A/N: So shorter chapters are working for me/ my lifestyle right now, so I'm going to keep going with them unless someone makes a complaint about it. Please review, they feed my sould :)!

As planned, Evanna Flooed directly to Ollivander's with her mother while her father took Draco to Knockturn Alley. As soon as they stepped out of the fireplace, Narcissa kissed the top of Evanna's head.

"I will be in Madame Malkin's and then I must go to the Apothecary-do not leave the wand shop, understood?"'

"Yes, Mother." Evanna replied. Narcissa nodded, an odd, excited energy around her that Evanna had rarely noticed. With a swirl of robes and a whoosh of air, Narcissa was out the door and across the street.

"You can come out!" Evanna called, knowing from Draco's stories that the wand-maker liked to make an entrance. "Mr. Ollivander! I haven't much time!"

The oldest man Evanna had ever seen stepped out from the back, deftly navigating stacks of narrow boxes.

"Ah, the mysterious Miss Malfoy," Ollivander said in a wispy voice. "I remember your parents and your brother just last year-though you look most dissimilar, much more like-"

"Sir, I apologize, but I am on a tight schedule," Evanna informed him. He looked at her in surprise.

So impatient.

Evanna took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ollivander, I don't mean to be rude. I've never been to Diagon Alley by myself before, and I really want to see-"

The wand-maker smiled. "Ah, yes. I presume you are smitten with that author like so many other young witches? Yes, we shall get started."

Evanna wasn't entirely sure what he was talking about, but nodded along as tape measures began to weave around her, recording all sorts of data. There was a strange look on Ollivander's face as numbers floated across the room, as if he was utterly baffled by something. Evanna shifted nervously from foot to foot, unsure of what to do.

"Is there a problem?" she finally asked.

"Hmm?" Mr. Ollivander responded, still focused on the numbers in front of his face. "Oh no, dear, I'm just surprised, that's all…"

Evanna frowned. "About what?"

"Your readings-they remind me of someone….. I can't quite place it…." the old wizard hemmed and hawed. Evanna found herself looking longingly at the door, hoping she would be able to get out of there soon.

"Sir?" Evanna prodded.

"Ah, yes, yes, you are on a schedule!" Mr. Ollivander said with a twinkle in his eye. Soon, thin boxes were dancing around the room. One stopped in front of her and Ollivander gestured for her to take it from midair.

"Dragon heartstring and-"

"-and walnut," Evanna finished, somewhat surprising herself.

"You know your wand woods!" Ollivander exclaimed happily. Evanna frowned. "Go on, give it a wave."

Evanna did so, and nothing happened. Ollivander had a certain gleam in his eye at the failure, but quickly had cycled through five more wands, each refusing to do anything in her hand. Each new wand was equally frustrating to her, ready as she was to explore before her mother came back to get her.

"We will find one, don't you worry-"

No clue which one to try next. Gone through the most common for-

"I'll choose!" Evanna snapped.

"But, Miss Malfoy, the wand chooses the wizard, I must-"

"Out of my way!" she snapped. Then something strange happened. Her mind seemed to reverberate with one word as the old man stared at her wide eyed.

Riddle. Riddle.

Evanna ignored him and without truly thinking about it, she reached out her hand and one of the boxes floating about her flew into her hand. She stepped back in surprise.

"That one is unicorn hair, durable, and-"

"-and thirteen and a half inch yew," Evanna finished with him. His voice had almost gone hoarse as he watched her unbox the pale wand and hold it lightly in her hand. The lights seemed to dim and a cool breeze floated through. Evanna watched in fascination as Mr. Ollivander shivered.

"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Evanna sneered slightly, a surge of power making every inch of her body tingle in a pleasant way. Ollivander was still staring at her with trepidation. "Mr. Ollivander? Are you quite alright?"

He blinked owlishly at her, before shaking himself. "You remind me of-nothing like-I will bill your parents. Go on, get out, I've much work to do."

And just like that, Evanna found herself being shoved out the door, flinching when she heard the click of the lock behind her.

Dangerous. Like him.

Her heart thumped, wondering where on earth that thought had come from. Everything about Ollivander was strange. But, she had a wand. Her wand. And she was free to roam about the alley as she pleased, for a few hours at least. And she would not be wasting it.