JULY 19TH, 2019

“…well?” her dreamy voice answered, in the middle of a daydream.

“Diagon Alley! Birthday! Wand! School Supplies!” exclaimed her cousins Combeferre, who came to visit during the summer holidays. “Aunt Carol says we’d go shopping today, since it’s your birthday, Lynn.” the light brown haired boy said a bit jealously, while continued to eye his own brother. Enjolras, on the other hand, was carelessly opening a book on the beside sofa. “We’d eventually get to the bookstore and the joke shop, Combeferre.” he said peacefully. “You would not be left out.” Lindsey shrugged, and looked up. The adults were downstairs having a conversation, and the four kids were left in the tea parlor on the second floor. Summer was always the time that their aunt, uncle and cousins visited them in England. It was the best of times in a year, bringing laughter and heart warming events to the wizard family in muggle London. Her brother Edmund yawned, and jumped up. “Undoubtedly, Lynn, you would receive a wand.” he said, turning to her, while dragging his own out from his pocket. “C’mon Ferre, let’s go downstairs, it’s boring here.”

******

Sometime later (to Lindsey it seemed a century), the two boys were back. “Know what? They are all gone! Leaving a note here, for you, Enj, although I don’t see the point.” exclaimed Comebeferre, while handing a note to Enjolras. The latter reached it, and lowered his handsome head to read. “…we will hopefully meet at the ice cream palour at five. Take care of the rest of three. And lastly, do not forget, this is a truth or dare game.” he read out loud, beautiful icy blue eyes wandered in the room, and finally landed on her. “But I think the point’s very clear.” hesitating a bit, she pointed out. So their parents and uncle and aunt decided to let them go shopping alone, while they four would have fun having ice cream? She knew that mom and aunt Yve would probably spend sometime shopping, but still, this was unfair. Very intriguing. “He doesn’t see the point of why leaving the note to Enj and not him.” shrugged Edmund. “But seriously, I don’t see the point of why we do not set off now. I’m quite interested in ice cream.”

******

Stepping out of the fireplace and sneezing a bit due to the ashes, Lindsey blinked. Her luxurious chocolate brown eyes curiously wandered around, trying to locate the wand shop as soon as possible. “We could head out for different shops.” Enjolras suggested, while giving a stern look to Combeferre who attempted to slip into the Flourish & Blotts. Edmund hurried from the back, and dragged Combeferre back. “Next time, move after you ask.” he hissed, staring at his younger cousin. Combeferre shrugged. “Enj, I’d like to buy some books.” he said to the eldest blond boy, while turning to Edmund and shrugged innocently. Then he turned to Lindsey with a mischievous yet apologetic smile. “Linnie, my bad, I was the one who had chosen dare instead of truth.”

******

Finally leaving the bubbly boys was a good thing. Throwing her brother and cousins at her back and ventured into the small shop alone, a small smile slowly flew onto her lips. It was dark in there, but still, calming. She had been a usual visitor to the Alley, but this was the first time that she actually stepped into this little shop. Edmund and cruelly rejected her company two years ago, and at that time she was rather frustrated. But now…nah. How childish.

Before she could even utter a word out, a voice slowly started from somewhere at the back of the shop. “Ah, Miss, such a pleasure…please, do step closer.” it was peaceful, yet calming. In the darkness she caught a glimpse of a white head, somewhere behind the counter. She silently approached.

“Hello, Mr Ollivander.” she greeted, in a rather calm but yet excited tone. “Hogwarts student, huh? Welcome, welcome, Miss…?” his kind eyes landed on her. “Springhall, sir.” she answered, with a small smile. The name shouldn’t be unacquainted to this old man…for her family had been shopping here for wands for centuries, possibly.

“Ah, yes, Miss Springhall.” he confirmed, as if trying to remember something. “Me, my father, and my ancestors have met lots of Springhalls in our lives…great wizards, they were. But there’re hardly better ones than your uncle and father. And of course your mother. Such an admirable woman…” she quietly listened with a little pride. Her father was a good Ministry official, carrying out his works faithfully, while her mother did well in the medical field of St. Mungos. “…alright, let’s begin our very ceremony, probably? Raise up your dominant hand, Miss, I believe it’s the right?”

In the middle of confusion and excitement she let Mr Ollivander helped her to measure every single corner of her body. Merlin, this was detailed. She was eager to jump straight to the wand part, but her sense told her that this was necessary. Oh well. Then let it be.

