Chapter Three
The Beard Wand
Gringotts Bank had a Myrkinbrek branch with a cart rail in between so customers in good standing could get a ride straight from their vault into the town. Jennifer loved the carts but despised being underground, and did everything in her power to avoid it when possible. What made it even worse was the fact that her inheritance, a 'pitiful' (in her father's opinion) remnant from the Craw estates, was on one of the lowest levels. But the mining carts moved through the twisting rails at a rapid pace and it wasn't long before Jennifer had climbed out and into the large vault that was stuffed with heirloom pieces, art, and coins. It was only the second time she had gotten in it since they were married; the first had been the renovations on the cottage. She had no idea how much she needed, but opted for the direct approach of quickly shoving as much coin as she could into the two pouches she brought. Satisfied she had more than enough, she hurried back out and leapt into the cart, already feeling as if she were suffocating and desperately wanting a breath of fresh air.
The route to town was very long, but the sensations of the zooming cart she was in helped to keep her mind off how deep underground she was. After a countless number of twists and turns, she found herself in a narrow tunnel that seemed to go on forever, lit only by the lanterns on the cart itself. Finally a burst of light hit her eyes as they turned a sharp corner and stopped, and she was ushered out of the cart into a wide cavern filled with sunlight coming from just beyond. Jennifer stepped out under a glass-domed circular plaza, bustling with people. A train station, port key platform, even several chimneys converged here as people traveled in and out of the town proper. The plaza seemed to have been purposely built around the cavern that the bank carts came out of, which was directly opposite a wide cobbled path that led directly out of the plaza into the merchant district. Chiseled deep within the rock of the cave in precise lettering and gilt in gold was the name Gringotts, as if there had been any doubt from the line of tellers and carts that it could have been anything else.
Breathing deeply and glancing briefly at the gloriously blue sky, Jennifer looked back at the bank again to see Corey and Severus coming out and she walked over to join them.
She had been five when she had first been to this district, and Jennifer couldn't help but think that it was even larger and more overwhelming than what she had remembered. Crystal equipment shops, watch shops, and charmed item shops sat on every corner, as well as jewelers, antique, and collection shops, kitchen shops, and everything in between. Corey's keen eye spotted the sports shop and toyshop while Jennifer decided to veer to the right so she could pass the kitchen shop. But just before they got separated, Severus reeled them in with a firm hand on Jennifer's shoulder and a quick grab to Corey's collar.
"Let's all try to remember why we're here, shall we? Jennifer, why don't you go on to Grendelbane's and I will take Corey for a walk so you can choose a wand in peace," Severus said, pointing her in the right direction, while nudging Corey in another. Jennifer nodded to him and stepped into the crowd, following her nose down the street.
Grendelbane's Wand Shop was at the far end of the district where the older businesses were; many of them open for several hundred years. Grendelbane's even predated that, being one of the three oldest businesses there. It was a quaint gabled shop of only one story with a homey, whitewashed, country appearance, complete with herb flower boxes in the windows. But despite its modest storefront, Jennifer couldn't help but feel a rush of awe as she approached, knowing it was the most prestigious wand shop in the world.
She opened the door and entered as the bell just above her head chimed softly. A low counter separated her from an intricate collection of labeled drawers, while on latticed racks along the wall next to her were partially prepared heartwoods of every type that Jennifer could imagine. A glass case on the other wall displayed a fancy array of wands, some of them made with precious metals and covered with jewels and others made with intricate carvings along the sides or particularly tricky enchantments. As she was gazing in the case, a long willow wand quite plain in appearance suddenly leapt out of a cabinet and flew across the room. Jennifer watched in amazement as the wand pointed itself at the bell, causing it to ring loudly and emphatically. Jennifer wondered if the shop didn't have a resident poltergeist.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, you troublesome Wand! You know I'm in the middle of a component set, they could have waited," a scratchy voice said from the back. The Wand, satisfied that it had done its job, bobbed slightly as it walked around Jennifer, almost as if it was pacing around her to get a good look at her. She wasn't quite sure what it was up to, but she had a feeling it liked her…although she could hardly be too sure of a Wand that had somehow managed to acquire its own personality. She had never seen anything like it. She heard someone clear his throat and turned to see an old goblin with fiery black eyes surveying her with intense scrutiny.
"So, you've contrived to somehow make an impression on the Beard Wand, have you? Talent isn't everything, you know. Gold might be," the goblin added, watching her carefully. "I am Grendelbane the Eighteenth, current proprietor."
"My name is Jennifer Craw Snape," she said, emphasizing the Craw part of the name. Evidently it was enough proof she had money, for the goblin's face brightened considerably. "Ollivander highly recommended this place, as I was having trouble being fitted for my first wand. I started with an heirloom wand and never had my own." Suddenly the wand tapped her on the shoulder and slipped into her hand, waving itself erratically. "Might I buy this one?" she asked.
