Chapter 16: Upgrading a wand
AN: Hey guys and welcome to Chapter 16.
This fic is over 70k words already…pretty incredible considering my own bachelor thesis was only like 20k words.
I hope you guys still enjoy it. Keep up the feedback and the reviews!
2nd of June 1993
Chapter 16
It was almost time. Soon Harry could sneak back into the Chamber and ask Salazar what he knew about Rowena's room. Harry was hoping that Salazar knew of a way to connect the two rooms and create something like a bridge between them.
But could the room truly defy space as a dimension like that? The Chamber and the ROR are literally located on opposite sides of Hogwarts: One on the seventh floor and the other even lower than the dungeons. Could magic overcome this distance?
Harry checked the Map to see if there was anyone in front of the room or patrolling the seventh floor. Dumbledore was still in his office, as were Snape and McGonagall. Some other staff members were in the staff lounge and Filch was down on the first floor. It was time to go.
He put on his cloak and exited the room, carefully making his way down to the bathroom. He ignored Myrtle and opened the sink to step down into the Chamber.
"There you are! You have been gone for some time!" Salazar greeted him.
"I found Rowena's Room, Sal. I have to say… it's even more impressive than yours." Harry chuckled.
"I don't care how impressive you find it. The fact that my heir discovered another founder's room before any of their's discovered mine is satisfying enough. Tell me about the room!"
Harry explained how he found it and recounted the most important parts of the manual and the room's features. He also told Salazar about the imposing threat that is Albus Dumbledore.
"That room sounds truly spectacular. It will be great for dueling exercises. You can also just use its resources. I could imagine that it was used to hide illegal items or anything a student quickly wanted to get rid of, very often over the last 1000 years. Is there a way to make the room show you everything that it has collected so far?"
"Yes, there is!" Harry replied excitedly. "According to the manual you simply have to ask for 'The Room of Hidden Things' to see it.
"That is indeed very useful. You should take a couple of hours and wander through that room. Who knows what hidden treasures you might find there!"
"What about Dumbledore?"
"Your Headmaster, yes… Well, you could always just use one of the other two entrances to the Chamber, if you are worried about him blocking the one in the bathroom."
Harry stared at the portrait, dumbstruck.
"Are you kidding me… There are other ways to enter the Chamber and you have never told me? You had me go into a girl's bathroom for over three months?"
Salazar chuckled: "I think it's a very humbling experience. Why else do you think I created it in the first place? But yes, there are two more entrances you can use. One is located outside the Castle on the grounds. How else could my basilisk defend the school, if it killed half its students leaving the bathroom already?
The last entrance is in a broom cupboard around halfway along the corridor on the first floor. To open it, simply say 'Open' in Parseltongue. The staircase will directly take you to the ante-chamber."
Harry just shook his head: "You could have really told me this earlier, Sal. Nevertheless, thank you for sharing it with me. I will make sure to use a different entrance from now on. How would I find the one leading out to the grounds?"
"It is located at the bottom of the west wing, hidden by the vegetation. It has very strong notice-me-not charms put on it. The entrance will only reveal itself after the passphrase has been spoken."
"Defend the School, Slytherin! For Magic is in Danger!"
They drifted off-topic and Harry started telling Salazar about his preparations for the end of the year exams and the Dueling Tournament.
"Right now, there are 50 competitors from all over Europe. Flitwick explained the procedure for me: During the group stage, I will have to win at least three out of my four matches, to progress into the next stage. There will be five competitors per group and the groups are randomly matched.
From there on, it's direct elimination until only one competitor is left. The winner will be given the chance to challenge the champion of the Under-16 Championship for a friendly duel, just to gain some additional experience."
"What about rules? What kind of spells are allowed?" Salazar asked.
"No Unforgivables and nothing that is instantly lethal. For example, no bone breakers or piercing hexes to the head and chest. Also, no blood boiling courses. The competitors are checked for illegal potions before each duel and only one wand is allowed." Harry briefly repeated what Flitwick had told him.
"That's quite a lot of rules… None of that will be forbidden in an actual fight." Salazar frowned. "Talking about your wand. You have never told me what it's made of. It looks very interesting!"
