4. Sliding
Harry's nerves were rattling him. The trip to Diagon Alley had been more stressful and less fun than he had hoped for. People kept pointing and whispering about him. It was kind of like school all over again and he hated it.
Hagrid was good people, but he couldn't really explain some of the things that were going on.
At least, he had been able to get a nice white owl and most of his school supplies. The pair passed by more whispering facing and Harry ducked his head down. It was unnerving how many people knew more about his life than he did. He fiddled with his new gloves, his tense emotions ebbing away.
Their final stop was Ollivander's Wand Shop. The bell rung as the door was swung open. Harry tiptoed in.
"If it isn't the prestigious Harry Potter visiting my shop. Here for your very own wand?" Ollivander asked as he appeared behind the counter. Grey peppered his thin hair as he smiled crookedly. "Which is your wand hand?"
Harry wasn't quite sure how to respond, as he hadn't ever touched a wand. "I'm right handed", he answered in hopes in not seeming too confused.
"Hmm." The shop owner went to the back and carried several boxes and dropped them on the counter. Calculations ran through his head as he eyed the hero of the magical Britain up and down. Digging into his pile, he presented the child with a wand. "Try this my boy. Wave it around."
"Yes sir." Harry took it and waved. Red sparks shot out and blasted the poor boy to the wall. A groan escaped him as he caught his breath.
"I dare say, that wand is not the one." The man yanked the wand out of Harry's hand and gave him another.
Hesitantly, Harry waved the new wand and dropped it immediately. It had felt liked the coldest ice he ever felt on his bare skin.
"No, no, that just won't do. Here's another."
Harry wasn't as quick and tempted to hold another wand. He felt that he was pushing his luck, but the wand seller didn't seem too patient. With much reluctance the youth stretched his hand to the offending wand. As soon as he touched, the wand screeched, breaking every window, before actually curling up and aging to dust.
"My, I haven't seen such a reaction in years! Too bad, it wasn't a match. But I have a good feeling about this wand."
The lightning scarred youth wanted to beg to differ, but he wasn't the wand expert. When he came in contact with this new wand, he felt himself become flushed with power. It felt like he always had this wand and great friend for the rest of his days.
"Aha, I knew-" Before the man could say more, something unexpected happened.
The book the pale lady had gifted him somehow shined in a bright dark light. It removed itself from his bag and opened up. Pages blurred past and stopped at a section that none could comprehend. A single page ripped from the book and flew to the wand. The form of a flaming bird erupted from the wand and it flew around the shop before swallowing the page. Its red and fire like feathers dyed black and became more of a mist before sinking back into the wand. On the side of the wand, 'Harry Potter' was etched in cursive.
"Was that normal, Mr. Ollivander?" It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Though a lot of that had to do with the fact that the pale lady's book had been the cause of the phenomena.
"Not at all Mr. Potter. This is amazing. Wands can be quite exciting, though never this much." He sounded as though Christmas had come early. After paying, the pair left the shop.
Harry tucked the wand away, a smile on his face. The pale lady had made his wand really special. Leave it to her to make a worsening day so much better, without being there! He couldn't wait to tell her all about it.
