harry in a flying car a week before, much to Hermione's displeasure, who was present.
Incidentally, there was also Ginny, who was the same age as Evan and had been trailing Mrs Weasley. She was a lovely little girl with red hair, but too bashful to speak. She simply gazed at Harry with her face turning beetroot.
Following a brief introduction, the group was all set to proceed to the wizard bank and withdraw money from the Ancient Spirit Court.
This was the first time Evan saw goblins. They were not as attractive as house elves, but their shrewd and cunning glances made him realize that goblins were entirely different creatures.
They walked down a lengthy flight of white stone steps and entered a tall marble hall.
About 110 goblins were sitting on tall stools behind a long counter. Some were weighing coins on copper scales while others were examining gems with goggles and making brief notes in a huge book. The room had many doors leading to various places and numerous goblins assisted people in entering and exiting these doors.
Harry and the Weasleys were led by a goblin named the Ring Puller, who was prepared to gather his money from his vault, while Evan and Hermione had to change their pounds to the standard wizard currency at the Great Hall.
Mr and Mrs Granger exchanged ten pounds, and Mr Mason exchanged a large pocket of gold Galleons for Evan, exceeding the total value of the school shopping list, upon Evan's request.
About 15 minutes later, Harry and the Weasleys came out of the underground vault.The group left each other outside Gringotts. Percy grumbled about needing to purchase a new pen, while Fred and George caught sight of their Hogwarts friend, Jordan Lee. As for Mr Weasley, he insisted on buying drinks for Mr and Mrs Mason and Mr and Mrs Granger at the Broken Cauldron.
Evan gazed at Harry, who appeared to have a private matter to discuss with Ron and Hermione. After considering it for some time, Evan chose to accompany Mrs Weasley and Ginny on their quest for school robes and wands.
"Join us at the Li trace bookstore in one hour to buy your textbooks," Mrs Weasley stated as she departed with Ginny and Evan.
"And no detours to Tumble Alley!" She yelled to the twin brothers' retreating forms.
"Evan asked urgently, 'Mrs Weasley, where do we get wands from? It's my first time in Diagon Alley.' Evan exclaimed, 'Gilderoy Lockhart?!'"
She responded with a smile, 'We're going to Ollivander's, dear. You and Ginny need new wands.' Mrs Weasley reminded them, 'Let's be quick because there's lots of shopping to do, and we can't be late for Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing today.'
Evan was concerned, "These books are on the expensive side and in demand by the school, but I don't understand why the new professor for black magic defense needs five sets of Lockhart's books at once."
"Perhaps the professor is a big fan of Lockhart, who is quite renowned," Mrs. Weasley said thoughtfully. "Nevertheless, it's a lot of money to be spent all at once. I'm afraid you'll have to find some second-hand supplies, Ginny."
"Don't worry, Mum!" Ginny winked at Evan and whispered, "My mum loves Lockhart, she's obsessed with him." Ginny seemed aware of this but couldn't understand her frustration.
"That's silly, Ginny!"
Mrs Weasley blushed, "You must admit, a wizard as amazing as him, is very attractive."
It was particularly attractive to middle-aged and old women, Evan covered his forehead with his hand, he didn't have any favourable feelings towards this big liar of Lockhart, anyway, sooner or later he would be dismantled, he didn't want to continue chatting on this topic.
In fact, what surprised him more was Ginny.
The young girl is no longer as timid as she was upon their initial meeting.
She proceeds to inform Evan about her family throughout their journey.
In fact, she becomes very chatty and full of energy the moment Harry is out of sight. Unlike Ron, Ginny does not mind using hand-me-downs from her brothers, except for one item - the second-hand school uniform. This particular item frustrates her greatly.
They heard a faint jingle as they arrived.
The golden emblem on the door was falling off, and it bore the name Ollivander, manufacturer of exquisite wands since 382 BC.In the dusty window, a stick lay on a faded purple cushion.
As they stepped into the store, a bell rang from somewhere in the back. Evan glanced around; the shop was tiny, with only a bench in front of the counter.
Thousands of long, slender cardboard boxes reached almost to the ceiling not far away.
All sorts of wands filled the place. Evan felt a sudden chill in his heart for some reason, maybe because the dust and silence made it all feel enigmatic.
They took a bench and waited as Mrs Weasley guided them. Soon after, a gentle voice came from the shop.
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"Good morning!" "Certainly, certainly!" A senior gentleman with pale eyes greeted them, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Moripwit. This wand is delightful - it's twelve inches long, made of cherry wood and has a little more power. It's perfect for enchanting."
"Yes, Mr Ollivander, I really like this wand," replied Mrs Weasley. She then quickly stood up and introduced them, "This is Evan Mason, a new student at Hogwarts this year, and my daughter Ginny Weasley. They both need to buy a new wand."
Ollivander looked towards Ginny and Evan, who were standing aside. "Wizards need wands to cast spells, but remember, the wand chooses the wizard!"
Evan felt nervous and unsure how to respond to the legendary wandmaker.