"It's made of elder and redwood. The core consists of Thestral hair." Harry explained proudly, flicking the wand from its holster.
"That is a combination I have never heard of. All of those are strong ingredients, however, I have a suggestion."
Harry eagerly leaned forward and Salazar continued: "You are a Parselmouth already, but now the venom of the King of Serpents is flowing through your veins. You should use it to your advantage and build an even greater affinity for your Parselmagic!"
"How can I do that?" Harry asked excitedly.
"Take a vial of Basilisk venom to your wandmaker and ask him to liquify your current wand core in it. For that, you simply mix a couple of drops from your blood with the venom and inject it into the core of the wand.
The Thestral hair will be liquified by the mixture and but not fully destroyed, since your blood lessens the potency of the venom. Finally, you could also paint your wand with a very thin layer of the same mixture. It would be enough to irritate the skin of anyone that is not you, holding it for a longer time.
An already powerful wand like that, with such a personal connection to you as its wielder, will make an exceptional weapon and tool for any task."
Harry was fascinated by that possibility. The idea of personalizing his wand even further sounded promising. He would also like to delve deeper into Parselmagic. Maybe a wand infused with Basilisk venom would aid him in that endeavor.
Harry nodded: "I will talk to Ollivander as soon as possible. Maybe I can even accomplish that before the school year is over. Dobby could take me to Diagon Alley and back here. I just hope it does not take too long.
Would Dumbledore notice my absence If I let Dobby take me from the Chamber?"
"No, the Headmaster won't even see you leave. Rowena and I created the wards around the Castle. My Chamber, however, acts as a loophole around it. Whenever you go down the Chamber the wards don't recognize you leaving the school. They assume that you are still somewhere on the grounds.
Only my blood can apparate or use a Portkey in this Chamber. You could therefore let Dobby take you to Diagon Alley from the Chambers while the wards tell the Headmaster that you are still somewhere on the grounds. It's pretty ingenious if I may say so myself."
"That is indeed brilliant. Well… I have exams in the coming week. But next weekend, I will ask Dobby to take me to Ollivanders and get my wand upgraded."
With that, Harry went back to the Ravenclaw dormitory for some sleep. He was more than prepared for his exams this week and would make plans for the summer soon after.
3rd of June 1993
Today was Monday and he had his practical and theoretical exam in Herbology. The theoretical questions were no problem for him and he breezed through the practical exercise of transplanting a Mandrake without hurting himself or any other students during the task.
Tuesday was Charms and Harry truly enjoyed going all out and holding nothing back during his practical. Flitwick clapped frantically when Harry absolved the most difficult second-and third-year spells with ease and gave him a wink and a grin on his way out while Granger was seething in the corner.
Transfiguration on Wednesday morning was similar. McGonagall treated him a touch colder ever since their confrontation but still gave him a rare smile as Harry animated some chairs around him and performed a perfect vanishing charm for her.
On Wednesday afternoon, Harry sat his DADA exams. The Seventh year that was supposed to be evaluating him looked perplexed as Harry demonstrated perfect execution of some fifth-year spells, including the Protego, Stupify, and Reducto. He offered Harry a small duel for some extra points and Harry enjoyed trading some spells with the older student before coming to a stop.
He struggled with none of the questions for his theoretical potions exam and breezed through the practical with ease, completing it in less than half of the required time. To his surprise, Snape did not even make an attempt at a nasty comment, instead only mentioning that he was free to leave.
Friday brought History of Magic and later at night Astronomy. He felt decently prepared for both of those exams. Learning History from Salazar was a lot more entertaining than Binns. Just like last year, he bought some upper-year's notes on both subjects in exchange for some small favors. A deal, Harry was more than happy with.
Finally, the weekend had arrived and Harry was down in the Chamber with Salazar.
"Dobby!"
The elf appeared with a POP: "What can Dobby do for Harry Potter, Sir?"
"I would like you to take me to Ollivanders in Diagon Alley, do you know where it is?"
The elf nodded and held out his hand. Harry grabbed the vial of Basilisk venom and the vial of his blood. Dropped his hood lower down and took the elf's hand.
With a small pop, they appeared in an unoccupied corner in Diagon Alley.
"Go back to Hogwarts and wait until I call you. Do not tell anyone where I am!"
