After class, Harold didn't rush back right away. Instead, he went over to Hagrid and tried once again to persuade him to switch creatures for the next lesson.
"Even if you really want everyone to meet Fluffy, you could save that for the sixth- or seventh-years. For third-years, a three-headed dog is still a bit... much."
"Yeah, yeah, Harold's right," Harry added, nodding vigorously.
If it had been any other professor, there's no way he would've dared get that close.
It was terrifying enough when Fluffy was just under ten feet tall the first time they saw him, but now? The beast had grown to over twenty feet. Even just lying there napping gave off a suffocating pressure that was hard to explain.
Hagrid mumbled something in response. It was unclear whether he was really listening. But by the time Harold made it back to the castle, his pocket was heavier with several three-headed dog whiskers.
"Fluffy's whiskers can be used as wand cores?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Of course," said Harold. "Wands with this core perform exceptionally well with certain types of magic."
"Oh? What kind of magic?"
"Physical-type spells," Harold explained. "Like Severing Charms, Cutting Curses, or Stunners. But for pure elemental magic like fire spells or Water-Making Charms, the reaction is pretty sluggish. And using one for Transfiguration is about as effective as waving a stick."
As he spoke, Harold inadvertently glanced at Harry and caught sight of the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
Left there by Voldemort.
Wait a minute… if a fragment of Voldemort's soul is inside Harry… doesn't that technically make him a Horcrux?
If so, then Harry would be the only Horcrux that could be intentionally "broken".
Harold narrowed his eyes, seeming lost in thought for a moment.
"There's even stuff like that? I really learned something new today." Harry's voice brought him back.
"It's nothing. I've even used wizard hair as a wand core," Harold said, deciding to share a secret. "Professor McGonagall's hair, actually. It turned out to be a fantastic wand for Transfiguration—and it didn't conflict at all with her original wand."
Harry didn't quite grasp the full significance of using a wizard's hair as a wand core. What caught his attention was the second half—no conflict with the original wand.
"So, wait… you mean you've figured out a way for me to have two wands at the same time?" he asked excitedly.
"No," Harold corrected him. "At least two. If you wanted, I could turn all your hair into wands."
"Can you make me one then? Just one," Harry said eagerly. "That way I won't have to worry about getting caught by the Ministry for using magic on holidays."
"I hate to kill the mood, but Harry, the Trace isn't in the wand. It's a special magical detection spell that's always present on underage wizards. Changing wands doesn't change anything."
"Is that so…" Harry said, visibly disappointed.
"So… do you still want your second wand?" Harold asked.
Harry hesitated, then nodded.
Even though it didn't seem as useful anymore, he had already asked, and backing out now felt wrong. Besides, having a backup wand might be handy—and it wasn't like it would cost much.
"Well, since you're supplying the wand core, I'll charge you seven Galleons," Harold said. Harry had no objections and paid the coins on the spot.
Just like that, Harold obtained a small lock of Harry's hair. The justification was easy—short hair like Harry's required more strands to make a full core.
…
That evening at dinner, Hagrid and his three-headed dog were the hottest topic in the school.
Opinions were divided. Some thought Hagrid was too bold and should ease into things more gently. Others argued that if Dumbledore had officially allowed Fluffy on campus, then he must be safe. And this was a rare chance to see a three-headed dog up close.
Malfoy, meanwhile, was riding high.
Sure, he'd been shaking like a leaf during the lesson—but no one else knew that.
As one of the three students who had stood closest to Fluffy, he instantly became the center of attention in Slytherin, strutting proudly wherever he went.
"Look at him acting all high and mighty," Ron grumbled. "Anyone who didn't know better would think he was some war hero who barely survived the battlefield."
"It's your fault," he added, turning to Hermione. "If you hadn't said that stuff, Malfoy wouldn't have run to the front."
"I was just trying to help Hagrid!" Hermione snapped. "We couldn't have his very first class with all the students standing outside the 'classroom.'"
As they talked, Harold had already finished eating and slipped out of the Great Hall.
He returned to Gryffindor Tower via the Fat Lady's portrait and entered his dormitory.
The first thing he did was take the broom cupboard he'd acquired earlier out of his enchanted bag and set it in a corner.
That strange, fog-like substance inside was still there, unchanged in size or form.
He took out a pre-made wand shaft and tried to channel the Boggart fragment into the wand's core slot—but nothing happened.
It was like the substance existed and didn't exist at the same time. Harold's guiding magic had no effect on it.
He pondered for a moment and decided to set the cupboard aside for now. Maybe once he found more Boggarts, he'd discover a method that worked.
No rush.
Besides, the cupboard hadn't been used in years—no one would care if it went missing.
Then Harold reached into his pocket and pulled out the real prize of the day: Harry's hair.
"Does this… actually count as a Horcrux fragment?" he wondered silently.
He picked up the wand shaft and a strand of hair, attempting his first fusion.
As expected, the result was a failure. Wizard hair required incredibly specific wand woods, and the one he used—hawthorn—wasn't suitable at all. It wasn't even holly.
But that wasn't the point.
What mattered was that during the attempt, Harold experienced a faint but unmistakable sensation—both familiar and foreign.
It was similar to the feeling he'd had when making a wand with McGonagall's hair… but layered with something else.
Something that felt eerily like when he'd crafted the Soul Codex for the first time.
Just as he tried to analyze it more closely, the hawthorn wand split in two with a sharp crack, and the hair burst into flame, disintegrating in midair.
He tried two more. Same result.
But by the time the third wand exploded, Harold was already certain—Harry's hair was not like other wizard hair.
At the very least, it was nothing like McGonagall's.
"Should I… try again?"
He stared at the remaining strands of hair, but after a moment's hesitation, he tucked them away.
Forget it—for now, he had to finish what he promised Harry.
After all, he'd already taken the money, and a wandmaker's reputation mattered.
If there were extra strands left afterward, then maybe he'd test them a bit more.
Come to think of it… Harry's hair does seem pretty thick…
…(End of Chapter)