We spent the rest of the afternoon moving through Diagon Alley, though my attention kept drifting to the wand in my pocket. Even through the wood and fabric, I could feel the warm, constant presence that seemed to hum with potential. My want. The thought alone sent a thrill through me.
"Focus, Allistor." Mother said, though her tone was more amused than stern. "A wand is merely a tool without the knowledge to wield it properly."
"Yes, Mother." I straightened, forcing my hand away from my pocket.
Our next stop was Flourish and Blotts, the bookshop. The moment I stepped inside I was enveloped by the scent of parchment and leather bindings. Stacks of books towered in every direction, some ordinary volumes sitting peacefully on shelves, others quite extraordinary. One even snapped its covers at a young witch who ventured too close, while another emitted faint wisps of smoke.
Mother handed me the Hogwarts list. "Fetch your required texts first. Then we'll see about supplementary material."
I moved through the shop systematically, gathering each book on the list. *The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1* by Miranda Goshawk. *A History of Magic* by Bathilda Bagshot. *Magical Theory* by Adalbert Waffling. *A beginner's Guide to Transfiguration* by Emeric Switch. The pile in my arms grew steadily heavier.
When I returned to Mother with the required texts, she was examining a different section entirely, running her fingers along spines in the Advanced Magic section.
"Allistor, come here." she said without turning.
I set my stack on a nearby table and joined her. She pulled down a slim volume bound in dark leather. "*Principles of Defensive Magic* by Wilbert Slinkhard. Now, the Hogwarts curriculum won't cover this until your fifth year, but I see no reason you shouldn't begin familiarizing yourself with the theory early."
She added two more books to my collection: *A Comprehensive Guide to Wand movements* and *Dueling Throughout the Ages*. The latter made my pulse quicken.
"Read them carefully." mother advised as we moved toward the counter. "Understanding the theory is as important as practicing the technique. your father used to say that a duelist who doesn't understand "why" a spell works is merely a wand waver hoping for luck"
"I'll study them thoroughly." I promised
The proprietor, a harried looking wizard with ink stained fingers, tallied our purchases. The price made me wince. Books weren't cheap after all. but Mother paid without hesitation. Knowledge, she'd always told me, was worth any price
As we left the shop, Higgy struggling happily with out parcels, a boy about my age nearly collided with me. He had sandy blonde hair and a face full of freckles, and his robes bore the subtle quality of a pure blood family. Nothing ostentatious, but well made.
"Sorry!" he said quickly, then his eyes widened slightly. "You're getting Hogwarts books too? First year?"
"Yes." I said, offering a slight smile. "Allistor Wrynn."
"Cassian Thornfield!" He stuck out his hand enthusiastically, and I shook it. "This is brilliant, isn't it? Finally going to Hogwarts! My brother's in his third year, Ravenclaw, and he's told me all about it. Well, not *all* about it but he says some things you have to experience yourself. Which house do you think you'll be in?"
I glanced at Mother, who was watching the exchange with an unreadable expression. "I'm not certain." I admitted. "My family has a history in multiple houses."
"Mine's mostly Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff." Cassian said. "Though I'm hoping for Gryffindor myself. More exciting, you know? Anyway, maybe I'll see you on the train! September first, yeah?"
"September first." I confirmed
He dashed off, nearly tripping over his own feet in his eagerness, and I couldn't help but smile. His enthusiasm was infectious.
"He seems pleasant." Mother observed as we continued down the street.
"Different from I'm used to." I said. I'd spent most of my childhood with Mother and Higgy, practicing wand movements and studying our family's history. I hadn't had many friends my own age.
"You will meet many different people at Hogwarts." Mother said. "That boy mentioned houses. Have you given much thought to where you might be sorted?"
I had, of course, It was impossible not to. "The Wrynns have been in all four houses over the centuries." I recited, remembering the family histories Mother had taught me. "Though most commonly Gryffindor and Slytherin."
"Indeed." We paused outside Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Before we continue shopping. I want to speak with you about this."
She guided me to a slightly quieter spot near the shop entrance. Her expression was serious, the way it became when she was about to impart something important.
"The house you're sorted into will become like a second family, Allistor. Each house has it's strengths, and each has produced great witches and wizards. Do you know the qualities each house values?"
"Gryffindor values courage and daring." I said immediately. "Ravenclaw prizes intelligence and wit. Hufflepuff honors loyalty and hard work. Slytherin respects ambition and cunning."
"Correct. But those are simplifications. In truth, each house is more complex." Mother's eyes held min steadily. "Gryffindor students are often seen as heroes, brave and bold. But courage without wisdom can be recklessness. I've known Gryffindors who charged into danger without thinking, who valued glory over strategy."
She paused, ensuring I was truly listening.
