Chapter 9: Mithril Corridor and the First Blossom of Glory (Part 1)
The mine cart sped through the gloomy tunnel, its wheels rubbing against the tracks with a monotonous yet reassuring "clack, clack" sound. Torches stuck in the rock walls on either side formed two flickering bands of light, elongated into blurry streaks by the high-speed movement. The unique chill of the underground, mixed with the smell of rust, assailed them.
Hermione sat pressed close to Lynn, her initial fright long since replaced by novelty. She widened her eyes, trying to make out the rapidly fleeting sights on both sides of the tunnel. Every so often, huge, heavily metal-studded doors appeared on the rough rock walls. Intricate symbols and numbers were carved into the doors, gleaming with a cold, eerie light under the torchlight. Some doors were tightly shut, seamlessly fitted; in front of others, Guardianss in scarlet, gold-trimmed uniforms could be seen, aiming a peculiar short staff, embedded with a multifaceted crystal at its tip, at a groove on the door. Accompanied by a faint hum, the heavy doors silently slid inward, revealing the bottomless darkness beyond, or a glimpse of mountains of treasure sparkling with various colors—golden, silver, and even the strange brilliance of gemstones, seen for a fleeting moment as the door opened, then immediately swallowed by darkness.
"Are those... the vaults?" Hermione asked in a whisper, her voice full of awe and disbelief. She imagined the wealth and secrets that might be hidden behind those tightly closed doors.
"Mm," Lynn responded, his gaze also following the fleeting glimmers of wealth, but his focus was more on the way the Guardianss opened the vaults—that short staff and crystal seemed to be some kind of energy key. "The deeper the number, the older it might be, or the more... special the things stored inside." He deliberately used vague descriptions to avoid mentioning any specific families or items.
The mine cart suddenly turned at a fork, and centrifugal force caused Hermione's body to lean involuntarily against Lynn. Lynn's arm naturally went around her, steadying her. The moment their bodies touched, the star stone and moon-white stone on their chests once again transmitted a clear warmth, like tiny warm stoves, dispelling the chill of the underground. Hermione subconsciously clutched her chest, feeling the warmth, and her heart settled. She no longer felt as awkward about Lynn's touch as she had in the rapidly descending compartment; instead, there was a comforting sense of reliance. She didn't immediately move away, only whispered with a slight blush, "Thank you."
"Hold on tight." Lynn's voice was calm, but his arm didn't immediately retract, loosely protecting her until the mine cart entered a narrower, more dimly lit branch tunnel. Here, the vault doors on either side were noticeably older, their metal surfaces covered with the erosions of time, and the symbols on the doors were even more complex and eerie.
Finally, the mine cart slowly stopped in front of a very plain-looking bronze door. This door was a bit smaller than the ones they had seen before, its color dull, without any ornate decorations, only a shallow, keyhole-like indentation in the center of the door.
Professor McGonagall was the first to get out of the cart and walked to the door. She didn't take out the bronze plate she had used to open the wall in Diagon Alley; instead, she took out a uniquely shaped key from her handbag. The key itself was also made of bronze, but its end was embedded with a small, irregularly shaped, deep blue mineral stone, as profound in color as a solidified starry sky—Lynnrecognized at a glance that its material was identical to the cover of the deep blue star book he carried! The key's teeth were unusually complex, twisted and spiraled.
Professor McGonagall inserted the key into the groove on the door. There was no short staff and crystal like the Guardianss used, just a gentle turn.
"Click... Buzz..."
After a dull mechanical click, accompanied by a low hum like the sigh from deep within the earth, the heavy bronze door silently slid inward. Inside, there were no mountains of gold and silver jewels, nor dazzling lights, only a profound darkness and a blast of cold, dusty air.
Lynn's heart rate subtly quickened. Was this "his" vault? The inheritance belonging to the original Lynn Li?
Professor McGonagall took a small lantern from her handbag, and with a gentle flick, a soft, steady white light illuminated within the transparent crystal ball at the lantern's top. She held the lamp and walked in first.
Lynn and Hermione followed closely, stepping into the darkness. The lantern's light could only illuminate a few meters ahead, and beneath their feet were cold, smooth flagstones. As they went deeper, the light outlined the vault's interior—the space was not large, a narrow rectangle, with smooth, polished rock walls on all sides. The vault was empty, with only three boxes of varying sizes placed against the wall at the very back.
The first box was made of dark brown hardwood, covered with a thin layer of dust, unlocked, and looked the most ordinary. The second box was made of some dark metal, its surface covered with intricate, vine-like silver patterns, and there was a small circular indentation in the center of the lid. The third box was the smallest and most striking, made entirely of a translucent, deep blue crystal that seemed to have a nebula slowly rotating within it, emitting a faint glow, without any obvious opening or lock.
Professor McGonagall hung the lantern on a hook on the wall, illuminating the entire interior of the vault. She walked to the first wooden box and directly lifted the lid.
Inside were not the expected Galleons, but neatly stacked items: several sets of folded, seemingly good-quality spare clothes (clearly boy's size), a few pairs of shoes, some toiletries, and several thick, hardcover books with no titles on their covers. On top, there was a bulging, thick canvas money bag, and a simple, dark blue hardcover notebook.
"This is Mr. Lynn Li's personal storage box, and the liquid assets of his vault," Professor McGonagall's voice was exceptionally clear in the vault. "The money bag contains exchanged Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts, enough to cover your seven years of study and living expenses at Hogwarts, including textbooks, a wand, robes, and other necessities." She took out the money bag and notebook and handed them to Lynn.
Lynn took the heavy money bag and notebook. The notebook's cover had the familiar deep blue star patterns and felt cool to the touch. He understood in his heart that this was probably the original owner's records or diary. He didn't immediately look through it but carefully put it away.
Professor McGonagall's gaze turned to the second metal box: "This box requires a matching energy imprint to open." Her eyes fell on Lynn's chest. "Mr. Li, please place the stone on your chest into the groove on the lid."
Lynn complied, pulling out the star stone pendant from inside his collar. The cool stone glowed with a deep blue light under the lantern's illumination. He carefully pressed the star stone into the circular indentation.
"Buzz..."
The silver vine patterns on the surface of the metal box suddenly lit up, as if infused with life, and the flowing light quickly spread along the patterns to the entire box. Immediately after, a series of crisp, pleasant mechanical clicking sounds came from inside the box. A few seconds later, with a soft "click," the lid silently popped open a crack.
