Boy, howdy I have had a doozy of a week. I started a new job at a call center and my second day I had a massive panic attack. On the bright side I'm also getting top scores on the surveys! I hope all of you enjoy chapter nine. I know it's pretty short but, you know, I cut it off where it feels right.
The next day, Hermione and her parents went with Cedric and his parents to Diagon Alley. It was bustling and ten times more crowded than her last visit. It seemed that everyone decided to get their school supplies on the same day.
"So, let's get you your wand," said Belphoebe after they were done at Gringotts. "And then, I'm afraid we'll have to part."
"That's alright," said Hermione, gripping onto Dad's hand. "The sooner we're done here the better. I can't stand crowds."
Ollivander's Wand Shop looked rather unremarkable on the outside, plain wood with iron and glass windows. A small sign advertised when it was established and the main shop sign was peeling green paint. The inside was a bit dusty and around the shop were stacks upon stacks of boxes filled with wands.
"Hello," said a soft, airy voice. "I'm Mr. Ollivander."
Mr. Ollivander was a man with wispy white hair that stuck all over the place like Einstein. His eyes were large and blue and seemed to bug out of his head a little.
"Hermione is here for her first wand," said Belphoebe.
"Ebony, Unicorn hair, eight and three-quarters inches. Unyielding," said Mr. Ollivander. He trained his eyes to Cedric. "Ash, unicorn hair, twelve and one-quarter inches. Yes, I remember every single wand I've ever sold. Now… let's see." A magical tape measure flew up and began measuring Hermione from her arm length to the distance between her thick eyebrows. The magic around it and the quill jotting down notes was energetic compared to Mr. Ollivander's calm.
"Let's see… Walnut, Phoenix feather…" he handed the wand to Hermione and she could tell right away it wasn't right for her by the way it pushed against her hand. Ollivander seemed surprised when she handed it back without trying it out.
"It's not right," she said.
"No, of course not," he said. "Miss Granger, by any chance can you feel magic?"
"Yes, sir. It's a bit aggravating at times."
"Yes, yes. Then it is imperative we find the wand that matches your frequency. I have the gift as well. You will learn to grow accustomed to it," he assured her. "Come on back here and just run your hands along the boxes. See what feels right."
Hermione held out her hands barely brushing her fingertips along the boxes and felt many frequencies. She shuddered and had to draw her hands back a few times as some wands violently pushed back, until finally something resonated with the magic she already felt inside. She carefully pulled out the box nearly dumping a dozen other wands over her head.
"Of course, Vine Wood, Ten and three-quarter inches, dragon heartstring core. Perfect for charms work," he said following her back to the front. "Go on, give it a wave."
Hermione took the wand out of the box. It was thin with a beautiful design along the entire length of wood. It seemed almost… happy to be in her hand. She remember one of the spells and pointed the wand at an unlit candle.
"Incarnum Inflamari!"
The wick lit up with a blue flame. Roger and Beatrice clapped, beaming proudly at her accomplishment.
"Excellent. Excellent," said Mr. Ollivander. "That will be seven galleons."
As Beatrice handed over the money, Hermione bounced on her toes and flapped her hands, trying to release the overexcited energy filling her.
"Congratulations, Mimi," said Cedric.
"Come along, Cedric," said Belphoebe. "Let's go get your books."
"Alright, Mum." Cedric turned to Hermione. "I'll see you September 1st, yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Pound it!"
They did their handshake and parted ways.
The next stop was Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. Robes of all different colors lined the rows and there was one particular section for the school uniform. Hermione had her measurements taken and was fitted for three sets of school robes while Mum and Dad skimmed the books on the differences between robe patterns for each occasion. The rest of the shop was filled with pretty fabrics, embroidery samples, and buttons. One section of wall beside the uniforms was divided up into sections of four and seemed to have buttons, ribbons, patches, belts, and embroidery packs in the house colors for Hogwarts. One decoration, a framed needlepoint in front of the register read: The colors of magic are purple and green. Perhaps it was to pinpoint wizards in public.
"Come back after you get the rest of your supplies," said Madam Malkin's assistant. "They should be ready by then."
The next place they went to was the luggage shop. There were several students in there picking out trunks. They were only allowed a trunk and a pet carrier on the train. Probably because it was much easier to transport than a suitcase for clothes and the suitcase full of books Hermione would undoubtedly drag along. Most of the people inside this shop were muggle-borns since most magical families already had travel trunks for their kids.
"How can I help you?" the shopkeeper asked.
"What do you recommend for the transportation of books?" Roger asked.
"Ah, this one here," said the man, dragging out a large, cream colored trunk. "Standard student size. Lightening charm up to one hundred pounds. Wheels on one end. And for book storage…" He opened up the lid and pulled down a shelf from the lid. It seemed a bit unremarkable until he took a book off the counter and stuffed it in where it shrank down.
"Ooh!"
"Can we get one too?" Roger joked.
The trunk was a bit pricy, but since the rest of Hermione's supplies was paid for by Great-Great Adopted Uncle Ferdinand Puckle they didn't mind paying for it.
"I've got an idea," said Hermione. "Do you think the Goblins might make copies of Mr. Puckles books so that I can take them home and keep them there without worry? I know it'll cost money but…"
"Only if we're allowed to read the books as well," said Beatrice. Her curiosity was piqued about the world her daughter was entering and she wanted to learn all she could about it,
Hermione got the rest of her supplies, they stopped by Gringotts again (Hermione made sure to bow her head to the guards and Nilbog as a sign of respect). They were more than happy to create lightly bound copies of the books in Mr. Puckles vault and transfer them to Hermione's own vault where she could withdraw them to take them home. The vaults themselves were free to own with no fees and no minimum monetary value. Much kinder than many muggle banks to be honest.
After that, they stopped by Madam Malkin's to get her robes and Hermione paused when she saw a blue and silver scarf, much like the one Cedric gave her. He gave her a Ravenclaw scarf. She was flattered that he was so certain in her intelligence. She began to wonder if that one day he would have told her.
"We'll come back and get you a scarf once we know where you're sorted," said Roger, tapping his Anti-Anti-Muggle charm.
"I already have one…" she said.
"You look over-stimulated," Beatrice commented. "Are you ready to go home?"
Hermione nodded.
The rest of her summer was spent how she normally did. She studied her muggle homework, she went to her taekwondo and dance lessons, and she spent time with Pongo. Her taekwondo instructor was disappointed that she was leaving and gave her a regime to practice at school so that she wouldn't get out of practice. She promised to be back next June to train for the end of summer Tournament.
The days leading up to school were exciting and bittersweet as well. Hermione was sad she had to leave her family behind, but was looking forward to a fresh start nonetheless. It was going to be great!
Look out world, Hermione Granger was on her way.