“It can't lie?” Thomas asked, feeling attached to the wand already.

“Correction. You can't lie.” Danny said. “This wand didn't even like to be touched by me after I made it. The unicorn I got its core from was young, and curious but far more unyielding in its loyalty than any other. It is the only wand I have ever made using that unicorn.”

“Can I?” Thomas asked his trembling to try this wand. Danny pushed the wand box closer. Thomas took it out with care. Move it in his hand until it reaches a comfortable spot in the centre of his hand. His fingers curved around the cures of the metal base. Thomas felt a warmth spread through his body. Spreading, the warmth came out around Thomas, covering him in a soft glow that retreated back into him, and his wand.

“It likes me.” Thomas smiled and turned towards Lars, who gave him a thumbs up in victory.

“A small wand, 8 inches (20.32 cm) without the 2-inch base, it will favour a more elegant style. I wonder if that is what appealed to your vampire nature?” Danny nodded his head in thought, tilted it left and then the right. “Perhaps the white gold appealed to it? Vampires are as much attracted to riches as a dragon, after all.”

“White gold?” Thomas said he didn't know what white gold meant, but he didn't need to know that. To know that gold meant a lot of money. Thomas looked at his wand and looking at the stone, he paled a bit more. “What is the stone?” Thomas hoped it wasn't anything too crazy, not that Thomas knew a great deal about expensive stones.

“Can't say.” Danny shook his head. “I take so many trips, looking for rare and usual things to experiment with.” He shrugged his shoulders. “All I remember is that I got it from some woods.” Danny frowned, his eyebrows curving inward. “I think that was the trip that made me lose my hair for the fourth time.”

“Price is not an issue.” Uncle Liam came over and rested a hand on Thomas's head. Forcible rubbing Thomas's head.

“Don't worry about it.” Thomas nodded and clutched his wand tight. He really didn't want to give the wand up. “There should be a wand pocket in your left pocket.” Lars came over and lifted the robe, showing Thomas that there was a slim pocket in there. Thomas tightening his lips. It didn't look that safe for a wand to sit.

“Won't it fall out?” Thomas asked, not putting his wand in the pocket. Lars lifted his robe to show him that it sat safe and sound in his pocket. Still, Thomas was hesitant to place it in there.

“Idea!” Aunt Merry came over and pulled out a piece of black leather from her ring. It looked like a small, thin gun holster. Thomas only knew this from the old westerns that would play on the bar TV. She came over and swung it around Thomas's, where it magically shrunk and came to a perfect fit on his waist. The holster sat on his left side.

“Your wand and my wand are about the same size.” She stepped back and lifted her pink robe, showing a shining white holster with a black wand peaking out. “I just bought a new one.” She gave him a thumbs up before dropping her robe down. You couldn't even tell she was wearing it. Thomas placed his wand with great care in his holster and found the fit was perfect.

“Thank you.” Thomas said in a soft voice. Not only for the wand, but for all the things they were doing for him. “It's nothing to thank me over!” She laughed and brushed his face with her hand.

“If you thank her too much, she'll get used to it.” Lars laughed, “You'll make me look bad. Now that you have matching holsters and everything.” That made the mother-son duo start to bicker. Thomas shook his head. How could he explain what kindness meant to him? Rubbing the edges of his robe with a smile.

“You could get one too, Lars. Then we could all match.” Thomas said, wanting to be included in their fun. Aunt Merry turned, eyes sparkling at the idea. Lars shook his head firmly against the idea.

“Everything is paid for.” Uncle Liam came over, stopping the budding discussion. “Shall we get some lunch?”

“Wouldn't we have to pass the owls again?” Lars said, his face speaking volumes of what he thought of that idea.

“Let's go home to eat!” Aunt Merry suggested. Thomas could tell she didn't want to go by the owls again either.

“Don't we have some books to get?” Thomas asked, even his weird schooling had books involved.

“I'll pick those up and meet with you guys back home.” Uncle Liam said, “It won't take me too long. Do you want to come along, Thomas?” He turned and asked Thomas. A magic book store sounded fun, Thomas turned to Lars, asking without asking; if he wouldn't mind.

“Go right ahead.” Lars smiled, “I'll see you at home.” With it all decided, they split up. Thomas had a blast going through the old book store. Lars's father found out Thomas had a love for poetry and got him a few books to take with him to school. 

Thomas found a couple of old potion books buried in a used book pile. Filled with notes from their previous owners, Thomas was hooked. Sitting right down on the spot to start flicking through them. When Uncle Liam found him, he bought those books for him as well. Picking up a few old volumes of lore for himself on the way back to the till.

They even stopped to look at the owls. Thomas didn't want one, but he was curious. He had never seen an owl up close before. A small owl with soft brown feathers and black and white eyebrows was really friendly. Dancing up and around Thomas shoulders before flying up to Lars's father's shoulders. To do the same dance. The little owl was quickly sold to a small Asian woman.

Thomas thought Uncle Liam looked a little sad to see it go, but they quickly left. Going back to the far corner that they came in from, he offered to take them to lunch at the leaky cauldron. To Thomas' surprise, it was hidden behind the brick wall! Thomas shook his head after a bit of thought.

They got back home to a happy Berry bringing out lunch. Thomas received another berry tray, much to his delight, and a small bloody steak. Which he all but inhaled. Thomas never enjoyed a meal so much in his life and even gave Berry a quick hug. 

Making the house elf turn bright red. The rest of the day was filled with school preparations. Aunt Merry took the role of showing off simple spells, and Lars spouted off information left and right. About houses, sorting hats, and to Thomas's horror singing toads.

When night fell. Thomas didn't feel a bit tired, which was not unusual for him. Instead of being ordered to sleep or laying wide eyes in the dark. He was given a small oil lamp, tucked into Lars's room and settled onto the odd couch, called a lounge chair by Lars. Thomas spent the night slowly going over the new information he got today, and he even found the time to pull out the unfinished figure of the Old Man he was working on. With his trusted old knife, he completed the figurine by the time morning came around.