The red oak wood
Saturday 23rd of August 2025.
I feel anxious. I am clutching onto my mother's wizard robe as we enter the magnificent - or so I thought - Ollivander's, makers of fine wands. For such a little girl as me, everything seems so big. Of course, having older siblings, I have come here before, but I do not really remember it. I remember Diagon Alley as a whole, far better than this particular shop. Speaking of siblings, mine went to buy their school supplies on their own. Spending time with their little sister for her very first school year at Hogwarts would be too much to ask. What a bother! I don't care, they're stupid anyway.
Too soon for my taste, it is my turn. I feel too shy to talk and clutch onto my mom even harder, stepping back. The explains our reason for coming here today. Other customers are waiting. I see my parents whispering to each other, but I cannot hear them. Now they're looking at me. What are they saying? Is there something wrong?
"Eden honey, you should be fully experiencing this moment. It is a very unique one in a wizard's life." starts mom. I don't like where this is going. "How about we let you enjoy it? We'll be at the back, cheering for you." she says with a soft smile.
"No! Don't leave me alone!" I say as a protest. The first words people from the store can hear from my mouth. But they're already stepping back, giving me some thumbs up like it's gonna erase their shameful betrayal. I look in front of me, only to find the employee giving me a wand to try out.
I feel anxious. I am clutching onto my mother's wizard robe as we enter the magnificent - or so I thought - Ollivander's, makers of fine wands. For such a little girl as me, everything seems so big. Of course, having older siblings, I have come here before, but I do not really remember it. I remember Diagon Alley as a whole, far better than this particular shop. Speaking of siblings, mine went to buy their school supplies on their own. Spending time with their little sister for her very first school year at Hogwarts would be too much to ask. What a bother! I don't care, they're stupid anyway.
Too soon for my taste, it is my turn. I feel too shy to talk and clutch onto my mom even harder, stepping back. The explains our reason for coming here today. Other customers are waiting. I see my parents whispering to each other, but I cannot hear them. Now they're looking at me. What are they saying? Is there something wrong?
"Eden honey, you should be fully experiencing this moment. It is a very unique one in a wizard's life." starts mom. I don't like where this is going. "How about we let you enjoy it? We'll be at the back, cheering for you." she says with a soft smile.
"No! Don't leave me alone!" I say as a protest. The first words people from the store can hear from my mouth. But they're already stepping back, giving me some thumbs up like it's gonna erase their shameful betrayal. I look in front of me, only to find the employee giving me a wand to try out.
Last edited by Eden Byrne on 23 Oct 2025, 20:55, edited 1 time in total.
UTC/GTM+2
The red oak wood
I look around swallowing thickly and narrowing my brows.Maybe the wand will help me be able to control it…I tried reasoning with myself as I tense and look up at my Dad, who's been unusually fussy with me since we entered diagonal Diagon alley.
"i'm fine dad, I can handle myself," I grumbled, despite the fact I knew I was only 40.8kg but I mean, I am tall for my age. That ought to at least give me some advantage.
Dad raised an eyebrow grinning, he looked around before nodding to the door and stepping to the side taking out a cigarette. "Go on then."
"ugh-seriously?" I huffed and rolled my eyes .
"Yeh asked for it," Lev flicked on a lighter. I opened the door a bit too roughly and stood looking around. bastard The shop smelled strongly of wood..gee, I wonder why. I noticed all of the first years wearing cloaks and other weird wizarding clothing, and their own parents or grandparents, a small girl clung to her mother as she came up to the counter. I put my hands in the pockets of my worn out brown jacket.
"SHIT-," I didn't see where I was going and tripped over a raised wood beam, tumbling down…
"i'm fine dad, I can handle myself," I grumbled, despite the fact I knew I was only 40.8kg but I mean, I am tall for my age. That ought to at least give me some advantage.
Dad raised an eyebrow grinning, he looked around before nodding to the door and stepping to the side taking out a cigarette. "Go on then."
"ugh-seriously?" I huffed and rolled my eyes .
"Yeh asked for it," Lev flicked on a lighter. I opened the door a bit too roughly and stood looking around. bastard The shop smelled strongly of wood..gee, I wonder why. I noticed all of the first years wearing cloaks and other weird wizarding clothing, and their own parents or grandparents, a small girl clung to her mother as she came up to the counter. I put my hands in the pockets of my worn out brown jacket.
