The weather was a bit chilly. Ian gnced back at the gradually closing door of 'Ollivander's Wand Shop', then looked up at the worering. He felt like he'd just discovered the biggest scam hub in the magical world.

  "Such a ing swindler," Ian muttered, giving his verdi Ollivander. He even suspected that Voldemort's ability to gather so many followers might not be solely due to his threats with the Avada Kedavra curse. Ollivander probably shared some of the bme too!

  Think about it – if, as a ten-year-old, you met a fortueller who told you you were destio be a great general, and ter in life you came across Alexander and Gengis Khan leading a rebellion... Who could resist such temptation? Most people would probably mistake tragedy for destiny, right?

  "I've identified the root cause of chaos in the magical world!" Ia he could surely write an outstanding essay about it. It ity, though, that Hogwarts didn't have any journals where he could showcase his brilliance.

  "Maybe I should sider the Daily Prophet," Ian thought, daydreaming and sing the area for Snape. Fortunately, the unreliable professor hadn't abandoned him. Ian spotted Sanding outside a shop and quickly jogged over.

  "Professor, could you teach me how to write a wizard essay?" Ian figured that if his article included the name of a Hogwarts professor as a co-author, it might have a better ce of getting published in the Daily Prophet. He might eve a little extra in the way of royalties.

  "Mr. Prince, I have no i in hearing about the childish and foolish thoughts of children. Now, you should focus on choosing a pet that will aid you in your studies," Snape said coldly, gng briefly at the wand stig out of Ian's pocket.

  Then, without waiting for a reply, Snape raised his hand and knocked on the gss window of the shop in front of him. It was only then that Ian noticed the shop et store, filled with cages housing all kinds of animals.

  Cats, toads, owls, lizards, and rats – there were plenty to choose from. Some even had magical bloodlihough none caught Ian's eye.

  Sure, Ian did feel a certain fondness for owls. However, Hogwarts already had plenty of them. In Ian's opinion, free-to-use owls were far more cost-effective than ones he'd have to pay for and take care of himself.

  By parison, Ian wao oet that was more unique.

  "Professor, I piy pet I want?" Ian asked tentatively.

  "Hmm," Snape gruhrough his nose.

  "In that case, I get a Phoenix?" Ian blinked ily. A lion... Okay, Ian had enough seo know not to ask for a lion. But a phoenix? Why not?

  Snape's eye twitched visibly at Ian's outndish suggestion.

  "Are you sure you didn't overdose on Calming Draught and haven't woken up yet?" Snape was genuinely stunned. He had never seen someone so shameless! A phoenix? He wanted ooo! Who was going to give him one?

  "Well, a bird with phoenix lineage would work too. I mean, they use phoenix feathers for wand cores in that shop, so they must not be that rare," Ian said, his words dripping with implication. Clearly, he thought phoenixes were onpce.

  As a child living in a Muggle orpha was natural for Ian to have suaive ideas. That said, Ian genuinely did want a phoenix. How cool would that be?

  "Other than someone from Dumbledore's house, no wizard this tury has earhe favor of a phoenix. I suggest you let go of this impractical fantasy," Snape said, rolling his eyes.

  Then, in his usual drawling tone, he added, "Of course, perhaps Mr. Prince's influence is so vast that he could vince Dumbledore to hand over his phoenix to you."

  Obviously, this ure sarcasm.

  "Then, Professor, why don't you speak on my behalf? Dumbledore would surely respect you enough to oblige!" Iaed, not because he articurly shameless, but because he had figured out how to deal with Snape.

  Sure enough, that single li Snape momentarily speechless.

  "You sharp-tongued brat!" Snape finally snapped, gring at Ian with irritation. "If your brain had even the slightest edge over a troll's, you wouldn't waste time fantasizing about the impossible. Instead, you'd wisely pick a toad or a rat – both excellent panions for potion experiments."

  Despite his irritation, Snape mao deliver this advice with his usual measured tone. However, such advice didly align with most people's idea of a pet.

