Monday, November 07, 2011

Be Careful What You Wish For….

Disclaimer: See Part One

By:Fire Wolfe Not Betaed read at your own risk

Part 26 Royal Prerogative

Their business finished at the bank the Scooby gang plus Sirius all left to meet the others. There was a clear air of excitement about this new world they found themselves in. Even the prospect of being young again did not dim their anticipation. They walked into the wand shop with high spirits.

"Buffy, Harry and his friends are still at the Owl Emporium getting treats for his Owl Hedwig and Ron's Owl Pig." Kennedy said. "I told them it would be ok and to meet us here when they are done."

"Good plan."Buffy said. This shop might be a bit crowded if we all were here. I am glad he other minis will be coming later."

"Well it makes sense really." Sirius said because you need wands more than the others. Also with so many wands it may take Mr. Olivander a few days to completely check everyone out."

"I guess that makes sense." Xander said. "I mean I bet he's never meet anyone like us before."

Everyone laughed and Sirius had to agree it was unlikely he had.

The dark interior shocked them as they entered the shop. Looking around they realized that they were the only customers.

"This place looks deserted." Dawn said.

"Well this time of year it would not be overly busy. Most wizards only ever need one wand and they get that when they start school at the age of 11. The busy time is when school starts." Sirius explained. "Unless a wand is broken or destroyed or someone is buying accessories there is no need to come here. Most wizards only ever have one wand."

"I guess that makes sense." Dawn said. "It's a little creepy here."

Sirius smiled at the youngest Summers girl he had to agree with that. While there were many wand makers Olivanders was the best in the area. He wanted that for his new friends because he had a feeling the wand maker was going to be challenged with this group. Their magic was different and it would require the best to make wands for them.

Olivander came out from behind the counter. "I see I have some unexpected customers. This is highly unusual." He looked straight at Sirius and said. "I will not replace your wand sir. I should in fact call the ministry."

Buffy moved forward and said. "I forbid it. You will listen and heed my commands." She was every bit the queen. She knew he could sense who and what she was. She might not like her role as queen but she would use it to protect her friends.

Olivander looked at her and his eyes widened in shock. He quickly bowed his head. "Your majesty, how may I serve?" He was shocked to see who stood before him. It was impossible. There was no way she could be here and yet she was. He reached out with his senses and was shocked at what he felt. She was the reason for the sudden power surges of a few hours ago. He shook slightly fearful.

Buffy smiled. "Sirius has told us you can see who and what a wizard is. If you have this gift you must know he is an innocent. In time we shall prove it. I ask only that you allow us this time. No harm shall befall you for the service you will render this day. Sirius is not here for a wand merely to help guide us in our own quests to obtain one. He has spoken highly of your skill in this area. We will all need the best wands possible so we came to you. If you feel you are unable to do this service speak now and we will find another to aid us. We can understand your desire to obey the laws as they now stand."

He looked back up and swallowed hard. There had not been a royal in this shop for over 1000 years. He looked at the small blonde and spoke with care least he anger her. "I said I should, not that I would. I was told his wand was destroyed and that Sirius Black might come searching for another. I like all of the land must obey the law. I will however follow my sovereign's commands. I can tell who and what you are my queen. I know that you are not simply a witch who has come from an anther land."

Buffy smiled."Sirius was right we can't hide who and what we are from you. Nor can we hide that this was not our first world. We seek only to help your people. To do this my friends and I are in need of wands. We are hoping that your shop can provide them."

"I shall try my queen. The wand chooses the wizard but, if you need I will make you each new wands." He frowned knowing that this would indeed be the case.

"My name is Buffy Summers." She said with a smile. "We would appreciate your assistance."

"You shall have it. Though given your numbers I may seek assistance from others with your permission of course."

Sirius was shocked he had never heard that the wand maker used others in his work.

"You are the professional wand maker. We will of course follow your advice." Giles said as he joined Buffy.

"Who would like to go first?" He asked.

