Clay glanced at her list; she still had a few more shops to hit but right now they'd be going to one that she had been looking more forward too, the wand shop. Clay had never really considered it before but wands were actually pretty cool. She's seen many wizards and witches wield them and it just looked so awesome watching them cast spells—and possibly curses—everywhere.

Today she was going school shopping with her cousin and uncle. Her grandmother had planned to go but went into a bad coughing fit and their uncle refused to let her go. So she gave Clay so money so she could exchange them for the proper wizards coins and open up a bank account, if she wished. Clay honestly didn't know much about all of that, she just really wanted to get to this so called Diagon Alley.

After purchasing her robes, hat, Remembral, and some ice cream, Clay only had to get a cauldron, some scales, books, and her very first wand. She was going to save the books for last, planning to carry them in her cauldron. She was already wearing her cloak, feeling like a real witch, even though she was barely one.

Clay entered Ollivander's, the renowned wand shop. It smelled and looked old but it was still amazing; wands upon wands towered above their heads in hundreds, if not thousands, of cases. She wondered how someone was supposed to find their wand. At first Clay thought about just picking at random but then she remembered magic, how it made most things easier. Perhaps Ollivander would use a bit of it help her. But how?

Mr. Ollivander looked between Clay and her cousin, who was sometimes mistaken for her twin. "Now, wouldn't you be Miss McGlinchy."

Clay frowned. "How do you know my name—"

"He doesn't. Anyway, she needs a wand, Ollivander." Her cousin glared at the man, but there was a warm look in his eyes, which confused Clay. Her cousin rarely liked anyone.

"Ah, yes, then. Come along...," he said with an amused grin. Clay shrugged and followed him, adjusting her worn bookbag along the way.

"'Jagon Ellie'?" Aunt Linda screeched as the quartet stepped out of the fireplace into Diagon Alley. "You spend three nights in Newcastle with your girlfriends and you suddenly lose the ability to speak proper English?"

"Hey! It could have been worse!" Uncle Hector said defensively, brushing off imaginary dust from his robes. "That Jagon Ellie fellow was nice enough to lend us his floo powder and we're here now, aren't we? Did you see a wedding ring on his finger, by chance?"

"Who goes to Newcastle for a bachelorette party?" Mei was muttering to herself, and Cass bit her lip in secret amusement because the jealousy in her mother's voice was not hard to detect.

Uncle Hector's squinted glare, however, indicated he found the comment less entertaining. "People that like to have fun, Meimei, but I know the concept is lost on you. Linda's no better either." That earned a punch on the arm from both women. Cass walked on, not caring at this point if they followed or not.

When her mom had told her aunts and uncle that they'd be going shopping today, Cass really should have suspected it would not be a quick trip as originally planned. Aunt Linda needed a few ingredients for her healing potions and Uncle Hector needed new shoes because he'd managed to lose his favorite pair on his trip last week in a river. How that happened has yet to be discovered.

Cass, on the other hand, had a whole list of supplies she would be needing for her first year at Hogwarts. She glanced down at the letter as they maneuvered their way around the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley. Growing up, she'd made the trip here many times but this time felt different. Knowing that her dreams of becoming a full-fledged witch were within her grasp sent a tingle of excitement down her spine. All the stories she'd heard of older family members' time at the magical school only made her eager for her own chance to study there - if she managed to even get everything she needed before then, that is. Hearing the three bicker amongst themselves, it didn't seem like the adults that came along would be very helpful, and Cass wished it was more ironic than it actually was.

Just as she predicted, the four of them got sidetracked numerous times. It wasn't until they stopped a fifth time that Cass finally said, "I think I can manage on my own, actually. I'll be going to Ollivanders first."

The adults were all stood in front of a large display window showcasing dazzling emerald jewels and trinkets. The three were almost foaming at the mouth, their noses just a hair short of being pressed against the glass. Uncle Hector vaguely waved in Cass' direction, his unblinking stare fixated on a specific set of rings with thick bands and gems the size of golf balls. "Have fun, hun."

Used to her family's antics, Cass simply shook her head before turning away. Ollivanders was just around the corner so it didn't take long before she was entering the tiny shop, the doorbell announcing her arrival. A couple of people were in the store already, though Mr. Ollivander himself was nowhere to be found. Assuming he was already helping another student, Cass spotted a rickety looking chair in the corner and took a seat, hoping the wandmaker would appear soon.

Cassie suddenly appeared from behind a wall of wand cases. She had heard the bell telltaling that someone had entered the shop but she hadn't expect them to already be laid back in a chair. But instead of flinching backwards, possiblely into mountain of cases, she merely raised her eyebrows at the girl.