  "That sounds more like test subjects thas," Ian sighed.

  "Is there a difference?" Snape sneered, his cold ugh dripping with mockery. "Perhaps you'd fit right in with those foolish Gryffindors, the kind of seal fools who waste their time on such creatures."

  As usual, Snape couldn't resist taking a jab at his least favorite House. Ian chose to ighe ent.

  "Fet it. I've already spent enough today. I don't want a pet – I 't even afford to take care of myself yet," Ian muttered after peering through the gss for a while.

  In the end, he didn't find any animal that caught his i. With the soul of an adult, Ian's preferences for pets were naturally different from those of a typical child.

  "This is your choice," Snape said curtly.

  With a dramatic flourish of his robe, he turned and walked away.

  "If I 't have a phoenix, I at least get a snake?" Ian asked, hastily grabbing his suitcase and catg up. Previously, Snape had been carrying the suitcase for him.

  "First-year students are not permitted t dangerous pets," Snape replied, slowing his pace slightly so Ian could catch up. He gave Ian a disdainful side-eye.

  "Didn't you just decide not to get a pet? Now you're ging your mind? Too bad – you've lost your ce to buy one," Snape said, his lips curling into a faint smirk. For once, his usually expressionless face showed a trausement.

  "No, I meant for sed year – or maybe third year," Ian expined, unsure if Harry Potter was in the same year as him. He figured that if he ever wao get a pet he truly liked, he might o rely on the Boy Who Lived someday. Yes, that sounded abht. Ian wao raise a basilisk. Now that was the kind of pet a soul of an adult would desire! Big is truth and awesome, after all.

  "Ha, it seems that Mr. Prince isn't ued in owning a pet but feels that none of the creatures in the shop are worthy of him. I hope you don't regret today's foolish decision," Snape said with a sarcastic smirk.

  "And don't say I didn't warn you – even a pet with just a traagical creature bloodline would ore than a little wizard like you could ever afford." Snape's gaze pierced through Ian as if seeing straight into his thoughts.

  "Thank you for the reminder, Professor," Ian responded with a polite nod. He didn't show the troubled expression Snape seemed to be hoping for, which caused the professor to frown slightly.

  Meanwhile, Ian simply wandered around, curiously gng at the various magical shops.

  "Prepare yourself," Snape suddenly said, stopping in his tracks.

  Before Ian could ask what he meant, Snape's hand firmly gripped the back of his neck.

  The moment, Iahe world spin around him. He reized the sensation – it arition. However, unlike his previous experiences, where he'd felt nothing at all, this time he experienced a slight dizziness and nausea. It wasn't severe, though.

  Maybe the potion Snape had given him earlier had started to wear off?

  Just as Ian's mind began to wahe world came bato focus. With a loud whoosh, the bustling streets of Diagon Alley disappeared, repced by a tranquil and picturesque vilge.

  The soft sound of a babbling stream mingled with the occasional hoot of an owl in the distahe air was filled with the sweet aroma of magical foods and dies. They had arrived in Hogsmeade, the magical vilge led in the embrace of the Scottish Highnds.

  "You'll stay here until school starts," Snape announced, leading Ian to a small, secluded wooden .

  Before Ian could feign fusion and ask about the pce, Snape had already pulled out a key, along with the remaining half bag of gold Galleons from earlier, and hahem all to him.

  "If I catch you wandering off again, there will be sequences," Snape warned with a stern gre before abruptly turning and walking away. His hurried steps made it seem like he was rushing off to handle something important – perhaps a potion he'd left simmering oove before leaving.

  "Wait, did he just tell me not to… wander off 'again'?" Ian noticed the peculiar w in Snape's warning.

  Still, as he gazed at the stacks of textbooks inside his suitcase, Ia his excitement mounting.

  Right now, all he wanted was to bee a real wizard. Everything else could wait.

  "Magic, here I e!"

  (End of Chapter)