Lynn lifted the lid. Inside, a soft, dark velvet lining cushioned three items: a quill with a slender body, made of a material resembling both wood and jade, its tip embedded with a tiny, deep blue gemstone the size of a grain of rice, constantly shifting with subtle starlight; a palm-sized compass, its casing polished from a warm, dark jade, its surface etched with precise star-track patterns; and a ring, its setting of ancient, silver-grey metal, its face a perfectly octagonal, deep blue sapphire as profound as the night sky, with what appeared to be stars slowly rotating within.
"pen of the stars, astrolabe compass, and... Star Core Ring." Professor McGonagall looked at these three items, a faint, unreadable emotion flashing in her eyes. "They belong to you. Keep them safe." She didn't explain much, but Lynn could feel the extraordinary nature of these three items. They seemed to have some mysterious connection with the star stone and the deep blue star book.
Lynn carefully put away these three items. Finally, his gaze, like Hermione's, turned to the third and most mysterious deep blue crystal box.
Professor McGonagall made no move this time, only calmly said, "This box requires a specific time and... a key. The key is not with me, nor is it here. The time has not come, so it cannot be opened."
Both Lynn and Hermione were a bit disappointed but could only nod. The crystal box emitted a faint glow, like a silent riddle, awaiting its future solution.
The process of leaving the vault was much faster than entering. Sitting in the mine cart again, passing through the long tunnel, and returning to the cold, grand hall, Hermione couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. The oppressive feeling of the underground was dispelled by the high, distant dome above, and although the Guardians' emerald green eyes were still cold, at least they were back in the "human world."
"Next," Professor McGonagall led them out of the huge bronze doors of the Mithril Ring (an alternative name for Gringotts), once again bathed in the bustling light and mixed smells of Diagon Alley, "you will purchase your necessities. Here are your lists." She handed two pieces of parchment to Lynn and Hermione respectively. "Flourish and Blotts for textbooks, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for school robes, and finally, a wand. We will meet back in an hour in front of Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour." She raised a hand and pointed to a colorful shop across the street with a huge ice cream cone sign, then, without waiting for their reply, her dark green cloak swished, and she merged into the crowd, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Lynn and Hermione held their lists, standing on the street of the magical world, looking at the bustling crowds and countless shops before them, finally feeling a true sense of having stepped into this world.
"Shall we buy books first?" Lynn suggested, his gaze sweeping over the long list of book titles.
"Good!" Hermione nodded vigorously, her big eyes sparkling with impatience. Knowledge was always what she craved most.
Flourish and Blotts was crowded and noisy, the air filled with the unique fragrance of ink and old paper. Towering bookshelves almost reached the ceiling, crammed with books of all thicknesses and colors. Some books sat quietly on the shelves; others were chained by magical chains, squirming restlessly; there was even a huge book with a fanged monster on its cover that suddenly opened its pages with a low roar and spat out a small stream of ink when Lynn approached, only to be skillfully covered by a prepared shop assistant with a net.
Hermione was in her element, her small face radiating pure joy. She navigated the labyrinthine bookshelves, comparing them to her list, precisely searching for her targets: "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1," "Theories of magic," "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration," "Magical Drafts and Potions"... Each time she found a book, she would carefully brush the dust from its cover, then tenderly cradle it in her arms, her movements as gentle as if handling a fragile treasure. Lynn was responsible for carrying the increasingly heavy stack of books, while also observing the enchanted books with great interest.
"This copy of 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' is so thick!" Hermione stood on tiptoe, trying to reach a large tome on an upper shelf.
"I'll get it." Lynn easily helped her take it down. Hermione took the book, its weighty presence making her cheeks flush slightly, but more so with satisfaction.
"Thank you!" She looked up, her smile radiant, her eyes curving into crescents. The stack of books in her arms covered half of her face, revealing only her bright, sparkling eyes, full of a thirst for knowledge.
When paying, watching Lynn pour clinking Galleons from the deep blue canvas money bag, Hermione, clutching her own equally valuable pile of textbooks, suddenly whispered, "Lynn, these books... are they very expensive?" She remembered her parents' hard work.
"Knowledge is a priceless investment." Lynn smiled at her, counting out the corresponding gold coins and pushing them to the shop assistant. "And my 'investment' looks very worthwhile." He gestured meaningfully at the mountain of books she could barely hold.
Hermione's face flushed even more, and she mumbled softly, "I'll study hard," but her heart felt warm.
Chapter 10: The Mithril Corridor and the First Blossom of Glory (Part 2)
Next was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The shop was spacious and bright, with the fresh scent of new fabric lingering in the air. A short, stout, smiling lady in purple robes greeted them warmly.
"Hogwarts first-years? Oh, dears, quickly stand on the stools!" Madam Malkin swiftly directed Lynn and Hermione to stand on two low stools. Two 'elves' (common magical service creatures in Diagon Alley, with round ears, large eyes, smooth oak-like skin, and nimble hands and feet), only half a person tall, wearing small work aprons and holding pins and tape measures, immediately scurried over and began to take their measurements.
The tape measures flew automatically in the air, circling their bodies, measuring up, down, left, and right, occasionally poking their arms or waists with the tip of the measure, signaling them to stand straight or raise their hands. Hermione was a bit ticklish and couldn't help but let out a giggle when poked in the waist, quickly covering her mouth, her face flushing red. Lynn, however, seemed very relaxed, looking at himself in the mirror and appreciating the convenience of the Wizarding world.
"All done, my dears!" Madam Malkin noted down the measurements. "Your school robes will be sent by owl to the hogwarts express within a week. Now, do you need anything else? For example, everyday robes? Or a pretty little cloak?" She smiled at Hermione.
Hermione quickly shook her head, "No, thank you, Madam!" Only school robes were essential on the list. She instinctively touched her small pocket containing her money—even though Lynn had said his money was enough to cover both their essentials, she still didn't want to spend more of his money.
Lynn, however, had noticed Hermione's gaze lingering on a dark blue cloak displayed in the shop, with an exquisite silver vine embroidered on its collar. He thought for a moment and said to Madam Malkin, "Please make her a casual robe too. The color..." He looked at Hermione, "Do you like the dark blue one from before?"
