When they reached the living room, the two sat opposite each other.
Erwin looked at Snape with a mixture of emotions stirring in his heart.
Snape was a character he'd admired greatly when watching the films in his previous life.
Though his initial impressions had been negative in the early movies, as he'd gradually learned about the Potions Master's life, he'd come to understand why Snape treated Harry as he did.
This was a character with a tragic life, someone who, through his own choices, had killed the only love he'd ever known.
Since then, he'd lived in remorse and self-blame.
Perhaps death would be a relief for him in the end.
Snape, sitting across from Erwin, showed no awareness of the boy's thoughts.
His deep voice broke the silence.
"Mr. Gaunt, your surname carries considerable weight in the wizarding world. Your ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, was one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the founder of the Slytherin House."
"Due to certain circumstances, your family has declined in recent years, but the glory of that bloodline still flows through your veins. I believe that at Hogwarts, you can restore greatness to this surname."
Snape then began explaining the basics of the magical world.
Erwin realized he'd had no particular impression of his surname before now.
But as the professor spoke, memories surfaced: Voldemort's mother had been from the Gaunt family, and the Resurrection Stone, one of the Dark Lord's Horcruxes, had been a treasured Gaunt heirloom.
Even now, it lay quietly in the old Gaunt house.
As time passed, Snape gradually concluded his explanations.
"That covers the general information. You'll learn more after arriving at Hogwarts. Do you have any questions, Mr. Gaunt?"
"No, Professor. I'm looking forward to my future, and I can hardly wait to visit Diagon Alley."
Erwin spoke truthfully; his curiosity about the wizarding world had reached its peak.
"Then please stand beside me and take hold of my wrist."
Snape was nothing if not efficient.
Once Erwin had grasped his wrist and steadied himself, the professor activated Apparition.
Immediately, their figures vanished with a spiral motion resembling water swirling down a drain.
****
Diagon Alley.
Erwin gazed at the scene before him with open curiosity.
A long cobblestone street stretched ahead, filled with pedestrians in wizarding robes moving about in lively fashion.
"Let's visit Gringotts first to withdraw some Galleons. Though the Gaunt family has fallen on hard times, as one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, there must remain some inheritance from years past."
With that, Snape strode toward the towering white marble building.
Entering the grand hall, the professor approached an empty counter and addressed the goblin seated within.
"We need access to the Gaunt family vault. This is the heir to the Gaunt line."
The goblin glanced at Erwin, then instructed him to provide a drop of blood.
After placing it in a magical container and performing various tests, the creature confirmed his identity and led them to the vault.
The Gaunt family vault was numbered 710, located in the deepest sections underground.
Erwin experienced the thrill of riding in a small minecart as they descended, though he saw no sign of the dragon; perhaps it was sleeping.
Opening the door to Vault 710, the three entered.
The space itself was vast, but because the Gaunt family had fallen into decline, the pile of Galleons rose only about two meters high.
"Approximately fifty to a hundred Galleons should suffice for your first year," Snape observed from behind him.
Though Erwin had drawn plenty of gold Galleons from his system, using them now would raise awkward questions.
He filled two bags with coins and departed.
After leaving Gringotts, they stopped before a small shop.
The gold lettering on the door had peeled away, but Erwin could still make out the words: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
As a wizard, one's wand was an extension of one's very being.
Naturally, Snape had brought Erwin here first.
Walking inside, Erwin discovered the shop was far larger than its exterior suggested; clearly, an Undetectable Extension Charm had been applied.
Shelves throughout the space were packed with slender boxes.
"Good morning, Mr. Snape. It's been quite some time. Let me think... birch, dragon heartstring, thirteen and a half inches long, correct?"
A soft voice emerged from Erwin's right as an elderly man with bright, penetrating eyes appeared beside them.
"Yes, your memory serves you well. This is Mr. Gaunt. I've brought him today to select a suitable wand."
Snape replied without emotion, clearly uninterested in prolonging the conversation with Ollivander.
"Ah, but it is the wand that chooses the wizard."
Ollivander paid no mind to Snape's indifference, speaking those words with complete seriousness.
Then he turned his attention to Erwin.
"Mr. Gaunt, I see. Young man, which is your wand arm?"
With a wave of his own wand, Ollivander summoned a tape measure that floated to his side.
"Right hand," Erwin answered.
The tape measure immediately set to work, taking measurements on its own.
Once finished, Ollivander led Erwin toward the shelves. But before the wandmaker could select even a single box, the wand cases on the shelves began to tremble.
"Oh my!"
Nearly one-tenth of the boxes burst open simultaneously.
Countless wands flew toward Erwin, floating and spinning around him in a mesmerizing display.
"Merlin's beard!"
Ollivander's expression transformed into one of pure astonishment.
"Extraordinary! Let me see... these wands that flew to you are all made with phoenix feather cores."
"Young man, your compatibility with this type of wand has exceeded anything I've witnessed in my lifetime. You must understand, my grandfather sold Dumbledore his wand all those years ago, and even that historic moment pales in comparison to what I'm seeing now."
Erwin knew immediately that this was Velora's influence.
Thinking of his phoenix companion, he wondered if a wand made from Velora's own tail feathers would fit him even better.
Acting on that thought, flames materialized in the air.
Under the startled gazes of both Snape and Ollivander, Velora emerged in a gorgeous display of fire and landed gracefully on Erwin's shoulder.
"This is my companion, Velora. She appeared at my home two days after I received my Hogwarts letter, and we bonded immediately."
Looking at the phoenix before them, both men were visibly shocked.
They'd never expected that anyone outside the Dumbledore family would be recognized by a phoenix.
Erwin seized the opportunity.
"I believe it's because of Velora that I'm so compatible with phoenix feather wands. Sir, would you be willing to craft a custom wand for me using one of her tail feathers?"
Ollivander's eyes lit up at the proposal.
In recent years, Dumbledore's phoenix Fawkes had grown increasingly temperamental, refusing to provide new tail feathers for quite some time.
Ollivander's stock was running dangerously low, and he'd been uncertain when it might be replenished.
Now, with a second phoenix available, how could he be anything but delighted?
Without hesitation, Ollivander ushered Erwin into his workshop in the back.
The old wandmaker and the young wizard began their discussion in earnest.