Volume 1 Chapter 9: The Old Wand
"No matter how you came to Hogwarts or who brought you here, I believe you all understand the current situation of the school. The Ministry of Magic has blocked and controlled all wand transactions, so we cannot openly take you to the wand shop to choose the wand you like."
Dumbledore's blue eyes were always looking at John and the other three while he was speaking. His gaze was serious, and unlike when he invited John and the others to have candy before, his tone became extremely solemn.
"The wands in front of you have all been used for a lifetime. They are not as bright and beautiful as the new wands in the wand shop, but the last owner who held them fought for his or her beliefs until the last moment. For me, seeing these wands is like seeing the people who used them, so I hope you don't dislike them just because they look old."
"If one day in the future you have the opportunity to get a wand that you prefer, please return the wand you took from here today. There will be other children who will need it to truly enter the world of magic."
Dumbledore's words made everyone present hold their breath involuntarily.
Professor McGonagall looked at the old wands on the cashmere with an expression of sadness that was difficult to conceal.
As soon as Dumbledore started to speak, Neville clenched his fists. The white knuckles were enough to show his inner unrest.
Ron, who had been acting lively since they first met, now remained silent with a solemn look on his face.
Justin and Lavender were also infected by the atmosphere in the office. They lowered their heads and silently looked at the "little sticks" in the wooden box. Each stick represented a wizard who sacrificed himself to resist the oppression of the pure-bloods.
Jon was also looking at the wands, but unlike the others, he associated more with what Dumbledore said.
New children enroll in Hogwarts every year. According to what Ron said before coming to the principal's office, only two Muggle students, Jon and Justin, were brought back this year. Compared with previous years, this number is very small, which means that the number of students enrolled in previous years would not be less than five.
This means that five wands are taken away from here every year.
But now, the cabinet is still filled with more than ten wands...
This means that the number of casualties in the Order of the Phoenix led by Dumbledore is much higher every year, far exceeding the number of new students joining!
For any organization, such a situation can be said to be fatal. The new forces are less than the consumption , and there is no future at all.
"Who's going first?"
When the whole office was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard, Dumbledore suddenly spoke loudly.
Neville, who was standing in front of Jon, moved almost the moment he finished speaking.
Without hesitation, he walked in front of everyone, came to Dumbledore's side, and spoke in a firm voice.
"I have been waiting for this day, Professor Dumbledore."
Dumbledore looked at the round-faced, blond boy and a smile returned to his face.
"You will be the pride of all the Longbottoms , Neville. No one will doubt that."
Neville's eyes were fixed 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 took the slightly bent wand in his hand.
"I promised 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's, with a unicorn hair core, but it was two inches shorter, at 11 inches long. She was killed by three killing curses in order to protect the students on the Hogwarts carriage who were discovered at the time, and the last words she said before her death were for all of us."
Neville's hand holding the wand was shaking. There was a silver light flickering on the tip of the wand. He gritted his teeth and spoke word by word.
"These children, and my son, will definitely walk under the sunshine of equality and justice in the future!"
Dumbledore patted him gently on the shoulder.
"None of us has forgotten these words, and this is why this Hogwarts exists."
Neville nodded silently, and he returned to the group of freshmen holding the wand he inherited from his mother.
The second person to come forward was Lavender.
There were no wands left by her relatives here, but she still had great respect for each of them and finally chose one.
Jon keenly noticed that when Lavender got the wand, Professor McGonagall, who was standing beside her, had a dazed look of nostalgia on her face.
Lavender looked at Dumbledore nervously, as if she was afraid that the old man would say, "This wand carries too much meaning. You are not worthy of owning it."
But when Dumbledore looked at her, there was only a gentle smile on his face.
"It's made of poplar wood and unicorn hair, 12 inches long. I'm honored that you can hold it, Miss Brown. It once belonged to my colleague, the Hogwarts Herbology Professor and the last Hufflepuff Headmaster, Pomona Sprout. She died in the battle for the fall of Hogwarts Castle seven years ago. In order to allow Minerva to lead the students to retreat from the castle, she chose to block dozens of Death Eaters and Aurors alone. In the end, only this wand was left."
Lavender became even more nervous and she stuttered.
"Professor, my father always tells me about her. She is his dean and the best teacher to him. Should I let her go? She is a great witch. I am not worthy of her..."
"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 you are a student of this school, everyone has the right and responsibility to take her wand out. I believe that it will gain the same glory in your hands as its previous owner."
Lavender's face flushed, she was shy and excited about Dumbledore's words, and finally nodded solemnly, took a deep breath and promised.
"I will, Professor!"
She rejoined the group of freshmen, and next to step forward was Ron, who also selected an elm wand from the wooden cabinet.