"SHIT-," I didn't see where I was going and tripped over a raised wood beam, tumbling down…
The red oak wood
People keep coming and going, in and out of the shop, while I am still at the counter on my own. There is no point in trying to get away from this moment anymore. I can the wand that is given to me, with great hesitation. I am asked to wield it, so we can see how it reacts. As I do so, some wand boxes are thrown off a shelf and someone falls near the entrance. I quickly give back the catalyser, knowing it is not the one. I turn back and try to see who fell, thinking I triggered it.
"Are you okay?" I ask, anxious about the harm I could have done.
My eyes cross my parents', who are still smiling and giving me thumbs up like nothing happened. Maybe all of this was not a big deal. Dad already told me a bit about the way wand-choosing is going, and I guess I shouldn't worry too much. I am still wondering if the person at the back is alright. The employee is busy looking for another wand to try, so I take a few steps in the direction of the potentially hurt person.
"Did you hurt yourself?" I ask again. I guess any distraction is good to take me away from the spotlight. I was so excited to come on Diagon Alley, I never thought I would get so nervous today.
"Are you okay?" I ask, anxious about the harm I could have done.
My eyes cross my parents', who are still smiling and giving me thumbs up like nothing happened. Maybe all of this was not a big deal. Dad already told me a bit about the way wand-choosing is going, and I guess I shouldn't worry too much. I am still wondering if the person at the back is alright. The employee is busy looking for another wand to try, so I take a few steps in the direction of the potentially hurt person.
"Did you hurt yourself?" I ask again. I guess any distraction is good to take me away from the spotlight. I was so excited to come on Diagon Alley, I never thought I would get so nervous today.
UTC/GTM+2
The red oak wood
I knocked my head on something and groaned as I rubbed my head. I looked up and tried to pull myself back up. My face was probably beet red. I just hoped it wasn’t. Ugh, that hurt—
“Ya—m’fine, just a bit clumsy,” I mumbled and gave her a small, reassuring smile, glancing around and hating the attention on me from the other patrons. My ears burned as a few people whispered before turning back to their kids.
“What are yeh lookin’ at—?” I grumbled, noticing the employee giving me a look. I couldn’t tell if it was worried or annoyed. Great. Exactly what I needed—more eyes on me. I brushed myself off, trying to act casual, though my heart was hammering in my chest. I glanced back at the girl—why was she still looking worried?
Her brow furrowed as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it. I huffed, tensing my fists. I always sucked at making first impressions. The silence stretched, heavy and awkward, pressing down like a weight I couldn’t shake off.
“I told ye I’m fine,” I repeated, forcing my voice to sound steady even though my pride stung worse than my head.
“Ya—m’fine, just a bit clumsy,” I mumbled and gave her a small, reassuring smile, glancing around and hating the attention on me from the other patrons. My ears burned as a few people whispered before turning back to their kids.
“What are yeh lookin’ at—?” I grumbled, noticing the employee giving me a look. I couldn’t tell if it was worried or annoyed. Great. Exactly what I needed—more eyes on me. I brushed myself off, trying to act casual, though my heart was hammering in my chest. I glanced back at the girl—why was she still looking worried?
Her brow furrowed as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it. I huffed, tensing my fists. I always sucked at making first impressions. The silence stretched, heavy and awkward, pressing down like a weight I couldn’t shake off.
“I told ye I’m fine,” I repeated, forcing my voice to sound steady even though my pride stung worse than my head.
The red oak wood
It was a boy who tripped, I can see him now. The small crown packed in the shop does not help me see clearly at the back. If he tries reassuring me - and everyone else at the same time - that he is okay, he definitely seems annoyed by my interest. I turn my back to face the counter once more, where the employee presents me yet another wand.
"I'm not sure I want to try again, if I keep hurting people." I say, embarrassed. Am I a living, breathing danger already?
The anxiety is at its most when I finally take the wand. I have a bad feeling about this. I wield it in the direction of a wall, and a lamp falls off. Hopefully it isn't broken. The employee giggles, saying I do not have a vibe for pine wood.
"I guess not..." I say, feeling sorry for the damage I am causing. A few seconds later, I am given a different wand. I can tell that the wood has a very different aspect than the previous one. The color is darker and the marks are much rounder, if that makes sense. It is very pretty. For various reasons - the prettiness of it being one - I hope that this will be the one.
When I wield it, the counter cracks as if I broke it in a place we cannot see. At this rate, I will destroy the whole shop! I quickly return it.
"Sorry..."
"I'm not sure I want to try again, if I keep hurting people." I say, embarrassed. Am I a living, breathing danger already?
The anxiety is at its most when I finally take the wand. I have a bad feeling about this. I wield it in the direction of a wall, and a lamp falls off. Hopefully it isn't broken. The employee giggles, saying I do not have a vibe for pine wood.
