Outside Ollivander's wand shop in Diagon Alley, Mr. Ollivander wore a smile that could only be described as... strained. He watched Alex and Professor Snape leave, giving them a polite wave even as the corners of his mouth twitched with exhaustion.
Snape gave Alex a strange look, half mocking, half amused.
"You, Mr. Gunter, are bound to be a very successful businessman in the wizarding world."
Alex caught the faint sarcasm, but simply smiled, unbothered.
Moments earlier, he had managed to sell just one of Furry's tail feathers to Ollivander for a cool hundred Galleons — and that wasn't even the best part. The deal also came with a full waiver on the custom wand fee. Considering a single phoenix feather could be used to craft multiple wands, Alex had made a tidy profit.
Snape, after that, accompanied him through the rest of his school supply shopping. Robes, books, potions kit, cauldron — everything a first-year needed.
At Alex's request, Snape then brought him to the Leaky Cauldron. Alex had decided to stay there for three days while his wand was being crafted. Since he didn't have a wand yet, old Tom the bartender had to help him open the passageway to Diagon Alley.
There was no point returning home in the meantime. He'd just wait here, get his wand, then go back.
Snape said a quick word to Tom, then left. Alex headed up to his room — a bit dusty and cramped — cleaned up the worst of it, and collapsed into a rickety wooden chair beside the bed.
Finally, time to check the system.
From the moment he stepped into Diagon Alley, his interface had been pinging non-stop. But with Snape breathing down his neck, he hadn't dared open it.
"Congratulations, Host. Achievement System unlocked."
"Achievement unlocked: Explorer of Diagon Alley – Reward: 200 Gold Coins."
More notifications followed — Gringotts, Ollivander's, various stores Snape had dragged him into. Each one rewarded 50 coins.
"Looks like I'll have to visit every shop in the future. And once I'm strong enough, Knockturn Alley's getting a full sweep too."
He stared at the newly earned gold. It wasn't much, but it was enough to tempt him. Still, Alex decided to wait until he saved up enough for a guaranteed gold pull.
He was no fool. Luck wasn't exactly his strong suit. The kind of person who hits jackpot on their first spin? Complete myth.
Absolutely not real.
Nope. Never.
...
Three days later.
With Tom's help, Alex slipped once again into Diagon Alley. In those three days, he'd grown quite close with the old bartender — charm and good looks went a long way.
And during that time, he had seen Harry Potter.
The moment Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron, the place exploded with excitement. Grown men and women swarmed like crazed fans, whispering and pointing.
Alex had watched from afar, spotting the scrawny boy beside the half-giant Hagrid.
But he didn't go over. He had no interest in inserting himself into Potter's orbit.
Harry = Trouble. That equation would remain constant for the next seven years.
And given that Alex's own last name was already Gunter, the same line as Voldemort's mother, he didn't need more attention. He was fairly certain Dumbledore already had his eye on him.
Once inside Ollivander's again, Alex practically ran toward the counter.
"Mr. Gunter, welcome," Ollivander greeted, visibly tired but energized by excitement. Clearly, he'd spent the past three days crafting non-stop.
"Come, come. These are the wands I made — all phoenix feather cores, but with different woods and lengths. Let's see which one speaks to you."
Alex could feel the old man's passion burning just beneath the surface, even if his face looked ready to fall off.
"This one — maple wood, nine inches."
Alex gave the wand a test flick. A blast of red light shot out, crashing into the wall and blowing a sizable hole in it.
"Ah... no, no, no," Ollivander shook his head. "Too sensitive. Dangerous for a first wand."
He adjusted his glasses and swiftly took it back, then handed over another.
"Try this — mahogany, thirteen inches. Excellent for Transfiguration."
Alex didn't even get a chance to say anything before Ollivander pressed it into his hand. He gave it a gentle wave.
This time, there was no light — but every single wand box in the store lifted off the shelves and floated around him.
"Fascinating," Ollivander muttered, eyes wide. "These wands suit you... but there's still something missing. A subtle discord."
After a pause, he pulled out one last wand — slender, crimson, and radiating heat.
"Chinese Phoenix Tree — twelve and a half inches."
Alex took it. The moment his fingers wrapped around the wand, everything changed.
His magic surged within him, growing hot and bright. He didn't even think — his instincts took over.
He raised the wand high, magic coalescing — and from its tip burst a radiant, fiery phoenix. It shrieked into life and shot toward the entrance.
Just as the door opened.
A young girl stepped through — delicate, with a soft, pretty face and refined features, clearly of Asian descent.
She barely had time to blink before the phoenix came screaming toward her.
Her mind blanked. She froze.
"NO!" Alex shouted, eyes wide in horror.
He slashed the wand to the right.
The phoenix veered, obeying his magic, swerving past the girl and slamming into the wall beside her with an explosive burst.
BOOM.
Dust filled the air. The phoenix vanished.
Alex rushed over in three quick strides, grasping her shoulders.
"I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
As he examined her face, he couldn't help but pause.
She was... stunning. A soft oval face framed by sleek hair, with elfin eyes now brimming with fear and confusion. She looked both ethereal and adorably startled.
...
Cho Chang had come to Diagon Alley today alone, intending to buy a wand care kit. Her parents were working, and she was old enough to handle a quick shopping trip.
She had not expected to nearly get impaled by a flaming phoenix the moment she walked into Ollivander's.
The creature had streaked right at her — she couldn't even scream, just stood frozen as it whooshed by and smashed into the wall.
Then, a boy — tall, gorgeous — ran to her, speaking anxiously, holding her shoulders.
Her mind slowly caught up.
"He's really handsome."
That was her first thought.
Alex, thanks to the awakened bloodline, had grown even more striking over the past few days — he was no longer just "cute." He was dangerously close to the kind of looks that made people pause in the middle of the street.
"I-I'm fine," she finally managed to say.
Noticing his hands still resting on her shoulders, a soft blush crept up her cheeks, making her look even more delicate.
Ollivander, standing a few paces away, stared at the scene.
The handsome boy. The bashful beauty.
Why was his stomach growling? He hadn't even eaten
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