"Ravenclaw produces brilliant minds, yes, but intelligence alone doesn't make a good wizard. I've known Ravenclaws so absorbed in theory they forget the practical applications of magic, so proud of their knowledge they couldn't work with others."
"Hufflepuff is often dismissed as teh hosue for those who don't fit elsewhere." she continued. "but that's ignorance speaking. Loyalty and dedication are tremendous strengths. Hufflepuffs have produced more capable Aurors than people realize. They have the patience and perseverance that others lack."
Her expression grew more guarded. "And Slytherin. Your father was a Slytherin, Allistor."
This surprised me, though It shouldn't have. She'd told me Father's house before, but somehow I'd never quite internalized it. Slytherin had produced Voldemort. It had produced most of the Death Eaters.
"Slytherin has a dark reputation." Motehr acknowledged, reading my thoughts. "Especially now, after the war. But ambition isn't evil. Cunning isn't wrong. Your father was one of the most honorable men I ever knew, and his Slytherin traits, his strategic mind, his ambition to master dueling, his resourcefulness. It made him the warrior he became. He used those qualities to protect others, not to hurt them."
"But Voldemort..."
"Voldemort represents the worst of what any house can produce." Mother said firmly. "Gryffindor has produced dark wizards too, though people conveniently forget that. What matters isn't which house you're sorted into, Allistor. What matters is what you *do* with the qualities that house nurtures."
She placed her hands on my shoulders. "I cannot tell you which house is best for you. The Sorting Hat will see into your heart and mind, and it will place you where you belong. Wherever that is, I will be proud. Your father would be proud. But I want you to understand something crucial."
I nodded, hanging on her every word.
"You come from a warrior family. We have always stood against those that harm the innocent. We have always protected those who couldn't protect themselves. That duty transcends house loyalty. Whether you wear red and gold, blue and bronze, yellow and black, or green and silver, you are still an Wrynn. You still carry our legacy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother." I said, and I meant it. The weight of expectation settled deeper on my shoulders, but it didn't feel heavy. It felt right.
"Good. Now, let's get you properly fitted for robes before we discuss philosophy any further." She said, smiling.
Inside Madam Malkin's, a squat witch with a kind face greeted us cheerfully. "Hogwarts, dear?" she asked and when I nodded she guided me onto a stool.
As she pinned and measured, I caught my reflection in the mirror. Black hair, neatly combed. Bright green eyes. I looked older than i felt, more composed. I wondered if Father had looked like this at eleven, if he'd stood on this same stool preparing for his first year.
"You'll want the standard three sets of robes," Madam Malkin was saying. "plus winter cloak, hat, gloves, and dragon hide gloves for potion work."
"Add a set of dress robes as well," Mother said. "Well made ones. There are occasions at Hogwarts that require proper attire."
"Very good, Mrs. Wrynn."
The fitting took the better part of an hour, but when we left, I felt more like a proper Hogwarts student. We continued through Diagon Alley, checking items off the list one by one. A pewter cauldron from Potage's Cauldron Shop, size two. A basic telescope from Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. Brass scales. Phials. A suply of parchment, quills, and ink from the stationers.
At the Apothecary, the sharp smell of herbs and chemicals made my nose wrinkle. Mother selected standard potion ingredients while I stared at the more exotic items like dragon liver, bat spleens, whole Flobberworms.
"In your second year, you'll begin brewing more complex potions," Mother said, noticing my interest. "for now focus on mastering the basics. Your father was adequate at potions, but he never loved it the way he loved charms and defense. I suspect you might be similar."
She was right. I was eager to learn everything, but the combat magic called to me in a way that brewing didn't.
Our final stop was the Magical Menagerie. Mother had suggested I might want a familiar such as an owl for post, perhaps. Or a cat. But as we walked through the shop surrounded by the hoots, meows, and occasional croaks of various magical creatures, nothing felt quite right.
"It's alright," Mother said when I admitted this. "You don't need a familiar immediately. When the right creature comes along, you'll know."
by the time we returned to the Leaky Cauldron, HIggy was laden with packages and I was exhausted but exhilarated. We took a table, and Mother ordered tea and sandwiches.
"Well," she said as we waited for our food. "I believe you are fully prepared. You have everything on the list and more."
I looked at the parcels Higgy was guarding zealously. Books that would teach me magic. Robes that would make me look the part and a wand, my wand. Everything I needed to begin my studies.
"Thank you, Mother." I said quietly. "For all of this."
She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Your father and I always knew this day would come. We planned for it, saved for it. He wanted you to have every advantage, every opportunity to excel."
"I won't waste it." I promised. "I'll study hard and practice well."
"I know you will, darling." Her eyes glistened slightly. "You will make your mark at Hogwarts, Allistor Wrynn, and I can't wait to see it."
We finished our meal, and then Mother led us back to the Floo network. AS the green flames engulfed us and I spun away toward home, I clutched my new want tight. September 1st couldn't come fast enough.