Harry Potter 'sTwin Brother

🪄 Chapter 22 - The Magical Menagerie

The bell above the shop door chimed with a hollow chime as Harry and Hardwin stepped into the Magical Menagerie. Warm, musky air rushed at them—dense with the smell of feathers, hay, and faint incense-like traces of magical herbs. Sounds filled the space: the flapping of wings, the low huff of sleeping beasts, clicking claws, and the occasional squawk or hiss.

Cages hung from the ceiling like fruit from a tree. Others were stacked up high, each holding a different marvel. The walls seemed to shift slightly—as if enchanted to make room for more creatures than the building could logically hold.

Harry was pulled instantly to a row of owls. A snowy white owl, elegant and alert, watched him with intelligent golden eyes. She let out a low, approving hoot.

"She's beautiful," he whispered, placing a hand near the bars.

"She's watching you like she already knows you," Hardwin said with a small smile.

Professor McGonagall nodded with approval. "A fine owl. Calm, observant. I dare say you've found your companion."

🧠 Hardwin's Curiosity Grows

But Hardwin wasn't looking at the owls anymore.

His gaze wandered to a quiet, gently glowing enclosure near the back. Inside, a magical bird-like creature, soft-plumed and horned like a deer, was calmly chewing on enchanted leaves. It blinked with slow understanding—herbivorous, serene, almost meditative.

Hardwin stepped closer.

"Professor," he asked, "do magical creatures ever form… something deeper with a wizard? Not just pet and owner. But like… a real connection?"

Professor McGonagall adjusted her hat slightly. "Ah. You mean the ancient idea of magical familiars."

Hardwin nodded. "Like a soul bond."

"They're rare," she said, lowering her voice. "But not unheard of. Such bonds are built on shared will, intent, and magic. Not every creature can form them. Not every wizard is open to them."

Harry had wandered back to listen. "Have you ever seen it?"

McGonagall's mouth tightened faintly—thoughtful. Then she said, "Yes. Once."

She looked at them both. "Professor Dumbledore's phoenix. Fawkes. Their bond is... extraordinary."

🔥 Fawkes the Phoenix

Harry blinked. "A phoenix?"

"A being of light, rebirth, and immense loyalty," McGonagall said softly. "Fawkes came to Dumbledore at a moment of loss—during Grindelwald's fall. He didn't summon the phoenix. It simply appeared… and never left."

Hardwin felt a shiver go down his spine. "So they choose you?"

"In the truest cases, yes," McGonagall nodded. "You do not own them. They walk beside you, not behind."

The shopkeeper, overhearing again, chuckled from the counter. "Most kids are happy with a rat or a toad. But every now and then… someone like you comes asking about soul bonds and phoenixes. Maybe you'll meet something one day."

Hardwin didn't respond. He only looked back at the glowing bird, still calmly chewing, as if meditating.

🐦 Harry Names Hedwig

Meanwhile, Harry returned to the owl section, unable to stop looking at the snowy owl.

"Think she'll need a name?" he asked.

"Absolutely," McGonagall said. "Every magical creature with pride expects one."

Harry grinned. "Then I think... Hedwig."

"Hedwig?" Hardwin echoed, amused.

"Just sounds right," Harry said.

Hardwin smiled faintly. Sometimes people just know.

🌿 Hardwin's Thought

If Dumbledore can form a bond with a phoenix… perhaps something waits for me too. Not just a wand. Not just a pet. But a true companion.

He turned and looked up at the ceiling, where a small puff of magical wind blew feathers down like snow.

"Let's see what else this world has to show," he whispered.

Hardwin's Choice

As Harry carried Hedwig carefully in her cage, grinning with joy, Hardwin stood back, quietly observing the rest of the shop.

Rows of cages filled the walls—owls, rats, toads, puffskeins, and odd little lizards that blinked sideways. But none of them called to him.

He wasn't sure what he wanted—just that he preferred something calm, observant, and easy to travel with. Something that didn't screech or slither.

Then, in a corner of the shop, he spotted a small enclosure labeled:

"Shadow Cat – Experimental Crossbreed – New Arrival"

Inside sat a sleek black cat, about the size of a housecat, with fur that shimmered slightly in the light and narrow violet-tinted eyes. It didn't make a sound. It simply watched.

The shopkeeper walked over. "Ah, that one? That's a new breed—part Kneazle, part domestic. Bred for high awareness and quiet temperament. Nothing too flashy, just something new we've been trying. Doesn't cause much trouble."

