Getting the Wand: First Year

Elizabeth had been most excited about her wand. She had heard about the wand process from her father when he told her all about the wizarding world a few weeks ago. However, it had been her mother who had joined her for the trip to Diagon Alley, not her father.

Elizabeth had decided to get her wand last: to get the best for last. So, together, Elizabeth and her mother walked into Ollivander's shop. Immediately, Elizabeth could feel something. She wasn't quite sure what, but her skin was tingling and her hairs on her neck stood up.

"Ah, good afternoon," said a man.

Elizabeth jumped. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed her mother whirling around, clutching her heart.

An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Miss…Burke, is it?" asked who had to be Mr. Ollivander.

"Please just call me Elizabeth," said Elizabeth, smiling politely.

Mr. Ollivander nodded absent mindedly. "Yes…yes…I remember your father's wand…Ash, with a Dragon heartstring. Eight inches…very flexible…Well now…which one is your wand arm?"

"I'm left handed," answered Elizabeth.

"Hold out your arm," said Mr. Ollivander and Elizabeth did so. He measured Elizabeth from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round her head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."

The tape measure started measuring on its own as Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

"That'll do," said Mr. Ollivander and the tape measure instantly collapsed on itself. Mr. Ollivander handed Elizabeth the wand. "Take this. Phoenix tail feathers, Aspen, eight inches, very flexible. Give it a wave now."

Dubiously, Elizabeth was about to wave the wand, but Mr. Ollivander gave her a new wand.

"Unicorn hair, Beech, nine inches, springy, go on then," said Mr. Ollivander, but before Elizabeth could move it, he snatched it out of her hands. He gave her a new wand. "Walnut, Dragon heartstring, ten inches, very sturdy. Try it now."

Elizabeth waved the wand and silver and gold sparks came out from the wand. Her mother clapped enthusiastically.

Mr. Ollivander smiled. "Yes, that seems to be the one. Interesting…"

"What's interesting, sir?" asked Elizabeth.

Mr. Ollivander chuckled. "Oh, nothing, just an old man's musing. That will be all."

Elizabeth's mother paid the money for the wand and they were off.

Elizabeth was curious to know what was so interesting about her wand and made sure to remember to try to find a book about wandlore.

A/N: What's interesting is that Walnut isn't either light or dark, nor does it have any strengths or weakness. As stated somewhere, "A beautiful, strong, and versatile wood. Unlike black walnut, it has no slant towards Light or Dark." Elizabeth, although against Voldemort, is neither 'light' nor 'dark'. She's more of a grey, which is what I feel that Walnut as the wood is. Really REALLY short, though. Sorry 'bout that. Thanks for reading!