6 Chapter 5: Yew wand and heart of what???

Chapter 5: Yew Wand and Heart of What?

Dante had been in the Slytherin Tower for approximately six months. By his side, perched on a golden stand, was a small phoenix with brilliant white feathers. The phoenix watched him study enormous piles of books, both ancient and new.

A few weeks ago, Dante discovered the phoenix trapped in the tower's vault. Hearing its call, he decided to set it free. Dante expected the bird to leave once it could fly, but to his surprise, the phoenix became attached to him. The strange part was that during this event, a mark resembling a scar appeared on his forearm. Whenever Dante channeled mana into the scar, a Hogwarts emblem materialized. The only colored part was that of Hufflepuff, and around it, an elegant Latin phrase appeared: "Plantae et Animalia respetient sicut amico vetere."

Dante sighed wearily, recalling the painful event. It felt as if he'd been branded with hot iron and hydrochloric acid. When it was over, he passed out and woke up in his room. An elf had brought him there, and next to his bedside, a featherless baby phoenix slept. Al explained that the little phoenix refused to leave Dante's side, teleporting back whenever he tried to take her away. Dante woke up the next day, his head throbbing, but by now, he was accustomed to it.

Breaking from his thoughts, Dante looked at the phoenix, gently stroking her head. He nearly received a peck that would have left a lasting impression. Due to his lineage from Helga Hufflepuff, Dante could understand some of the animals' thoughts. While he couldn't comprehend them as speech, their feelings, emotions, and thoughts were clear to him—an instinctual connection. He sensed that the phoenix was extremely annoyed after being called "phoenix" for weeks. The magical creature wanted a name, and her patience was wearing thin.

D"- What name should I give you? Although I'm not sure if you're male or female.

Dante instinctively pulled his hands away, fearing an unforgettable peck. He could swear he felt the words "Rude, impolite" directed at him in a distinctly feminine tone.

D"- Okay, okay, my apologies. You're a girl, then.

Dante disliked naming things; he was terrible at it. As he withdrew his hand from the disgruntled phoenix, he remembered a story from his world—a tale of a powerful white phoenix he admired.

D"- Very well, your name shall be Salaark, the white phoenix.

The phoenix seemed to approve of the name, nodding at Dante as if understanding every word. Now calm, she offered her head for him to continue petting.

D"- Al, could you come here for a moment?

Dante shouted seemingly into thin air, and within seconds, a house elf appeared at the corner of Dante's desk. The elf balanced a tray on his head, resembling a rather ugly coffee table with thin, bony legs.

Al"- Aldar has brought snacks and drinks for the young master and the honorable phoenix. How may Aldar be of service?

Aldar had completed all the tasks Dante assigned. He sought help from the Hogwarts elves to update his language and vocabulary. Then, he visited Flourish and Blotts, purchasing a significant number of books covering all years at Hogwarts and medical materials in the wizarding world.

D"- Al, did anyone suspect the large book purchase? Did everything go smoothly?

Al"-Everything went smoothly, young master. The bookstore owner mentioned that it's becoming more common for people to buy materials and study at home. He recommended several auxiliary books to Aldar, and Aldar purchased them for the young Master, it was the same in the other shops where Aldar went. Everyone said that these were difficult times. From the conversations Aldar overheard, it seems that a very malevolent dark witch rose up a few years ago and openly declared war on Muggles and Muggle-borns. The war has reached a terrifying stage, young master.

Based on Al's information and Dante's knowledge of this world's timeline, it's highly likely that the Second Wizarding War is at its peak. The wizarding world is too dangerous for someone who hasn't even grasped the fundamental principles of magic in this realm and lacks a wand. This reminded Dante of something he had wanted to ask the elf for some time.

D"- Al, do you know what happened to Salazar Slytherin's wand?

Al"- I apologize, young master, but half of everything the former master possessed was given to his other heirs. The wand was handed down to the eldest direct descendant of the master.