"Let me inspect your wand!" Ollivander promptly pulled out a long tape measure with a silver scale from his pocket and approached Ginny. Ollivander promptly pulled out a long tape measure with a silver scale from his pocket and approached Ginny. "Ladies first, Ms Weasley, which hand do you use for your wand?"
Ginny answered softly, "Right hand!" Ollivander promptly pulled out a long tape measure with a silver scale from his pocket and approached Ginny.
"Please raise your arm," Ollivander instructed. Ollivander measured Ginny, starting from her shoulders to her fingertips, then from her wrists to her elbows, followed by her shoulders to the floor, her knees to her armpits and lastly, her head circumference.
As he did this, he told both Ginny and Evan, "Every wand in Ollivander's possesses a strong magical substance - that's its essence." We typically use unicorn hair, phoenix feathers, and dragon nerves to craft Ollivander's wands. Each wand is distinct as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are identical. Obtaining optimal results with another wizard's wand is unlikely.
Keep in mind, the wand selects the wizard!
After speaking, he vanished into the crowded shelves. Evan watched as he returned with a box, causing him to exhale in relief.
Ollivander murmured, "The Weasleys clearly enjoy unicorn hair wands, no doubt about it. Take this one - 14 inches, ebony, slightly curved."
Ginny reached for it, but he quickly snatched it away.
"No, I reckon this one is made from willow wood and unicorn hair, it's eight and a half inches long and pliant!"
Ginny had just taken it when a red light appeared at the tip of the wand she held, and it was like gold stars shooting out in all directions like fireworks, with bouncing flecks of light casting onto the four walls.
"A fantastic combination, ideal for manipulating spells, you will excel in your spellcasting class." Immediately after, Ollivander looked at Evan and whispered, "It's your turn Mr Mason."
Like Ginny, Evan was familiar with using his wand in his right hand and examining it before choosing. However, Evan struggled to find the right wand, trying many that felt wrong in his hand, only for Ollivander to quickly take them away.
"Just like Mr Potter last year, a fussy customer, but no worries, we always have the best wand for you here!" Ollivander appeared pleased, "Let me ponder for a moment, ah, there it is, 14 and a half inches long, made from grapevine wood, the wand's core is from a night Ti tail feather. This was the last wand crafted by my great grandfather, who was a distinguished wand maker."
Evan held the wand and felt a surge of heat going through his fingers. The tip of the wand produced a white circle like water ripples.
"It's wonderful!" Ollivander's voice became softer, "I am not a great fan of Night Tiara feathers, but you and this wand are truly exceptional, Mr. Mason."
"Excuse me, sir!" When they were alone in the room, Evan quietly asked, "What made you feel wonderful just now?"
Evan was curious because he held a wand with the inner core made of the Night Ti's tail feather, unlike any other wand from Ollivander's.
"We all know that the Night Tiara is seen as an unlucky symbol." Ollivander looked at Evan with pale eyes and said, "It's a strange material that can only be controlled by wizards who have mastery over death."
Ollivander's voice sounded distant, and after hearing this, Evan felt like throwing away the wand in his hand. He didn't want to be seen as the heir of the Dark Lord just as he entered school, weird, death, and unlucky as it all seemed.
"Your magic was very powerful, Mr. Mason, and different from the Night Tiara Tail Feather. That's why I said it was wonderful," whispered Ollivander, close to Evan's face. "Just remember, the wand chooses the wizard, and you are destined for great things."
Evan felt uneasy, as if his deepest secrets had been uncovered, and he knew he wouldn't warm up to the unpleasant Mr Ollivander.
Leaving the wand shop, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Mrs Weasley then took Evan and Ginny to Mrs Malkin's Robe Boutique. However, Ginny's former excitement dwindled, as she had to choose a uniform from the old robes that matched her style.
Evan thought it was unfair, particularly when he permitted Ms Malkin to measure him while Ginny looked on with a sad face nearby, he considered himself a sinner.
"Mrs Weasley, thank you for welcoming me to your home."
"Dear Evan, there's no need to be so polite, you and Harry are both great kids; Arthur and I will be delighted to have you in our home." With a content expression on her face, Mrs Weasley walked up and tousled Evan's hair.
"Thanks, I wanted to give you a gift," Evan said hesitantly.Evan spoke nervously, "Can I give Ginny a new dress as a Christmas gift?"
Mrs Weasley was surprised and replied, "No, that's too costly!". Meanwhile, Ginny, who was standing next to them, looked hopeful.
Without delaying, he continued, "You don't have to pay for it, I just want to make her happy. Evan was intuitive and realized that Mrs Weasley was about to refuse. Without delaying, he continued, "You don't have to pay for it, I just want to make her happy. Without delaying, he continued, "You don't have to pay for it, I just want to make her happy. We're already friends, so it would be my pleasure to gift her."
After more than ten minutes, Evan's persistent convincing, Ginny's hopeful expression, and Mrs Moggin's agreement to provide a very favourable discounted price, Mrs Weasley finally accepted the gift.
She immediately embraced Evan, noticing Ginny's blushing face and Mrs Moggin's laughing expression, which made Evan feel embarrassed for a while.