Jade was bouncing up and down. She slipped away from Kennedy and ran to Buffy. "Me, please I so want a wand Pretty please." She was bouncing and magic leaked all over.

Buffy leaned down to the child's level and said. "Well you have been awfully good today. What do you think Willow, Giles should we let Miss Jade go first?" In fact Jade had been well behaved for a long time. She was one of the reasons Buffy had wished them to a new world. This child's sweet innocence had touched them all deeply. Her presence soothed Willow and the others and kept them from going to dark. For that alone Buffy would have loved her. The unrelenting trust and honesty of the child however was what made her choose to try to save them all.

Willow grinned. Jade was like her little sister or maybe a daughter. She loved the child deeply. Buffy was right Jade had been good lately. "I don't know Buffy she seems a bit jumpy." Willow winked at her friend.

"Please Miss Buffy, I need a wand."

Buffy looked at Giles and said. "Buffy she might need one. She has very little control right now. She is leaking power which we can't afford. Do get the child a wand or I shall." Giles like the others was wrapped around her finger.

"Ok, ok I can see you have your supporters. Mr. Olivander Jade will go first. Then the rest of the gang the other mini's will come in later today or tomorrow. "

The child jumped for joy.

The wand maker nodded and pulled out a tape measure. "Now young lady I have to measure your wand arm. Could you please extend it?"

Jade grinned and held out her left arm."I write with this one. I hope it's ok."

"It is perfect Miss Jade." Olivander said with a grin. His tape flew out and began to measure. This child might be a challenge. He stepped behind the counter and pulled out a box. "This is a 10 3/4 Ash wood with a dragon heart string. Please give it a try."

Jade waved the wand and it blew up some boxes. Dust flew everywhere causing several of the group to sneeze.

"Oh dear that will not do at all." Olivander picked up another wand and said try this. "12 3/4 inch cherry with a unicorn hair for the core it is a very nice wand."

Once more Jade gave it a try and again all the boxed exploded in a dark flood.

"I see you shall be a challenge indeed. There is a lot of power in you. "Let me see we need a wood that will help contain the power of the core. Your powers seem fire based. That will require blackthorn, English oak and perhaps even ash for the wood. Now the core shall be a challenge indeed. "He picked up a wand and removed the core."Let me see if I can adjust this wand for you. The wood sings that it's yours but the core is not. Humm...let's see dragons for fire magic. Horn-tailed dragon seems to be the best choice but what core. Ah, I have it a Dragon's scale; perhaps one of your friends would donate some hair to help regulate the power?"

"I will." Willow said pulling one loose.

She looked at Kennedy who sighed and pulled a hair as well. Man the munchkin has us all whipped."

Olivander smiled at this. The child did indeed have these people wrapped around her finger. It seemed that finding wands for this group would require far more creativity then for the average witch or wizard. He was quite enjoying the challenge. He was however grateful that the group would come on two days. He had a feeling he would need time to recover after fitting this group with wands. 30 more witches and wizards were going to be quite exhausting.

Jade grinned as Oz added his to the bunch. She turned puppy dog eyes onto everyone else in the group and they all surrendered a hair. Dawn with poor grace as the hair she drew out had small speck of blood. Willow wove it together and handed it to the wand maker who gently wrapped the scale in it. The wands core now was wrapped in the hair of the Scooby gang.

"Let's see how this works." He slid the core in the wand and handed it to Jade.

Jade gave it a swish and sparks of color came out.

"Well that that seems to work quite well. It should be very good for fire spells and transfigurations. It will be 15 Gallons."

"Please just run us a tab."Giles said. "We will pay for the wands all at the end."

"Of course sir if that is what you would like to do."Olivander said."Now who is next?"

"Miss Kennedy you should go."Jade said.

Kennedy rolled her eyes. Magic was Willow's thing but she knew it was important that she at least appear to fit in this world. "All right I'm game. Though I still think magic and me are not a good fit. It's Willow's thing." She held out her right arm. "I mean why do I need a wand I have enough defensive power with my sword."

