'Dad! What are you saying?' said Holden Ollivander, 'Please forgive my father, Gideon, he doesn't know what he's saying.'

'Do not treat me like some addled old fool, Holden!' Mr Ollivander senior snapped at his son. 'I meant what I said. I'm sorry, Mr Drake, we shan't be selling you a wand.'

'Dad, you can't talk to a customer that way—'

'I made a promise a long time ago...' he said, his voice becoming hoarse. 'I don't expect you to understand, Holden, but my decision is final. Good day, Mr Drake.'

Gideon's heart began to race. He didn't understand what was going on.

'But, Dad, it's the Caladrius wand—'

'I said GOOD DAY!' the older man bellowed.

'Now, just one moment—' Holden protested.

The frail old man began to shake his head and pound the arm of his wheelchair while yelling, 'Out! Out! Out! OUT! OUT! OUT!'

Frightened and confused, Gideon fled the shop, the little bell signalling his exit. He composed himself and peered through the window of the shop. The two men were still arguing.

'Wow, that took a while!' said Caroline from outside a nearby store window, where she had been busying herself while waiting for Gideon. 'Let's see it, then!'

'I didn't get it,' said Gideon. 'Is there anywhere else that sells wands?'

'Wha-what are you talking about?' Caroline said in disbelief. 'Ollivanders make the best wands there are!'

'Well, I'm a Squib, so It doesn't make a difference what wand I use, does it?' he replied disdainfully. 'I might as well take an old twig to Hogwarts. If I go, that is.'

'Gideon?' Caroline said with concern. 'Did something happen?'

'No. I just won't spend twelve Galleons of someone else's money on something I can't even use,' he answered.

'Well, there isn't another wandmakers in Diagon Alley,' Caroline explained, 'but there might be some old wands in the second-hand shop. If you're sure?'

'Fine. Let's take a look,' Gideon said decisively.

Diagon Alley's second-hand shop was full to the brim with junk. There was barely room to move through the piles of old furniture, bird cages, brooms, and such, but with the shop clerk's help, they were lucky enough to find four used wands. They were all pretty worn. One was snapped clean in two. He ruled out another, which was cracked from stem to stern, leaving two to choose from.

There wasn't much difference between them, but one looked as though it had been gnawed on considerably. Gideon chose the wand with a small amount of silver hair protruding from the tip and paid the shopkeeper five Galleons. He dropped the thinly wrapped package in his new cauldron and left the store without meeting his aunt's eyes.

Gideon was frustrated to be leaving Diagon Alley in a bad mood once again. He started up the street to the exit, but his aunt had other ideas.

'We're not leaving just yet,' she said, heading in the opposite direction.

He sulkily followed her, only looking up when he saw his aunt's footsteps disappear into another shop. As he followed her, Gideon wondered how he hadn't noticed it earlier with its garish purple and orange decor and overactive window display. It was Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop.

It was hard to maintain a bad mood inside with so many loud, distracting noises; flashing, moving objects; and excited, laughing children and adults. As if his thoughts had been audible, the tall red-haired shopkeeper made a beeline for Gideon.

'George Weasley, proprietor,' the man said with a bow, glitter falling out of the top pocket of his green polka dot blazer as he did. 'What's the matter, little man? In need of a smile? How about some Giggle Gums?' he said, offering the boy a bag of brightly coloured jellies.

Gideon shook his head, smiling politely.

'No? Then, how about one of our patented Perk-up Pokers?' he asked, demonstrating a multi-coloured stick with a red button on the end by jabbing Gideon with it. Gideon subsequently burst into a short giggling fit.

'They contain a special mix of tickling and cheering charms!'

'No thanks,' said Gideon, who was smiling now.

'Come now, there must be something you want or need? Something for school perhaps? Stink bombs? We have a wide variety of smells available.'

'Err, no, but maybe I could use a fun quill if you have any?'

'Are you kidding?' said Mr Weasley excitedly, 'We've got the lot!'

The man's energy was infectious. He bounced away to a corner with rows of shelves full of quills in different colours and sizes. He gestured to one shelf in particular. It was full of plain-looking quills pointing out of display pots, each with a label explaining what they did.

'Our special selection. I'll leave you to sample them,' said Mr Weasley before jabbing another customer with his Perk-up Poker and starting up a new conversation.

Gideon read the labels and found there were quills of all sorts. Quills that turned plain ink into invisible ink, quills that made ink multi-coloured, edible quills, self-writing quills and many more.

After his interaction with the jolly shopkeeper and his general bad feeling of late, Gideon decided it would be prudent to purchase a mood quill, which instantly changed colour according to the holder's emotional state. While in Gideon's hand, it couldn't seem to decide what colour to be, which produced an interesting effect.

Gideon was thankful for Caroline's intervention. The incident in the wand shop had thrown him for a loop, but the visit to the joke shop had cheered him up considerably. Mr Weasley had even thrown in a free pack of giggle gums with his new quill while informing them of his other branch, a store in the magical village of Hogsmeade near Hogwarts.

On the way home, the two of them picked up a fish and chip takeaway for lunch and they had a quiet evening discussing his aunt's work at the Daily Prophet.