Finally Mr Ollivander disappeared in search of wands in his back room. It wasn’t long before he returned, with a beautiful decorated box in his hand. Her chocolate brown eyes widened with excite. This would be her own wand, her very first own wand. “Let’s see if this one fits you, Miss Springhall. Aspen wood and dragon heartstring core, 28 centimeters, swishy, ideal for fighters and could perform wonderful attacking spells. Give it a wave, Miss.” he handed an ivory colored wand to her. It was breathtakingly gorgeous to the eleven year old, which she took cautiously.

A vase fell down from the counter, and broke into pieces. She jumped back in horror, when the old man quickly grabbed the wand in her hand away. “No, no, clearly not this one. Try this instead. Willow wood and unicorn hair, 30 centimeters, unyielding, very good at casting healing spells and seeks a kind hearted owner.” he gave her another wand. This one was less beautiful than the last, but still pretty enough for her to admire. But before she could give it a wave, Mr Ollivander took it away from her. “No, no, we’d try another.”

“Hornbeam wood, phoenix feather core…” BANG! “Vine wood, unicorn hair…” CRASH! “Acacia wood, snallygaster heartstring core…” BANG! “Pear wood, thunderbird tail feather…” CRASH! …

She was almost getting disappointed. Really, none of these wands liked her? What would her father say if she went home without a wand? What if she was a squib after all, and Hogwarts had sent their letter to the wrong person? She couldn’t remember her first magic very well, but according to her mother she opened a locked door with bare hands. Huh. That sounded like a made-up story…

“I’d say we should give a little try to this one. It was made by me years ago, when I was still a quite young lad… rather an interesting match…34.2cm beech wood and phoenix feather…bendy, rather powerful, but requires to be firmly handled and expects conviction form its owner. Here, give it a wave.” he opened a well decorated box, where a light brown colored wand lied peacefully. She reached out to touch it. “It’s pretty.” she muttered, looking at the wand admirably. “Beech wood wands are known for richly hued and looking handsome.” the old man suggested, as if he had heard her words.

Her long fingers touched it, and picked it up. It was strange. For some reasons she didn’t feel the rather unpleasant feeling of touching the former wands, and instead, it felt smooth and calm. Almost as soon as she touched it, Lindsey felt a warmth coming from the wand, slowly streamed into her fingers and to the very bottom of her toes. She felt like she found a long lost friend. Upon her wave, the wand glowed.

“Has it chosen you, Miss?” Mr Ollivander’s peaceful voice started from behind of the counter. Silently she nodded. “I think so, sir.” she said, while continuing stroking the wand. It was beautiful, with the rich hue… “Beech wood wands seek wise and open minded wizards. Miss Springhall would definitely grow into smart, upright witch, just like your parents.”

Yes. Smart and trustworthy, that would be her goal. She would, in her future years, try to become a better self. She would broad the train soon, and then get sorted, and then learn as much as she could. She would graduate, and then get a job in the Ministry, and then…she had beautiful dreams. And it all started here. Her eleventh birthday. She half closed her eyes, with the warmth still lingering in her palm, she felt that this small, dark shop became larger and brighter.

The peace was disturbed. Her brother Edmund broke in, stricking the door hard and stroming towards her. “Lynn! It’s been late. Mom’s worried, and sent me to seek you. You spent all these time…here?” he looked around, as if he found it impossible for her to stay here for such a long time. “Yeah…guess so.” she said quietly. “It had been a hard work, Mr Springhall.” Mr Ollivander jumped in. “But we are pleased to see that our efforts had paid off. Wish you a good day, Miss.” he nodded to her. “Good luck at Hogwarts. And please, do take care of your wand, Miss Springhall.”

******

“Beech wood? I mean, my dear, that’s one of the prettiest.” uttered Combeferre, looking at her wand. “Our birthday angel deserves it.” suggested Enjolras, while looking at his young cousin with a caring smile that hardly shown up on his perfect lips. “But all in all this would be your companion, Lynn. Proud of you.” concluded Edmund.

A charming smile flew onto her face. With her chin resting on the windowsill and eyes gazing down to the night London streets, she whispered, mostly to herself. “It’ll be a completely new life from now on…with you.” she gently touched her new wand. “I mean, happy birthday to me.”