I looked up at the sign of the shop in front of me and read the words" Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C." My heart pounded as I looked at the display cushion in front of me, a lone wand sitting on a faded, dusty purple cushion. The wind rushed by me, sending a chill up my spine as I looked up into the night sky. I was getting my own wand! Dumbledore opened the door and we went inside. A rush of warm air greeted me as we walked into the quiet, barely lit shop, the door closing softly behind us. I noticed a musty smell greeting me but tried to ignore it. I was in the world of Harry Potter! Who cared about a musty old smell?
"Garrick? I'm sorry for the late hour, but another reader dropped in on us." An old man, not quite as old as Dumbledore, hobbled down the stairs, a lantern in one hand, his other gripping the rickety old railing.
"Albus, you do realize how old I'm getting? It couldn't wait until morning?" I grinned as I saw this old man, Mr. Ollivander, The Ollivander, come down and light the shop. He set his lantern down on a desk and lit a few torches on the wall, bathing the room in light. I saw the dust floating in the air, the stacks of wand boxes all in disarray. I smiled as I saw the hall leading into the back. Maybe, one day, I'd be able to go back there, if I didn't today.
Dumbledore laughed softly. "I'm sorry, Garrick, but this is urgent. If Charlene is to in any way catch up to her peers," I felt a thrill at that word. My peers. The people here would become my friends, and I'd be able to learn real magic! "then she needs a wand as soon as possible."
Mr. Ollivander sighed and nodded. "Quite right you are, Albus. Let's see, then. Miss Charlene-"
"Charlie." I cut him off. "My name is Charlie."
He slowly nodded. "Come with me, Miss Charlie. I'm sure we'll have no trouble finding you a wand. " Mr. Ollivander picked up his lantern and started walking through the hall into the back. I stood there, my feet unmoving, stunned. This was really happening. Mr. Ollivander noticed and turned back. He beckoned me forward, and I shook myself, hurrying to follow him. Hopefully Dumbledore was right. Hopefully I was a witch.
The back room was even mustier than the front of the shop, and my nose wrinkled in slight disgust. Why couldn't being in this world be absolutely perfect? Of course, though, every up had it's downs. I came back to earth and my feet stopped, the rest of my body leaning precariously forward as I nearly crashed into Mr. Ollivander. My arms wheeled as I tried to regain my balance. My hand knocked into a wand box and it crashed to the floor, sending up a cloud of dust. My eyes started to water and my hand flew to my nose as I regained my balance. Before I could stop it, a sneeze ripped through my throat and out of my mouth. I groaned softly. Seriously?
"Are you all right, Miss Charlie?" Mr. Ollivander asked, looking back at me. I sighed and nodded, stepping forwards after him into a darkened, square room. More dusty wand boxes lined the walls. There was no desk in the middle of the room, just a small table in one corner, and the room was slightly warmer than the front of the shop. I couldn't help feeling slightly claustrophobic in here.
Mr. Ollivander walked to one of the walls and pulled down a wand box, sending up a small puff of dust. I blinked rapidly. This room was so bad for my sinuses. I watched as he shook his head. "No. Not that one." He put it back and moved to another spot, pulling down a couple different boxes. He slowly nodded. "Yes." He walked over, opening the box, his long, nimble fingers pulling out a beautiful black wand. He thrust the wand into my hands. "Well, try it out." I flicked the wand and . . . nothing. My heart sank.
Mr. Ollivander tsked and took the wand from my hands, putting it back in the box and setting it on the table, then grabbing another wand box and repeating basically the same process as before. Before I knew it, I was holding another wand. "Pear wood, dragon heartstring, 13 1/2 inches, medium yielding flexibility," he murmured. I smiled. Dragon heartstring. That sounded powerful, and right now, I wanted to feel powerful.
I swished the wand with a smooth flick of my wrist and the back window shattered. I winced and quickly set the wand down, but couldn't help appreciating the cool breeze now filtering in through the window. "Maybe not that one," I said softly, and Ollivander nodded.
He walked to another wall and pulled out a box, running his fingers over it. "I wonder…" he murmured. I waited, anxious. He walked over and handed the wand to me, then pulled his jacket tighter over his nightgown. I barely kept from rolling my eyes. How was he even close to cold when it was stiflingly hot in here, even with the slight breeze.
"Hollywood, Phoenix feather core, 13 inches, slightly yielding flexibility." He said. "These wands are rarely compatible with anyone, seeing as the core and wood often disagree with each other, but I wonder if you are the right person for this wand. If you are, I'm sure you'll grow quickly, and become quite the contender in any duel." I listened, smiling. If this was my wand, then I'd really be special. I waved the wand, wishing I could make something levitate. To my surprise, the box the wand had come out of started to float up from the desk, and wind in the room picked up, whipping my hair and rushing around Mr. Ollivander and I. I looked at him and he grinned. "Oh, yes!" He grabbed his lantern and quickly hobbled to the front of the store where Dumbledore was waiting. I ran after him, not wanting to be left in the dark.
"She's a powerful one, Albus." He grinned. "Teach her well." I smiled. I really was special, and now, I'd have even more of a chance to prove it. I walked over to Dumbledore who smiled graciously at me.
"Well done, Miss Charlene. Now, we'll get you sorted tomorrow, and then get the rest of your school supplies, seeing as it's so late now. I imagine you've had a long, exciting day and you'd like to get some rest." I nodded. His smile widened slightly, a knowing twinkle in his eye. He held out a hand, the tugging in my gut pulled at me, and then we were gone.
We landed in a room full of beds, but no people. I knew immediately it was one of the Hogwarts dorms. Dumbledore turned to me. "You'll stay in one of the empty dorms for now, until I can talk to, perhaps Molly about you staying with her." I nodded emphatically, excited at the prospect of meeting Mrs. Weasley. She'd always been one of my favorite characters, and I absolutely adored the actress's portrayal of her in the movies. Dumbledore smiled at me. "You'll find pajamas in that drawer," he pointed to a dresser next to one of the bunks, "and any other necessities in the drawer below. Get some sleep, Charlene, and I'll see you again in the morning." He turned and left the room.
I set my wand down on the dresser and got ready for bed, trying to process everything that had happened today, praying I wouldn't wake up to find it all just a dream as I laid in bed and closed my eyes.