Hogwarts: Lacus doesn't want to be a witch who destroys nations.

The peeling gold lettering of Ollivander's Wand Shop still stood. Pushing open the door, a familiar scent, a mixture of aged wood chips and mysterious magic, wafted out. Mr. Ollivander stood on a tall ladder, carefully pulling a box from a pile of wand cases that almost reached the ceiling.

"Good morning, Mr. Ollivander!" Lux's voice was cheerful.

Ollivander lowered his head at the sound, his silvery-white eyes sharp as an owl's in the dim light.

"Ah! Miss Laksana Crownguard!" He recognized the celebrity customer, his face lighting up with genuine delight. "And another... new face? Welcome, welcome! A new student at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, sir, her name is Vera Watson." Lux nudged the still somewhat hesitant Vera forward. "Could you please choose a suitable wand for her?"

"Miss Watson..." Ollivander murmured the name, as if searching his memory, then slid down the ladder with surprising agility. "So, which hand is your dominant hand?"

"Right...right hand," Vera answered softly.

Ollivander immediately began his physical examination. The measuring tape flew automatically, measuring Vera's arm length, finger spacing, and even the distance between her nostrils. Vera shrank back in fright. After the measurement was completed, Ollivander turned around and began searching in the vast sea of ​​wands.

"Unicorn hair would suit you well. Try this one, ash wood, unicorn hair, ten inches, flexible and supple..." He handed over a light-colored wand.

As soon as Vera grasped it, a small, harmless soap bubble popped out from the tip of the wand.

"Oh, obviously not suitable." Ollivander immediately withdrew his sword and took out another one. "Ebony, unicorn hair, eleven and a quarter inches, incredibly powerful..."

As soon as Vera waved her hand, a crystal bottle on the shelf next to her cracked with a "snap".

"No, no, no, it's too intense." Ollivander shook his head, but his eyes became even more focused, as if he were solving an interesting puzzle.

He had Vera try five or six wands in a row, but they either shot out sparks, made dust dance, or simply had no effect at all.

Vera lowered her head in disappointment. Lux patted her on the shoulder: "Don't worry, Vera, a wand choosing a wizard is like choosing a master; it requires fate."

Finally, Ollivander pulled out a long, narrow box and blew off the dust.

"Ah, I almost forgot about this... Hollywood, unicorn hair core, exactly thirteen inches. Hollywood symbolizes protection, and unicorn hair represents purity and loyalty... Try this, Miss Vera."

Vera accepted the wand with her last glimmer of hope. The wand felt warm and smooth in her hand, and as she gently waved it, a soft, pure silver-white light suddenly flowed from its tip, like moonlight illuminating a corner of the dimly lit shop.

The light wasn't dazzling, but it carried a reassuring power. Vera looked at the wand in her hand with surprise; this experience was too novel for her.

"Perfectly suited." Ollivander's silver eyes shone brightly. "Hollywood and unicorn hair, a combination of protection and purity, thirteen inches long. This is a wand that will bring you good luck."

Vera stroked the wand lovingly, then suddenly looked up at Lux: "Sister Lux, what does your wand look like? Can I have one just like yours?"

Ollivander laughed at this, his laughter echoing through the shop filled with boxes: "My dear child, a wand is like a wizard, unique. No two wands are exactly alike, just as no two wizards are exactly alike. Maple chose Miss Crownguard, and Holly chose you. That is the wonder of magic."

Vera's face flushed red instantly. Realizing she had asked a silly, common-sense question, she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Lux, however, nonchalantly ruffled her hair. "Haha, Vera, that just shows you have good taste! My wand is a gem from Mr. Ollivander's shop, but your holly wand is beautiful too. Mr. Ollivander, this is the one. How much?"

After paying eleven Galleons, Lacus, with Vera blushing with excitement at finally owning her first wand, embarked on a massive shopping spree in Diagon Alley.

With the backing of Gringotts' vault, Lux spent money with extraordinary lavishness.

At Flourish and Blotts, she not only bought all of Vera's first-grade textbooks, but also added a few extracurricular books for herself and subscribed to the Daily Prophet for the whole year.

At Patchi's Cauldron Shop, brand-new brass cauldrons, a set of gleaming glass bottles, silver knives, dragon-skin gloves, and various basic potion ingredients were quickly packed up.

Lars took Vera to buy three well-fitting robes and a winter cloak. She also picked out a brand-new dragon-skin satchel with brass buckles for Vera.

Finally, at the Ee-la-Owl Shop, Vera's gaze was drawn to a little brown owl with large amber eyes, preening its feathers. The little creature tilted its head, looking at Vera curiously, and making soft "coo-coo" sounds.

"This is it!" Vera exclaimed, immediately taking a liking to it. Lux readily paid for it and also bought a large bag of owl nuts as an extra treat.

The two pushed a luggage cart piled high with their belongings straight to King's Cross Station.

Platform 9¾ was as bustling and lively as ever, with steam locomotives belching out billowing white smoke. Young wizards excitedly bid farewell to their parents and weaved through the crowds, dragging their luggage and pets along.

Lux and Vera pushed their luggage cart, searching for familiar faces in the crowd. Soon, they spotted Anna, Phoebe, and Mia, who were talking about Phoebe's newly bought ginger cat.

"Lux! Over here!" Anna called out loudly, her eyes sharp.

Vera became a little nervous when she saw the other young wizards and jogged over, while Lux pushed the luggage cart aside and habitually scanned the entire platform before finally settling on the area where the new Slytherin students were gathered.

Tom Riddle stood there, surrounded by several well-dressed Slytherin freshmen. He wore a brand-new school robe, stood tall and straight, and had a perfectly gentle smile on his handsome face. He was speaking in a low voice, which drew frequent nods from those around him.

Tom seemed to notice Lux's gaze, and turned his head slightly. Their eyes met briefly in the air.

He nodded very slightly, almost imperceptibly, in Lux's direction as a greeting, then turned back to continue talking to the people around him, as if the gesture had just been Lux's illusion.

Lux pursed her lips and looked away.

Keep pretending.

Lux muttered to herself, but had to admit that this kid was getting more and more comfortable in Slytherin.

"Lux! Come quick! The car's about to leave!" Mia's voice rang out.

The Hogwarts Express whistle blew a long and resonant sound.

"It's here!" Lux responded, taking one last look at the surging crowd on the platform and the deep red steam locomotive, before taking Vera's hand. "Let's go, Vera, the train is about to depart."