The Wand Chooses the Witch
June 25th, 2025 - Afternoon
Upon exiting Gringotts and receiving some galleons, Noa pulled out her supply list.
"I should get my wand first, shouldn't I? It's the most important thing on here."
Her mother agreed.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Hand me your list, I'll get your potion supplies, you'd hate the smell of the Cauldron shop."
She handed her mother the list and set off for Ollivanders.
“Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.”
She entered the shop relieved that the owner clearly knew what he was doing.
The interior was a maze! Walls and walls of wands in boxes towered over her inside the cramped building. She was very careful not to knock anything over as she called out into the seemingly empty store.
"Hello? I'm here to purchase a wand!"
After the sound of some scuffling and a cough, an elderly man descended the rickety stairs and greeted her, adjusting his half-moon spectacles.
"Hm...your face looks familiar. Miss...Blackwood? If I'm not mistaken?"
She was startled that he knew her name.
"It seems only yesterday your mother was here buying her first wand. Let's see if I remember...oh yes! Chestnut...phoenix tail feather, unyielding, 7 inches!"
"You remember my mother's wand?" She asked incredulously.
"Oh yes, I remember nearly every wand I've ever sold. And I'll remember yours as well. Let's get started, shall we?"
Mr. Ollivander turned around and started perusing the shelves, which seemed incredibly disorganized, but he seemed to know exactly where everything was.
"So how does this work? Do I just try a few and pick my favorite?"
"Oh heavens no! The wand chooses the wizard, or in your case, witch."
She nodded, failing to comprehend how a wand could be sentient.
Her philosophical pondering was soon interrupted.
"Here we are! Hazel wood and a phoenix feather core, 8 inches, and quite bendy. Give it a wave!"
She tentatively held the wand and gave it a little "swoosh!"
A nearby box flew from its shelf!
She flinched.
"No, no, clearly not. Let's see..."
Completely unfazed by the accident, he resumed his search.
"How about this one? Black walnut wood and a dragon heartstring core, 9 inches and slightly springy."
She held the ebony-colored wand and gave it an anxious wave. The wand flew from her hand, rejecting her.
"Ha!" Ollivander laughed and moved to a different shelf.
"How about..." He looked at her for a brief moment.
"Maybe we will have more luck with this one? Walnut wood, unicorn hair core, 8 inches. Stiff."
She held the wand and felt it vibrate softly for a brief moment, and she suddenly felt a rush of warmth emerging from its handle.
"Is this the one?" He asked her.
"I think so."
"Excellent. That will be 2 galleons."
Upon exiting Gringotts and receiving some galleons, Noa pulled out her supply list.
"I should get my wand first, shouldn't I? It's the most important thing on here."
Her mother agreed.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Hand me your list, I'll get your potion supplies, you'd hate the smell of the Cauldron shop."
She handed her mother the list and set off for Ollivanders.
“Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.”
She entered the shop relieved that the owner clearly knew what he was doing.
The interior was a maze! Walls and walls of wands in boxes towered over her inside the cramped building. She was very careful not to knock anything over as she called out into the seemingly empty store.
"Hello? I'm here to purchase a wand!"
After the sound of some scuffling and a cough, an elderly man descended the rickety stairs and greeted her, adjusting his half-moon spectacles.
"Hm...your face looks familiar. Miss...Blackwood? If I'm not mistaken?"
She was startled that he knew her name.
"It seems only yesterday your mother was here buying her first wand. Let's see if I remember...oh yes! Chestnut...phoenix tail feather, unyielding, 7 inches!"
"You remember my mother's wand?" She asked incredulously.
"Oh yes, I remember nearly every wand I've ever sold. And I'll remember yours as well. Let's get started, shall we?"
Mr. Ollivander turned around and started perusing the shelves, which seemed incredibly disorganized, but he seemed to know exactly where everything was.
"So how does this work? Do I just try a few and pick my favorite?"
"Oh heavens no! The wand chooses the wizard, or in your case, witch."
She nodded, failing to comprehend how a wand could be sentient.
Her philosophical pondering was soon interrupted.
"Here we are! Hazel wood and a phoenix feather core, 8 inches, and quite bendy. Give it a wave!"
She tentatively held the wand and gave it a little "swoosh!"
A nearby box flew from its shelf!
She flinched.
"No, no, clearly not. Let's see..."
Completely unfazed by the accident, he resumed his search.
"How about this one? Black walnut wood and a dragon heartstring core, 9 inches and slightly springy."
She held the ebony-colored wand and gave it an anxious wave. The wand flew from her hand, rejecting her.
"Ha!" Ollivander laughed and moved to a different shelf.
"How about..." He looked at her for a brief moment.
"Maybe we will have more luck with this one? Walnut wood, unicorn hair core, 8 inches. Stiff."
She held the wand and felt it vibrate softly for a brief moment, and she suddenly felt a rush of warmth emerging from its handle.
"Is this the one?" He asked her.
"I think so."
"Excellent. That will be 2 galleons."