─────────────────────────────────────────────────

#000000 - her dialogues #706b5c - others

location: Ollivanders, Diagon Alley date: August 2024

interacting with: solo

─────────────────────────────────────────────────

THE COBBLESTONES ALONG the streets at Diagon Alley seemed to hum with life as Analeia walked through the bustling crowds and holding her parents hands. Her eyes remained wide open as she took in every new sight she could see from the noisy flock of owls at the Magical Menagerie, and the glittering displays of potion ingredients at the Apothecary Shop, to the loud laughter of children as they tried out some joke products they bought from the store Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

Her dad, Cairo, squeezed her hand gently, giving her reassuring smile as he guided her through the crowd. "Stick close, Annie. It's easy to get lost in the crowd," he murmured as her mother, Analyn, followed through with her eyes glimmering with nostalgic excitement.

It was the world that she had learned and discover through her parents during bedtime stories, and now, it's right here in front of her. Just the thought of experiencing their magical stories was exciting, she was practically bubbling with anticipation.

Just then, they all stopped in front of a shop that made her lips parted open in awe. Ollivanders. The narrow shop looms, tucked between two larger storefronts and the way the dusty windows and faded signs give that air of quiet mystery made her feel eager and hesitate. She really is getting her wand now...

"Go on, little chronicler," her father encouraged, nudging her a bit to walk forward. "The wand chooses the wizard, remember?"

She slowly nodded at his words before taking a deep breath and entering the shop with them. Right. The wand chooses the wizard.

She can smell the old wood and dust around as she looked at the shelves stretched up to the ceiling, full of narrow boxes. A shuffling could be heard from the back of the store before an elderly man appeared with his pale eyes that almost seemed to glow in the dim light that almost made her to gasp in either awe or shock. Well, the stare was quite intimidating in her opinion.

"Welcome—oh..." the man murmured, studying her with a piercing gaze and a small gentle smile... or at least that's what she thought it was supposed to be. "Red hair and eyes that resembles the sea. Another Nicastro, I see. Your first wand, yes?"

Analeia swallowed before nodding. "Yes, sir."

His lips quirked in a small movement as he turned and started pulling boxes from the shelves. "Let's now find you a match, shall we? Maybe something flexible, curious... and rightfully independent of mind as it's always like that in that household, yes Cairo Nicastro?"

She looked at her father who was stifling a smile. "Yes, Sir. It always is."

The old man put the boxes and gently held out the wand... it was a rather elegant ebony. She held it gingerly, afraid that gripping it too tight might snap it into two. She doesn't want to go breaking wands right before she entered Hogwarts. She waved it just like he had instructed instructed but she immediately jumped at the loud bang it caused. She put it back to the table as if it just burned her.

"Nope, nope, definitely not." The old man snatched it back before handing out another. This time it was a yew and... what core was it again? Dragon heartstring? She gave it another wave but it only messed up the closet at the side of the room.

As she tried one wand after another, each of the fail attempts made her shoulders to sag little by little. Her parents cheer her up as the old man returned with another box. "Here. Try this. Chestnut, snallygaster heartstring. Twenty-four point three centimeters. Rather bendy and an excellent choice of wand for the inventive minds."

She stared intently at the thin, polished wand with a small curious look before taking it, mentally hoping that it won't make a mess again in the office if she waved it. Just as her fingers wrapped around the handle, she was taken aback by the warm, golden glow that suddenly enveloped the room as a soft breeze rustled through the shop. Her lips was parted open as she stared at the wand, clearly feeling that pulse of energy that seem to mimic her own heartbeat.

The old man wore a look of satisfaction. "Yes, that is the wand. Curious one, very fond of those who seek knowledge beyond the obvious... of the surface. A fitting match indeed," he said.

She was radiating with joy, her cheeks flushing from the exhilaration that seemed to overflow in her. "Thank you, Sir," she said as she stared back at her wand in awe.

The man just inclined his head at her gratitude. "Take good care of it. Such wands can be... temperamental if left idle."

She nodded and took note of it before rushing to her parents who immediately smiled. Her mother hugged her tight. "Well done, love," she said. "That was quite a show."

"Me cleaning the mess isn't," her father chimed with an amused chuckle. "And chestnut and snallygaster? That's quite a pair to have, little chronicler."

Analeia beamed with pride at her parents as they left the shop to continue shopping her supplies for the upcoming term. Well, she couldn't wait to use it just like how her parents do magic... performing great spells even without uttering any words. But for now, she'll focus on buying her textbooks—and maybe ask her father if he'll buy her new history books as well.

_{word count: 920 words, 5,184 characters.}