Chapter 4: Robes and the most important item…
Julia almost dragged Gabriel with her and Rachel was walking in front of them. And the direction in which they were heading was all to clear for Gabriel. They were heading in the direction of the Diagon Alley's only robes store, 'Madame Rosemerta's Robes For All Occasions'.
Gabriel hated shopping for clothes. He just didn't get what other people made such a fuss about. Clothes were things to cover your body with so you don't get cold. Gabriel really didn't worry much about the clothes he wore, just that they were comfortable and that they didn't make him look like an utter fool. And that they were mostly in the blue category. He considered most blue things to look good.
Rachel and Julia however liked shopping for clothes. Rachel enjoyed getting people clothes in which they looked good and took her time to find the right ones. Julia however was a little more down to earth about it, but enjoyed pestering Gabriel by dragging the whole affair out as much as she could.
But Gabriel still had to admit that whenever they convinced him to go shopping for new clothes, he did come out with clothes that looked good on him. He just thought that his old clothes did that as well and didn't see the purpose of getting more.
"Now, go inside and we'll get you a Hogwarts Uniform." Rachel informed Gabriel.
"Just a uniform?" Gabriel perked up. Standard issue uniforms weren't such a problem, they couldn't take that much time to buy.
"Na-ha, Gabi." Julia said grinning. "You don't get off that easily. We're getting you formal clothes as well."
"Oh, please no," whimpered Gabriel.
After the store clerk measured most of Gabriel's vital body parts, they got him an Hogwarts uniform. It was just a rather formless bunch of material with sleeves, but somehow it did fit him right.
But the dress robe was a completely different matter. For the next three quarters of an hour, Gabriel's mother and Julia made him try all kinds of dress robes. Even a lot of silly ones, as per the suggestion of Julia to just see how he looked in them.
Gabriel stubbornly insisted that he didn't like most of the robes, be it because they were uncomfortable or that they made him look like an oaf. Eventually they all managed to find a compromise.
They bought him a blue dress robe, which hugged his upper body tightly to show it off and which flowed down in the standard robe-like fashion from his belt down. The sleeves grew a bit wider towards the end, adding the right wizard feel to the robe. The material was something that felt silken, even though they couldn't place it. The store clerk told them that it was a special type of silk woven from cobweb threads. Gabriel looked good in it, even though from a Muggle's perspective, it looked a lot like he was wearing a shirt with too long the sleeves and a long skirt beneath it.
Julia made sure to point that out, while they walked out of the store with Gabriel's new clothes.
"Ack, stop it, Jules! You know it's not my choice to wear something that looks like a dress." Gabriel exclaimed, finally growing weary of her.
"Gabi," Rachel said, looking rather offended. "A robe is nothing like a dress. Don't forget that. And they can make you look just as good as muggle clothes."
"Yeah, yeah, mom. But it's still annoying to have Julia point out that it looks like a dress."
"Point." Rachel's mom conceded mischievously and flicked her wand at Julia. "Silencio. There, we'll have some peace and quiet for awhile."
Gabriel grinned as he watched Julia try to speak, but with no sounds coming out of her mouth. She looked as if she was about to strangle Rachel, but she didn't try to. Apparently this wasn't that odd an occurrence to happen to her.
"Now then, next item… Ah, let's go in here, Julia would love it."
Gabriel noticed they were standing in front of the Magical Menagerie and gave a groan. Julia, on the other hand, looked very excited. She was gesturing madly at her mouth, obviously wanting to speak again.
"Finite incantatem" Rachel ended the Silencing charm on Julia.
"Oh, oh! Magical pets! I wanna see!" Julia exclaimed, as she bounded into the menagerie.
Rachel and Gabriel soon followed, even if Gabriel was displaying some reluctance at entering. The menagerie was always a sight to behold, even though he had been there before and already knew what it looked like.
