Chapter 8: The Lucky One in Diagon Alley

"Tom, did you hear what they were talking about? Oh, if I end up in Slytherin, I might just drop out!" Hermione had overheard a conversation, and once the two students had walked away, she enthusiastically began discussing the school's houses.

Tom shrugged. "That's a bit of a generalization. Each of the four houses has its own strengths and weaknesses. But it's true that most dark wizards come from Slytherin."

"There are four houses at school? What are they? How do you know?" Uncharted knowledge always piqued Hermione's interest.

"Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."

"Each of the four houses corresponds to one of the four elements: Gryffindor represents fire, Ravenclaw represents air, Hufflepuff represents earth, and Slytherin represents water. 'Gryffindor' is actually 'gryffin d'or' in French, meaning 'golden griffin.'"

"So, Ravenclaw is 'Ravenclaw' because of their quest for knowledge?"

"Yes, that's right. It symbolizes their thirst for knowledge."

"Each house has its own style and stereotypes. Gryffindor is known for its brave members, Hufflepuff for its love of food and life, Ravenclaw for its intellectual curiosity, and Slytherin for its ambitious individuals." Tom provided a brief introduction to the four houses.

"Moreover, each house has a motto:

- Gryffindor: 'We come from the wild, we thirst for power, we are full of ideals, we are brave and fearless, we are just and resolute, we never give up, we are Gryffindor!'

- Hufflepuff: 'We come from the forest, we are full of love, we are loyal to nature, we are upright and loyal, we are tough and honest, we fear no danger, we are Hufflepuff!'

- Ravenclaw: 'We come from the riverside, we are highly intelligent, we think calmly, we are relentless in our pursuit of the truth, we never give up, we are Ravenclaw!'

- Slytherin: 'We come from the swamp, we thirst for power, we are full of ambition, we are strong and composed, we are elegant and self-assured, we have no regrets, we are Slytherin!'" Tom recited the house mottos.

With these mottos, Hermione began to view each house more favorably.

"You know a lot!"

"I asked Professor McGonagall several questions when I met her last time. If you want to learn more, you can borrow a book called 'Hogwarts: A History' from the Hogwarts library."

Hermione remembered the book's title.

They had completed their shopping for various items, and Hermione had bought a wand from Mr. Ollivander—a 10-inch vine wood wand with a dragon heartstring core.

"Vine wood wands are quite rare. They usually choose witches or wizards with noble aspirations and exceptional foresight. And a wand with a dragon heartstring core is incredibly powerful and capable of producing the most magnificent magic. These wands also tend to have a higher aptitude for learning." Tom explained wand lore to Hermione with enthusiasm, like a military enthusiast discussing various firearm components on a forum.

Clearly, Hermione found this topic fascinating, and her mood brightened. Her eyes turned into crescent moons as she listened.

"What about your wand? What's it made of?"

"Ravenclaw chose me. It's made of unicorn horn and cherry wood," Tom replied, also diving into a detailed discussion of wand materials, cores, and their characteristics. It was as if he were talking to a fellow enthusiast on a forum.

With their various purchases complete, they arrived at a shop with a sign that read "Magical Menagerie."

"I want to get myself a pet. Would you like to join me?" Tom realized that he hadn't bought a pet yet.

"I'll pass. I've already spent all my money on books, and I won't have enough for a pet. Plus, I'll be focusing on my studies in the first term, and I might not have time to take care of a pet. I feel like my coursework alone will keep me busy..." Hermione explained, revealing her studious and responsible nature.

Mr. Granger nodded approvingly at his daughter's responsible attitude. She was not only intelligent but also practical. He even invited Tom to stay at their home during the holiday, so they could all go to King's Cross Station together on September 1st. Tom readily agreed—why live under a bridge when he had a villa? He wasn't foolish.

As Tom ventured into the Magical Menagerie alone, he noticed some sort of activity going on.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Blind boxes," the saleswitch replied.

"For 5 Galleons, you can draw a prize. Of course, there's no telling what you'll get." Tom thought it might be worth a try, considering his innate ability, his current status being "Inspiration Level 0 (99+/100)."

"Alright, I'll take one." Tom placed ten Galleons on the counter—five for the owl and five for the prize.

The saleswitch handed him a small box. Tom reached in and pulled out a sphere with the words "Grand Prize" written on it.

Saleswitch: ?!

Tom: (ΩДΩ)!

(End of Chapter 8)