There was a tinkling sound as the bell above the door jingled when Nastasia entered into Ollivander’s Wand shop. Trying to to look as confident as she could she began walking toward the counter. Deep down she was terrified. Everything was so new to her and her perfectionist streak always made her feel she had to act and do things perfectly.
She looked around at the rows of wands stacked all over the shelves but no one was in sight.
“Hello?” She called out.
There was a pause and then something shuffled in the back.
Nastasia squinted her eyes in the half light of the shop. An old man with white plumy hair appeared carrying a stack of wand boxes.
“Ahh! Miss Bleck!” he exclaimed with delight. “I’ll be with you in just a moment.” He began putting the wand boxes on the shelf.
Nastasia nodded politely but was intrigued as to how he knew her name. She’d never even met this person before but of course everyone knows Mr. Ollivander’s name.
“Sir, how did you know my name?” She asked astonished.
Mr. Ollivander let out a little chuckle. “I remember every wand I’ve ever sold. Your mother’s was Ebony and thestral tail hair 12 3/4 inches, while your father’s was Mayhaw and thunderbird tail feather 13 1/2 inches. Seems like only yesterday that they were off to Hogwarts for the first time.” He said nostalgically.
“Now,” he began as he dusted off his shirt. “Let me get your measurements.”
Nastasia waited patiently as he began measuring her height.
“Mmm hmm!” He nodded. “I have just the wand for you.” He quickly went over to the shelf on the far right and pulled out a wand from the second column.
“Here we are! Go ahead and give it a try. Hornbeam with phoenix feather core, 13 1/2 inches.”
He handed the wand to Nastasia who took it eagerly and instinctively gave it a swish. A blast of wind erupted from the wand, knocking out a whole row of wands that were so neatly stacked along the counter.
Nastasia quickly gave the wand to Ollivander. She was so embarrassed that she wished a hole would open up and swallow her.
“Well clearly not.” Mr. Ollivander said scratching his plumy hair. “Fear not, for its very rare that a wand is ever paired with on the first try.” He reassured as he disappeared into the back. A brief moment passed and this time Ollivander returned with several wand boxes.
He reached for the first box and again handed Nastasia the wand.
“Let’s try Pine with Snallygaster heartstring, 9 1/2 inches.”
Nastasia held out the wand. She noticed the color was a bit paler than the last one. She gave it a flick and some of the books on a nearby table began to flap as if they were birds and began flying around the store.
Mr. Ollivander took out his own wand and nullified the books with a quick wave of his wand.
Nastasia was awe struck. Though the wand still didn’t quite work it was a bit less destructive than last time and she rather enjoyed watching the bird like books.
“Definitely not!” Mr. Ollivander proclaimed shaking his head.
Nastasia began to wonder if there even was a wand suited to her.
“I wonder if...” Mr. Ollivander’s voice trailed off as he glanced not to the stack of wands he had brought but his gaze was fixed on one of the wand boxes in the back.
He took a glance at a bewildered Nastasia before he went farther back into the shop and quickly reappeared holding a new wand in hand. This one was a bit of a mixture of brown and black.
“I believe this may be the one for you. Walnut and Kelpie Hair, 11 1/4 inches. Pliable, very appropriate for duelists. Efficient for both attacks and defensive spells.”
Nastasia took a deep breath and grasped it. Immediately she felt a warm rushing sensation, so different from the others. This time with a confident flick, a burst of sparkles lit the air.
“I should have known.” Ollivander mused. Nastasia turned to him with a big smile on her face.
“Quite often intelligent witches ought to be offer a walnut wand first for trial as 9 cases out of 10, the two will find in each other their ideal mate.” He said with a smile.
“Thank you so much sir! It’s perfect!” She couldn’t stop admiring her wand as it fit perfectly in her hand.
Another tinkling at the door sounded as her mother Rowena entered.
“Oh!” She gasped. “Did you find your wand?” She said with a sweet smile.
“That she did.” Ollivander said with a satisfied wink.
“I finally have my own wand!” Nastasia breathed, barely able to contain her excitement.
“That’s wonderful.” Her mother said proudly. Turning to Mr. Ollivander, her mother handed the required galleons for the purchase of the wand. Mr. Ollivander accepted it graciously with a smile.
“Now come on, your father’s just finishing up buying the last of your school books.” Mrs. Bleck said as she began leading Nastasia out the door.
“Oh!” Nastasia paused and turned toward Ollivander. “Thank you so much for my wand!”
Mr. Ollivander waved with a smile.
“You’re welcome but I only helped the wand find you as it is the wand that chooses the witch or wizard. I look forward to seeing you accomplish great things!”
Feeling hopeful, Nastasia smiled back and exited the shop with her mother to meet up with her father at Flourish and Blotts.