"It looks like you got the cedar wand," Chris remarked as he spotted the wand in Kyle's hand after they met outside Madam Malkin's Robe Shop.

The unusual combination of the cedar wand left a strong impression on Chris, especially since it had led to his first meeting with Diana. He hadn't expected it to find its way into Kyle's hands.

Feeling a surge of nostalgia, Chris patted Kyle on the shoulder with a serious expression. "My dear, I regret to inform you of some bad news. With this wand, you might not make it into Gryffindor."

"Can't get into Gryffindor?" Kyle raised an eyebrow, already guessing his father's reasoning.

Ollivander had mentioned that cedar wands typically chose wise, perceptive wizards—those who were naturally calm. Gryffindors, however, were known for their bravery rather than their calmness.

Kyle found it amusing that he was being "rejected" by a house before even setting foot in Hogwarts.

"What are you two laughing about?" Diana asked curiously as she joined them.

She had just returned from buying a cauldron for Kyle and had made a quick stop at the Writer's House for some quills and parchment, missing the conversation between her husband and son.

"Nothing much, just that Dad thinks my wand might keep me out of Gryffindor," Kyle explained, showing her the wand.

Diana recognized the cedar wand right away and, understanding the context, couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, dear, but I think your father is right."

Neither Chris nor Diana had any strong feelings about which house Kyle should be sorted into. For them, as long as it was Hogwarts, it didn't matter which house he joined. Kyle felt the same way.

…

Like choosing a wand, getting fitted for school robes was also time-consuming. Despite Madam Malkin's expertise, it took over twenty minutes just to measure the necessary dimensions. Because Kyle was taller than most of his peers, the shop didn't have suitable robes in stock, so they had to be custom-made—a process that would take about two hours.

Considering the time, Kyle decided to have the robes delivered to his home via Owl Express. It was already 5 p.m., and waiting two more hours would mean staying until 7 p.m.—too late for his liking.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Next on their list was a visit to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore.

This time, the trip was quick. It took Kyle less than five minutes to gather all his required textbooks. He also bought two extra books for himself.

The first was *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Latest Revised Edition)* by Uncle Newt. Even though he already owned nineteen copies, Kyle didn't mind buying another one to support his uncle's sales—especially since this revised edition included thirty new pages and descriptions of seven new magical creatures.

The second book, *Common Spells and Their Solutions*, practically fell into his hands. He accidentally kicked it out from a corner while paying for his other books. True to its title, the book covered basic spells like the Lumos charm, the levitation spell, and cleaning charms. It wasn't essential, but with such a wide range of spells, it seemed like a magical equivalent of a "How-To" guide. Plus, it was reasonably priced at just one Galleon.

While Kyle was tempted by other books on charms, potions, and transfiguration, he restrained himself. With access to the extensive Hogwarts library, there was no need to buy every book that caught his eye. He could simply borrow whatever he wanted to read.

After leaving Flourish and Blotts, Kyle had purchased nearly everything on his Hogwarts supply list. The only thing left was a pet, but he didn't need one.

Chris had rescued many injured owls over the years, making their family well-known among owl couriers. This meant that Kyle could call on numerous owls when he needed a delivery, many of whom already had ties to Hogwarts.

Why buy an owl when he could hire one with a few treats? It was another Galleon saved.

Kyle had hoped to use his savings to buy a broomstick. He didn't need the latest model—something like a Nimbus 1500 or a Seven Star would be perfect.

The older brooms offered great value for money. Though they might lack some of the flashy features of newer models, their performance was still solid, and their prices were far more reasonable—less than a third of what newer models cost.

For example, a Nimbus 1500 that once sold for 300 Galleons was now priced at just 80 Galleons—perfectly within the range of Kyle's savings. The Seven Star Sweep was slightly more expensive at 100 Galleons, but with a little help from Chris, it was possible.

However, as soon as he mentioned this plan, Diana put her foot down. Her reasoning was simple: first-year students at Hogwarts were not allowed to bring brooms, so there was no point in buying one now. The family broom at home would suffice.

Chris could only give Kyle a sympathetic shrug, indicating that he couldn't go against Diana's decision. To soften the blow, he took Kyle to the window of the broom shop to admire the models on display before they headed to the Leaky Cauldron.

By the time Kyle was getting his robes, the Weasleys had already returned home.

Mrs. Weasley needed to prepare a hearty dinner for her large family, which was no small task. Even with the help of magic, it would take her over an hour.

Kyle was disappointed that he missed the chance to see the twins in action, which he had been looking forward to almost as much as buying a broomstick.

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