Hogwarts Raven

The weather was a bit chilly. Ian glanced back at the gradually closing door of 'Ollivander's Wand Shop', then looked up at the worn lettering. He felt like he'd just discovered the biggest scam hub in the magical world.

"Such a cunning swindler," Ian muttered, giving his verdict on Ollivander. He even suspected that Voldemort's ability to gather so many followers might not be solely due to his threats with the Avada Kedavra curse. Ollivander probably shared some of the blame too!

Think about it – if, as a ten-year-old, you met a fortune teller who told you you were destined to be a great general, and later in life you came across Alexander and Gengis Khan leading a rebellion... Who could resist such temptation? Most people would probably mistake tragedy for destiny, right?

"I've identified the root cause of chaos in the magical world!" Ian felt he could surely write an outstanding essay about it. It was a pity, though, that Hogwarts didn't have any journals where he could showcase his brilliance.

"Maybe I should consider the Daily Prophet," Ian thought, daydreaming and scanning the area for Snape. Fortunately, the unreliable professor hadn't abandoned him. Ian spotted Snape standing outside a shop and quickly jogged over.

"Professor, could you teach me how to write a wizard essay?" Ian figured that if his article included the name of a Hogwarts professor as a co-author, it might have a better chance of getting published in the Daily Prophet. He might even get a little extra in the way of royalties.

"Mr. Prince, I have no interest in hearing about the childish and foolish thoughts of children. Now, you should focus on choosing a pet that will aid you in your studies," Snape said coldly, glancing briefly at the wand sticking out of Ian's pocket.

Then, without waiting for a reply, Snape raised his hand and knocked on the glass window of the shop in front of him. It was only then that Ian noticed the shop was a pet store, filled with cages housing all kinds of animals. 

Cats, toads, owls, lizards, and rats – there were plenty to choose from. Some even had magical bloodlines, though none caught Ian's eye.

Sure, Ian did feel a certain fondness for owls. However, Hogwarts already had plenty of them. In Ian's opinion, free-to-use owls were far more cost-effective than ones he'd have to pay for and take care of himself.

By comparison, Ian wanted to own a pet that was more unique.

"Professor, can I pick any pet I want?" Ian asked tentatively.

"Hmm," Snape grunted through his nose.

"In that case, can I get a Phoenix?" Ian blinked innocently. A lion... Okay, Ian had enough sense to know not to ask for a lion. But a phoenix? Why not?

Snape's eye twitched visibly at Ian's outlandish suggestion.

"Are you sure you didn't overdose on Calming Draught and haven't woken up yet?" Snape was genuinely stunned. He had never seen someone so shameless! A phoenix? He wanted one too! Who was going to give him one?

"Well, a bird with phoenix lineage would work too. I mean, they use phoenix feathers for wand cores in that shop, so they must not be that rare," Ian said, his words dripping with implication. Clearly, he thought phoenixes were commonplace.

As a child living in a Muggle orphanage, it was natural for Ian to have such naive ideas. That said, Ian genuinely did want a phoenix. How cool would that be?

"Other than someone from Dumbledore's house, no wizard this century has earned the favor of a phoenix. I suggest you let go of this impractical fantasy," Snape said, rolling his eyes.

Then, in his usual drawling tone, he added, "Of course, perhaps Mr. Prince's influence is so vast that he could convince Dumbledore to hand over his phoenix to you." 

Obviously, this was pure sarcasm.

"Then, Professor, why don't you speak on my behalf? Dumbledore would surely respect you enough to oblige!" Ian retorted, not because he was particularly shameless, but because he had figured out how to deal with Snape.

Sure enough, that single line left Snape momentarily speechless.

"You sharp-tongued brat!" Snape finally snapped, glaring at Ian with irritation. "If your brain had even the slightest edge over a troll's, you wouldn't waste time fantasizing about the impossible. Instead, you'd wisely pick a toad or a rat – both excellent companions for potion experiments."

