N/A - Solo

Late August, 2024

Not so far above the bustling city of London, thick, dark clouds hung low, casting the boroughs in a dull, grey light, rendering almost everything slightly muted. This was not an uncommon occurrence by any stretch, particularly during fall. Yet, the air still carried some weight to it. Something felt unusual and uncomfortable; for a certain girl, at least.

A relatively young adult witch, whose visage was partially blocked by a deep burgundy cashmere scarf that was wrapped snugly around her neck, held a large, dark umbrella above herself and above an even younger copy of herself. The young girl didn't stand out in particular, except for a deep-blue bow that neatly tied her long, black and silky hair together. The two were shielded from the light drizzle that has begun to fall. It drummed against the umbrella's canopy with no particular rhythm.

Despite this gloomy day, the alley - which ran by the name of Diagon Alley - was kinetic and full of life. Various shops were thriving just as on any other day. The young girl's eyes bounced around, scanning each shop's signage. If it weren't for the adult accompanying her, one could easily assume that she was lost. But not her mother. Each of her step was taken with intent, as if she was a regular.

"Rest assured, dear - Ollivanders is the best wandmaker in all of Great Britain."

A mother's intuition; she felt her daughter's concerns, but it wasn't enough to squash the reluctance.

"Everything is just.. it's all going too fast", Maya broke her silence, at last. "What if I don't like any of the wands?"

The mother donned a warm smile at her young one and softly spoke up.

"It's okay to feel nervous, pumpkin. The right wand will find you. It's not about liking it instantly; it's about finding the one that feels just right. I'll stay inside with you, I promise."

Maya couldn't help it. She mirrored her mother's contagious smile and nodded with a rekindled sense of courage.

Among the rows of architectures, a narrow, tall and slightly crooked building nestled between its neighbours. It has definitely seen better decades. The front of the shop was dominated by dusty, multi-paned window, through which faint throbbing glows of lights can be seen. Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C., an impressive sign read. Maya and her mother locked eyes for a split moment before she approached the entrance. The small wooden door, with brass handles that have dulled over time from countless wizards and witches before her, creaked open and the duo stepped inside with a hint of reluctance.

This timeless shop was dimly lit. Most of the light came from narrow, flickering candles and a few old lanterns, some of which had a layer of soot built-up from over the years. Tall shelves rose up to the ceiling, filled with seemingly-infinite number of narrow boxes, each containing a wand, waiting to pick out their wizard. The furniture seemed to have gone on forever. It was magical. As Maya took a step further into the shop, a faint, musty scent of ancient wood and parchment glided past her nostrils. She found it quite pleasant, actually. The entire shop was ... quiet, but for the occasional crackling of the flames, or the soft hum of magical energy, as if the wands were aware of Maya's presence.

Maya took another step in, emitting yet another creak. The unmanned front desk was small and cluttered with various tools, scrolls and parchments.

One more step in, followed by a similar creak of the wooden floor panel. At last, an elderly man popped his head out from behind a rickety ladder that was leaned against the shelves. Behind his greying bushy beard, a faint smile appeared.

"Ah, Ms. Cho! I knew you'd be back someday", the old man huffed out a chuckle.

Maya immediately arched her eyebrows. How does he know who I am? As the man searched around the shelves, Maya's mother suddenly spoke up.

"Hello, Mr. Ollivander, it's been quite a while! Maya's about to find her first wand."

The mother cupped Maya's shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. She glanced up at her parent and gradually eased her posture, appearing less apprehensive. By the time she looked back, the old man was on the top of the flimsy ladder, elbow-deep in a shelf. Mr. Ollivander procured himself three identical boxes that contained three very distinct wands. He carefully stepped off the ladder and wobbled up to the front desk where he placed two out of those boxes down on top of a pile of parchments.

"Here, try this one. Hazel wood, eleven inches. Infused with the tail feather of a Thunderbird. Very flexible!"

Mr. Ollivander held the opposite end of the wand as he held it out to Maya. The girl gripped the handle and examined it. It was light brown in hue, though it carried a subtle yet warm undertone. Its handle was intricately hand-carved with a swirling pattern. It was comfortable. Despite that, the wand was as useful to Maya as any other twig from a tree. Mr. Ollivander let out a quiet hum and slipped the wand out of the girl's hand, and he promptly packed it back up.

"Thought not. No trouble, we're getting closer", and Mr. Ollivander offered a brand new wand out to the girl. "Let's see this one.. Walnut wood with Dragon heartstring. Sturdy, but not quite."

Once again, Maya held tightly onto the wand. It was richer and deeper brown in colour, and carried itself with an intricate grain pattern. It appeared rugged and natural. The handle itself bore no decoration, it was minimalistic in design, but it did feature a slight indentation that helped with the grip. Maya just stared at both the wand and the wandmaker. The only emotion that she felt brewing was anxiety. Perhaps she was right earlier and will never find the correct wand. However, Mr. Ollivander did not share the same scepticism. He hurriedly picked the wand out of the girl's hand and rushed back to the shelves with the two other boxes. It was apparent that he felt something that his customers did not.

"We're on the right track! Indeed, walnut wood was the right call, but Dragon heartstring? What was I thinking", muttered to himself the wandmaker. Maya just stood by her mother as she curiously awaited the arrival of the man.

"Walnut wood, much like the previous wand. Infused with unicorn hair. Try it", said the wandmaker and he approached the girl yet again, a new wand in hand. While its colour and wood type was the same, it felt and appeared slightly longer. The handle was beautifully designed with intricate carvings. As Maya gripped it with comfort, a piercing white glow appeared about halfway through the thirteen inches long wand. Her mother shared Mr. Ollivander's enthusiasm as they both watched on eagerly.

"Many highly intelligent witches and wizards have walked this shop, and certainly most have left with a walnut wand. Unicorn hair. This wand, she's a loyal one. Use it well and you won't have issues."

Maya's eyes were glued to the wand. The light gradually faded away to reveal a new logogram carved into the base. 智慧 Knowledge. A soft gasp escaped her lips before the corners would curl into a gentle smile. She felt.. different. It was unexplainable.

"It's... beautiful", she softly whispered as her fingertip ran over the freshly minted logograph. Her mother, whose hand gently squeezed the young girl's shoulder, sniffled and tears glistened in her eyes. She overlooked with a sense of pride as she quietly whispered back.

"It's perfect, Maya. It chose you."

The Cho ladies thanked the wandmaker in unison, who was carefully wrapping the new wand in a protective paper. With the box in hand, Maya joyously skipped out of the shop. The bell above the door quietly jingled as it closed behind them. To only Maya's surprise, the dark clouds have already parted, which revealed a clear, bright blue sky. For once in London, the sun warmly shined over the alley. The general patrons and passer-byers of Diagon Alley seemed more relaxed and cheerful to Maya. She was finally at ease and it reflected.