"You're here for a wand, too?" asked Clay, smiling. Then she wondered why she'd come to that conclusion fast. This was only her second time in Diagon Alley and many people seemed to visit Ollivanders for other things besides purchasing wands because she often saw them leaving without one of the many enchanted sticks.

Clay opened her mouth to say something else when her cousin suddenly appeared from another wand aisle. Keylon, a third year Slytherin who looked just like her, glared first at her and then at the girl. Except her didn't glare at the stranger but instead eye her up, like she was a piece of candy. Clay wondered why but didn't dare ask.

Keylon nodded at the stranger and then turned to his younger cousin. With his back facing the girl, he whispered warningly, "I have somewhere to go but I'll be right back." He gripped her shoulder painfully. "Stay put, I won't be long."

At the last minute Clay snatched her arm back hit the damage was already done; it hurt a little, which could be seen by the furnace on her face, but she just shrugged it off, muttering under her breath. Her cousin was just so mean, and she couldn't do anything about it.

Keylon nodded at the other girl with a sly smile before making his way outside. Clay wouldn't be surprised if the girl swooned because many people said that her cousin was quite handsome. It sucked he wasn't as good looking on the inside.

Ollivander appeared, carrying a small stack of cases. He greeted the girl and said he'd be right with her before placing the cases on
a nearby table.

"Miss McGlinchy, here you are; five for you to try from. From your fath—from your cousin, I'd guess phoenix feather, but your kin never fails to surprise me." Clay unfortunately didn't catch his story, or she definitely would've ask what that was about. She was too busy scouring through the cases and reading their inscriptions, wondering which one would be hers shortly.

"Now, then, Miss...?" Ollivander said, speaking to the other girl who Clay had momentarily forgotten about.

The sudden appearance of a young girl behind the stacks was unexpected but not surprising. School was beginning soon, so of course other students her age would be shopping around for their supplies as well. This particular girl looked to be a bit taller than Cass, with a darker complexion and curly brown hair.

"You're here for a wand, too?" the girl asked.

Cass blinked, then looked up at the numerous shelves lined up all around them before looking back at the girl before her. "Yes," she said simply. Was that a trick question?

Out of the corner of her eye, Cass noticed the girl's companion nodding at her. She didn't know what that meant, but she watched as the older boy was forceful with the girl and seemed to speak harshly to her, based on the glare of her face. This area of the store was small and empty so there was no point in her pretending not to observe the interaction, especially when both kids had acknowledged her separately. And when the boy left, giving Cass a discomforting smile, she did not look away. If he was a student at Hogwarts, she wanted to know his face as one to stay away from.

Cass turned back to the girl, about to ask her who he was, when Mr. Ollivander emerged from somewhere behind the desk. He laid out a variety of wands for her to choose from on the counter. "From your fath-from your cousin, I'd guess phoenix feather, but your kin never fails to surprise me."

It was a curious statement to hear from the wandmaker and Cass wondered if he would say anything about her own family. Did he remember her mother? Her aunts? Her older cousins? Was their wand choosing a smooth experience? Did they leave a good impression as well or was it more disastrous than ceremonious? She almost shuddered at the thought of her aunts aimlessly trying out new wands in the old man's shabby, rickety, vulnerable, perfectly destroyable shop. Some things were best not knowing.

"Now, then, Miss...?" Cass hadn't realized the wizard was speaking to her until she felt his stare like a pinprick on her skin. She made eye contact with him across the way and felt a sudden jolt of... energy? Excitement? Magic? Something that made her hyper-aware of her body under the scrutiny of his gaze. Was she holding herself up right? Were her shoes laced properly? Did her topknot come undone? Would she walk away today knowing she had the right wand in her hands? She supposed there was only one way to find out.

"Cassandra Ledesma, sir," she said, rising from her seat. She walked up to the counter, standing a few feet away from the girl who was looking through her own choices. Would he not finish with her first?

"Ah," Mr. Ollivander said knowingly, "always a pleasure to have a Ledesma in our midst. You look just like your mother when she was your age." Cass smiled politely at the comment, often heard from almost everyone who knew her and Mei. For some reason, it was a satisfying feeling knowing that the wizard who had encountered endless number of faces in his lifetime was already somewhat familiar with hers. "And you've got your father's steady hands, excellent for wandwork."

Cass froze. "What?"

The door burst open and Mr. Ollivander smiled brightly at the newcomer. "We were just talking about you!"

Cassandra's eyes widened. She turned her head slowly, only to be revealed by the sight of her mother with a small handful of bags in her clutches.

"I hope you weren't spilling all my secrets, Mr. Ollivander," Mei said teasingly as she walked up behind Cass. She looked down, noticing the other girl in the shop. "Making friends already, Cassie? Who's this?"

