August 2nd, 2025
Morning

Hogwarts! Tabitha Murrey had been accepted into Hogwarts! To be fair, it had never been a question or if—or even when—she’d known practically all her life that it was inevitable for her but that did nothing to dampen the delight. It also helped that her siblings and cousins had not stopped telling her their exciting stories or excited wishes or just excited sounds in her honor since she read her letter.

It had been a beaming James, her fifteen-year-old cousin, who had waved the envelope in front of Tabitha’s face as she completely annihilated her brother Edison at Wizard Chess. The game was entirely disregarded (and swept to the floor, hiding just how many of Edison’s pieces had been overtaken) and shouts resounded through the house. People began to crowd as Tabitha tore through the flap to slide the parchment carefully out, her hands trembling with barely contained excitement. Official acceptance into the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry.

If there was one thing that Tabitha loved, it was shopping. Especially with her mom and her Aunt Celine. The fact that her invitation letter was paired with a shopping list to get from Diagon Alley was especially special. That meant Tabby’s first time at Diagon Alley and a day of shopping revolving around herself. Going to Hogwarts meant a new not-passed-down cauldron and robes and her own hat and a whole bunch of new outfits and hopefully even a gown for a school function or two. The prospect alone had her beaming. She had watched how many things Edison had been given at his acceptance and finally, finally, it was Tabitha’s turn to go into the center stage.

It was a delight to use the Floo network and she felt the childhood joy rise up in her as her curly hair went frizzy for a moment when she stepped through. Tabitha remained right at her mother’s side with her protective, warm hand resting on Tabby’s shoulder. However the moment the brick wall gave way to the stunning lights and sounds of Diagon Alley, Tabitha felt a grin creep onto her face and she took a few delighted steps forward to take it in. The magic of every other time she went shopping was quick to take over. The tales from her parents and her aunts and uncles didn’t compare to the feeling of delight the one street held.

Tabitha’s father was held up with work in his office, but her mom, Uncle Louis and Aunt Celine , their children James and Summer, and her Aunt Sawyer all agreed to come along and ‘help hold things’ as Aunt Sawyer put it. It was only near midday by the time they had already purchased plenty of the necessary supplies from her acceptance letter along with some extra treats. Many hands were full, though none of them were Tabby’s. Her hands were free to point at things and feel fabrics and wave around excitedly when she saw small toys and trinkets that caught her eye.



The overjoyed tone of their shopping was dulled to something a bit more serious as they approached Ollivanders. Even Tabitha picked up on the shift and she straightened her posture to match that taught to her for galas and events. Despite the boundless amounts of stories Tabitha had been subjected to about acceptance into Hogwarts and the fact that wands were always held in the hands of the adults around her, she really didn’t remember much about how the wands were selected. Aside from the phrase the wand chooses the wizard.

Tabby’s mother knelt on one knee and straightened the collar of Tabitha’s dress, giving her a kiss right on the middle of her hairline before backing up to look her in the eyes. “This is a very special moment, Tabby.” She tucked a ringlet of hair behind Tabitha’s ear with a smile. “Just be yourself, the right wand will choose you.”

With those words, Tabitha was ushered inside and then left on the other side of the doorway by herself. The bustle of the street and her family was entirely blocked to a muffle as the door swept shut. The store was a smidge dusty and her eyes were immediately drawn to the general clutter. Slim wand boxes filled overstuffed shelves and piled too-many high on every available space—including the floor.

“Mister Ollivander?" Tabitha could feel the waver to her voice just as well as she could hear it. Thankfully the silence only drew on for a moment before she heard the shuffle of feet and a head poked out from behind a particularly tall stack of wand boxes.

“Is that the voice of the next young Murrey?” He clapped his hands once with delight and quickly wove his way to approach her, “Ah, a lovely family. All forms of curious disposition. I take it you take after them?”

“Um.”

“Ah no matter, we shall find out soon enough. Here.” While giving her no more time to contemplate what the proper response would be, he presented a box towards her, sliding back the lid to reveal a long, slim stick rest in the satin-like storage. Tabitha held her breath, looking between him and the box. He chuckled but pushed the box a nudge closer to her. “Not to worry, it will let you know if it is has not chosen you, but it will not cause harm. Give it a go.”

Tabitha slid the wand out and took one step back. Her wrist flicked in a circle, similar to how she’d seen her father do it to refill a cup. Instead, several boxes shot from their shelves to topple onto the floor. Tabitha immediately dropped the wand back into the box. “Oh, I apologize, Mister Ollivander.”

“Not to worry! Perhaps something more flexible. . . rigidity does not seem to bode well with you. . . and perhaps something, hm, suited to your pureness, your. . . loveliness.”

Tabitha felt her eyebrow raise, shuffling in spot once as he wove through the shelves, muttering to himself. He turned to beckon her with a wave and Tabitha followed hesitantly. He grabbed a wand from a top shelf. “Your mother also had a wand with dragon heartstring-- Norwegian Ridgeback to be specific. I don’t believe the spitfire matches your temperament as well but perhaps something similar.”

When the box was offered her way, Tabitha picked up the light wooden stick and gave it a more gentle swirl. This time a bright bang echoed down the hall and a bit of warmth washed over her; the aggressive reaction from the wand prompted Mr. Ollivander to practically take the wand from her hand to file it away, “Most certainly not.”

Three more wands were trailed with no reaction from each of them. Not a glimmer, not a shuffle from a nearby box. It was almost as if the sticks were entirely inert, just real sticks picked up from a forest floor. Tabitha felt herself lose hope. Maybe Ollivander didn’t have the wand that would choose her. Maybe she didn’t have her own wand. Could she come back later? Her family was still waiting outside for her. How long would it take before they ushered her away with hasty apologies and promised to come back later or use a hand-me-down wand. Which doesn’t even exist yet. Maybe they would have to create it specifically for her.

The next wand came in a rosy box with a fluffy interior. The wand itself had a slightly pink hue to it, the color reminded her slightly of her first instance of magic when her previously blue dress spontaneously shifted to a magenta as she walked through the doors into a gala. When she picked up the wand, it felt. . . right. It fit perfectly into her hand. Tabitha felt her hand swish almost without thinking and a gorgeous soft glow emanated from the tip.

“Ah, I should have known. 23.6 cm rosewood and dragon heartstring. Bendy. Choosing a wizard who sticks with their convictions and are brave to be themselves.” He gave a nod, handing the box over for her to set the wand inside—she struggled to let it go, it felt so familiar. “Rosewood is attracted to lovely wielders. Your grandmother, Angela, has a rosewood wand as well.”

Tabitha paid for the wand in a dreamy state, immediately drawing it out of the box as she exited Ollivanders to show to her waiting family. They had found another group to talk to, a few slightly familiar faces that Tabitha didn’t remember. Summer, her cousin a year younger, immediately jumped and grabbed her upper arm too tight. “It’s so pretty!” The squeal drew the rest of the group’s attention and Tabitha beamed as she presented the wand to the group.

“Oh it's gorgeous,” Aunt Celine murmured.

“It’s perfect!” Tabitha announced, giving the wand an elegant twirl.