"That wand is NOT for sale. That is the shop's familiar," he said in a curt firm voice. "Even if it were, I'm sure you couldn't afford it. That is the Beard Wand. Besides, as you can see, its behavior is quite erratic and I doubt you can handle it. There are times when even I cannot handle it. That wand was not meant to be tamed." The Wand must have understood every word, because it pointed at Grendelbane, causing his coat to break out in polka dots. Jennifer suddenly found herself having trouble keeping a straight face. "What components have been in your wands in the past?" he asked, bringing out a wand maker's compendium.
"Banshee hair and Unicorn mane hair, although I have had marvelous luck with all wands…"
The Beard Wand tapped her shoulder and made a sweeping movement as if bowing. Not quite sure what it was up to, she curtsied in return, and excitedly it went to the case and turned on a music box. Not quite knowing how to dance with a Wand but willing to give it a go, Jennifer put her right hand on the tip of the Wand and let it lead her around the floor.
"Fine, keep her occupied then, as if I could stop you. Dratted Wand. I knew my father hated me. If he didn't, he would have given the shop to my brother," Grendelbane grumbled, using a ruler to go down the book.
"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to get carried away, but it really is an amazing Wand," Jennifer said after the dance, walking over to the counter with a grin. The Wand tapped her on the hand and a bouquet of flowers appeared in it.
"If you can cast with any wand, we need not worry about the conductivity, so you can probably pick any wood you like. I'm sure by your age you have settled into a preferred length?"
"Twelve and three quarters please," Jennifer said swiftly, missing the feel of her first wand. "As for wood…" she glanced over at the woods to see the Wand over there already scanning them, pointing one out to her, she took a couple steps over looking thoughtful, then nodded, "black rosewood?" The goblin scrutinized them carefully.
"Oh, very well, who am I to argue with a Wand?" he said with obvious exasperation. But it was as the wand went over to the drawers where his rarest magical components were kept that he finally lost his temper. The Wand opened a drawer and Grendelbane shut it with a snap, glaring at it. The moment Grendelbane went to reach for a different drawer, the Wand did it again. "No, no, NO, this is where I put my foot down. It is not your place to pick out what is best. It is mine! Go back to your case and stop bothering me!" The goblin snarled. The Wand had taken a dangerous position, as if threatening to zap the old wandmaker, but the goblin stared stubbornly back at it as if daring it to continue. Just then the chime of the bell alerted them to someone entering and the Wand suddenly shot over at the person coming in the door. It was Albus Dumbledore.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts smiled warmly at Jennifer, but he had only taken a step when the Wand demanded his attention, tugging on the sleeve of his robe insistently.
"Yes, yes, Beard Wand, what is it, he isn't arguing with you again, is he? You'd think he'd know better by now," Dumbledore said as the Wand led him up to the table. "I heard from Ollivander what happened, Jennifer, so I expected you'd be here. Tell me, Grendelbane, what is in that drawer over here?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Oh, nothing interesting, I'm sure, Professor, the Wand has just forgotten that its place is in a cabinet and not floating about in the air."
"Oh, come now, Grendelbane. As long as I've known you and known that Wand, I can tell when you need an outside mediator. Also, since Professor Craw works for me, so I have a great deal of knowledge about her casting ability and might be able to add some insight to the matter."
"Why don't we try some gorgon hair, or perhaps some winged cat feathers?" Grendelbane suggested while the Wand kept knocking on the same drawer persistently.
"I want to see what the Wand has in mind," Jennifer said. She had so completely fallen in love with the Wand's personality that she found herself trusting it implicitly, and Dumbledore's calm reaction to it only strengthened that opinion.
"Very well," Grendelbane said with total exasperation. "Here is what all the fuss is about, one measly unoriginal tawny owl feather. Quite un-fantastic," he professed, but Jennifer did not miss the extreme delicate manner in which he was holding it or the reluctant, pleading look in his face when he glanced at Dumbledore. "Surely you would like something with a bit more flare than a tail feather from a familiar."
"I don't have any trouble with it being an owl feather," Jennifer said. "Besides, I find it an interesting twist of fate having a Wand help choose a wand for me. Do you not think it'll work for me, Grendelbane?"
"Yes, Grendelbane, what do you think? I for one think it should suit her perfectly," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile. That was when Grendelbane began to bawl, a most horrendous sight coming from a goblin, and one that fortunately didn't happen too often. The Beard Wand came up behind him and patted his shoulder comfortingly.
"It's the last one! The very last one! After this no more will be put into wands, Dumbledore, they've all been made. It is my oldest ingredient, and the most rare. Perhaps it wouldn't have mattered to my brother, the slime goat that he is, but it does matter to me. I want some extra compensation!"
"Charge her what you would have normally charged her for a regular custom wand, and bill me for the rest," Dumbledore said, holding up a hand when Jennifer began to protest. "Now, Jennifer, I can't expect you to go without a wand any longer. After all, it was my order that had your first wand destroyed, so let me do this much at least." The Beard Wand, satisfied that Grendelbane was going to carry out the order, contentedly floated back over to Dumbledore making another sweeping movement. "You are quite welcome. I am certain you made the right decision, as did you, Jennifer," he added smiling up at her as Grendelbane stomped off to the back room with the wood and the drawer in hand.
