Troublesome Books

You realized with a start that you grabbed Wandlore: A Brief History of Foci, a pretty heavy topic, it had to be left by a Sixth or Seventh year student. It was pretty interesting, but perhaps out of your depth. After skimming through the topics that you understand, you set the tome aside, considering to pick up some lighter reading about it maybe. The second book was a Quidditch book, and you can't seem to find anything interesting in it.

Finally you turn your attention to the third book. "The Gaunt Family: Fallen from Grace." Blinking slowly you reach out for the cover. The book was new, but the cover felt hard. The sharp font of the pages leap off of the stiff pages. The author is clearly a Pureblood, just like your father. Flipping through the book you see phrases like "Faded Prestige" "Ignoble decline" and "Once proudest of the pure families." Feeling sick you push the book away from you. It reminded you of home.

The mudbloods are destroying the wizarding world. The whole ministry is full of them. They're trying to keep us down. You hear the mad rants of portrait and patriarch alike echoing in your mind.

"It's disgusting." You spit. Jennifer looks up from her book, "What is?" "They're all so bloody willing to blame everyone for their ruddy problems! Never thinking that its their own inaction, their own inadequacies that hamper them." Jennifer sees something in your eyes and closes her book. They think that their birth grants them something, something that they are unwilling to achieve for themselves. Wasting their talents hiding away in the woods! Too good to use their gifts, to proud to work." Your breathing is irregular and heavy. "Well if they're so wonderful, so gifted, why are they trapped in a damn shack- FORGOTTEN?!?" Your cheeks are moist, and Jennifer looks alarmed.

An awkward silence builds. You try compose yourself, but can't find the words to break the silence. Jennifer looks like she is desperately looking for the same, when her gaze falls on the other two books you were reading. Clearing her throat she tries to break the silence.

"So what is it with, uh- w-wands?" She starts. "Oliver, the wand guy, said that wands chose their owner?" Looking at her you try to follow her logic. "Ollivander?" you ask. "Sure the guy in that store, it was the only one in Diagon Alley." She says shrugging. Glad for the distraction, you shrug back.

"I am not sure that I really know." You start. "I was always taught that magic needs direction and focus, that leaving young wizards untrained is dangerous." Flipping open the book, you come to a chapter in the beginning. "The wand has gained popularity as a focus for a Witch or Wizards magic because of its stability and portability. There used to be a lot of... Staves?" You skim a paragraph, and then continue. "But they were hard to use as effectively in duel, and drew attention from muggles." You see something about rings, and a memory triggers, something your father screamed during an episode, and start to read more carefully.

"What allows the wand to choose though, and what does that mean?" Jennifer insists.

Looking up, you blink "What? Oh, its hard to really explain. Certain magic only works under certain conditions, or with particular costs. Wands are ... Wands... Ok, so its like they have a personality?"

Jennifer looks down at her wand as if it bit her.

"So they aren't wholly alive, but they have preferences, they choose a master from a certain set of traits and abilities."

"Sounds confusing," says Jennifer, "Muggle tools work the same for everyone."

You find yourself laughing. "Must be boring." She looks upset, but you interrupt her before she can protest, "I'm only kidding, most of the tools in the Wizarding World work the same regardless of the user. Foci in general, and Wands in particular, are different. Its all pretty fascinating, but its-" you gesture at the book in front of you. "-A Lot."

She shrugs, and mutters something under her breath. You aren't sure but you think it was "Boys and their wands..."

You talk late into the night, about various difference between the wizarding and muggle worlds, and you have a great time. Sometime around midnight you quietly slink back into the Ravenclaw Common Room. When you enter your room you do not see Jennifer looking after you, and you don't see her concerned expression as you close the door.