Chapter 9 9. The Old Wand
"No matter what method you used and who brought you to this Hogwarts, I believe you should all understand the current situation of the school. The Ministry of Magic has blocked and controlled all wand transactions, leaving us no way to be fair and honest. Take you to the wand shop and choose your favorite wands."
Dumbledore's blue eyes kept looking at Jon and the five while he was talking. His eyes were very serious, and his tone became extremely solemn, which was different from when he greeted Jon and the others to eat candy.
"The wands in front of you have been used for a lifetime. They are indeed not as bright as the new wands in the wand shop, but the last owner who held them, each of them insisted on their own beliefs. Fighting to the last minute. For me, seeing these wands is like seeing the people who used them, so I hope you don't put them off because of the old appearance of wands."
"If one day in the future, you have the opportunity to get the wand that you are more ideal and more like, then please return the wand you took from here today. There will be other children who will need it in the future." Really step into the world of magic."
Dumbledore's words made everyone present hold their breath involuntarily.
Professor McGonagall looked at the old wands on the cashmere, showing unconcealable sadness.
Neville clenched his fists as soon as Dumbledore began to speak, and his white knuckles were enough to show that he was not at peace.
Ron, who had been acting out of character since the first meeting, also remained silent with a solemn expression.
Justin and Lavender were also affected by the atmosphere in the office. They both lowered their heads and looked at the wooden box silently. "little stick"
Jon is also looking at those wands. Unlike others, he thinks more through the words in Dumbledore's mouth.
Hogwarts has new children entering school every year. According to what Ron said before coming to the headmaster's office, this year only brought back two Muggle students, Jon and Justin, which are very few compared to previous years. The number of students, which means that the number of students enrolled in previous years is estimated to be no less than five.
That is to say, five wands are taken away from here every year.
But now the cabinet is still full of more than ten magic wands.
This means that the Order of the Phoenix led by Dumbledore has more sacrifices every year, far exceeding the number of new students joining!
For any organization, such a situation can be said to be fatal. The new force is less than the loss, and there is no future at all.
"Who goes first?"
Just when the whole office was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard, Dumbledore suddenly said loudly.
Neville, who was standing in front of Jon, had already moved his body almost the moment his words fell.
He walked in front of everyone without hesitation, came to Dumbledore's side, and said in a firm voice.
"I've been waiting for this day, Professor Dumbledore."
"You will be the pride of everyone in the Longbottom family, Neville, no one doubts that."
Neville fixed his eyes on one of the wands. He seemed to have been looking at it since Dumbledore opened the cabinet. Now, without any hesitation, he reached out and touched the wand directly. A slightly curved wand was held in his hand.
"I agreed to your father's request three years ago, and I never took it out before. Only today, I put it here." Dumbledore said calmly. "The wand used by your mother, Alice Longbottom, was the same cherry wood as your father, with a core of unicorn hair, except that it was slightly shorter in length by two inches, and it was 11 inches long. She was found at the time for protection. The student on the Hogwarts carriage who was missing died with three Kedavin curses on her body, and the last words she said before she was alive are for all of us.”
Neville's hand holding the wand was trembling. At the tip of the wand, a silver streamer was shining. He gritted his teeth and said every word.
"These children, and my son, will surely walk in the sunshine of equality and justice in the future!"
Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder lightly.
"None of us has forgotten this sentence, which is why this Hogwarts exists."
Neville nodded silently, and he returned to the freshman team with the wand he had inherited from his mother.
The second person who stepped forward was Lavender.
There was no magic wand left by her relatives in it, but she still retained great respect for each one in it, and finally chose one of them.
Jon keenly noticed that when Lavender got the wand, Professor McGonagall, who was standing by the side, showed a look of lost memory.
Lavender looked at Dumbledore nervously, as if he was afraid that the old man would say "This wand carries too much meaning, you are not entitled to have it."
But when Dumbledore looked at her, there was only a gentle smile on his face.
"Poplar wood with unicorn hair, 12 inches long. I am honored to have you, Miss Brown, it once belonged to my colleague, Hogwarts Herbalism Professor, and the last Hufflepuff Dean—Pomona Sprout. She died in the battle of the fall of Hogwarts Castle seven years ago. In order for Minerva to lead the students to retreat from the castle, she chose to block it alone. Dozens of Death Eaters and Aurors, and in the end all that was left was this wand."
Lavender became more nervous, she stammered.
"Teacher, professor, my dad always talks about her, she is his dean and the best teacher for him, should I put it back? She is a great witch, I don't deserve it. "
"If you put it back, Pomona will be disappointed, Miss Brown." Dumbledore's voice was serious, "She died for the students of this school, as long as they are students of this school , everyone has the right and the responsibility to take this wand of hers out. I believe that it will gain no less glory than its previous owner in your hands."
Lavender blushed. She was shy and excited at Dumbledore's words, and finally nodded solemnly, took a deep breath and promised.
"I will! Professor!"
She returned to the freshman team, and the next one to go forward was Ron, who also picked an elm wand from the wooden cabinet.
(end of this chapter)