Chapter 40: Wand Shop Reunion

The soft chime of the bell rang as Harry stepped into Ollivanders Wand Shop, a place where countless young witches and wizards had received their first wand. The shop was dimly lit, with towering shelves filled with dusty wand boxes, each holding a unique piece of magic.

As Harry looked around, he noticed a familiar curly-haired girl standing at the counter, listening intently to Mr. Ollivander's words.

"Hermione?" Harry called out, tilting his head slightly.

The girl turned sharply, her wide brown eyes locking onto him. At first, there was an expression of surprise, but it quickly shifted to something resembling irritation.

"Harry Potter! You—you're a wizard?" Hermione nearly shouted, her voice laced with a mix of shock and indignation.

Harry blinked. "Uh… yes?"

Hermione folded her arms. "And when exactly were you planning to tell me this?"

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It never really came up."

"Never came up?" Hermione huffed. "We've been talking about books, history, even weird phenomena in the world, and at no point did you think to mention, 'Oh, by the way, I can do magic?'"

Harry held up his hands defensively. "In my defense, I didn't know you were a witch either."

Hermione's irritation faltered for a second. "Well… fair point." She exhaled. "But still! Do you have any idea how shocking this is? I thought I was going crazy when I got my letter. And now I find out that my first real friend in years is also a wizard?"

A small smirk played on Harry's lips. "Glad to know I'm your 'first real friend.'"

Hermione's face turned slightly red, and she quickly looked away. "That's not the point!"

At that moment, Mr. Ollivander, who had been observing the exchange with amused interest, cleared his throat. "Miss Granger, I believe I have just the wand for you." He handed Hermione a delicate, vinewood wand with a dragon heartstring core. The moment she touched it, a golden shimmer pulsed around her fingers.

Hermione gasped. "Oh! That felt… warm."

"Ah, yes," Ollivander said with a smile. "A fine match indeed. Eleven inches, slightly flexible, excellent for precise spellwork."

Harry watched her excitement with a knowing smile before turning back to Ollivander. "I actually need a wand care set. Got anything for long-term maintenance?"

Ollivander nodded, retrieving a well-crafted care kit. "This should do the trick—wand polish, anti-warping oil, and a few minor reinforcement runes."

As Harry paid, Hermione turned to him, still slightly flustered but no longer angry. "You realize we have a lot to talk about, right?"

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, I figured."

As they left the shop, Hermione kept glancing at him, clearly still processing the revelation. Harry, meanwhile, couldn't help but think:

'Well, that could've gone worse.'