The elf nodded and disappeared with another soft pop. Harry pulled his hood even lower over his face, he did not want to be recognized out there. Then he made his way into the main alley.
A couple of people were doing their regular shopping, none of them were any students or children his age. Harry walked straight to Ollivanders, hoping that it would not take the old wandmaker too long to upgrade his wand.
The shop was open and Harry entered. The inside was seemingly empty, but Harry could tell that there was someone here. Was Ollivander using a disillusion-charm?
"I do not need to see your face to know which one of my customers you might be. Your wand and its ingredients call out to me, like none I have created before, Mr. Potter."
The wandmaker appeared behind a corner with a slight smile: "Tell me, have you accomplished great things with your wand already, just as I expected?"
"Greater than you could ever imagine!" Harry replied with a knowing smile, as he flicked his wand into his palm and held it out for Ollivander.
The wandmaker took it, analyzing it with his long fingers and putting it next to his ear, seemingly listened to it:
"It appears in excellent condition. Its allegiance to you is strong, but I can sense something like anticipation coming from it? Tell me, Mr. Potter… Why would you step into my shop on such a beautiful day, when you should be at school right now, enjoying the end of your exams?"
Harry chuckled: "I had an interesting encounter a couple of months ago… it left me with a gift, so to say, and an even stronger pull to a certain kind of magic, Sir. I was hoping, by making a few additions to my wand, I could fully exploit this new connection."
Ollivander seemed curious: "Adjusting a wand in later stages of life is not unheard of. It can be necessary after heavy emotional experiences and life-changing events. However, I am at a loss at what could have possibly brought such a drastic change during the two years since this wand is in your possessions?"
At that, Harry pulled out the vial of venom and held it out for Ollivander: "I am sure you will recognize what this contains, Sir."
Ollivander took the vial, his eyebrows rising up in surprise: "How did you come by this, Mr. Potter?"
Harry grinned: "I am afraid that is, as you put it, a story for another time. Rest assured it is pure and very lethal. However, that is, why I brought this as well." He pulled out the second vial with his blood and continued explaining.
"I was bitten by a Basilisk and came close to dying. Phoenix tears saved me and now circulate in my blood to counteract the still active venom. I was hoping you could inject some of this mixture into my wand and add the liquid to my current core.
If you agree, we could also paint a faint layer of this mixture over my wand. It would lead to unpleasant experiences should anyone besides me attempt to cast spells with it."
Ollivander listened intrigued, his grey eyes never leaving Harry:
"The venom is certainly a very powerful ingredient Mr. Potter, but so is its destruction capability and volatility. To my knowledge, it has never been used in a wand before. What makes you sure adding the Venom of the King of Serpents will indeed upgrade your wand and not worsen your connection with it?"
"Because I speak the tongue!"
Ollivanders eyes widened, not in fear, as Harry noticed, but in amazement:
"Incredible, Mr. Potter. And a brilliant idea to strengthen the relationship to your ability. This wand was already anything but ordinary. The final product, if we were to be successful, might outclass any wand on earth, at least in terms of magical potential."
All but one wand, Harry thought, as he handed over the two vials: "How long do you reckon it would take?"
"Infusing the mixture won't take long, I might have to update the runes to add some further stability. Come back in two hours, if I am not done by then you have earned the right to watch my work."
Harry nodded and left the shop. He could do some light shopping while Ollivander was busy. Due to his growth spurt after the ritual, most of his robes were too short. He made his way to 'Twilfitt and Tattings' to get some new pairs and also bought some new dragonhide boots.
He felt vulnerable without his wand. So, he would certainly not enter Knockturn Alley. Instead, he went to Gringotts.
"Good morning, Teller Gribhekt, may your gold flow and your enemies crumble beneath your heel!"
Harry greeted the Goblin, who was too dumbstruck for any reply. Harry continued:
"Could you take me to my Account Manager Ragnok, please? I have urgent business to discuss with him."
The teller nodded and gestured for Harry to follow him the familiar way to Raknok's office.
"Mr. Potter, a pleasure to see you again, how can Gringotts be of service to you today?"
"Greetings Account Manager Ragnok, may your Galleons multiply and your enemies fall to your blade!"