Despite his irritation, Snape managed to deliver this advice with his usual measured tone. However, such advice didn't exactly align with most people's idea of a pet.

"That sounds more like test subjects than pets," Ian sighed.

"Is there a difference?" Snape sneered, his cold laugh dripping with mockery. "Perhaps you'd fit right in with those foolish Gryffindors, the kind of sentimental fools who waste their time on such creatures."

As usual, Snape couldn't resist taking a jab at his least favorite House. Ian chose to ignore the comment.

"Forget it. I've already spent enough today. I don't want a pet – I can't even afford to take care of myself yet," Ian muttered after peering through the glass for a while.

In the end, he didn't find any animal that caught his interest. With the soul of an adult, Ian's preferences for pets were naturally different from those of a typical child.

"This is your choice," Snape said curtly.

With a dramatic flourish of his robe, he turned and walked away.

"If I can't have a phoenix, can I at least get a snake?" Ian asked, hastily grabbing his suitcase and catching up. Previously, Snape had been carrying the suitcase for him.

"First-year students are not permitted to bring dangerous pets," Snape replied, slowing his pace slightly so Ian could catch up. He gave Ian a disdainful side-eye.

"Didn't you just decide not to get a pet? Now you're changing your mind? Too bad – you've lost your chance to buy one," Snape said, his lips curling into a faint smirk. For once, his usually expressionless face showed a trace of amusement.

"No, I meant for second year – or maybe third year," Ian explained, unsure if Harry Potter was in the same year as him. He figured that if he ever wanted to get a pet he truly liked, he might need to rely on the Boy Who Lived someday. Yes, that sounded about right. Ian wanted to raise a basilisk. Now that was the kind of pet a soul of an adult would desire! Big is truth and awesome, after all.

"Ha, it seems that Mr. Prince isn't uninterested in owning a pet but feels that none of the creatures in the shop are worthy of him. I hope you don't regret today's foolish decision," Snape said with a sarcastic smirk.

"And don't say I didn't warn you – even a pet with just a trace of magical creature bloodline would cost more than a little wizard like you could ever afford." Snape's gaze pierced through Ian as if seeing straight into his thoughts.

"Thank you for the reminder, Professor," Ian responded with a polite nod. He didn't show the troubled expression Snape seemed to be hoping for, which caused the professor to frown slightly.

Meanwhile, Ian simply wandered around, curiously glancing at the various magical shops.

"Prepare yourself," Snape suddenly said, stopping in his tracks.

Before Ian could ask what he meant, Snape's hand firmly gripped the back of his neck.

The next moment, Ian felt the world spin around him. He recognized the sensation – it was Apparition. However, unlike his previous experiences, where he'd felt nothing at all, this time he experienced a slight dizziness and nausea. It wasn't severe, though.

Maybe the potion Snape had given him earlier had started to wear off?

Just as Ian's mind began to wander, the world came back into focus. With a loud whoosh, the bustling streets of Diagon Alley disappeared, replaced by a tranquil and picturesque village.

The soft sound of a babbling stream mingled with the occasional hoot of an owl in the distance. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of magical foods and candies. They had arrived in Hogsmeade, the magical village nestled in the embrace of the Scottish Highlands.

"You'll stay here until school starts," Snape announced, leading Ian to a small, secluded wooden cabin.

Before Ian could feign confusion and ask about the place, Snape had already pulled out a key, along with the remaining half bag of gold Galleons from earlier, and handed them all to him.

"If I catch you wandering off again, there will be consequences," Snape warned with a stern glare before abruptly turning and walking away. His hurried steps made it seem like he was rushing off to handle something important – perhaps a potion he'd left simmering on the stove before leaving.

"Wait, did he just tell me not to… wander off 'again'?" Ian noticed the peculiar wording in Snape's warning.

Still, as he gazed at the stacks of textbooks inside his suitcase, Ian felt his excitement mounting. 

Right now, all he wanted was to become a real wizard. Everything else could wait. 

"Magic, here I come!" 

(End of Chapter)