A/N: I am writing this story strictly for pleasure; all
characters are blatantly borrowed from the wonderful world created by
JK Rowling and no profit is being made. Sigh...
Thanks to my pre-beta Pippin and my betas Thalia Chaunacy, Ara Kane, and Magnolia Mama.
Hot morning summer sunshine poured down onto Diagon Alley as merchants
began their business day. The Alley quickly filled with displays of
cauldrons, animals, household goods, and Quidditch accessories.
Applegate's Apothecary put out barrels of frog spawn and pig snouts
waiting for browsers. Eeylops Owl Emporium set out large cages of tawny
and barn owls to soak up the sun. Madam Malkin set up a manikin with a
new set of summer weight dress robes in royal blue to tempt the
passersby. There were broom repair kits and baskets of twigs arranged
outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Florean Fortescue wiped down the
sidewalk tables and righted the chairs. At Flourish and Blotts an
already harried-looking clerk pulled out a large glass aquarium filled
with The Monster Book of Monsters, each bound with a leather
belt to keep them from tearing each other apart and biting the
customers. A short burst of fireworks announced the opening of
Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Goblins swarmed over Gringott's Wizard
Bank, polishing the snowy white facade.
Horace Ollivander
unlocked the front door of his narrow wand shop and flipped the
"closed" sign to read "open." Dust motes danced in the sunbeams coming
through the high transom windows. Thousands of narrow boxes were
stacked everywhere, right up to the ceiling. A spindly chair sat beside
a high counter. In the window a dusty display of a wand resting on its
box absorbed the early morning sunshine.
Ollivander lit the
lamp on the counter and made sure everything in the shop was in order,
just as he had done the previous evening before leaving. He turned and
went into his workshop, still cluttered with various woodworking
instruments and what not, but marginally less dusty as he did make an
effort to sweep the floor every now and then. Walking over to a short
chest, he tapped it once with his wand to remove the Chameleon
Charm and reveal a large square cube with no visible hinges or handles.
Various magical symbols and carvings of wand trees decorated the sides
of the box. Magical creatures whose hair, feathers, heartstrings or
other body parts were used as wand cores were depicted in an ornate
crest. Placing his left hand flat against the top of the box inside a
large "O" for "Ollivander," he muttered an incantation and the front of
the box opened quietly.
This was Ollivander's secret vault.
Here were stored petty cash for the old-fashioned till, family papers
and secrets of wand making, and his most incredible find -- The Wand.
The most powerful wand Ollivander had ever encountered. Reverently he
withdrew the bronze wand case and opened the lid, gazing on The Wand.
Old English oak, containing a hair from Merlin himself. Sighing in
pleasure, Ollivander held the wand gingerly, feeling the tingles start
up his arm. He gave it a small wave and the workshop was filled with
sparkling golden light, illuminating the area as if it had been invaded
by a horde of fairies. Smiling happily, Ollivander carefully replaced
The Wand in its case and returned it to the vault, sealing it up again
in its disguise as a chest.
Ollivander had suffered a crisis
of conscience in deciding what to do about The Wand after he had
discovered it. He supposed he should turn it in to the Ministry of
Magic, but just couldn't bear to part with it. He justified that
decision every day as he read the Daily Prophet and the
blunders the Ministry made in the new fight against
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Besides, if he turned it in it would just be
locked in a vault somewhere and forgotten, or else "studied" so
thoroughly that it was stripped of its power completely. No, Ollivander
felt quite confident that the decision to keep The Wand until the right
witch or wizard came for it was the correct one.
This is certainly the busiest time to purchase wands,
thought Ollivander that morning after selling his fifth wand.
First-year Hogwarts students were starting to invade Diagon Alley in
droves, purchasing all their paraphernalia to start their wizarding
studies. He enjoyed matching wands with new wizards and witches,
enjoyed the looks of wonder on their faces as they made sparks fly out
the ends of the wands they tested. He especially enjoyed the looks of
amazement on the faces of Muggle-borns, who had never dreamt they had
magical abilities. Although none had the magical signatures that were a
match for The Wand, Ollivander knew that eventually he would determine
the right witch or wizard for it.
Ollivander took a
much-needed loo break in the late morning and went in the back to
snatch a quick cup of tea. He knew the lull wouldn't last long, and
before he could take a second sip the tinkling bell over the door
proved him right by announcing the arrival of another customer. Just as
Ollivander went to put his cup down, the hairs on the back of his head
stood on end. Goosebumps popped up on his arms and he dropped his cup,
which shattered on the floor. The very air seemed to crackle with a
wave of energy that emanated from the hidden vault, peaking then
subsiding, leaving him quite breathless.
So, he thought. The Wand has selected its master.
Ollivander took a deep, steadying breath. Retrieving The Wand from the vault, he turned and went back into the shop.
"Welcome to Ollivander's!" he said. "I have just The Wand for you!"