Chapter 4 – The Wand Shop
Adam was now getting weighed down with all of his shopping. In order to try and carry everything, he had put his most of his equipment into his cauldron, which he carried in one hand while he carried Chalky's cage in his other hand. Professor McGonagall, walking more slowly now, led him up the alley to Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. They entered to see Madam Malkin fitting another young man for some robes.
"Could you wait over there please?" Madam Malkin called over to them as they entered and they both took seats by the window.
Madam Malkin was another ten minutes fitting robes for the other boy. Adam caught a glimpse of him smirking in the mirror at one point, apparently having caught sight of Adam and Professor McGonagall. Looking in the mirror, Adam saw his hair flash a deep, angry red when this happened, though it swiftly went back to being black. The boy being fitted had black hair and a narrow face and although Adam had thought he would want to speak to another new student, he decided against it upon seeing this boy. Eventually however, he left.
Now was Adam's turn. He stood on Madam Malkin's stall and was there for about half an hour while Madam Malkin fitted him for three sets of plain black work robes, one pointed black hat, one pair of dragon hide gloves and a black winter cloak. Finally, Professor McGonagall paid for his clothes while Adam tried to somehow fit the huge package of clothes into his cauldron. Eventually he had to give up and stuck the package under one of his arms while he walked around the alley.
"Is that it now professor?" he asked as they began to head back the way that they had come through the alley.
"Not yet, you still need to buy a wand." In all honesty, Adam hadn't forgotten about this, but he had been waiting eagerly for it ever since he had seen Professor McGonagall make that monkey dance back at his room in the orphanage. Even though this had only been yesterday it seemed as though it had been a life-time ago.
Eventually, an impatient McGonagall and an exhausted Adam reached the south side of Diagon Alley and stopped outside a shop with a large sign which read "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382BC". Inside, Adam couldn't help himself but to allow his jaw to drop. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands, of boxes which all presumably contained those magical pieces of wood. Professor McGonagall rang a bell on the counter and an elderly wizard appeared from behind one of the many shelves. Adam thought he looked as though he had lost a lot of weight recently.
"Professor McGonagall," he greeted the teacher enthusiastically, "here with a first year I assume?" He looked behind her and saw Adam, looking thoroughly nervous. "Ah, would you like to come over here young man?" he beckoned and Adam followed, leaving his multiple purchases on the chair he had just been sitting on. He approached Mr Ollivander and was handed a long, brown wand. "12", Dogwood with a dragon heartstring core." Adam took hold of it briefly, but before he could do anything with it, Mr Ollivander took it away from him. "No." Adam heard him mutter under his breath.
This carried on for about ten minutes. Adam felt as though he had tried at least fifty wands but it didn't matter whether they were made of hazel or hawthorn or had a phoenix feather or unicorn hair core, none of them seemed to be good enough. Mr Ollivander however seemed delighted.
"I haven't had a customer this challenging in quite a while." He told Adam excitedly.
"Excuse me sir," Adam felt he had waited long enough to ask this question, "But what exactly are you looking for?" Ollivander considered him carefully before answering.
"You'll know when we find it."
Finally, he pulled a box down off the top of a shelf. Try this one. "10 ¾ ", Ebony with a unicorn hair core." Adam took hold of the wand and felt a whooshing feeling coming from the jet black wand. Ollivander seemed happier than ever. "Excellent. I think you'll enjoy that wand. It's well suited for transfiguration work, so you ought to do well in Professor McGonagall's classes." Adam turned round, about to ask what transfiguration was, but a look from his stern professor was enough to tell him that he needed to finish up so that she could help the other muggle-borns with their shopping.
They walked back down the street until they found a spot where there was nobody close to them. Professor McGonagall took the cauldron full of purchases in one hand while holding out the other for Adam to take. Prepared this time, Adam took the professor's arm and that strange feeling of being squeezed swooped over him, though it wore off quickly. This time, they had apparated straight back to Adam's room at the orphanage.
"Here is your train ticket," Professor McGonagall handed him a small pink ticket, "I look forward to seeing you at Hogwarts." And with one more turn of her cloak, the witch disappeared, leaving Adam and his many unusual purchases behind.