The problem with Gabriel and pets was only that pets didn't like him. Especially magical pets. This made it annoying for him to owl people, since the owls were very reluctant to let him near them. But whenever he was near cats, most hells broke loose.
Lucky thing that all the pets here are properly caged or restrained. I'd hate for another occurrence of what happened the last time I had to deal with a lot of small, furry animals.
No sooner did Gabriel think about this after he entered the menagerie, before he saw two small, furry objects launch themselves at his face, snarling viciously.
"Ack!" was the last sound he could utter, before his voice became muffled of the small heaps of fur.
Gabriel was trying desperately to get the things off his face, which were digging their nails into his skull in a quite unpleasant way. Luckily, the store owner was there quickly. A boy and a girl that were looking quite anxiously followed the owner to the poor Gabriel.
"You again?" The owner said after he forcibly removed the two kittens from Gabriel's face. "I thought I'd never see you again after what happened to you last time. You're lucky only these two cats are out of their compartments now, instead of the entire shipment that I was checking over then."
"Yeah," sputtered Gabriel, removing some hair from his mouth and checking his face for serious wounds. "thanks. Remind me never to feel loyal to my mother again and enter this true circle of hell."
Meanwhile, Julia was rolling around on the floor laughing, while Rachel was quietly chuckling in her hand.
"Heh, glad you think so highly of my shop. That a friend of yours?" the owner said, pointing to the heap of Julia that was still recovering her breath on the floor.
"I'm not sure." Gabriel said coldly, glaring at Julia. "Maybe after I duct tape her hands to her feet."
"Duct tape? Can't say I know what that is. Anyway, let me get these two darlings back to their new owners."
The owner handed the kittens over to the girl and boy that were still looking very anxious. They probably didn't like it one bit that their newly bought pets would randomly assault people. Gabriel looked at them and saw that they couldn't be more than eleven or twelve years old. They both had red hair and looked extremely alike. They were probably twins. Even their freckles seemed to match.
"Don't worry," Gabriel said. "They'll only attack me most probably. Cats and most other animals seem to hate me… lots."
The boy finally worked up enough courage to say something.
"We're really sorry. We'll try to teach them it's bad to attack people like that."
"Y-yeah!" the girl stated, still looking nervous. "We're really sorry."
They quickly exited the store after that. Julia by now had calmed down and was looking at other animals that caught her interest, like the many colorful birds. Still, with all the creatures glaring daggers at Gabriel, he started to feel uncomfortable.
"I'm going to wait outside, okay? Just come out when Julia is done." He told his mother.
Gabriel sat down on the ground outside and sighed, thinking that animals were going to hate him forever. Just then, a small, brown dog lay down next to him. Gabriel absentmindedly scratched the dog behind his ears and it gave a satisfied growl in response.
Oh well, at least dogs like me. I guess it really has something to do with my curse.
After about twenty minutes, Rachel and Julia came back out of the menagerie. Julia was still casting longing glances over her shoulder towards the shop.
"It's really too bad that I couldn't buy anything in that shop." She said. "But my parents would ask questions about where I'd get something like a two-headed parrot."
"Good thing you didn't buy the parrot anyway. I think you'd go insane with the two heads constantly arguing with each other." Rachel commented. "Get bored much, Gabi?"
"No, I had some company." Gabriel said, indicating his canine partner in laziness.
Julia grinned. "So, how did you like your cat-encounter? Seems that cats here are even more vicious with you than normal cats. And what was that about you being there when an entire shipment of cats was out?"
"Well," Rachel was only to glad to provide that story. "just imagine what happened just now, only with about ten times the amount of cats."
Gabriel gave a groan and Julia looked as if she could feel the pain Gabriel must've felt then. She knelt down next to Gabriel felt around his face gently.
"Good thing they didn't hurt you too much." She said softly.
"I'm used to it," Gabriel responded, only very slightly taken aback by her sudden concern. "Thanks, though."
"Heh, you're starting to make me feel bad about you accompanying me to this store."