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, "Lynn! No need, I..."
"Consider it a welcome gift?" Lynn gently interrupted her. "Besides, I'd like to see you in that color; it should suit you very well." His tone was natural, carrying an undeniable concern.
Hermione's heart skipped a beat, and the words of refusal caught in her throat. She looked at Lynn's earnest eyes, then thought of the beautiful dark blue robe, and finally, blushing, nodded almost imperceptibly, whispering, "...Thank you."
Madam Malkin's eyes crinkled into a smile. "Excellent taste! The young lady has fair skin; dark blue will definitely look beautiful on her! Leave it to me!"
As they left the robe shop, the setting sun had already gilded Diagon Alley with a warm, golden edge. Hermione clutched her newly bought textbooks, her heart filled not only with the satisfaction of the books but also a sweet warmth from being thoughtfully cared for. She stole a glance at Lynn's profile; the sunlight outlined his sharp features. He was looking up at a somewhat dilapidated shop at the end of the street with a crooked sign—the sign depicted a wand, and below it read: **Roland Silverwood - Fine wands**.
"Last stop," Lynn's voice held a hint of subtle anticipation, "wands."
When Lynn pushed open the shop door, which had a brass bell, a scent mixed with aged wood, peculiar resins, and faint dust wafted out. The shop was long and narrow, and countless slender boxes were stacked from the floor to the ceiling, filling every corner, leaving only a narrow aisle. The light was dim, with only a few ancient copper lamps emitting a faint yellow glow. The air seemed to be filled with countless tiny dust motes dancing in the light beams, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura.
Hermione nervously followed behind him, her small hand unconsciously gripping the corner of his robe again. She could feel a powerful and indescribable... **energy** permeating the shop. Her moon-white stone pendant, hanging at her chest, suddenly became unusually warm, even vibrating slightly. Lynn's star stone, at his chest, did the same.
A figure silently emerged from behind the mountain of wand boxes. It was an old man, extremely thin, wearing a faded dark gray robe, with sparse, neatly combed silver-white hair. His face was covered in wrinkles, like dried tree bark, but his eyes were unusually bright and sharp, a nearly transparent light gray. At this moment, they were like searchlights, keenly and penetratingly scrutinizing Lynn and Hermione, especially lingering for a moment on their faintly glowing pendants, a fleeting hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Good afternoon," the old man's voice was unexpectedly clear, gentle, and had a strange rhythm, like the chime of an ancient bell. "A young gentleman... with the mark of the stars, and a young lady... whose heart is as pure as moonlight. Welcome to Silverwood's domain. I am Roland Silverwood." He bowed slightly, his movements carrying an old-fashioned elegance.
Lynn and Hermione were both stunned. This Wandmaker seemed to have seen the special nature of their stones at a glance? He called this place "Silverwood's domain," not merely a shop.
Mr. Silverwood's gaze first fell on Hermione, his light gray eyes seemingly able to see through souls: "Then, the young lady first. Please extend your dominant hand."
Hermione nervously glanced at Lynn, and only after receiving his encouraging look did she take a deep breath and cautiously extend her right hand.
Mr. Silverwood turned, moving as agilely as a leopard melting into shadows, weaving and searching among the stacked boxes. His fingers brushed over the boxes, as if listening to their whispers. Soon, he returned with a slender box wrapped in faded dark purple velvet.
"Try this one," he opened the box and took out a wand. The wand was made of warm, ivory-white material, with natural, elegant spiral patterns, like the fossil of some vine. The shaft was slender and smooth, about nine and a half inches long, and the grip was inlaid with a small circle of tiny, transparent gems, like condensed dew drops. "Moonlight grapevine wood, Unicorn hair core, nine and a half inches, moderately flexible."
Hermione carefully took the wand. The moment her fingertips touched the shaft—
**_Buzz!_**
A low hum did not come from the air, but seemed to resonate directly in her and Lynn's minds! Hermione felt a warm, pure power, like clear moonlight, instantly surge from the wand into her arm, flowing through her entire body, making her shiver involuntarily! At the same time, her moon-white stone pendant at her chest suddenly burst forth with a bright yet not dazzling milky-white light, which flowed like a tangible substance, instantly enveloping the entire wand! Even more astonishingly, Lynn's star stone at his chest also seemed to awaken, its deep blue light illuminating in response. The two lights—milky-white and deep blue—intertwined in the narrow space, as if resonating silently!
Mr. Silverwood's light gray eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had discovered a rare treasure. He stared intently at the two merging lights, exclaiming in a low voice, "Marvelous... such a strong compatibility and... a sign of symbiosis?"
Hermione felt as if the wand in her hand had become a part of her body; an ineffable sense of comfort and power naturally arose. She instinctively gave it a gentle wave.
**_Poof!_**
The tip of the wand did not emit Sparks or smoke, but suddenly bloomed into a large shower of soft, pure silver light specks! The specks of light, like fireflies on a summer night, danced and swirled lightly in the dim shop, illuminating countless dust-covered wand boxes, and also illuminating Hermione's surprised little face and the equally bright light in Lynn's eyes. The light specks lasted for about ten seconds before slowly dissipating like stardust.
"Perfect!" Mr. Silverwood's voice was filled with undisguised admiration. "The resonance of moonlight and a pure heart! This is the one!"
Hermione held the wand, which felt as if it had been custom-made for her, with great affection, feeling its warm touch and the wondrous power flowing within her. She looked at Lynn, her eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement and joy, her little face flushed with exhilaration.
"Your turn, young child of the stars." Mr. Silverwood turned to Lynn, his light gray eyes filled with anticipation and inquiry. "Please extend your hand."
Lynn stepped forward and extended his right hand. Mr. Silverwood's gaze was as sharp as a knife, carefully examining his palm and the knuckles of his fingers, as if deciphering a code. Then, he once again disappeared into the jungle of wands.
This time, he returned even faster. In his hands, he held an extremely ancient-looking box. The box itself was made of a deep, almost black wood, with no ornamentation on its surface, only the deep luster left by time. He opened the box, which was lined with deep blue velvet.
The wand he took out was entirely a cool silver-gray, with extremely dense and deep wood grain, like a star-filled winter night frozen in ice. It was covered with extremely fine, naturally formed star-shaped patterns. The wand was straight and resilient, slightly longer, about eleven inches, and the grip was inlaid with a grain-sized, deep blue gem, as profound as a solidified universe, with nebulae seemingly swirling within it, echoing Lynn's star stone.
