Dialogue: English | Mandarin Thoughts: X

Friday, 26th August 2022

Reducio

Ying was beside herself with happiness as she walked the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley for the first time accompanied by her brother and her kind caretaker. Everything about that place was enchanted and imbued in magic. All the buildings looked old, but at the same time they had more life than anywhere else Ying had been! Their colors were so vivid and bright, even the most inanimate object seemed to gain life or about too at any minute. Ying knew about magic, had seen some fractions of it, had read a lot about it, but this? This was something else, nothing in her imagination could have ever reached close to what she was seeing and feeling at that moment.

Even the sounds were captivating, the way witches and wizards were enthusiastically speaking to each other, with all their fancy and colorful clothes. Specially the hats, Ying was looking with interest at those pieces of fashion, some were even more extravagant then those hats that she was used to see on royalty events. "Why is that person using an embalmed cat in their hat?" Ying whispered to her brother when they passed through a woman wearing dark long robes. The woman looked at Ying with a devilish smile, as if she were one of those evil witches from fairy tales. Something about her made Ying feel alert and a cold shiver ran down her spine, she instinctively grabbed her brother's arm as her eyes followed the woman until she disappeared into the busy street. A breath of relief escaped the young girl's lips as soon as she was sure the woman was gone, "Sorry!" She apologized to Ming releasing his arm, "What was that?" She asked with a mix of fear and curiosity. Obviously she knew that the woman was a witch, maybe that had been a more rhetorical question then anything else, but the way the woman had looked at her...was like she was carrying darkness and all the wrong kinds of energy around her.

Fortunately they didn't had to walk much longer until Ying forgets all about that scarce moment. They were finally at the first's store entrance, the first place she wanted to go, the wand's shop! Lets face it, that was one of the most important items if she wanted to become a witch, was like, as soon as she would have it she would feel an official witch! She hadn't found much readings about wands and their components, she just knew they were made of different wood types and cores. She had also read that it's not the wizard or witch who chooses their wands, but instead was the wand who chooses their owner. This was an interesting concept for Ying, it added another hint of magic making it more mystical.

On the facade worn by time were big golden letters forming the name OLLIVANDERS, it was a famous shop, apparently it's owner was one of the best wandmakers of all times. Ying walked excited in front of their group, with her small delicate hand she opened the door and crossed the threshold, as her feet entered the shop a doorbell rang to announcing the new costumers. The young girl couldn't help looking around in wonder at the tall, overstuffed shelves that lined every wall from floor to ceiling. Her eyes were only diverted towards the shop counter once a voice came from behind it, "Oh Mr. Fang, so nice to see you again!" The old man greeted Ming with a slight nod of his head, before turning his silvery gaze towards her, "And Miss Fang, I was waiting for you!" he said with a kind smile. Ying felt surprise with such warm welcoming, and how in hell the old man knew about her? "Waiting for me...sir?" She asked feeling a bit uncomfortable, not knowing what to say or how to proceed after hearing that. The old man gave a soft laugh before replying in an amused tone of voice, "Yes, yes I was!" He gave as he winked at Ming with his hands propped on his hips. Ying thought that the man looked quite aloof but at same time he was being kind and funny. He was now looking up at the shelve behind the small dark-haired girl, "I believe you came to buy your wand..." He started to say, his eyes seemed to be searching for something in the middle of all those boxes, "Yes?" He asked more abruptly towards her. Ying almost gave a jump, and moved away when he came her direction with decisive steps. She saw as the old man placed the moving stairs in front of him and climbed it to the top picking at dusty brown wooden box. He hold it at the palm of his hand and blew on it to get rid of the dirty powder. "Here we go!" He said jovially coming down the steps and opening the old box in front of Ying, "Aspen wood and Unicorn hair core, a wand for a good charmer with pure heart. Common, pick it up!" He said gently offering the wand for her to try it. Ying hesitated a little with her hand hovering on top of the white wooden wand, sharing a look with her brother like if she was asking for his encouragement, before she decided to grab the wand. As soon as her fingers touched the light colored wand, the candles that were lightning the room twinkled quickly and a cold breeze passed through them making her shiver with goosebumps. "Nop, not this one!" Mr. Ollivander said closing the box and placing it on the counter.

"Well then...let's see..." He said with a contemplative stance with his right hand grabbing his chin while starting to search again through the shelves. "Is this...normal?" Ying whispered towards her brother, not sure if she should feel worried or not. Hasn’t passed much time until the old shopkeeper made his way towards another dusty box and like before, he placed it in front of Ying for her to grab it. “Chestnut wood and snallygaster heartstring. Very selective of the owner it chooses.” He stated, lifting one of his eyebrow in a questioning stance. “Selective?” Ying doubtfully asked, not quite sure what the old wizard was trying to say with that. If it was that rigorous she had serious problems believing it would choose her, she was far from being perfect, even if she tries to be. And like she had predicted the wand refused to properly function in her hold. She gave it a flip but still, nothing happened. “I guess this one doesn’t work too!” She said with a soft smile looking at Mr. Ollivander giving him an apologetic stare. “Don’t worry child!” He said with a small and understanding chuckle. “I guess I have to search for it with more careful” he admitted.

“Did you had to try it more then once too?” Ying asked to Ming, concern was evident in her voice and features. She was scared that something was wrong with her, after all, she hadn’t born in a magical family, as long as she knew no one in her family tree had been a wizard or a witch...at least none were wearing a hat decorated with a stuffed animal in the old photos...

Her thoughts were interrupted then, when Mr. Ollivander walked again towards her and her brother. In his hands, he was now holding a dark purple cardboard box. Ying peeked into the box as the old man crouched down slightly in front of her, showing her its contents. It was a medium brown wand with spirals on the handle. "Mayhaw wood and dragon heartstring. Pliable, cheeky and malicious!" The wandmaker said with a twinkle in his silver eyes, "This wand is perfect for witches that can take it to exciting and amusing adventures!" He explained with a mischievous smirk illuminating his wrinkled and agreeable face. Ying suddenly felt excited, hearing that description made her want to be chosen by that wand, something about it made her feel expectant for it and she felt a tendril of anxiety swirl inside of her making her feel a soft pressure in her stomach. Taking a deep breath she picked up the soft wooden wand, Ying felt the wood immediately warmer, making it more comfortable, as if it had become an extension of his own arm and not a cold, foreign object. A wide smile of pure joy graced her soft pink lips while her face was illuminated by a soft golden light emanating from her wand, yes...her wand! "Yes! I knew it!" Mr. Ollivander blurted with what could be seen as happiness and excitement. "Thank you Mr. Ollivander!" Ying said with a sweet smile, putting her wand at its rightful box. "What's next?" She joyfully asked to her brother not wanting to wait to see the next magical shop.

Interacting with: @Fang Hui-Ming