From what Dante remembered from videos and stories in his previous life, Slytherin's wand was stolen by one of his grandchildren or great-grandchildren, who later became founders of the North American magical school, Ilvermorny. Dante believed it was buried and eventually transformed into a tree, if he recalled correctly.

Dante felt disappointed. He had been practicing magic for months, and it wasn't as difficult as he had imagined. He had already suspected this because in the stories, Hermione, a brilliant 11-year-old girl, mastered a wide range of spells in just a few months before even starting school. The biggest obstacle for Dante was the lack of a magical wand. While he could cast magic with his hands, it wasn't practical. When he concentrated, he could sense an inner sphere within his body—a mana core, a magical reservoir, or whatever one might call it. Breathing in magical particles from the air, they gradually filtered through his core, improving the quality of his magical power and tempering his core and body. His difficulty lay in manipulating the energy contained within this core. Dante presumed that a wand would act as a stabilizer or controller for this flow of mana, in some sort of symbiotic process.

D"-Al, do you know if there's any spare wand in this tower? What happened to the wands of Salazar Slytherin's test subjects?"

Dante had read the records of Salazar's experiments, and amidst looks of disgust and indignation, he wondered why this tower didn't have hundreds of ghosts and spirits.

Aldar scratched his head in concentration, as if taking a particularly difficult exam or trying to remember where he'd left his house keys.

Al"- Aldar knows… They were all broken or buried with their owners—discarded in trash heaps, plantations, and biomes."

Suddenly, a gleam appeared in the elf's eyes. 

Al"- Wait here, young master. Aldar knows where to find ancient wands.

The elf disappeared, leaving Dante talking to himself and the food tray under attack by the baby phoenix. Before Dante could sit back down, the elf reappeared with a beautifully adorned wooden box.

Al"- This is the wand—an experiment crafted by the former master himself. Aldar was instructed to guard it carefully in a secure location. Aldar would be delighted if the new master could use it.

Aldar bowed to Dante, extending the box as if presenting an invaluable treasure. This made Dante hesitate to take this keepsake from the elf, but his curiosity about having a wand outweighed his manners by far. As soon as Dante touched it, he felt as if he were shaking hands with a dear friend. Warmth flowed from his hand into his body, and the wand began pulsating like a heartbeat. Dante attempted to cast Lumos, focusing on sensing the difference between using a wand and using his hands.

D"- Now I understand. It's like if I were scooping water from a lake with my hands all this time, and the wand is like a bucket or a hose—it helps draw out the water, or in this case, the magical power from the core. But it's not just that; the control becomes precise. It's as if I were using a dull knife before, and now I have a scalpel.

Dante manipulated the Lumos light, changing its color, intensity, and shape.

D"- It's akin to the difference between using a pencil to write or draw versus using a piece of charcoal. An artist could use both, but the right tools really save time and energy. Al, do you know the wood and core of this wand?

The elf put his hand to his chin, trying to remember.

Al"- Aldar thinks it was yew wood. Aldar is trying to recall the core; give Aldar a minute.

While the elf struggled to remember the core, Dante searched his memory for information about yew wood.

D***- Yew (Taxus baccata), if I recall correctly, is a beautiful tree with slender leaves and red fruits. Although toxic, its fruits, leaves, and seeds have been used for millennia as medicines well, in the Muggle world, at least. Let's see what the wizarding world has to say about this wand.

Dante focused, attempting to delve into the tower's library for information on yew wands. It felt like having a perfect memory or having the book engraved in his mind.

Dante stumbled upon an intriguing description in an ancient book titled "Compendium of Renowned Wandmakers", specifically on page 265, paragraphs 3 to 9. The passage reads:

"Teak Wands: Guardians of Duality"

"The secrets of teak wands… they serve as sentinels between the realm of the living and the veil of shadows cast by the departed. Ignorant folk claim that teak wand bearers are drawn to the abyss, their souls dancing on the edge of the unknown. But the truth runs deeper. Teak does not merely bend toward darkness; it embraces both light and shadow in equal measure. Those who align with this ancient wood prove to be exceptional protectors.