Willow smiled. Kennedy had come a long way. She no longer strove for power. She had found peace and acceptance in her place as a slayer. The gift from the first slayer clearly had done wonders for her ego and peace of mind.

Olivander picked up a wand that was 10 3/4 inches long made of a fine Chesnutt oak and White Willow he looked at the young slayer and said. "I think that given your situation you might wish to have something from those who are closest to you as a core. They both have a great deal of power and using something from them will help bind you all together."

Kennedy smiled and said. "I like that idea. My Willow is wickedly powerful and I love her dearly. We are strong together as a pair. The thing is Oz is a good friend to me and mates to Willow. He can help balance us both. We both need his calm and spirit. Oz, Willow will you donate for my wand?"

Willow looked at Oz who nodded him shifted forms and Willow took a hair from him handing it to Kennedy. She then shifted herself and Oz did same for her. Kennedy handed the hairs to the wand maker along with three more. "This is from me and the others were gifts. It was wrapped around my sword."

Olivander wove the strands together with practiced ease. "This shall be a perfect core for you. Give the wand a try."

Kennedy obeyed and the wand shot out a brilliant rainbow of colors. Kennedy grinned. "I like it. It feels like it is mine."

"The wand often chooses the witch or wizard, however when the cores are given with love they are all the more powerful. The wand is also a little wider than most. Making it very sturdy and solidly inflexible; I would not advise shaping the tip."

"Well I love Willow and Oz is my friend. He's like the brother I never had. What about the end. I could use it as an emergency stake."

Olivander looked horrified at that idea. "You could lose it in a vampire."

"Yeah that would be bad. But better a wand then a life."

Olivander still looked upset but then this woman was a slayer first then a witch it was clear where she thought her priority should be.

Oz blushed at Kennedy's comment. "I love you too Kennedy. I would love to consider you my sister. Maybe you could donate for my wand too."

"Of course, I will if you think you want me too."

Olivander measured the young wolf and considered him with care. "You my friend are an interesting challenge. A werewolf but not your idea has merit. However wolves are pack animals. I would suggest a donation from all who are pack to you."

Oz looked at the gang and they all handed over hair. Olivander wove the strands and the core was placed into the wand made of White Willow and Chesnutt Oak bound by Rowan. Oz gave this new wand a flick and brilliant colors came out of its 12 3/4 inch length.

"Cool looks like it works."

Olivander smiled at that. At least the young wolf respected wands it may survive in his care. "Well then who is next?"

"Will you are up." Xander said pushing her forward.

"No...No maybe you should go. I mean ...I don't need a wand." Willow babbled."I mean magic maybe I should hold off on it."

Olivander looked at the young red head and smiled. "Miss Rosenberg I can assure you having a wand will make magic simpler and perhaps easier to control for you. Witches that use wands have far greater controls over their magic. Your fathers were both able to do wandless magic. It did however take the use of a wand for them to refine and control it. Now let me see you are a mix. The magic you have used is both of the light and dark. The light has clearly won. I believe your wand shall be white willow/ black willow and chestnut oak. The core shall be griffin feathers and balisk scales wound with the hairs of those you love most. They shall balance the power you have for both light and dark. Now for the wand length your power is great so it shall be 10 1/2 inches long. He wove the wand together and handed it to Willow. "Please try this."

She was a bit hesitant but, with the encouragement of her friends she flicked the wand. Brilliant sparks came out along with a soft melody.

"Ah I knew this would work. The cores you have are from the same creatures that donated for Gideon and Fabians wands. They two had dual cores with the hair of their twin wrapped in it. I can see that you are indeed of that noble line."

"Thank you." Willow said softly. She could not believe she had such a connection to her family.

Xander's wand was a lot easier to find. He was White Oak and Chesnutt Oak bound by White Willow with a core of blood from Faith, Willow, Giles and Dawn. It was an impressive 13 inches long which got him a smirk from Faith.