It took the slightest of pauses for Cass to find her voice again. "Mum, this is..." She paused, looking at the brunette. "I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

Clay grimaced. She had noticed the way the girl had looked at her after witnessing her cousin's bitterness. Sometimes she wished that he would lighten up on her around others but it was as if he wanted everyone to know how much he detested her, even if he himself ended up looking like the more horrible one. But luckily Mr. Ollivander stepped right in before she could say anything.

She went back to looking at the wands. So far she has tested three of them and none of them seemed to work for her. Two of them had dragon heartstring and another had something called wampus cat hair. She liked the look of cherry wood but liked how walnut wood felt in hands. Clay didn't know whether wand length really matter but she found that she actually preferred shorter wands to longer. But it didn't matter because none of them worked.

She sighed, running her finger along the grooves of the wand case. This one said 22,5 cm rosewood wand with phoenix feather. She had tried this one and it didn't work either. Sometimes the wands she tried sparked or seemed to vibrate in her hands but when she tried to do anything they remained dead. But this wand had shot a bright yellow spark at a pile of wand cases, making them fall over. She'd thought that it would be the one but the wand just sat there like the others later. She wondered if it had done something because it had phoenix feather in his wand.

Just then someone entered the shop. Clay looked over, half curious, and saw an animated woman who looked very much like the other girl come inside.

"I hope you weren't spilling all my secrets, Mr. Ollivander," she teased, seeming to not mind carrying a ton of shopping bags. Clay glanced from her to the girl, wondering what the girl would say. She didn't seem to pleased about the woman being there.

The woman turned to her. "Making friends already, Cassie? Who's this?"

"Mum, this is..." She paused then looked at Clay. "I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

Again? I never shared it with you before."It's Clay McGlinchy," she replied cheerfully. She wasn't sure about the friends part but she was glad to finally meet another witch close to her age. "I'm here for my first wand 'cause I'm starting my first year at Hogwarts soon. You?"

Clay grabbed a random wand case nearby. From a quick glance she could see that it was made from chestnut wood and snally-something. She didn't care, nor did she think it would work when she picked it up. But boy was she wrong.

She playfully pointed the wand in the girl's direction. It was quite long; she guessed that it was near thirty centimeters in length. She meant to give it to the girl but her wrist moved the wand so quick, mirroring the casting of a spell. Immediately light shot out of the wand, hitting the window near the girl and the woman.

The glass shattered but luckily the wand cases sheltered everyone much from the debris. But before anyone could accidentally touch or step on the glass, Mr. Ollivander flicked his wand at the wand and almost instantly it was repaired.

Clay just stood there in awe, gaping at the wand she held in her hand.

"It would appear that you have found it, Miss McGlinchy...," he chuckled with a slight nod of the head.

The sudden comment about her father and her mother's abrupt entrance shortly after was slightly startling for Cassandra. It was all just eerily timed, especially in such a short timespan. But she tried to shake it off as the girl, Clay, introduced herself. "I'm Cassandra," she responded in kind. "It'll be my first year at Hogwarts too." She knew the chances were low that Clay would be in any of her classes, though it would be nice to see a familiar face once there and hoped she'd at least see her around the school.

As Clay continued testing out wands, Cass and her mom decided to give her space and stepped to the side by a window. "Are you sure you want to buy a wand?" Mei asked her. "I told you, Kuya Fred has an extra that he can give to you."

"And I already told you, I don't want Kuya Fred's wand," Cass insisted, "I want my own wand." The magic of receiving such a masterfully crafted gift, almost specifically made for her hands only, was something she'd been looking forward to. Of course, in her family, everything had to be shared and done together. Cass was never more grateful for the fact that Hogwarts was a boarding school far from home.

Mei smiled at that. "Of course," she assured her, "I just wanted to make sure. You know we're all here to support you however we can."

Cass's heart twinged at that. Despite her eagerness for independence, she knew she would still greatly miss her chaotic family while she was away, especially her mother. "I know. Thank y-"

Just then, a bright beam of light shot between them, shattering the window glass. Mei quickly threw up a shield charm though most of the debris luckily missed them. Eyes wide, Cass turned and saw Clay holding a wand, shocked.

"It would appear that you have found it, Miss McGlinchy." Cassandra heard Mr. Ollivander joking as he repaired the damage.

"Whew! That's got some kick to it, huh?" Mei exclaimed, taking her shield charm down. She stepped forward, reaching out to put a hand on Clay's shoulder. "Looks like quite the match. I wouldn't want to be caught alone in Knockturn Alley with you, that's for sure."

Cass inwardly groaned. "Okay Mom, I think she gets it, you can stop embarrassing her now." She turned to Clay. "Congratulations though, that seems like a great wand for you!" As the last shard of glass clinked back into place on the window, Cass moved to stand by the other girl, smiling at her. "How did that feel?"