"I guess not..." I say, feeling sorry for the damage I am causing. A few seconds later, I am given a different wand. I can tell that the wood has a very different aspect than the previous one. The color is darker and the marks are much rounder, if that makes sense. It is very pretty. For various reasons - the prettiness of it being one - I hope that this will be the one.
When I wield it, the counter cracks as if I broke it in a place we cannot see. At this rate, I will destroy the whole shop! I quickly return it.
"Sorry..."
UTC/GTM+2
The red oak wood
"Jeez, is get'in' a wand always this…destructive?" I mumbled to myself, swallowing thickly, I glanced sideways rubbing the back of my head, already convinced this whole wizarding thing was a really, really, bad idea.
" show's over, piss off,"I snapped and narrowed my brows at the people still watching me. I sighed, my magic was uncontrollable already, if getting a wand is supposed to help with that, why are there so many explosions? I huffed, just hoping I wouldn't destroy the shop when it was my turn. I tensed my jaw as I shuffled forward in the long, slow and crowded line, bracing myself as I went. How long will this girl take ta get her wand? How long will e'eryo'e else? My eyes darted to the window where my dad was still smoking, calmly and unbothered. I bristled and grumbled as my dad turned his head and raised a questioning eyebrow and gave me an exaggerated thumbs up.
"mgh-," I looked down, tensing my jaw. I felt utterly embarrassed, seriously considering just dropping this whole wizarding shit and going back to my real life, forgetting this ever happened. Sure life sucked before-but in a less confusing and complicated way, where I wasn't embarrassing myself every five seconds. I saw the girl look back at me.
"what the hell are you looking at?
" show's over, piss off,"I snapped and narrowed my brows at the people still watching me. I sighed, my magic was uncontrollable already, if getting a wand is supposed to help with that, why are there so many explosions? I huffed, just hoping I wouldn't destroy the shop when it was my turn. I tensed my jaw as I shuffled forward in the long, slow and crowded line, bracing myself as I went. How long will this girl take ta get her wand? How long will e'eryo'e else? My eyes darted to the window where my dad was still smoking, calmly and unbothered. I bristled and grumbled as my dad turned his head and raised a questioning eyebrow and gave me an exaggerated thumbs up.
"mgh-," I looked down, tensing my jaw. I felt utterly embarrassed, seriously considering just dropping this whole wizarding shit and going back to my real life, forgetting this ever happened. Sure life sucked before-but in a less confusing and complicated way, where I wasn't embarrassing myself every five seconds. I saw the girl look back at me.
"what the hell are you looking at?
The red oak wood
I hear someone swear at the back. I think it's the boy who fell earlier. He seems to have a wild personality. But I cannot focus on him, or anyone else right now. All I can think about is the next wand which is offered to me to try. This one is a bit longer and the wood is of a lighter color, almost reddish. It feels comfortable in my hand, unlike the previous ones. As soon as my palm embraces it, a warm and cosy feeling is going through my whole body. It must be good, right?
When I wield it, a soft light suits out of it, ending in some line that looks like sparkles falling down to the floor. The employee looks content, saying the red oak wood is a much better fit. Rougarou hair, he adds, very good for defense. I must be a courageous girl, he says. I don't think I am.
Soon, my parents join me again. Finally, I think. They congratulate me, saying I did well. I don't think I did, though, since I broke half of the shop's furniture in the process. We pay and get the wand all wrapped and ready to go. Of course, I cannot have it for now, I need to wait to get to Hogwarts. It will be soon enough, though. I can't wait! It feels like we're done with the hardest part of the day. We go back to the entrance, ready to leave. When I walk next to the boy, I look at him, smile and wave as if I've ever met him before.
"Good luck!" I say. And off we go.
When I wield it, a soft light suits out of it, ending in some line that looks like sparkles falling down to the floor. The employee looks content, saying the red oak wood is a much better fit. Rougarou hair, he adds, very good for defense. I must be a courageous girl, he says. I don't think I am.
Soon, my parents join me again. Finally, I think. They congratulate me, saying I did well. I don't think I did, though, since I broke half of the shop's furniture in the process. We pay and get the wand all wrapped and ready to go. Of course, I cannot have it for now, I need to wait to get to Hogwarts. It will be soon enough, though. I can't wait! It feels like we're done with the hardest part of the day. We go back to the entrance, ready to leave. When I walk next to the boy, I look at him, smile and wave as if I've ever met him before.
"Good luck!" I say. And off we go.
This is my last post in this thread, thank you for joining me!
UTC/GTM+2