Harry Potter: Days Mixed in Hogwarts

Loren and Hermione exchanged the British pounds their parents had prepared for wizarding currency—an amount that, according to Professor McGonagall, was sufficient for a first-year at Hogwarts.

The money was wrapped in small cloth pouches, which they each carried in hand.

The exchange rates made Loren's head spin. The goblins' obsession with odd and prime numbers as an ideal currency system made him want to smash an abacus over their heads.

After the dizzying exchange process, the two followed Professor McGonagall to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where they got their school robes.

Then, they picked up stationery before finally arriving at Flourish and Blotts—the shop Hermione had been eager to visit.

While Professor McGonagall gathered the standard first-year textbooks, Loren and Hermione browsed the shelves.

The books here came in all shapes and sizes—some were as large as floor tiles, while others were barely the size of a postage stamp.

Loren couldn't imagine how they were mass-printed, and some even had warning labels to prevent accidental injuries.

Flipping through the selection, Loren picked out a few extras:

The Standard Book of Spells (continued series) Curses and Counter-Curses Wandering with Werewolves Alchemy: From Beginner to Master

Satisfied with these, he stopped browsing—he wasn't sure he'd even have time to read them all.

Hermione, on the other hand, chose a stack of books focused on wizarding history and knowledge, including:

Significant Magical Events of the 20th Century A Modern History of Magic The Rise and Fall of Dark Arts Hogwarts: A History

Loren took one look at the book titles and felt his hairline receding.

He glanced at Hermione's thick curls and decided to keep his thoughts to himself.

Hermione noticed his look, then glanced at his book choices.

Frowning, she tried to persuade him. "We should learn about the wizarding world first so we can adapt better. I think these books are great introductions—especially for Muggle-born students like us."

Seeing that Loren wasn't convinced, she doubled down. "The books you chose don't seem suitable for a first-year. We should understand the basics before diving into advanced topics—"

Loren barely had time to respond before she launched into another explanation.

His head started hurting.

Still, Hermione was genuinely well-intentioned, so he chose to be diplomatic.

"How about this? We pick different books, and after you finish yours, you can lend them to me. That way, we can save money and buy even more books."

Hermione considered this and was convinced. "Alright, let's exchange letters to discuss what we learn."

"Deal!"

With the tension eased, the two excitedly examined the dangerous-looking books.

But after watching another customer get chased and bitten by a book, they both decided against buying one.

After purchasing their cauldrons, they continued down the street.

Passing an apothecary, they spotted extremely expensive potion ingredients—like a unicorn horn (21 Galleons) and Acromantula venom (100 Galleons per vial).

Loren mentally noted that becoming friends with Hagrid would mean he'd never have to worry about money.

Finally, they arrived at the ultimate newbie wizard shop—Ollivanders Wand Shop.

The store was old and tiny, and its gold-lettered sign was peeling.

Inside, the small space contained a few chairs and thousands of stacked boxes, reaching all the way to the ceiling.

Mr. Ollivander, an old man with silver eyes, walked toward them slowly.

After greeting Professor McGonagall, he turned his attention to Loren and Hermione.

Circling them a few times, his gaze finally settled on Hermione.

"Oh, such a strong presence—it's almost overflowing."

"Great foresight, sharp instincts, a touch of inner conflict… and a little bit of madness."

"Step forward, young lady. Your wand is eager to meet you."

Hermione's eyes held a hint of nervousness, but she obediently stepped forward.

As soon as she moved, one of the wand boxes began trembling.

Ollivander held out his hand, and the box flew into it.

Opening it, he took out the wand. "Ah, ten and three-quarter inches, vine wood, with a dragon heartstring core."

"Dragon heartstring allows for faster spell learning. Vine wood is associated with the tenth Celtic tree month, representing those with great ambitions—who, despite challenges, always achieve remarkable success. The moment you entered, this wand reacted strongly, so we can skip a few steps."

Hermione took the wand, and its tip immediately glowed with a warm, gentle light.

The young witch beamed with joy.

"I knew it! Remember, the wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around." Ollivander nodded approvingly.

Next was Loren's turn.

Ollivander pulled out a long silver measuring tape and asked for Loren's dominant hand before measuring:

Shoulder to fingertips Wrist to elbow Shoulder to floor Knee to armpit Even head circumference

As he worked, he explained, "Ollivanders has been making wands since 382 B.C. Through generations of refinement, we've identified three supreme magical cores—unicorn hair, phoenix feather, and dragon heartstring. They are stable and unique, superior to any second-rate wands out there."

As he spoke, the measuring tape continued moving on its own.

Once Ollivander retrieved a stack of wand boxes, the tape fell to the floor, curling up neatly.

Hermione's eyes sparkled with fascination at the enchanted measuring tool.

"Try this one—maple wood, unicorn hair, seven inches."

Loren took the wand, but before he could even lift it, Ollivander snatched it away.

This happened twice more.

Loren narrowed his eyes. Why did that girl get hers immediately, while I have to go through this torture?

Professor McGonagall patiently waited, while Hermione watched with concern.

Even though she had only just met Loren, she hoped they would both make it to Hogwarts together.

Finally, Ollivander turned around and pulled out a sleek black wand.

"Ah, applewood, phoenix feather, ten inches exactly."

The moment Loren held it, he felt a sense of certainty.

With a gentle wave, a soft breeze swept through the store.

Both he and Ollivander smiled in satisfaction.

"Applewood is suited for ambitious wizards—often skilled duelists and known for their longevity. Phoenix feather cores are highly selective and have strong personalities, but once they bond with their wizard, they unleash extraordinary potential."

Each wand cost 7 Galleons.

After paying, they wandered around a bit more.

Loren bought a tawny owl for sending letters. It looked slightly dopey, but he found it adorable.

Returning Home

On the way back, Professor McGonagall repeatedly stopped them from waving their wands around.

She sternly warned them that magic was dangerous, and except for safe spells, they shouldn't attempt magic at home.

Apparently, someone once mispronounced a spell and accidentally summoned a wild buffalo onto their chest.

Hermione listened intently.

Loren? Not so much.

"Don't forget to write to me!" Hermione called as she ran toward her parents, eager to share her experiences.

Loren once again felt like he was being squeezed through a rubber tube as he Apparated home.

After picking up his train ticket and bidding McGonagall farewell, he watched her vanish with a 'pop'.

Hogwarts professors really don't have an easy job.

It was only after getting home that Loren realized—

He forgot to ask why other young wizards couldn't see Apparition landing points… but he could.

Oh well.

There was plenty of time to figure it out.

And magic? It was even more exciting than he had imagined.