"Well," said Gabriel, now standing up. "I know how much you like animals anyway. But, is there anything else on the list?"
Rachel grabbed the list again and read it over.
"Just one more. You'll need your own wand."
Gabriel gave her a slightly odd look, but then realization dawned on him.
"What?" Rachel said again, noting the question that he had. "you didn't expect you could take my wand with you to Hogwarts?"
"Nah, just never thought about the fact that I kept using your wand during my home schooling. It'll be weird using another wand."
"Well, I'd let you keep mine, if it wasn't for the fact that I still need it, though not as much as before. Plus, I like my wand. But don't you worry, we'll get you your own wand and you'll see that it will fit you even better. Now, let's go to Ollivander's."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ollivander was sitting in his shop at the counter, having a tea and looking at a black box he had received today. His shop, normally alive with the tiny sounds, hums and sometimes bangs that all the wands would make in their drawers, was almost completely silent. The only thing that could be heard if you listened carefully was a slight ruffling noise, which had a trembling quality. Also, the fact that he'd been unable to sell any wands because of this change was annoying him.
Ollivander sighed as he finished his tea. He really didn't know what to do with the package in front of him. It was strange to say the least. Ollivander wasn't unaccustomed to weird packages being owled to him at times. Mostly they were small gifts from happy customers, exploding things from unhappy ones or some sort of demonstration another wand-maker had sent him to either comment on or to gloat to him about it.
But this… Well, the contents were clear. In the box, wrapped carefully in red silk, was a wand. Its craftsmanship was clear as the wand was exquisitely made. But that was also the most peculiar thing about it.
The delivery was made, not by an owl, but by a rather ferocious looking eagle. It was clearly a wild animal, which was rather odd, since you needed tame birds to deliver packages. Also, even the eagle had seemed rather twitchy about the package and flew off abruptly when Ollivander retrieved it from the bird. Almost as if it had wanted to be as far away from it as possible. The package had no mention of the sender anywhere.
But the materials the wand was made of were the oddest. The black material which most of the wand was developed from, was definitely not wood. It was bone, a sturdy, black bone. No creature Ollivander knew of had black bones. Of course he knew this didn't mean that it wasn't possible. Even to the magical world, there were a lot of mysteries, legends and myths. But even wands of normal bone were extremely rare and difficult to make.
Along the top of the handle of the eleven inch long wand, white runes were carved. It was a pale and shimmery white, though the runes refused to actually glow. Ollivander couldn't recognize any of them, which was startling to say the least. Runes were uncommon to be put onto wand, since they interfered with the magic they would cast, but still Ollivander knew of all the runes possible to put on wands.
And then the core. All the famous wand-maker could make of it was that it was made up from a couple of hair strands from sort of magical creature. But he couldn't identify the species nor the potency of the strands, just that it was extreme.
Ollivander was brought out of his musing due to the door chiming, indicating that there were customers. They were the last thing he needed, since he was about to close shop for the day early. He wouldn't be able to sell any wands like this. But still, they were customers, so he could try a last time today.
"Hello," he said, as he walked up to the group that just entered. "Ah, miss Senner! Such a time since I have seen you. You have grown into a lovely, young lady. Are you here to buy another wand?"
"Hello, mister Ollivander." Rachel replied cheerfully. "It's good to see you too. I'm here to buy a wand for my son here, Gabriel Rayon." She gave Gabriel a slight push on his back.
"Yes, indeed. He seems to old to be a first-year though or even to buy his first wand." Ollivander questioned.
"He used my wand during his home schooling. But since he's finally transferring to Hogwarts for his fourth year, I think it was time to give him his own wand. He can hardly take mine with him."
"Yes, it would be a shame to see that wand leave your possession. It is perfect for you." Ollivander glowed at the memory of little Rachel holding her first wand. "But anyway, I think I'm going to have a bit of difficulty selling you a wand today. In fact, I was just about to close sho…"
Ollivander was interrupted by an oddly strong ruffling noise. He excused himself for a moment and walked back to where he was sitting just before. The wand he had been puzzled over so greatly was twitching in its box, almost as if it was trying to get out.