"Not a word Dark Slayer he warned. Faith grinned and waited to be measured for her wand. Hers was Sequoia with White Oak and Chesnutt Oak inlays. The core was a unicorn horn chip dipped in the blood of Buffy and warped together with hair from Xander, Willow, Giles and Dawn. It was like Xander's a longer wand at 13 Inches.

Faith started to quip but was forestalled by Buffy's look. "Ok ruin my fun. So who's next? D you are up."

Sequoia and Emerald Green Arborvitae Were quickly chosen as the woods for Dawn's wand her core was hair from each of the gang along with a feather from a phoenix. The 13 1/2 inch wand was the longest so far and it emitted green sparks when she waved it much to the amusement of her sister and Dawn's contrition.

Giles moved forward with a grin he was measured and the elderly wand maker looked him over with the same intensity he had Willow. It was clear he could tell that Giles to had once delved into the darker arts. His wand would reflect this along with the purity he now held. English Oak for the man he who would stand steadfast next to his queen, Black Oak and Sequoia holding a core of a blalisk tooth and griffin claw wrapped in the hair of his queen and her second. The wand itself was 13 inches long with the black and English oak woven into the Sequoia frame. Giles flicked it and a brilliant multicolored sparks came out. Olivander smiled with pleasure this wand would have great power. Like the Red witch it would be a balance of light and dark. He almost pitied the first evil creature that crossed this wizard's path because he was clearly going to have the power to cause it harm.

"Buffy it is your turn." Giles said he was smiling darkly. He was going to enjoy making those responsible for Sirius' pain pay.

"Giles this is not cool. You know what happened last time. Magic and me are none mixy things."

"Buffy you must have a wand. Stop this foolishness and come let Mr. Oliander measure you. The others have to be fitted as well."

Buffy sighed and obeyed Giles. Her left hand held out to be measured. Olivander stepped back as if struck. It was not possible. While he had named her queen he had not really understood the full implications until now. He frowned as he considered the situation with care. He pulled out several woods English Oak, Red Willow, Sequoia and Ironwood along with Black a deep rich mahogany. The core was even more complicated than the others. This young woman radiated power. Olivander knew she was the cause of shake up earlier. Death clung to this young woman but life radiated as well. A single Testral feather was added along with a phoenix feather wrapped around the dragon string heart of the oldest known living species of dragon. It was bound by the hair of those she called family and this bundle seemed to glow for a moment something missing. He looked at Buffy and said. "It calls for something more."

Buffy nodded and the scythe appeared in her hand and she removed a single splinter from it. She handed it over to the elder and he set it on the bundle. It wove itself around the splinter and then in a flash disappeared into the thick 10 inch wand.

"It's short."Buffy complained as she picked it up. However it felt right in her hand like Mr. Pointy and the Scythe. She waved it and the boxes in the room all exploded along with the windows of the shop.

"Oh shit."

Olivander sighed this was going to take a while to clean up. It was a good thing the others would come the next day. There was no way he could find more wands with this mess. "The wands will be 1500 gallons."

"What about the others they need wands too." Buffy said.

"They will need to return tomorrow. As you can see I must put the shop to rights."

Buffy nodded a little sheepish. She looked at Giles and said. "I told you me and magic were nonmixy."

He smiled at his beloved and said. "It will simply take practice."

The shop doors burst open as several Aurors came running in wands drawn. "Hold it right there." Kingsley demanded. "What is going on here? What is happening? The shop exploded."

Giles rolled his eyes. It was never easy. Olivander moved to greet Kingsley. "There is no problem here Mr. Kingsley Simply a little stray magic."

Kingsley looked at the wand maker and said. "Somehow I doubt that is all. We got a strong reading here like the magic that knocked out half our people. Who caused it?"

Buffy blushed and looked at Giles who was once again cleaning his glasses trying hard not to smirk. Sometimes he was too damned smug.

"Sorry I just waved my new wand." She said holding it up. "I still have some issues with control you see." She flicked it and boxes went flying.

The Auror watched in shock at the causal display of magical power. "Oh shit." Was all he thought because he was rather certain that the discharge had been an accident? What would happen if the witch did it on purpose?

TBC….