The Goblin laughed as Harry continued.
"I am here to discuss potential investment into the muggle-word and the current asset portfolio of the Potter's."
The goblin was impressed. Obviously, this young wizard knew a great deal about finances, judging by his vocabulary:
"Very well, Mr. Potter. I am glad you take an interest in your family's finances. What exactly are your ideas?"
"I would like you to take 50% of the generous donation Mr. Malfoy had made to the Potter family and diversify it over several muggle businesses. I would like you to invest in small companies or "Start-Ups" as the muggles call them, that perform research on new technologies and disruptive innovations."
"What shall we do with the other half of the 'Donation', as you called it, Mr. Potter?" The goblin grinned.
"Leave it in my trust vault, please. I might find myself in need of liquidity soon and I would rather not liquify any investment that might become profitable in the future."
"Very well, Mr. Potter, is that all?"
"That is all Account Manager, Ragnok. I bid you farewell!"
With that, Harry left the office, following the Goblins' custom of not wasting any time with small talk after the business has been dealt with. He had another 30 minutes to burn until Ollivander allowed him to pick up the wand or watch his work.
Harry made his way over to Fortescue and ordered a small cup of ice cream, simply relaxing a bit and thinking about the upcoming weeks. His exam results would be posted next week and he was expecting something vaguely similar to last year.
Academics had not been on his list of priorities this year. Not with the opening of the Chamber, battling giant snakes, discovering the most hidden secrets of the Castle, and learning from one of the founders. If anything, he would be surprised if he still managed to secure the first spot for his year.
Sure, he aced the exams in his core classes. But his performance in subjects like History of Magic, Astronomy, and probably even Herbology would negatively influence his overall positioning. He could only hope that Granger wouldn't overtake him, but at least that was even more unlikely since she had been petrified and missed classes for months. It would most likely be Daphne Greengrass from Slytherin or Padma Patil from Ravenclaw.
"Who really cared though?" Harry shrugged.
Two hours had passed by and Harry made his way to Ollivanders. The sign at the entrance to his shop read closed, but Harry knew, it was just so Ollivander could focus on upgrading his wand. He entered the store and made his way to the back of the shop and Ollivander's crafting area.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, you have excellent timing. I am almost done; you see me just giving a finishing touch to some of the runes." Ollivander said, as he carved some complicated-looking runes into the handle of his wand.
Harry noticed that he was wearing Dragonhide gloves. The infusion of the core of the wand with the venom must have been successful then.
"I noticed your eyes drifting to my gloves, Mr. Potter. Unfortunately, they are necessary for me and anyone else that decides to hold your wands for a little longer than a minute. One of my most complicated pieces of work."
He finished the last rune, spoke some words in a language unknown to Harry, and watched as the wand glowed in a faint golden light.
"It's done. Take it and give it a try."
Harry grabbed the wand and felt the familiar rush of power after being apart for too long from it. However, there was something else. He held the wand closer to his face and watched curiously. The wand, or at least its core, felt alive…
He put it close to his ear, and asked Ollivander to be completely quiet, as he listened for a couple of seconds:
A low, very faint whisper was coming from the wand, it sounded almost like a continuous hissing… Like Parseltongue.
"Would you mind trying something out for me, Mr. Potter?"
"Sure!" Harry agreed.
"I would like for you to levitate this box here. But! But, I would like for you to say the incantation in Parseltongue!"
Harry was perplexed. He had tried performing random spells in Parseltongue, but so far, they have never worked: "Sure I will give it a try"
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry hissed.
The box shot up from the table and collided with the ceiling before Ollivander and Harry could comprehend what had happened.
"Incredible!" Ollivander exclaimed: "This is almost unheard of, young man!"
Harry frowned. This could be incredibly useful in a confrontation. He might not be able to cast silently yet, but if he hissed the incantation in Parseltongue, the same effect could be achieved now. His opponents would not know what spells they should expect from him.
"Use this ability to your advantage, Mr. Potter, but don't expect the public to receive it well if they ever encounter you hissing spells in the tongue of the serpents."
"I don't care what they think about me. This is another advantage I will make use of when the time is right. How much do I owe you?"
"As always, it was a pleasur