New
Written for the 100 Days, 100 Drabble Challenges
...O...
Neville Longbottom shuffled through the streets of Diagon Alley, head bent low and, for once, lost in thought. He had decided that his wand was the reason for his problems. It was what had caused him to be such a failure in the eyes of his grandmother and it was why he couldn't work his magic correctly.
Ollivander had said that the wand chooses the wizard, but this had been a wrong match. How could this wand be right for him if everytime he used it he destroyed something? Or was it really just him and his grandmother was right- that he wasn't a good wizard. Who was he fooling? He knew he wasn't a good wizard. He was a dreadful one. Horrible. But maybe getting this new wand would fix that. It would make his problems disappear and for once he could get good at magic. Neville knew it.
He jerked his head up at the last moment to keep from colliding with a low store sign and then shuffled up the steps into Ollivander's. There he was met with a hot blast of air and the smell of lemon. There was a swivel chair in the corner and a small sofa. Nothing had changed since he had entered the shop years ago to purchase his original, faulty wand.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Longbottom...Cherry and unicorn hair, twelve inches."
Neville hopped back and forth from foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable. "Yes. Well, I...You see, I need...I need a new wand." He stammered out, staring at the floor again and hating himself for it.
"Have you broken yours?"
"N-no."
"Then I see no reason for you to have a new one. The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Longbottom. Your wand is made for you. It is what can get you to the height of your magical ability. Any other wand would cripple you," Ollivander said, managing to not raise his voice higher than a whisper and Neville still heard every word. He felt his heart sinking. If this was the height of his magical ability with the best wand for him, then what hope did he have?
But Ollivander wasn't done. "I know you struggle, but your parents did too. And they were two of the best wizards I have ever had the pleasure to meet...Now shoo. You don't need a new wand."
And then Neville left, thinking that, sometimes, old was better than new.
…O...
A/N: Criticize. Please. This was edited and shaved down a lot to make it 400 words (not including author's notes and titles). Was it okay? I was slightly rushed. I give thanks to my beta, Aventine Hill.
You've read. Now review.
Word Count: 398. Including A/N and title: 458 (going by OpenOffice Word Count)
-DES