"Star-patterned fir wood, Phoenix tail feather core, eleven inches, powerful yet restrained." Mr. Silverwood's voice carried a reverence that was almost devout.
Lynn reached out, his fingertips touching the shaft, cold as a starlit night.
**_Boom!_**
This time it wasn't a hum, but a tremor that seemed to come from the depths of the soul! A vast, profound torrent of power, like the universe at its genesis, instantly surged into Lynn's body! His star stone at his chest erupted with an unprecedentedly brilliant deep blue light, a light like burning flames, instantly enveloping the entire wand! The natural star-patterned markings on the star-patterned fir wood shaft suddenly lit up under the blue light, as if coming alive! At the same time, Hermione's moonlight grapevine wand also lit up again with a soft milky-white glow. The two lights—deep blue and milky-white—instantly intertwined, like two surging star rivers, colliding, entwining, and resonating fiercely in the narrow space! The mountain of wand boxes stacked throughout the shop seemed to be awakened by this power, emitting faint hums and vibrations!
Mr. Silverwood's lips trembled slightly with excitement: "Star Essence! True Star Essence! And... a twin radiance?! merlin's beard..." He stared unblinkingly at the two merging glows.
Lynn felt as if the wand in his hand had become an extension of his limb. The cold yet powerful energy resonated perfectly with something within him; there was no repulsion, only a seamless, harmonious fit. His mind stirred slightly, and he did not deliberately wave it, but merely lifted the wand gently.
**_Sizzle!_**
A slender, condensed deep blue electric arc, like a streak across the night sky, suddenly shot from the tip of the wand! The arc was not an aggressive lightning bolt; it danced agilely, weaving and darting through the air, leaving behind fleeting yet elegant blue trails, as if writing mysterious star runes in the dim shop! The arc lasted for a few seconds before silently dissipating into the air, leaving only a faint scent of ozone and a room full of lingering blue dust, like the embers of stars.
A silence fell over the shop, broken only by the faint, residual hums of countless wand boxes.
Mr. Silverwood took a long, deep breath, looking at Lynn, then at the wand in his hand, which had returned to stillness yet seemed to contain an endless starry sky. Finally, his gaze swept over Hermione, who was also holding her wand, her eyes full of shock, and her wand, which emanated a warm, moonlit aura.
"Fates intertwined, twin stars shining..." the old man murmured, his light gray eyes filled with complex, inscrutable light, finally turning into a long sigh and irrepressible excitement. "Good! Good! Good! They have chosen you! Remember, the wand chooses the Wizard! Treat them well!"
After paying (the price of both wands was quite substantial), Lynn and Hermione walked out of Roland Silverwood's wand shop as the lingering sunset had already painted the entire Diagon Alley in a warm orange-red. Each held their own wand in their hands, their chests warmed by the slightly warm stones, their hearts filled with unspeakable excitement and a wonderful sense of connection. The soul-shaking resonance in the shop earlier seemed to have forged an invisible bond between them.
"Your wand... is truly beautiful," Hermione said sincerely, looking at the silver-gray wand with the deep blue gem in Lynn's hand.
"Yours too," Lynn smiled, his gaze falling on the warm moonlight grapevine wand in her hand. "They... seem to be very compatible." He hinted at something.
Hermione's cheeks were tinged with the sunset's blush. She looked down at her wand, her fingers gently caressing the shaft, feeling the wondrous connection, and an involuntary sweet smile curved her lips. Her moon-white stone at her chest seemed to respond with a wave of warmth.
The two walked side by side towards the agreed-upon ice cream shop. The setting sun stretched their shadows long, and their newly acquired wands shimmered with a subtle yet mysterious glow in the afterglow. Star and moon, in the ancient alley, completed their most important covenant with the magical world, and quietly illuminated a new chapter in each other's lives, filled with infinite possibilities.
Chapter 11: Whisper of Sweetness and Glimmer of Star Tracks
The warm golden glow of the setting sun lazily spilled onto the ancient cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley, stretching the shadows of passersby. The air was filled with various peculiar scents: the sweet aroma of freshly baked cauldron cakes, the crisp fragrance from the magical herb shop, and... a rich, enticing, sweet scent, a mix of milk and fruit, emanating from their destination—the "Honeydukes Swirl" ice cream parlor, adorned with a giant rainbow swirl cone sign.
Outside the shop, several small round tables with red and white checkered tablecloths were set up, and brightly colored sun umbrellas swayed gently in the breeze. Professor McGonagall was already waiting there, standing ramrod straight, her dark green cloak remarkably conspicuous amidst the crowd, looking down at an antique silver watch on her wrist.
"Just in time," she said, raising her head. Her gaze swept over Lynn and Hermione's wands, and the new textbooks they held (Hermione also had an extra paper bag containing a dark blue robe). Her face showed no change in expression. "Did you get everything?"
"Yes, Professor," they replied in unison. Hermione's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of excitement, her fingers unconsciously caressing the smooth shaft of her moonlight grapevine wand, as if she could still feel the lingering warmth of its pure power. Lynn was much calmer; only the star stone pressed against his chest, radiating a steady warmth.
"Very good," Professor McGonagall nodded slightly. "The hogwarts express will depart from Platform 9 and 3/4 at King's Cross Station in London at precisely eleven o'clock on the morning of September 1st. Your tickets," she conjured two stiff cards from an inside pocket of her cloak, "have been tucked into the first page of your new textbooks. Be sure to arrive on time; missing the train... the consequences are your own." Her tone carried her usual strictness, but as her gaze swept over Hermione's cheeks, slightly flushed with excitement, it seemed to soften ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Now, you may enjoy an ice cream here, as a conclusion to your school shopping," Professor McGonagall gestured towards the colorful display window of "Honeydukes Swirl." "I will return in half an hour to arrange your return home." With that, she turned again, her dark green figure quickly melting into the bustling crowd and disappearing.
Lynn and Hermione were left standing in front of the ice cream parlor, bathed in the enticing sweet scent and the warm glow of the setting sun, feeling a momentarily disoriented sense of ease. The hustle and bustle of the magical world seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier, leaving only the two of them and the fantastical sweet swirl before their eyes.
