Chapter 9 9 Old Wand

Chapter 9 9. Old Wands

"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 have no way to take you to the wand shop openly to choose the wands you like."

Dumbledore's blue eyes were always looking at John and the other five while he was talking. His eyes were serious, and his tone became very serious, unlike when he invited John and the others to eat candy before.

"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 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 because of the old surface of the wands."

"If one day in the future, you have the opportunity to get the wand you like more, please return the wand you took from here today. There will be other children who need it to truly enter the world of magic in the future."

Dumbledore's words made everyone present hold their breath involuntarily.

Professor McGonagall looked at the old wands on the cashmere and showed an unconcealable sadness.

When Dumbledore started to speak, Neville clenched his fists, and the white knuckles were enough to show his inner unrest.

Ron, who had been acting jumpy since they first met, was also silent with a solemn face.

Justin and Lavender were also infected by the atmosphere in the office. They lowered their heads and silently looked at the wooden box. Each stick represented a "little stick" that a wizard sacrificed to resist the oppression of pure blood.

Jon was also looking at the wands. Unlike others, he thought more from the words of Dumbledore.

Hogwarts has new children 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 the previous years, the number is very small, which means that the number of students enrolled in previous years is estimated to be no less than five.

That is to say, five wands are taken away from here every year.

But now the cabinet is still full of more than ten wands.

This means that the Phoenix Order led by Dumbledore has more sacrifices every year, far exceeding the number of new students joining!

For any organization, such a situation can be said to be fatal. The new force is less than the consumption, and there is no future at all.

"Who's going first?"

Just when the whole office was so quiet that only breathing could be heard, Dumbledore suddenly spoke loudly.

Neville, who was standing in front of Jon, moved his body almost the moment he finished speaking.

He walked in front of everyone without hesitation, came to Dumbledore's side, and said in a firm voice.

"I have been waiting for this day, Professor Dumbledore."

Dumbledore looked at the round-faced blond boy and smiled again.

"You will be the pride of everyone in the Longbottom family, Neville, no one will doubt this."

Neville's eyes were fixed on one of the wands. He seemed to have been looking at it since Dumbledore opened the cabinet, and 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 made of the same cherry wood as your father, with a unicorn hair core, but it was two inches shorter, 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 trembling, and at the tip of the wand, there was a silver stream of light flashing. He gritted his teeth and spoke word by word.

"These children, and my son, will definitely walk in the sunshine of equality and justice in the future!"

Dumbledore patted his shoulder gently.

"None of us has forgotten this sentence, and this is why this Hogwarts exists."

Neville nodded silently, and he returned to the new students with the wand inherited from his mother.

The second person to come forward was Lavender.

There were no wands left by her relatives, but she still had great respect for each of them, and finally chose one from them.

Jon keenly noticed that when Lavender got the wand, Professor McGonagall standing beside her showed a look of absent-minded nostalgia.

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 qualified to own it."

But when Dumbledore looked at her, there was only a gentle smile on his face.

"Poplar wood with unicorn hair, 12 inches long. I am honored that you can hold it, Miss Brown. It once belonged to my colleague, the professor of Herbology at Hogwarts, and the last Hufflepuff Headmaster, Pomona Sprout. She died in the battle of 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, and finally only this wand was left."

Lavender became more nervous, and she stammered.

"Professor, my father always talked about her to me. She was his dean and the best teacher to him. Should I put it back? She is a great witch and I am not worthy of her."

"If you put it back, Pomona will be disappointed, Miss Brown." Dumbledore's voice was very 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 was flushed. She was shy and excited about Dumbledore's words. Finally, she nodded solemnly, took a deep breath and promised.

"I will! Professor!"

She returned to the team of freshmen, and the next one to come forward was Ron, who also picked an elm wand from the wooden cabinet.