Hardwin crouched, and the cat tilted its head.

"It's quiet," he said. "I like that."

"Most people overlook it. Want flashier pets," the man said with a shrug.

"I'll take it," Hardwin said simply.

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She only nodded in approval.

---

🐱 On the Way Out

As they left the shop, Harry leaned over to look at the cat.

"What'll you name it?"

Hardwin glanced at the black creature resting calmly in the cage.

"…Maybe Aaru," he said.

"That sounds different."

"It's just a name I remember," Hardwin replied. "Easy to say."

The cat blinked slowly, settled into the cage, and said nothing—as if content to remain quiet and unnoticed.

It was exactly what Hardwin wanted.

The Apothecary Visit

The moment they entered Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, the air thickened with a mixture of bitterness, spice, and damp earth. Dim lanterns flickered along stone walls, illuminating rows of glass jars, dried herbs, and tiny bone fragments suspended in bubbling liquids. The scent was sharp and strangely invigorating—part forest floor, part burned garlic, and part old parchment.

Harry coughed softly. "It smells like… potions already exploded in here."

Hardwin just smiled faintly. "It smells like learning."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "A proper wizard should learn the smells of each ingredient. Potion work is more about instinct than ingredients alone."

---

🧪 Potion Kits and Curiosity

While the stern shopkeeper fetched the standard first-year kits, Hardwin wandered slowly along the side aisles, pausing to read small handwritten labels:

"Dragon Liver – Preserved"

"Silverweed Root – Dried"

"Infused Gillygrass – Store in Shade"

At the back, he spotted a dusty bookcase, almost hidden behind a rack of crushed petals and sealed glass tubes. The books were old, with worn leather bindings and titles pressed in faded gold:

> "Potioneering Through the Centuries"

"The Gray Cauldron: Brews of the Borderlands"

"Notes from a Half-Blood Brewer"

He took all three off the shelf, balancing them carefully in his arms. Then he spotted one more:

> "The Art of Brewing by Twelve Masters"

It was cracked at the spine and missing half its cover—but filled with handwritten margin notes and ingredient sketches by different wizards.

---

📚 No Questions Asked

When he returned to the counter with the books, Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows, though she said nothing.

The apothecary shopkeeper grunted. "That's not required reading."

Hardwin shrugged. "I'd still like them."

McGonagall glanced at the titles. "Old texts. Some hard to find these days. Good choices."

There was a glint of quiet approval in her eyes—the kind she gave only rarely. Not for praise, but for potential.

---

🌿 Finishing Up

Along with the books, the boys received:

A bronze cauldron (standard size 2)

Glass and crystal phials

A long stirring rod

A set of brass scales

Small pouches of standard first-year potion ingredients

Harry carefully held his box, staring at the odd names. "I don't know how I'm supposed to remember all these."

Hardwin grinned. "Start with the ones that smell worst. They're usually important."

---

🌥️ Outside Again

Back on the cobbled street of Diagon Alley, the warm afternoon breeze felt fresh after the heavy scent of potions.

"You really picked a lot of books," Harry said, adjusting the cage with Hedwig.

"I want to know how different wizards made the same potion in different ways," Hardwin replied simply. "It's like learning different answers to the same question."

Professor McGonagall, just ahead, glanced over her shoulder and said in her sharp, Scottish accent, "I've always liked students who ask more questions than they answer."

The Stationery & Supply Shop

After the apothecary, they crossed a narrow alley where a stack of self-inking quills danced in the window of a cozy, cluttered shop.

Above the door swung a sign carved with flowing script:

> Scribbulus Writing Instruments

Finest Quills, Ink, and Magical Stationery since 1675

A soft bell chimed as they stepped inside.

The smell of parchment and polished wood filled the warm air. Shelves overflowed with scrolls tied in crimson ribbon, shimmering inks in glass pots, and quills of every imaginable kind—some glowing faintly, others twitching as if impatient to write.

Hardwin's eyes widened.

Harry whispered, "It's like a library and a bird shop had a baby."

---

🪶 Quills, Ink, and More

Professor McGonagall stepped aside. "You'll each need two standard quills, a bottle of ink, and plenty of parchment for your lessons."

Hardwin walked straight toward a display marked "Beginner's Kits."