"Uh... what flavor do you want?" Lynn broke the silence, pointing to the dazzling array of ice cream tubs in the window, some even slowly changing color or bubbling with tiny fizz.
Hermione's eyes were instantly drawn to them, her earlier tension replaced by curiosity. She leaned closer to the glass, her small nose almost touching it, carefully deciphering the peculiar labels: "Fizzing Whizbee flavor... Hiss, will this shock my tongue? Bubblegum Pod flavor... smells like green apple? And... Dragon's Breath Chili?! Can this really be eaten?!" She pointed to a blood-red ice cream with tiny sparks dancing on its surface, her expression incredulous.
Lynn was also amused by the names: "To be safe, how about we pick something 'milder'? Like... that 'Moonlight Berry'? It looks very fitting for you." He pointed to an ice cream with a soft lavender hue, studded with tiny silver particles (like crushed moon-white stone powder).
Hermione's cheeks quietly took on the same color as the sunset again. She quickly glanced at Lynn, muttering softly, "...who wants to be 'fitting' with ice cream?" But her steps honestly moved towards the Moonlight Berry display tub. "Then... what about you?"
"I'll try the 'Stardust Caramel Sea Salt,'" Lynn said, pointing to an ice cream with a dark brown base, evenly distributed with countless shimmering golden particles.
Soon, both of them, each holding a towering ice cream cone, sat down at an empty red and white checkered small round table outside the shop. Hermione carefully licked her Moonlight Berry. The cool, sweet taste instantly melted on her tongue, carrying a wonderful, fresh berry scent like a forest after rain. The silver particles created a subtle, rustling, magical sensation in her mouth; they weren't gritty but added a touch of fun. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, like a kitten savoring a treat.
Lynn's Stardust Caramel Sea Salt was richer and more mellow. The salty-sweet caramel sauce perfectly balanced the creaminess of the ice cream, and the shimmering golden "stardust" melted in his mouth, leaving a warm aftertaste, as if he had truly swallowed a small piece of a nebula.
"How is it?" Lynn asked, smiling, as he looked at Hermione's satisfied expression.
"Delicious!" Hermione nodded vigorously, a bit of light purple ice cream still on the corner of her mouth. "Much better than what they have at Marks & Spencer! What are these tiny silver particles? They feel so strange."
"I don't know, maybe some kind of magically processed edible mineral powder?" Lynn guessed, his gaze falling on the ice cream on Hermione's mouth. He naturally reached for a tissue from the box on the table. "Here, you have some."
His movement was so natural, his fingertip almost touching her cheek. Hermione's body stiffened for a moment, her long eyelashes fluttering rapidly, and the temperature of her cheeks rose sharply. She instinctively wanted to wipe it herself, but Lynn had already gently brushed the corner of the tissue, ever so lightly, across the corner of her mouth.
The touch was as light as a feather, yet it carried an undeniable electric current, instantly spreading from her mouth to her earlobes. Hermione's heart thumped, almost drowning out the street's clamor. She could clearly smell the faint aroma of stardust caramel from Lynn's fingertips, mixed with a clean, rain-kissed grass scent on him (that was the smell of the new school robe fabric).
"Is... is it gone?" Her voice was barely a whisper, her eyes fixed on the cone in her hand, not daring to look up.
"Mm, yes, it's gone," Lynn withdrew his hand, as if he had just done the most ordinary thing. He folded the tissue and placed it on the table, continuing to eat his ice cream with a composed demeanor. Only he knew that the lingering warmth and soft touch on his fingertips had made his own heart skip a beat. The star stone in his chest also seemed to sense something, radiating a warmth more pronounced than usual.
The atmosphere became subtly quiet and thick, with only the soft sounds of them eating their ice cream. The golden glow of the setting sun passed through the gaps in the sun umbrella, casting a fuzzy halo on Hermione's fluffy brown curls, and illuminating her small earlobes, which were almost transparent with redness. Lynn's gaze was unconsciously drawn to her, watching the fair nape of her neck exposed when she looked down, and her lips, slightly pursed with nervousness and glistening with a bit of ice cream.
"Uh..." Hermione seemed to want to break the heart-pounding silence. She looked up, but her gaze met Lynn's focused eyes. The deep eyes reflected the sunset and her small figure, so intently that her heart fluttered again. She frantically shifted her gaze to the dark blue hardcover notebook Lynn had placed on the table, just retrieved from the vault. "Your... diary? No, notes?" She tried to change the subject.
Lynn followed her gaze and picked up the notebook: "Not sure what it is yet. Found it in the vault." He weighed the notebook in his hand, then tentatively opened the cover.
The flyleaf had no name, only a line of flowing, elegant, dark blue script arranged like a star-trail: > **"Stars guide the path, knowledge discerns the essence."**
Flipping further, the pages were blank, but their texture was very peculiar—cool and smooth to the touch, with the unique feel of a star stone, as if not paper, but some kind of dark blue metal foil as thin as a cicada's wing. Lynn tried to trace his finger across a blank page, and where his fingertip passed, it left a blue trail shimmering with faint starlight! The trail, as if alive, lingered on the page for a few seconds before slowly fading away.
"Wow!" Hermione instantly forgot her earlier shyness, completely captivated by this magical phenomenon. She leaned closer, her big eyes full of wonder. "It can record! With magic? Or..." She instinctively reached out her index finger, wanting to try tracing it on the blank page as well.
Just as her fingertip was about to touch the page, the star stone on Lynn's chest and the moon-white stone on her chest simultaneously warmed slightly! On the notebook page, where Hermione's fingertip was about to touch, a line of tiny script, shimmering with a soft, milky white glow, automatically appeared: > **"Where the mind goes, the writing appears."**
Hermione's finger froze in mid-air, her eyes wide with surprise: "It... it can sense my thoughts? No, is it our stones?" She looked at Lynn, then at the moon-white stone pendant on her chest.
Lynn was also astonished. He picked up the "pen of the stars," which he had also obtained from the metal box, its body resembling both wood and jade, with a shifting, star-like sapphire embedded at the top. As his fingers gripped the pen, the star stone again emitted a familiar warmth. He gently touched the pen tip to a blank page, thinking to himself: "Test."
As his mind moved, the page under the pen tip immediately showed the dark blue word "Test," identical to what was in his mind, flowing and clear, as if ink automatically flowed from the nib, but the writing itself shimmered with tiny starlight.
