Oliver Vinter

Backstory

My father being a squib and my mother a muggle, I spent my childhood hidden away from the wizarding world. I caught glimpses whenever I visited my paternal grandfather, as he is an old beast expert, as I wish to one day be. My parents didn't try to deny anything when I was granted my first acceptance letter to Hogwarts, and ended up spilling the beans as soon as it arrived. My grandfather did everything he could to assist me on my way to Hogwarts, weary of my wizarding blood but kind about doing so, none the less. He lent me some of his old books and equipment, and promised me his old quidditch broom once I was old enough (the offer was kind, though the broom was long outdated. Becoming the seeker for the Ravenclaw team, I ended up with a newer model in later years). We did most of my first year shopping in Diagon Alley, but the old man insisted that I go to one of his friends to acquire a wand. I did so, and the wand selection was a long and tedious process. Many wands refused to even give the smallest of a spark, and my grandfather blamed it on my blood, to which the wand maker reacted thoughtfully. He brought out one final wand, 13 1/4 inches of Maple wood and a Phoenix feather core, it reacted immediately, the room glowing a luminescent gold and an indescribable feeling washing through my bones. I've had the same wand ever since. The next stop was the pet emporium, my grandfather once recommending an owl, saying they were the most useful choice as to allowed pets, and I happily agreed.

So once my shopping was complete, all I had to do was keep track of my ticket to the Hogwarts express and wait until the semester started. I was given a brief explanation as to how platform 9 3/4 was going to work, and of course ended up a bit skeptical, as most first years are. My grandfather reassured me that it would be fine on the day I was leaving, as we made our way to King's Cross Station. I pushed my trolley along, finding the barrier between platforms nine and ten, as were other students, a few of which I watched in awe run straight through the seemingly solid surface. With one last pat on the back, my grandfather wished me luck and I rushed for the barrier. In a moment I saw it, the Hogwarts express. The trip to school was nerve wracking, I was entering a whole new world, alone.