***

Over the weekend, Gideon had started reviewing his first-year books, although, he still wasn't a hundred per cent sure that he would be going to Hogwarts. It wasn't until Monday morning that the first real piece of undeniable evidence appeared.

An owl had flown in the open window after Caroline headed to work. It held a letter in its beak for Gideon, from Hogwarts. He fed the owl his breakfast scraps and just as he broke the seal of the envelope, a piece of parchment flew out of it and landed on the living room floor. It then began to spin on the spot threateningly like a circular saw, and suddenly there was a loud pop and a puff of white smoke.

The owl flew away in fright, and in place of the note stood a large black trunk emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest. Gideon checked the envelope and removed a shiny ticket and another piece of parchment reading:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall (Outgoing)

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Witch, International Transfiguration Association)

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Dear Mr Maxwell,

Thank you for confirming your intention to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed your ticket for the Hogwarts Express and your school trunk, which is equipped with a Ministry-approved extension charm.

We look forward to seeing you.

Yours sincerely,

Joanna Long

Deputy Headmistress

It looked like it was really happening, Gideon was going to Hogwarts. Even so, he wasn't sure he would believe it until he walked through the front door on September the fourth, which wasn't far away now.

Another letter arrived by owl later that same day. This one was from Middling Academy, confirming an appointment with the headmaster later in the week. Gideon was glad. He didn't think he could accept changing schools in his mind until he had been to Middling Academy to make the arrangements. He also wanted to get Mr Middling's advice on the matter.

***

On the day of his appointment, Caroline escorted him to Middling Academy’s street entrance on her way to work. He entered the lobby expecting to see Carol, the smiley receptionist. Carol was there. However, she didn't appear to be in a smiling mood. Gideon cleared his throat to announce his arrival and when the woman looked up over the desk, she did not look happy to see him.

'Yes?' she snapped.

'Err, good morning, Carol. I have an appointment with Mr Middling,' said Gideon.

'Name?' she barked.

Gideon was taken aback. He was sure the receptionist knew who he was, but he answered all the same, 'Gideon Maxwell.'

'Follow me,' Carol informed him before dashing off.

He followed her quickly down the long staff corridor in silence until they reached Mr Middling's office. Carol knocked and showed Gideon in without a word.

'Hello, Gideon, how are you?' Mr Middling greeted him, getting up from behind his desk and extending a handshake.

Gideon had barely stepped over the threshold to return the handshake when Carol slammed the door behind him, the draft of it strong enough to blow the hair on his head that wasn't covered with bandages.

'Is everything okay?' he enquired, 'Carol doesn't quite seem like herself.'

'You'll have to forgive Carol, Gideon,' said Mr Middling apologetically. 'As you know, as well as teaching Squibs, the school also employs a good number of us. We've built something of a community here, but perhaps not in the best sense of the word. Seeing one of our own leave to attend a magical school, Hogwarts at that... Well, it just doesn't happen. It should be cause to celebrate, but I'm afraid for some, it's a source of envy.'

'Oh, so you know, then?' Gideon asked, his cheeks reddening.

'Yes. We received a request for your transcripts from Hogwarts and some of the staff were, let's say, indiscreet. Please, have a seat,' the man said, gesturing to the nearest chair.

They sat down opposite each other, and Mr Middling leaned forward, propping his chin on his clasped hands as if observing the boy.

'Well, congratulations, Gideon,' he said. 'But what's happened to your eye.'

Gideon gave the man a much shorter, highly edited version of the events of the last few months.

'My goodness!' Mr Middling said as Gideon finally finished. 'What an ordeal! I'm so sorry about your mother, please give her my best. Dementors in London...'

'Well, that's between us,' Gideon added, 'My aunt works for the Daily Prophet, and she explained that the Ministry won't let them publish anything about it. I think they want to avoid panicking people while they investigate.'

'Still, it's shocking! Anyway, I'm glad that you're okay, but we're going to be very sad to lose you at Middling, Gideon. You were easily our top second-year student, but then, I suppose that's why Hogwarts want you.'

'Well, that's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you, Sir,' the boy said nervously, 'I'm fairly certain now that the offer is genuine, but I don't understand why Hogwarts do want me. I wondered if you might know of any Squibs who have attended before?'

'I'm afraid not, Gideon,' Mr Middling said immediately, sitting back in his big chair. 'That's why we were all so surprised when we got the news.'

'Is there a chance that it's due to some kind of Ministry education reform that I haven't heard about?'

'Hmm. No, I'm afraid I would have heard about something like that. Though, I wouldn't rule out our Minister trying something like that in the future.'

Gideon dropped his head and asked, 'Do you think they will expel me if I can't do magic?'

'I'm afraid I couldn't say, Gideon,' said the man considerately. 'However, please know that you'll always have a place here waiting for you, should you need it.'

'Really?' the boy responded, instantly cheering up. 'Thank you, Sir. That's a bit of a relief. I've dreamed of going to Hogwarts since I first heard about it, so I'd like to follow this opportunity through, but I expect I'll be back here by October.'