" I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me what's so rare about an owl feather, would you?" Jennifer asked. Considering the majority of Hogwarts owls were tawny, she couldn't help but wonder and goblins were not the easiest creatures to read from their faces.
"There is something very special about the bond between a wizard and his familiar; of that I'm sure you know quite well. Could you imagine Rasputin with any other wizard?" Dumbledore chuckled. Jennifer chuckled too. Severus was probably the only wizard she knew who could get away with carrying a thirty-pound one-eyed basilisk around and not look comical. "Or your bat Ratfly, or even my Fawkes? In any case, when Grendelbane's first opened their business, the shop was given thirteen rare artifacts to use in wands, twelve of them owl feathers, and the other the lock of a beard." The Beard Wand bowed again before going back to peek at the goblin. "Considering the original owner of those, it's not surprising that Grendelbane is a bit sorry to see another one go. But I think the Beard Wand will be here as long as Grendelbane's is open, so regardless, a piece of Merlin will always be here." Jennifer stared at him for a long moment incredulous. So the feather was from Merlin's own familiar!
"What is it with me and wands? Regular wands ignore me and extraordinary wands seem drawn to me like magnets. I would have been content with a simple fairy dust wand or something," Jennifer said, propping her head in her hand. But Dumbledore looked amused.
"Do not concern yourself about it, Jennifer, I myself have the same exact problem, which is why I've acquired a collection over the years. In fact, I have one of the other Owl wands. Your friend Lunette Vallid has yet another."
"Well, yes but that's different. You're Albus Dumbledore. And Vallid, is well…Lunette Vallid. I'm just me." Jennifer said. Dumbledore shook his head at her, looking at her sternly from above the rim of his glasses.
"I swear, Jennifer, if there was one thing more than anything that I want to accomplish this upcoming term, it would be to get you to remove that 'just' from your name," he said. "You need to learn how to deal with this fame problem and learn how to live with it, because it's not going to go away, I assure you."
The goblin came back in with a design book, the wand floating contentedly behind him, and Jennifer quickly turned her attention to it and picked out one from his sketches.
"It will not be exact… I refuse to go against the will of the wood if it tells me to carve it otherwise," he said, giving her a stubborn look, but she nodded understandingly. "Any special enchantments or protection curses?"
"No curses," Jennifer said so emphatically she chuckled to herself.
"Just the standard ownership enchantments I think," Dumbledore suggested. The door's bell rang again, and the Wand floated over to check out the new arrivals while the goblin started making notes on the work order. The Wand paced around Severus Snape as Corey watched in amazement, wondering why it was doing that. Once it was done, it bowed to Snape then hovered back over to where Jennifer and Dumbledore were, ignoring Corey completely. Apparently the Wand didn't see anything interesting about a boy who didn't need a wand.
"Is it just me, or does that Wand seem to have a mind of its own?" Corey said in amazement. "And I thought the toy shop had neat gadgets! Hello again, Professor," he added.
"Oh, you've run into each other all ready today, have you?" Jennifer said, curiously wondering why Dumbledore hadn't mentioned that.
"Yes, we met in the j…" Corey's mouth suddenly had a hand over it as Severus moved in like a cobra. Jennifer turned to look at them but Severus had turned them both around so as not to face her.
"All right, I don't know what you're up to, but you had better not be spending any money on me, Severus Snape. This wand is enough to last me ten birthdays," Jennifer said, glancing suspiciously at the amused look Dumbledore was giving them.
"The wand was a necessity, and you took it out of your own money," Severus argued.
"Our money, the inheritance was for me and my husband, Dad was quite clear on that," Jennifer argued back. The Wand, which had been turning back and forth as if listening to the conversation, instantly became excited, going over to Severus and put the tip of the wand in his hand, shaking it vigorously. Severus scowled at it in annoyance.
"I believe the Wand is trying to congratulate you on your catch," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Yes. So it would seem. Thank you," Severus said stiffly. The Wand then went over and tapped Jennifer lightly on the cheek before hovering back behind the goblin as if looking over his shoulder.
"Is your wand going to do all that neat stuff too, Mom?" Corey asked, heading to the counter.
"I think that would get old after awhile," Severus pointed out with a scowl.
"There is only one Beard Wand, and one I think is quite enough," the goblin grumped, trying to push it back out of the way as he finished up his notes. "It does keep riff-raff out of the shop, at least. It doesn't like many people. In fact, this is the most receptive I have ever seen it to such a large group."
"Just what did you end up ordering?" Severus asked.
"Twelve and three quarters black rosewood with a tawny owl feather," Jennifer said.
"Merlin's tawny owl feather," Grendelbane said, looking at her sharply.
"You know it's funny, when we tried to choose it you didn't emphasize that," Jennifer said almost teasingly.
"I wasn't working out the price then," he explained.