"It's amazing!" Hermione exclaimed, unable to contain herself. She looked at the pen of the stars in Lynn's hand, then at the notebook with its automatically appearing writing, her eyes sparkling with a pure, fascinated glow for an unknown magical artifact. "This is simply the perfect learning tool! Recording, thinking, organizing... without any hindrance!" She looked at Lynn, her tone filled with excited affirmation. "This notebook and pen must be meant to help you master profound knowledge! That 'knowledge discerns the essence'!"
Her affirmation and pure joy infected Lynn. Looking at the girl's sparkling eyes as she discovered the magical artifact, a warm current also surged through his heart. He smiled and offered the pen of the stars to Hermione: "Do you want to try? With your 'mind'?"
Hermione hesitated, but her thirst for knowledge and curiosity about this magical combination ultimately overcame her reserve. She carefully took the pen of the stars, which was smooth and warm to the touch. The moment her fingertips touched the pen's shaft, the moon-white stone on her chest immediately radiated a clear warmth, as if subtly resonating with the star-shaped sapphire at the pen's tip. She mimicked Lynn, touching the pen tip to a blank page, and thought to herself: "magic is the most rigorous logical art."
A sentence, shimmering with a soft, milky white glow and clear, elegant script, immediately appeared on the dark blue page, word for word exactly what she had thought! The milky white glow intertwined with the dark blue writing Lynn had left earlier, like stars and moonlight dancing on the page.
"It really works!" Hermione exclaimed in delight, looking at the sentence she had "written." A strange, unprecedented feeling surged in her heart. This was not just recording; it was more like a direct projection of her thoughts.
Lynn looked at her excited face, his heart stirred. He picked up the notebook, turned to a new page, and again touched the pen of the stars to the paper. This time, he didn't think of words, but focused his mind, trying to visualize the stunning scene from the wand shop: two beams of light—dark blue and milky white—intensely intertwining, resonating, and embracing.
Something magical happened!
On the dark blue page, no words appeared. Instead, as Lynn concentrated his thoughts, flowing lines and colors began to emerge! Dark blue streams of light, like a surging river of stars, and milky white glows, like the bright moonlight, intertwined, collided, and merged, forming an abstract yet powerful and wonderfully rhythmic dynamic light and shadow image on the page! Although the details were far from the real scene, the strong sense of resonance and visual impact were perfectly captured and presented!
"This..." Hermione watched, dumbfounded, not even noticing the ice cream melting and dripping onto her fingers. She recognized the scene depicted by the light and shadow—it was their shared, soul-shaking moment of wand resonance! A strong sense of empathy struck her, making her chest feel slightly warm.
Lynn put down the pen, looking at the marvelous image on the page, "drawn" by the pen of the stars, recording their shared experience. His heart, too, was filled with an inexpressible feeling. He gently pushed the notebook towards Hermione: "For you."
"Ah?" Hermione suddenly snapped back to reality, looking at the notebook pushed in front of her and the unique light and shadow image on it. Her small face instantly flushed crimson, and she waved her hands repeatedly. "No, no! This is too valuable! And... and it's yours..."
"Knowledge needs to be shared, and so do memories," Lynn's tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable seriousness. "Besides, without your 'moonlight,' this drawing wouldn't be complete, would it?" He pointed to the intertwined light and shadow on the page. "Consider it... a return gift for the admission present?" He meaningfully glanced at her paper bag containing the new robe.
Hermione's heart pounded rapidly. The words of refusal tumbled in her throat a few times but ultimately remained unspoken. She looked at the light and shadow image on the page, symbolizing their magical connection, then at Lynn's sincere eyes. Finally, her fair small hand, trembling slightly, gently pressed against the cool dark blue cover of the notebook. It felt as if his fingertips' warmth still lingered there.
"...Thank you," her voice was as soft as a sigh, her cheeks as red as ripe berries, but her bright eyes were filled with a joy sweeter than ice cream, almost overflowing, and a hint of dependence she herself hadn't even noticed.
Just then, Professor McGonagall's dark green figure appeared punctually at the street corner. The half-hour of sweet time, amidst the faint glow of the Star-Trail Notebook and the aroma of ice cream, quietly slipped away. The sun sank lower, bathing their figures and the dark blue notebook on the table, which held the wondrous memories of their first encounter with the magical world, in a warm golden light. The paths of the stars and the moon-white stone intertwined more deeply, silently, in the twilight of London.
Chapter 12: Snow Feather's First Cry and the Ripples of the Stars and Moon
Professor McGonagall's figure appeared punctually under the colorful parasol of "Honeydukes", like a precise clock hand. She glanced at the half-melted ice cream on the table, which had clearly been temporarily forgotten by its owner, and the deep blue starstone notebook clutched tightly in Hermione's arms. Her brow twitched almost imperceptibly, but she said nothing in the end.
"Time to go," her voice was as cool as usual. "I will send you back separately. Miss Granger, your parents are waiting for you at home. Mr. Li…" Her gaze turned to Lynn. "I have made the necessary arrangements at the orphanage where you are temporarily staying to ensure your smooth journey. Now, please stand closer."
Lynn and Hermione quickly stood up. Hermione carefully placed the starstone notebook into the paper bag containing her new textbooks, her movements as gentle as if handling a fragile treasure. Her fingertips still retained the cool touch of the notebook and its weighty significance. Lynn quickly packed his own belongings.
Professor McGonagall drew her wand—a straight, smooth, unadorned dark wooden wand. She gestured for Hermione to stand to her left and Lynn to her right, about an arm's length apart.
"Don't move, it might be a little uncomfortable," Professor McGonagall warned, then gave a steady flick of her wrist.
*Pop!*
There was a slight popping sound, like a cork being pulled. Lynn and Hermione simultaneously felt a powerful force squeezing them from all directions, as if they had been stuffed into an extremely narrow rubber tube. Everything went black, and their ears were filled with the roaring of their own blood and a strange whistling wind. The star stone and moon-white stone pressed against their chests simultaneously emitted an intense burning sensation, as if resisting the squeezing force.
This suffocating sensation lasted only a second or two before suddenly disappearing.