Throughout time immemorial, heroes and villains alike have wielded wands crafted from this wood. Where battlefields were stained with blood, there stood the silent witness of teak. And whether wizards, nobles, or infamous wielders of teak wands, they all find eternal rest, safeguarded by the promise of everlasting protection the teak saplings that sprout from their buried wands.

The Unyielding: A teak wand does not submit to mediocrity. It recognizes no timid owners. Its core, whether a phoenix feather or a fragment of dragon heart, pulses with its own will.

Regardless of the core, when the hand closes around it, a pact is sealed with destiny."

Dante's attention was captured by an entire page of parchment meticulously inscribed within the book:

"Phoenix Feather: Delicate and ethereal, the feather is reverently plucked from the wings of the phoenix. It resonates with wisdom and light. When woven into a wand, it bestows versatile and refined magic.

Wizards who choose phoenix feathers are akin to poets, attuned to the cosmos. Their wands dance with elegance, responding to noble intentions and pure emotions.

Phoenix Heart: On the other hand, the heart fragment is a piece of the phoenix's own vital fire. It burns with passion and rebirth. When incorporated into wood, it grants power and intensity. Wizards daring enough to wield phoenix hearts become like warriors. Their wands roar like untamed flames, defying fate and unleashing magic that transcends limits.

However, the use of phoenix heart is cautioned against, for once rejected by its bearer, the wand bestows the blessing of immortality while burning its owner alive in an unquenchable flame a perpetual inferno." 

The phrase "Why not both?" was underlined and circled, sending shivers down Dante's spine and filling him with a terrible premonition. Just below, a note read:

"Some rare artisans have crafted wands that combine feather and heart. These relics are legendary, capable of adapting to their bearer's mood and needs. However, such a feat demands mastery, and its outcome is uncontrollable and volatile."

Dante asked, "Al, do you recall Slytherin ever using such a wand?" His voice seemed to rouse the elf from his memories, and Al responded in a leap: "Aldar remembers now. The ancient master ordered this wand to be locked away because none of the test subjects survived. In fact, some of the castle's finest torches are the results of these experiments."

Dante remained silent for a few moments, opening and closing his mouth like a perfect imitation of a goldfish. Finally, he asked, "Are you telling me this wand is made of Yew wood and phoenix heart fiber intertwined with the feathers of the phoenix itself?"

"Exactly, young master," Al confirmed. "The ancient master believed it would be one of the most powerful wands in the world. He was deeply saddened when no one could wield it."

The elf seemed ecstatic that his old master's desire had finally come to fruition. From that day forward, Dante vowed to instill some common sense into the young elf's head.

Dante looked at the wand in his hand as if the once docile kitten he had been petting had transformed into a battle-scarred, fierce lion. However, this feeling didn't last long. Dante sensed a connection to the object, and it seemed oddly content. As this thought crossed his mind, the wand vibrated, almost purring.

"Well," Dante mused, "I suppose the danger has passed. Ignorance truly must be a blessing."

The small phoenix stopped eating from the tray Al had brought, curious about the commotion disrupting its meal. When its eyes fell upon the wand, a nearly human expression of fear and indignation crossed its face, quickly replaced by fury. The little bird began pecking at the elf with the ferocity of a wild beast.

Dante grabbed the phoenix, attempting to calm it down as it squawked indignantly.

"Easy there, little one," he soothed. "Well, I think I know whose heart was used."

It took two hours and a copious amount of medicinal plants to soothe the phoenix. Dante swore it looked at the elf with the same expression it reserved for its food.

"Al," Dante called.

The small house elf teleported to the office, trembling and holding a tray of snacks and herbs as if offering them to an especially wrathful deity. Dante could have sworn he saw red flames in the phoenix's eyes directed at the elf, so he kept it brief.

"Al, go to Gringotts Bank and exchange a considerable amount of Galleons for Muggle money, please. Tomorrow, we're buying a house."