Though he found it extremely odd, he knew that wands always picked their owners and not the other way around. So, he did the only thing he could as a competent wand-merchant. He took the box with him and to his new customers.
"Here," he told Gabriel, handing him the box with the black wand in it. "It seems that this one is very anxious to be your wand."
"Oh yeah?" asked a confused Gabriel. He eyed the wand with something like marvel, tracing one of the runes with his fingers. The wand felt oddly comfortable in his hands.
"Yes, though I'm afraid I can't tell you much about it."
Rachel shot a questioning look at Ollivander. Somehow she didn't like the fact that he was selling her son a wand that he himself didn't know much about.
"Oh, I assure you that it is well made and very capable of casting magic." Ollivander said, noticing Rachel looking apprehensive. "But the fact is that it's a piece that a fellow wand-maker send me and I don't know all the specifics about."
Gabriel wasn't listening to any of this though, as he took the wand out of the box and was fingering it gently, showing it to Julia as well.
It's odd, but I like this wand already. How come it just feels right to have this? I wonder how easy it is to do magic with this. Might as well test it out and give Jules a little something.
"Ribbonius" he called and a dark blue ribbon weaved itself out of the wand and settles in Julia's hair, pulling her hair in a gorgeous ponytail.
Julia looked excited and happy about the bit of magic he just performed, though she couldn't see where the ribbon had actually gone.
"Okay, Gabi. Where'd that ribbon go?" she asked.
"In your hair. Didn't I tell you that you should wear your hair in a ponytail more often? You look good like that."
"Well, yeah. But I still think I'm cuter it I let it fall out. You're the one that's supposed to be cuter with a ponytail."
"Heck, no. I'm already surprised I haven't had ignorant males hitting on me yet."
Suddenly they heard a little cough. Ollivander had finished talking with Rachel and was trying to get Gabriel's attention again.
"It seems that the wand is in perfect working order," he said. "That truly was a fine looking ribbon that you created. And might I add that the young lady looks delightful with her hair done like that?"
Julia gave a slight blush while Gabriel just smiled at her, warmly but still in an I-told-you-so way.
"Now, as for your wand," Ollivander continued. "I'll let you take that one, free of charge. Since I haven't made any costs in the production of it, nor was I actually asked to sell it for the sender, I think that it won't be a problem. Clearly, it was as if the wand was made for Gabriel."
"Are you sure?" asked Rachel. "I mean, a wand like that would've cost quite a bit to make. But I'll take you up on your offer. Could you please send a note to your friend and thank him for us?"
"I'll do that, miss Senner. Now, I shouldn't deter you any further from your day and I was closing up anyway, so I hope you will have a perfectly fine day. I hope you'll come back for a visit soon, perhaps when another wand is needed?"
"Will do, Mr. Ollivander. No doubt that I'll see you again." Rachel gave a nod in goodbye and made to walk out the door.
"Thanks, Mr. Ollivander. And thanks for the wand," Gabriel said politely, putting the wand back in the box and tucking it in his backpack.
Julia just waved, as she didn't really know how to act in the company of more respected wizards (Rachel and Gabriel hardly counted as respected in her book).
As the three left the store, Ollivander muttered a tiny incantation at the doorand the sign on it turned and now showed 'Closed' to the outside. He then turned to the inside of the store, as if addressing an audience.
"Alright, all of you," he said softly. "It's gone now, so no need to be scared anymore."
And then, the store once again was alive with the usual little sounds of wands. Ollivander could not imagine why the wands would be scared of that black piece of marvel, but he only thought it was highly suspicious. He sat down in his office to make notes on the things that he found while examining the wand. He had the entire thing memorized perfectly and was determined to research its origin more closely. Ollivander was truly fascinated.