Their feet landed firmly on solid ground again, and fresh air, carrying faint scents of grass and car exhaust, filled their nostrils. Lynn shook his head, steadying himself, and found himself standing by a familiar, slightly old street. The lingering glow of the setting sun illuminated the house number of a red-brick building not far away—it was the St. Mary's Children's Orphanage in London, where he was currently staying. Hermione and Professor McGonagall were nowhere to be seen.
The gray exterior walls of the orphanage looked exceptionally quiet in the setting sun. Lynn took a deep breath, suppressing the slight dizziness brought on by the rapid transfer, and also the fleeting concern for the brown-haired girl holding the starstone notebook. He knew that Hermione should also be safely back at her home in Hampstead by now.
In the days that followed, while waiting for the hogwarts express to depart, Lynn's life was occupied by two things: voraciously studying his newly purchased magic textbooks, and carefully attempting to explore the legacy from "Lynn Li's" vault—especially the deep blue starstone notebook and the pen of the stars.
The small room assigned to him at the orphanage was in the top-floor attic, cramped but quiet, with a skylight that offered a view of a small patch of gray sky. He spread the starstone notebook on the only small desk, with "Theory of magic" and "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" beside it. When his fingers gripped the pen of the stars, the star stone in his chest emitted a steady warmth. As the pen tip touched the blank, deep blue pages, and his thoughts flowed, reflections on the origin of magic, spell structures, and the basic principles of Transfiguration streamed clearly onto the pages like a gentle current, shimmering with deep blue starlight. This method of directly materializing abstract thoughts into records was far more efficient than ordinary writing, allowing his understanding of magic theory to advance by leaps and bounds.
Besides studying, he also experimented with the "Star Core Ring" and the astrolabe compass. The ring, worn on his right index finger, quickly became accustomed to its cool touch, but aside from an occasional, almost imperceptible blue flash, there were no other unusual reactions. The astrolabe compass was even more mysterious; its jade casing was warm and smooth, and the etched star trails inside were incredibly intricate. When he tried to inject a faint trace of magic into it, the star trail lines inside the compass would light up for an extremely brief moment, as if a sleeping galaxy had been disturbed, but quickly returned to silence, unable to decipher any specific information. Clearly, both of these items required specific conditions or more powerful magic to activate.
One evening three days later, as Lynn was immersed in the description of the properties of Moonpetal in "A Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi," there was a sudden, crisp knocking sound outside the small attic skylight.
*Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!*
Lynn looked up in surprise. He saw an unusually handsome owl pecking at the glass with its curved beak. This owl was slightly smaller than a common barn owl, but its feathers were a pure, unblemished snowy white, appearing to be draped in a faint golden glow in the setting sun. Most striking were its eyes, like two translucent amber gems, bright and Bright eyes. The tips of its tail feathers were adorned with several quills that seemed to be formed from tiny ice crystals, shimmering with a rainbow of micro-light as they refracted the light, beautiful as a mythical creature.
"Snowy?" Lynn immediately thought of the name Hermione had mentioned. He quickly got up and carefully pushed open the skylight.
"Snowy" flew in gracefully, bringing a cool night breeze. It folded its wings and landed steadily on Lynn's desk, tilting its head. With its beautiful amber eyes, it curiously observed Lynn, then looked at the starstone notebook spread open on the desk and the shimmering starry handwriting, letting out a short, clear hoot: "Hoo!"
A slender parchment scroll was tied to its leg.
Lynn untied the scroll, and Snowy immediately lowered its head to preen its fluffy white chest feathers, its posture elegant.
Unrolling the parchment, familiar, somewhat childlike but neat handwriting came into view:
> *Lynn:*
>
> *Did Snowy find you? Isn't she beautiful? Dad says she might have silver snow owl blood! She was just delivered from the magical pet shop this morning, and I immediately wanted her to deliver a letter to you!*
>
> *I can't wait to go to Hogwarts! These past few days I've been reading my textbooks (especially "History of Magic," it's so interesting!), and I even tried to light the lamp several times with my wand(only succeeded once, almost scorched the curtains! Mom was terrified!). How is your notebook research going? Isn't that pen amazing?*
>
> *Oh, I made a little cover for my wand (repurposed from an old scarf) to keep it from getting dirty. What about yours?*
>
> *Looking forward to September 1st! See you at the station! (Don't forget it's Platform Nine and Three-Quarters!)*
>
> *PS: Snowy seems to really like the hard candy you gave me last time (the one with the star pattern), if you still have some…*
>
> *Hermione*
At the end of the letter, a small, smiling stick-figure sun was drawn.
The words were filled with Hermione's characteristic excitement, like a leaping flame, and boundless anticipation for a new world. Lynn could almost see her as she wrote the letter, hunched over her desk, her fluffy curls falling by her cheeks, her large eyes sparkling. A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips, and with it, the warmth from the star stone in his chest seemed to intensify a few degrees.
He immediately took out the pen of the stars and a piece of ordinary parchment (the starstone notebook was too precious; he didn't want to use it for a reply for now). After a moment's thought, he began to write:
> *Hermione:*
>
> *Snowy arrived safely. She truly is the most magnificent owl I've ever seen, especially the ice crystals on her tail feathers; they are very unique. Thank her for me, and congratulations on having such a wonderful companion.*
>
> *The starstone notebook and pen are priceless treasures, doubling my learning efficiency. Chapter Seven of "Theory of magic," discussing the flow of magic, combined with the notebook's star trail simulations, has given me new insights. I've enclosed a rough sketch of my thoughts (drawn on another piece of paper); perhaps it will inspire you.*
>
> *My wand is currently bare; it seems I need to learn from your crafting skills.*
>
* * Hard candy inventory is sufficient (a small bag is enclosed with this letter). Please give my regards to Mr. and Mrs. Granger. * *
* * September 1st, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, see you there. * *
* * Lynn * *
On another piece of parchment, Lynn Li quickly sketched a few deep blue, shimmering lines representing the flow of magic with the pen of the stars, marking several key nodes. He carefully rolled up the letter, the draft of his insights, and a small bag of hard candy imprinted with silver stars, then tied them to the leg of Xueyu, who extended it.
Xueyu seemed to smell the sweet scent of the candy, letting out a joyful 'coo,' affectionately rubbing his head against Lynn's fingers (the touch was cool and soft), then spread his snowy wings, passing lightly through the skylight like a beam of moonlight and disappearing into the deepening twilight.
