Chapter 41: Ron's New Wand
Douglas raised his eyebrows proudly at Ollivander.
The meaning was obvious: When it comes to talking people into things, I'm no worse than you.
Ollivander blinked his pale silver eyes once and gave the faintest nod, as if conceding the point.
Just then Ron spoke up hesitantly.
"But… Professor… you're the one buying the wand for me, not my dad…"
"Oh!"
Douglas waved a hand impatiently.
"Details. Don't worry about the details."
Then he pointed toward the stacks of wand boxes.
"Now hurry up and choose your wand. Professor McGonagall only gave us an hour, and you've nearly wasted it already."
Ron muttered under his breath,
"You're the one who wasted the time…"
Eventually Ron found the wand that chose him: fourteen inches, willow wood, unicorn hair core.
When the wand sparked warmly in his hand, Ollivander nodded with satisfaction.
"Ah… yes. Willow. A wand for those who have much to prove."
By the time the purchase was finished, forty minutes of their hour had already passed.
Douglas immediately herded Ron back toward the Leaky Cauldron so they could wait for the Floo connection to reopen.
As they passed Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, Douglas glanced at it cautiously.
When he saw that Slaine was gone, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
It wasn't that he disliked Slaine.
He just knew that whenever the man saw him, he would start demanding manuscripts.
Editors in the Muggle world couldn't chase authors quite so relentlessly—mostly because they couldn't find them.
Douglas had barely relaxed when someone burst out of Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions shop across the street.
"Professor Holmes! What a surprise to see you in London at this time of year!"
Douglas forced a smile and immediately stepped forward to hug the man.
Leaning close, he whispered in his ear,
"I'm out with a student. Don't say anything embarrassing. Your manuscript will be at the office Monday."
The irritation on Slaine's face vanished instantly.
He slapped Douglas on the back.
"Deal."
Douglas released him quickly. Two grown men embracing in the middle of Diagon Alley looked strange enough already.
Glancing toward the beauty shop, Douglas joked,
"So what brings you here? Don't tell me you're buying beauty potions for yourself."
Slaine sighed.
"I came with Romi and little Rose. They're still choosing things inside."
Then he brightened.
"Why don't we grab a drink at the Leaky Cauldron?"
Douglas nodded readily.
"Gladly—but I only have twenty minutes. Professor McGonagall gave me exactly an hour before I have to Floo back to Hogwarts."
Slaine hurried back inside to fetch his family.
A moment later his wife Romi and their daughter Rose came out to greet Douglas, and the group walked together toward the Leaky Cauldron, chatting comfortably.
Ron trailed behind them.
Completely forgotten.
He glanced longingly at the ice cream shop they passed, then checked the coins in his pocket.
In the end he trudged after Douglas anyway, hoping he might at least get a drink.
When their allotted time was nearly up, Ron gulped down the last of his pumpkin soda in one swallow.
That decision had consequences.
Back at Hogwarts
The moment they stepped back into Professor McGonagall's office, Ron let out a tremendous burp.
It echoed through the room.
Douglas closed his eyes and rolled them heavenward.
Gryffindor Common Room
When Ron returned to Gryffindor Tower, he found Harry sitting miserably at a table in the corner, memorizing his lessons.
Hermione was nearby helping Ginny with a Transfiguration essay while simultaneously supervising Harry's studying.
George and Fred, meanwhile, were busy experimenting with new cheating methods.
For them, failure only meant another five or six hours memorizing books in Professor Holmes's office.
The moment they spotted Ron, they rushed over gleefully.
They grabbed him from both sides.
"Ron, brilliant!"
"Our dear brother!"
"Now we're truly brothers in suffering!"
"We hear you and Harry have to memorize four subjects!"
"How does it feel?"
Ron struggled helplessly between them.
"Hmph! I'll finish memorizing everything."
"You two only have one subject—but you have to report to Professor Holmes every day."
He lifted his chin proudly.
"Harry and I only go on weekends!"
George and Fred froze.
Then both of them wailed in agony.
Nobody had mentioned that part earlier.
Hermione marched over and seized Ron's arm.
"If you two aren't studying, stop distracting Ron."
She glared at the twins.
"According to Professor Holmes's plan, Ron and Harry might actually get excellent grades this year."
"What do you think Mrs. Weasley will say then?"
George and Fred howled even louder.
"Oh no."
"Are we getting another Percy?"
"Mother will be thrilled!"
"New robes, new pets…"
"And we'll inherit our brother's old junk!"
The surrounding students burst into laughter.
Hermione shot the twins another glare before dragging Ron back toward the table.
"Start memorizing. If you don't finish by the end of the year…"
She shuddered.
"That would be terrifying."
Ginny glanced shyly at Harry before smiling at Ron.
"Hermione's right. Considering how close Professor Holmes is with Mum… she'll definitely hear about how you're doing at school."
Ron froze.
Then a strange expression crossed his face.
"They might be right…"
"If I become a better student… maybe I could be like Percy."
"No more hand-me-down clothes… new textbooks…"
Suddenly Ron sprang up, eyes blazing with determination.
"Hermione! Teach me how to memorize things quickly!"
"I want to beat Percy and become Mum's favorite!"
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny exchanged worried looks.
Had Ron somehow fallen under Percy's Imperius Curse?
A few minutes later Ron finished reading the first page.
Then he yawned enormously.
"I memorized the first section."
"That's enough to recite tonight, right?"
"I ran around all day today. I'm exhausted."
He waved lazily.
"Relax, Hermione. I'm not going to sleep in the dormitory."
"I'll just lie down for a bit… take a quick nap… then wake up and memorize later."
He brightened suddenly.
"Oh! Let me show you my new wand!"
"I didn't dare take it out earlier because George and Fred were here."
"Look at this finish! Look at that beautiful willow grain!"
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all shrugged at each other.
Apparently they had worried for nothing.
Meanwhile — The Greenhouses
After leaving McGonagall's office, Douglas asked a Hufflepuff student for directions and walked toward the greenhouses behind the castle.
Outside the first greenhouse grew a ring of dyer's broom, a plant whose pollen had mild anesthetic effects.
If someone inhaled too much, it could cause intense excitement followed by unconsciousness.
Inside the greenhouse, Professor Sprout was tending plants.
The moment she saw Douglas walk in, she cried out,
"Oh my goodness, Douglas! Are you trying to make me hang a sign outside saying Douglas Holmes is not allowed in the greenhouse?"
She hurried toward him in alarm.
"These cranberries were planted by Madam Pomfrey. They're used for treating vomiting and stomach illnesses!"
She grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the door before he could touch anything else.
Douglas calmly wiped off the berries he had already picked and popped them into his mouth.
Then he grinned.
Professor Sprout glared at him.
"You're not worried those berries might be poisonous?"
Douglas shrugged confidently.
"Professor, please. Do you know whose student I am?"
"Cranberries are extremely useful medicinally."
"They're especially good for your eyesight."
Professor Sprout cut him off before he could continue.
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