It was a normal day in the wizard lair. Alex was texting her best friend Harper. Max was staring into blank space looking rather lost (though he really was thinking about some new video game that he was going to play one class was over.) Justin was sitting upright, nodding and taking notes on everything their father said. And as always, Jerry was trying to teach the kids something about magic with his usual lack of success.

"Alright," said Jerry, "now that we are finished with our troll unit, we will begin learning about different kinds of wizardry. Who can tell me the two types of wizardry that people use today?"

Justin's hand shot up in the air. "Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!"

Their father sighed. "Justin?"

"The two primary types of wizardry are modern and old fashioned. Old fashion wizards live mostly in Europe, Australia, and Asia. They live more like wizards in fairytales, they don't use electricity or any other modern technology, and they wear robes. Now, modern wizards, like us, have a different system. They live amongst mortals and the children in a family compete for the best wizard. We also use modern technology and go to normal schools and have mortal friends. We either go to wizard schools on weekends, summers, or we're just home schooled."

"Um…Justin? That's exactly what it says in the book."

"I know. I memorized it."

Alex jumped out of her chair. "That's so cool!"

"Max, why can't you pay attention to the lesson like Justin and Alex?"

"What?" asked Alex, confused. "Oh, no. No. I was talking about how Harper just told me that Danna and Josh got back together! They haven't been dating since seventh grade! Can you believe it?"

"Alex, what did I tell you about texting during class?"

"'Not to do it'."

"Hand me the phone." She gave it to him. "Thanks, now this is mine until after class."

Alex sat back down, with a slight pout on her face.

"Now, as I was saying, we will be learning old fashioned wizardy in our next unit. And by 'we', I mean you guys, because, I have arranged a special treat. All of you will be spending six months in Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry!"

"Hogwarts?" Justin squealed with excitement. "It's always been my dream to go there! I hear it's the best wizard school known to man kind!"

What's 'Hogwarts'?" asked Max.

"It's a wizard boarding school in England."

"Oh, like Wiztech?"

"No, this is even cooler than Wiztech!"

"Sweet! When are we going?"

"Three weeks."

THREE WEEKS LATER…

"What? Dad, Justin, this makes no sense. It says here I have to get a wand. But I already have one."

Jerry took he list from her. "Oh yeah, I forgot. Since the modern day wizard wands involve electricity, you'll have to get a special kind of wand too."

"Oh great," Alex mumbled, "come on, Harper."

Harper skipped happily after her friend, her long dress made entirely of flowers dragged behind her. "Thanks so much again for taking me with you Alex. I've never seen a wizard school before!"

"No problem. I'm just glad that Dumbledore person said yes to letting you come along. Just in case all the other wizard kids are geeks."

"Oh look!" cried Harper, "there it is!"

Alex looked up. Sure enough, there was an old rusty building that said Olivander's on top in big old-fashioned letter. It was hard to read at first because it was so dusty. But Alex seemed perfectly netrual about this. "Okay, let's go, Harper."

Harper took a step back. "You go in. I'll wait here, old buildings scare me."

Alex shrugged. "Alright, suit yourself."

She walked in, the inside looked even dustier than the outside.

"Wow," Alex muttered to herself, "someone needs a cleaning lady."

"Excuse me?" said a voice.

Alex jumped. An old man was behind her. He had a face full of wrinkles and white hair.

"Can I help you?" the man said. "I am Olivander."

"Uh, yeah. Actually you can. I'm Alex Russo and I need some kind of Hogwarts wand."

"Ah yes, please wait here."

He came back a few minutes later with a pile of boxes. He handed her one.

She took it and stared blankly.

"Give it wave," he encouraged.

"Err…alright," Alex said, not really sure what he meant by a 'wave'. "Like this?" She twirled it around, breaking windows and knocking down shelves.

"Okay, try this one," he said, handing her another. This one was slightly heavier, and was darker in color.

The same thing happened. They tried over a dozen wands. "Phrehaps I should give you a coustom made wand. Now, I must warn you. Only the most powerful amazingly talented people can get these wands. But no one has gotten since Dumbledore."

He handed her a wand. It was mostly purple with a dark red grip, and faint silvery desiagns. When Alex held it she ameddetly felt a strange connection. "Wow," she whispered, as fireworks shot out from the tip.

Olivander odded in approval. "Ah yes, purple heart ad bloodwood. 21 centmeters and fairy dust, with a hint of silver. The only of it's kind. Be careful with it.

But Alex wasn't listening, she was just admiring her new wand. "Thanks," she said. Alex paid for it, then left without another word.

Harper stood outside waiting for her. "Alex!" she cried, "I've been waiting forever, I was so worried that something might've happened. And how would I explain that to Justin and your parents. And then Justin wouldn't ever like me because I lost his sister and we would never get married and…"

"Okay, okay," Alex said, "well, I'm here now. Let's go meet the others at the ice cream shop."