Inside:

Two raven-feather quills

A pot of standard black ink

A sealed case of thick parchment sheets

A soft leather roll for storing supplies

Harry picked up a similar kit but got distracted by a nearby shelf with color-changing ink bottles.

"What's this one?" he asked, holding a small pot that shimmered between green and blue.

"Chameleon Ink," said the shopkeeper, who had appeared behind them like a puff of smoke. "Fades after two hours. Good for secret notes or practice."

Harry grinned. "I'll take it."

---

🧰 Hardwin's Custom Picks

Hardwin wasn't done.

He walked further back where rarer supplies were kept and found:

A quill carved from ash wood, enchanted to correct spelling in real time

A bottle of ink from magical cephalopods, said to last decades

A sheaf of parchment lined with silver threads, for charms notes

McGonagall arched an eyebrow again but said nothing.

"Planning to write a novel?" Harry teased.

Hardwin smirked. "Just don't want to run out of space."

---

✨ Subtle Magic

Near the till, Hardwin spotted a display of charms parchment, which shimmered faintly under the shop lights. It was charmed to glow when near magic, useful for testing spells.

He bought a single sheet, just to test later.

Harry whispered, "You really like this stuff, don't you?"

"I like tools," Hardwin replied. "They matter when everything else goes wrong."

The words slipped out before he realized. But Harry nodded as if he understood.

---

🛍️ Leaving the Shop

Outside, the sun was sinking lower into the alleys of Diagon Alley.

Their bags were heavier now, filled with scrolls, ink pots clinking gently, and the sharp scent of new parchment lingering in the air.

McGonagall handed them each a small charm token. "These will shrink your shopping bags until we return. Tap it when you need something."

Harry turned to Hardwin. "We're really going to school. Like—real magical school."

Hardwin looked at the token in his hand and nodded. "We are."

And for a second, he wasn't sure if he was ready—or more ready than anyone ever could be.

---

The Trunk Shop

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Diagon Alley as the trio turned the corner onto a quieter lane. Tucked between a cauldron polish store and a dusty antiques shop stood a broad storefront painted deep navy blue, its golden lettering gleaming:

> Twills & Tacks: Magical Trunks and Travel Cases

The display window showed a magnificent, polished trunk opening and closing itself, revealing layers of compartments, drawers, and hidden shelves that shimmered with enchantments. A brass plate beside it read:

> "Collapsible, Feather-Light, and Spell-Locked. Now with Undetectable Extension Charm!"

The bell above the door gave a soft chime as they stepped inside.

---

🪄 A Shop of Storage Wonders

Inside, the scent of fresh wood varnish and metal polish mingled with something subtly magical. Rows of trunks stood stacked to the ceiling—some plain, others carved with runes or moving patterns.

One trunk had dancing dragons on its lid. Another appeared stitched from sky-blue hide that shifted faintly in color when touched.

An elderly wizard in silver robes looked up from behind the counter and smiled. "Welcome! Hogwarts-bound, I presume?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Two first-years."

"Then you've come to the right place. We've just stocked a new line of starter trunks—lightweight, secure, and charmed against moisture and mildew. First drawer organizes itself. Second drawer repels any pest, magical or otherwise."

---

🎒 Harry's Trunk

Harry chose a medium-sized chest with reinforced brass corners and smooth oak paneling. Inside, compartments slid gently into view when he lifted the lid.

"Blimey," Harry whispered, testing the invisible lock. "Better than any cupboard."

The shopkeeper chuckled. "This one opens only to your touch—or a specific charm word."

The warm wood-paneled walls of Twills & Tacks shimmered softly under magical lanterns as Hardwin ran his hand along the smooth surface of his chosen maroon trunk. His sharp eyes wandered once more to the other side of the shop, where smaller travel kits and portable bags were arranged neatly on display.

He paused thoughtfully, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Excuse me," he said, turning to the shopkeeper, "I think I need something else too."

The old man behind the counter looked up, mildly surprised. "Yes, lad?"

Hardwin gestured toward a row of enchanted satchels and knapsacks.

"Something like a school bag—but more than that. A cross between a traveling bag and a potion satchel."

Professor McGonagall glanced at him curiously. "Most students manage with their trunks."

Hardwin smiled politely. "I'd still prefer something portable—something that doesn't strain your shoulder, expands inside, and keeps things in perfect order. Especially for potions or herbs."

The shopkeeper's eyes twinkled. "Ah, I see you've thought this through."

