Gringotts

           Theirplansweremade,theirpreparationscomplete;inthesmallestbedroomasinglelong,coarseblackhair(pluckedfromthesweaterHermionehadbeenwearingatMalfoyManor)laycurledinasmallglassphialonthemantelpiece.

           "Andyou’llbeusingheractualwand,"saidHarry,noddingtowardthewalnutwand,"soIreckonyou’llbeprettyconvincing."

           Hermionelookedfrightenedthatthewandmightstingorbitherasshepickeditup.

           "Ihatethatthing,"shesaidinalowvoice."Ireallyhateit.Itfeelsallwrong,itdoesn’tworkproperlyforme…It’slikeabitofher."

           HarrycouldnothelpbutrememberhowHermionehasdismissedhisloathingoftheblackthornwand,insistingthathewasimaginingthingswhenitdidnotworkaswellashisown,tellinghimtosimplypractice.Hechosenottorepeatherownadvicebacktoher,however,theeveoftheirattemptedassaultonGringottsfeltlikethewrongmomenttoantagonizeher.

           "It’llprobablyhelpyougetincharacter,though,"saidRon."thinkwhatthatwand’sdone!"

           "Butthat’smypoint!"saidHermione."ThisisthewandthattorturedNeville’smumanddad,andwhoknowshowmanyotherpeople?ThisisthewandthatkilledSirius!"

           Harryhadnotthoughtofthat:Helookeddownatthewandandwasvisitedbyabrutalurgetosnapit,tosliceitinhalfwithGryffindor’ssword,whichwasproppedagainstthewallbesidehim.

           "Imissmywand,"Hermionesaidmiserably."IwishMr.Ollivandercouldhavemademeanotheronetoo."

           Mr.