The kind man laughed heartily before saying in a more serious tone, 'Well, I want you to give Hogwarts your all, Gideon. You'll be representing Middling, so I expect you to do your best!'

'Yes Sir!' Gideon agreed.

After their meeting, Gideon's withdrawal papers were processed. Mr Middling once again assured Gideon he would always have a place at the school and wished him luck. Gideon thanked him and took a Floo lift to the Daily Prophet, as arranged with his aunt.

After a quick tour of the wizarding newspaper's somewhat new premises, a worn-down Docklands warehouse right on the Thames, which looked very different on the inside, she escorted him back to the flat and worked there on a typewriter for the rest of the day.

***

With his intention to leave Middling confirmed and the reassurance that he could return there made clear, Gideon, at last, felt free to look forward to his ever-approaching first day at Hogwarts. The days went by faster and the only thing holding him back now, was the idea that he wouldn't be close to St Mungo's, should there be any news about his mother. Well, that and a nightmare that afflicted him almost every night, but which he was never able to recall upon waking up.

On his third check-up to get his bandages changed, Healer Watts had fitted a smaller dressing and a much smarter-looking black band that stretched around his head instead of over it and covered his damaged eye. Still, Gideon didn't relish the idea that he was going to Hogwarts looking like some kind of strange pirate. He wished his eye would hurry up and heal.

Unfortunately, the Healer didn't have an update for him on his mother, but he took that as a sign that her health hadn't declined. Before he left, she wished him luck at Hogwarts and informed him that instructions had been passed on to the school, so his treatment could be continued there.

Satisfied that he had reviewed his first- and second-year books sufficiently, Gideon tried to relax by reading a novel, watching television, sketching, and playing with his channelling rod. However, he found himself unable to sit still or focus on one task for long, and would ultimately end up reviewing the contents of his school trunk, repeatedly checking that he had everything.

All too soon, Aunt Caroline was waking him up on the first Sunday of September. The day had arrived. Caroline had kindly prepared a big going-away breakfast. Gideon felt guilty that he couldn't manage much but he was too sick with anxiety. He forced down some scrambled egg and a few baked beans, and Caroline turned the leftovers into sandwiches for the train journey.

Gideon dragged his feet, wishing for a few moments to settle himself, but Caroline was in a rush and reminded him that there was no telling what traffic would be like. She had planned ahead by organising a taxi, but unfortunately, traffic happened to be surprisingly busy for a Sunday, and it was late.

Gideon reviewed his trunk one last time, throwing in a couple of final items like his channelling rod, his sketchbook, his pyjamas, and his dressing gown.

When the taxi finally arrived, Caroline quickly ushered Gideon out of the flat and they made their way down with his heavy trunk in tow. They loaded it into the taxi together and set out for King's Cross Station. He pondered how it was already a very different experience from his first day at Middling Academy.

The taxi journey was excruciatingly slow, but they eventually arrived at the train station with only minutes to spare. Caroline paid the driver and ran for a trolley while Gideon wrestled his trunk from the boot.

'Right, let's go!' Caroline urged as they got the trunk of the trolley, which they then pushed together for speed. 'The ticket! What platform does it say?'

Gideon fumbled with his pocket and pulled out the train ticket that had been sent with his trunk. 'Err, Nine and Three Quarters,' he confirmed.

'Good, remember that or we won't be able to get on to the platform, it’s a rule of the charm that keeps it hidden,' Caroline advised before she called out to the commuters blocking their path as they hurtled by, 'Excuse us! Sorry! Coming through!'

When they finally arrived on Platform Nine, they ran down and straight into the brick wall between Platform Nine and Ten. Gideon closed his eyes at the last moment, and instead of an almighty crash, they slipped through the unseen barrier.

He opened his eyes and marvelled at the sight of the gleaming red Hogwarts Express steam engine, lined up against the hidden Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He had seen it before when dropping off his siblings, but this time it was here for him.

Whistles sounded all around as the last few batches of children said goodbye to their families and stepped onto the train. Gideon and Caroline trotted down the platform until they spotted an empty compartment near the end, and lifted Gideon's trunk through the door nearest it.

Out of breath now, he turned to his smiling aunt. He couldn't help but wish his mother were here to see him set off for Hogwarts, the way he had always imagined it. However, he was so grateful to Caroline at that moment.

'Thank you for everything, Caroline! I-I don't know what I would have done,' he told her sincerely before hugging her tightly.

'Think nothing of it!' she replied with tears in her eyes as the last doors slammed closed. 'Go on, get in! Work hard, have a good time and good luck!'

Gideon climbed on, closed the door behind him and dragged his trunk into the corridor. He slid open the door to the empty compartment and heaved in his trunk, taking a seat next to the window. The train's steam whistle sounded, and it jerked forwards slightly. Gideon waved his aunt goodbye energetically until she, and then, the platform disappeared from sight.

He sat back and caught his breath as London started to whip by the window. Gideon considered how two years ago, when he had learned of his lack of magic and confronted the idea of attending a Squib school, his path in life had changed. It seemed like it was happening again now, or perhaps even correcting itself. He was setting out on a new adventure. He was on his way to the place he had always dreamt about. He was on his way to Hogwarts.