"Mother! I've got my Hogwarts letter!" I exclaimed, picking it up from the polished dining table.
"Of course you did, dearie," she murmured, completely engrossed in her book. She looked up only once to briefly order Zikky, our kitchen elf, to bring breakfast to the table. I pursed my lips, disappointed at her reaction, or lack of one.
"When can we get my things?" I persisted, bouncing lightly on my chair. My mother finally looked up at me after a moment and a sigh.
"We can get them later, after you finish your food," she pointed at my full plate. A wide grin spread across my face as I tackled my breakfast hungrily.
...
"Do you think I'll be sorted into Slytherin?" I questioned curiously, wrinkling my nose as I stepped over a puddle of sewer water.
"All Selwyns are Slytherins, darling," my father replied, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him. He made an imposing figure with his black robes and tall stature.
"Okay, then…" I felt nervous. Firstly, because I could see plenty of kids my age, and older, who were probably Hogwarts students shopping for supplies too. I wondered which ones I was soon going to call my friends. Secondly, although I really didn't think I would make a good Slytherin, I couldn't even bear to imagine what my parents would do if I didn't got sorted into the house of their pride, or worse still, Gryffindor. I shivered slightly, pushing the thought away.
Just then, a small Siamese kitten caught my eye through a shop window.
"Oh!" I crossed the road quickly and knelt in front of the cage.
"Can I have him?" I turned to beg my parents. Father's lips twitched, as if trying to contain a smile.
"Are you sure you don't want your own owl?" Mother asked doubtfully. I shrugged.
"I could always use the owls at Hogwarts if I want to send something."
"Let her get it," Father gave me a small smile, before handing me some money.
"Yess!" I squealed before grabbing the cage and hurrying inside the shop to pay.
'Ollivanders', peeling gold letters in front of the shop read. My eyes widened in wonder as we entered. The walls were covered with rickety shelves from floor to ceiling, and the shelves were stuffed with...were those shoe boxes? No, too small. My heart rate quickened as I caught a glance at a half-open box on the floor. Wands! Of course! I tapped my fingers against the bars of my new pet's cage in excitement, then withdrew them hastily as he made to nip at me.
I startled up as a dishevelled old man with misty eyes and unkempt white hair I hadn't noticed appeared in front of us.
"Ah, Edward and Adelaide Selwyn. I remember the exact day you both entered my shop and bought your first wands. Blackthorn wood, ten inches, wasn't it?" he peered at Father, who replied a rather stiff "Yes, sir."
"And...who is this young lady?" he turned his silvery gaze down down at me. I shrank back, slightly uncomfortable. Mother prodded my back with her umbrella. I drew myself up, trying to appear more confident than I felt.
"Camille Selwyn, sir. I'm here to choose a wand." Mr. Ollivander chuckled softly.
"No, no, young Selwyn. Always remember this: it is the wand that chooses the wizard. Now," he drew back suddenly, "which is your wand arm?" I held my right arm out quickly, and the tape measure in his hands leapt up and began measuring me all over as Mr. Ollivander inspected several different boxes, muttering to himself. I didn't dare to move a muscle until it dropped to the floor at a flick of his hand.
"Try this one, Ms. Selwyn. Chestnut and dragon heartstring. 11 inches, quite bendy." I took it, but he snatched it out of my hand before I even waved it, handing me another one. I tried several different ones, but apparently none of them were quite right.
A bell tinkled gently from the front of the shop. I turned to see Draco Malfoy coming in with his father.
"Lucius," Father greeted.
"Edward. Adelaide," Lucius Malfoy nodded. "Funny, Narcissa and I were just mentioning..." Their voices faded out of earshot as they crossed over to the other side of the shop, leaving me with Draco and Mr. Ollivander, who was currently shuffling around behind the shelves. Draco's eyes flicked towards me.
"Hi, Draco," I smiled brightly.
"Hello, Camille," he answered, shifting closer. "Why didn't you come over this summer?" I frowned.
"What happened this summer?"
"Midsummer's party. Father invited your family, I know. I checked the guest list." I grinned, raising an eyebrow.
"You checked the guest list to look for us?" Draco flushed.
"No! I was...I just wanted to know who was coming," he scowled. My grin only widened.
"Whatever you say. We went to visit Mum's family in France, probably why we couldn't make it." Draco nodded in understanding.
"In any case," he grumbled, "I was stuck with Pansy without you there. She's so clingy, it's bloody annoying."
"She likes you," I prodded his arm, giggling in amusement. Draco glared at me, opening his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Mr. Ollivander.
"Ah, Alder wood and dragon heartstring, 12 and ½ inches. Slightly springy. How does it feel?" Mr. Ollivander emerged from behind a particularly slanted shelf, handing me another wand. My arm jerked up a little in surprise as it warmed in my hands. I flicked it cautiously, and bright blue sparks shot out and hit a pile of boxes across from her.
"Yes, very good. Definitely this one," he said, taking the wand back and wrapping it back into its box.
"See you in school," Draco murmured as we left. I flashed him a wink and a grin as I walked out the door.
The rest of the day flashed by quickly, I paid hardly any attention to my new robes and my shiny textbooks. I couldn't stop looking at my kitten, cooing and stroking him through the bars of the cage.
"I'll name you Iggy," I announced as we reached the Selwyn Manor, laughing delightedly as he nuzzled my face, purring softly.
hi, friends. if you've read this far, thanks so much and i love you:) i'm quite excited about this story, so i hope you'll stay with me. the first few chapters will be uploaded pretty quickly because the story really starts from the Goblet of Fire.
it'll be rad if you'd give me a favorite, and maybe (pretty please?) a follow.
catastropherika xo