Watching Xueyu disappear, Lynn Li's mood also lightened. He sat back down at his desk, his gaze falling on the palm-sized astrolabe compass next to the starstone notebook. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: Hermione's moon-white stone pendant contained pure moonlight energy, and the notebook and pen of the stars reacted to his thoughts... So, what if he combined the two?
This idea was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. He immediately acted. He placed the astrolabe compass on a blank page of the starstone notebook. Then, he gently held the star stonependant on his chest with one hand, slowly injecting the faint but clear magic within him into the compass; with the other hand, he picked up the pen of the stars, its tip hovering above the compass, trying to recall the aura and sensation of the clear, cold moonlight emanating from the moon-white stone on Hermione's chest—that unique feeling of purity, softness, and soothing power.
As he concentrated his thoughts and simulated the moon-white stone's energy, the star-shaped sapphire at the tip of the pen of the stars subtly glowed, and the pen tip began to emit a strange stream of light, no longer deep blue, but mixed with a soft, milky white halo. This faint glow, like a living filament, slowly reached towards the astrolabe compass lying quietly below.
Just as the faint glow from the pen tip, mixed with the radiance of stars and moon, was about to touch the compass's jade casing—
* * Buzz! * *
A low, strange resonance suddenly sounded from within the compass! The precise star-trail lines etched on the compass surface instantly lit up like a sleeping galaxy! It was no longer the faint flicker from previous experiments, but a steady, clear, soft silver glow! Countless tiny silver light points slowly flowed and rotated between the star-trail lines, forming a tiny, dynamic star map! Even more surprisingly, on the blank page of the starstone notebook, a simplified star-trail projection, composed of interweaving deep blue and milky white light points, appeared synchronously, echoing the compass's star map!
"It worked?!" Lynn Li's heart trembled, his mind highly focused, striving to maintain the simulation of the moon-white stone's energy and the output of magic, his eyes fixed on the flowing star map on the compass and the synchronous projection on the notebook.
However, this wondrous sight lasted for less than five seconds!
The star map's light within the compass suddenly flickered violently and distorted! The synchronous projection on the notebook page also became blurry, with light points scattering wildly! A chaotic energy fluctuation surged out from within the compass!
* * Poof! * *
With a slight muffled sound, the grain-sized star-shaped sapphire at the tip of the pen of the starssuddenly burst out a small cluster of chaotic blue-white Sparks! Lynn Li felt a strong tingling and burning sensation in both the hand holding the star stone and the hand holding the pen simultaneously, as if struck by a weak electric current!
"Ugh!" he groaned, unconsciously letting go.
The pen of the stars fell onto the notebook with a 'clatter,' the sapphire at its tip quickly dimmed, leaving only a wisp of smoke and a faint smell of scorching. The star map within the astrolabe compassinstantly extinguished, turning back into a warm but lifeless jade. The chaotic light point projection on the notebook page also completely dissipated, leaving only a blank deep blue.
It failed. And the cost was... Lynn Li looked at the sapphire at the tip of the pen of the stars with a pained heart, it was noticeably much dimmer and even had a subtle crack. Intense vexation surged into his heart. He was too impatient, his control over the two powers (especially the simulated moonlight power of Hermione) was far from meticulous, and rashly attempting such a high-difficulty energy resonance and guidance resulted in a backlash.
He leaned back in his chair dejectedly, a stinging sensation coming from the spot on his right palm burned by the chaotic energy. He spread his palm, only to see it red all over, with even a few small scorch marks, as if splashed by Sparks.
Just then, the star stone on his chest suddenly emitted a warmer, clearer sensation than usual, as if reminding him of something. Immediately after, the moonlight grapevine wand belonging to Hermione, which he had placed in a corner of his desk, its transparent gem-like ring at the tip, which resembled condensed dew, incredibly flickered with a very faint, soft milky white light, even though no one touched it!
Lynn Li's heart stirred, and as if by a ghost's prompting, he extended his injured right hand and gently grasped Hermione's wand.
The moment his fingertips touched the warm, ivory-white vine-wood wand body—
A pure, cool energy, like a babbling brook under a moonlit night, gently and firmly flowed out from the wand, along the meridians of his arm, softly enveloping the burning, injured area of his palm!
The feeling was incredibly wondrous! The stinging sensation rapidly receded like melting ice and snow, the hot red mark on his palm faded at a visible speed, and a subtle itching sensation came from the tiny scorch marks, indicating that the tissue was rapidly repairing itself! In just a few seconds, most of the discomfort in his palm disappeared, leaving only the faint pink of new skin and an indescribably comfortable feeling.
Lynn Li looked in shock at his almost fully recovered palm, then at the moonlight grapevine wand in his hand, which seemed to possess its own consciousness and had actively healed him. It had now returned to calmness, but its warm wand body still seemed to retain a reassuring warmth.
"Hermione..." He softly uttered the wand owner's name, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This wandnot only chose Hermione, but also seemed to instinctively protect those deeply connected to her? The pure healing power he felt clearly carried that unique, comforting aura of Hermione's moon-white stone.
He carefully placed Hermione's wand back in its original spot, as if handling a fragile sacred object. Then, he picked up his own star-patterned fir wand, looking at the deep, starry blue sapphire at its tip, and tried to convey a faint thought to it, hoping it would respond to him like Hermione's wand.
However, the star-patterned wand just lay quietly in his palm, its star-patterned markings on the wandbody subtle and deep, without any special reaction, neither warmth nor healing power overflowing. It was powerful and restrained, like the silent starry sky, only responding to his will when power was needed, but it did not seem to possess the delicate, protective spirituality of the moonlight grapevine wand.
Lynn Li gently caressed the cold body of his wand, then looked at Hermione's warm moonlight wandnearby. The peculiar feeling he had for Hermione, like a stone thrown into a lake, spread deeper ripples. Stars and moon are inherently indispensable twins of the night sky. His power always seemed to need her gentleness to temper it.
The night outside the window had completely fallen. Lynn Li carefully put away the damaged pen of the stars and the re-silenced astrolabe compass. The wound on his palm had disappeared, but the sensation of being healed by the moonlight wand and the gentle power of Hermione contained within it were clearly imprinted in his heart. He picked up Hermione's letter and reread the simple smiling sun. The starlight outside the window also seemed to soften a bit. September 1st truly seemed worth looking forward to even more.