---

✨ Custom Bag Request

"We don't have anything exactly like that on hand," the man said, rubbing his chin. "But we've done custom work for field mediwizards and traveling scholars."

He stepped out from behind the counter, waving his wand. A brass-bound book floated down from the shelf and opened itself mid-air, pages fluttering until they stopped on a set of sketches labeled 'Expandable Tactical Satchels.'

"What sort of features do you want?"

Hardwin stepped closer, now speaking with focus. "Lightweight. Expandable interior with sections I can organize—especially for herbs, scrolls, ink, potions. Should stay balanced even if turned upside down. A hidden, secure layer for... rare things."

"Security charm?" the man asked.

"Yes. Something like a unique password—not spoken aloud but maybe gesture-based or magical intent," Hardwin added. "Also resistant to water, fire, dust. Strong as dragonhide if possible."

"And durable stitching?" the man said, jotting down notes on a levitating quill.

Hardwin nodded. "Something I can carry for years, not just at school."

"Oh!" he added quickly. "And if I call for something in the bag by name, it should come to my hand."

McGonagall raised an impressed brow. "A seventh-year student might've asked that."

Hardwin smiled mildly. "Just well-read."

---

🔧 Crafting Solution

"We could enchant one of our compact trunks," the shopkeeper mused, "with a conversion charm—trunk to satchel to backpack. Transforms with a tap or phrase. I've seen dragon-scale leather used on special Auror gear for flexibility and strength."

He moved to a high shelf and brought down a charcoal-colored satchel with worn edges. "This one's empty but reinforced. Could layer it with expansion, security, recall charm, and stabilizing enchantment. It'll take three days, and cost a bit extra."

"I'll take it," Hardwin said immediately.

Professor McGonagall tilted her head. "That's an advanced piece of magical equipment. Are you sure, Mr. Potter?"

"I'd rather be prepared."

She hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. It may serve you better than lugging your entire trunk to every class."

Hardwin stepped forward, speaking with quiet confidence as the shopkeeper took notes in the air with a floating quill.

"One more thing," Hardwin added, glancing at the sketchbook of satchels. "I want a different password for each layer."

The old wizard looked up, intrigued. "Go on."

"If someone tries to open it without permission—or by force—it should only show the first two layers. Just clothes. A few harmless books. Looks like a regular student bag."

The shopkeeper whistled softly. "A decoy enchantment. Clever for someone your age."

Hardwin nodded. "And… if someone does try to break into it—it should capture their image."

"Ahh—an intrusion imprint spell," the wizard said, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Yes, I can embed that. Will mark their magical signature too, in case the bag is ever recovered from theft."

"Good," Hardwin said simply, eyes calm and thoughtful.

Professor McGonagall was now openly watching Hardwin with growing interest.

"And it should be able to store magical objects," Hardwin added, voice lowering slightly. "Things that might be rare. Or dangerous. Or important."

"You mean like enchanted items?" the shopkeeper asked.

"I… I don't know what magical objects exist yet," Hardwin admitted honestly. "I'm new to this world. But I want it prepared for when I do know. And if I'm ever in danger—real danger—it should protect itself. Lock down. Or hide."

---

✨ The Shopkeeper's Reply

There was a long pause. The old wizard folded his arms, appraising the boy with a deeper kind of curiosity.

"You've got the thinking of a curse-breaker. Or maybe a field mage," he muttered. "You're asking for security enchantments I only see in Ministry contracts or high-level research bags."

"Is it possible?" Hardwin asked simply.

"Oh yes," the man replied. "It's not cheap. And it'll take four or five days. But it can be done."

He ran his fingers along the satchel's seams, then waved his wand as an order sheet unrolled and stamped itself with golden ink.

---

🧾 Order Summary (spoken aloud)

Trunk-to-satchel Transform Charm

Five enchanted interior layers

Layer-specific password locks

Decoy Layer Display Spell

Intrusion Imprint (captures image + magical trace)

Secure Magical Object Chamber

Emergency Defensive Lockdown Spell

Recall Charm (summon item by name)

Dragon-hide reinforced outer layer

Dust, fire, and water-proof sealing

Silent Stabilization (items never tumble inside)

---

Professor McGonagall looked at Hardwin again—not with suspicion now, but the thoughtful expression of someone cataloging a mystery.

"Very few first-years would know how to even describe all that," she said softly.

"I just like my things safe," Hardwin replied, feigning mild amusement. "And organized."