Chapter 4: The Wand
"Okay," Henry looked at his watch, "it is nine o'clock. We need to hurry and get your supplies before eleven. You don't want to miss your train in your first year, no doubt."
"Henry to make things easier and faster, I think we need to split up."
"Ya you're probably right."
"Aren't I always right?" Both Henry and Paige started laughing and kissed each other while Phoenix and Katie rolled their eyes and Henry gagged.
"Right, I'll take Katie and Junior to get the books and supplies. Paige, you and Phoenix get the school uniform and the... um... wand?" Henry looked at the supply list, making sure he read it right.
"Wand?!" Henry looked up at his mother, "Did Aunt Phoebe start the wand thing too mom?"
"Uh, I don't think so. But you can ask her. It wouldn't surprise me if she did."
"Oh."
"All right, now that we got the wand issue settled, let's meet back here at the steps of Gringotts." Henry said going back to his conversation.
After they all agreed, Paige handed Henry some Wizarding money, and Henry handed her the page she needed for the uniform. When Henry left, Paige turned and smiled at her daughter.
"Okay, where do we want to start? Do we want to get the wand? Or your uniform? What do you want to do?"
Phoenix looked down at her list, pondering the same question. "How about we start with my uniform? It looks like it will take the longest. I mean, how hard is it to get a wand? You just choose the one you like, right?"
Paige shrugged. "Okay, let's see if there is a shop for uniforms close by." Phoenix walked over to her mother who held the map out for both to see. "Ah, here is one." Her mother pointed out. "Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions. Looks like it is just three blocks and on the right." Her mother stated folding the map back up and putting it in her pocket. "Lets go."
Walking between the crowd, Phoenix kept her interest on the many shop displays until they arrived at Madam Malkins. The window displayed many mannequins with different robes for occasions.
Phoenix pushed the door open followed by her mother. A squatty witch in mauve robes rushed up, a smile on her face.
"Hogwarts student, dear?" Phoenix nodded a reply, but before she could say anything, the woman spoke again, "I'm Madam Malkin. Follow me dear and I'll get you fitted." Phoenix and Paige followed the witch to the back where there was a boy with blonde hair and a pale face. "I'll be right with you, Mr. Malfoy. Let me help her." As the boy glared, Malkin guided Phoenix to an empty stool. "Step up here dear and let's get to work."
Paige stood back watching the woman do her work, laughing at the pleading look Phoenix gave. Madam Malkin rushed over to a rack, grabbed a few sets of robes, threw it over Phoenix's head, and went to work. She left every once in a while to work on the blonde boy's robes. Then as soon as she started, Madam Malkin finished.
"Well, child, we're done here. Hop off, hop off!"
Phoenix jumped off the stool while her mother walked over and paid for her school uniform.
"More will be sent to Hogwarts as I finish them."
"Oh well, thank you." Paige said then walked over to meet her daughter at the door. "Okay now that is finished, let's go get your wand."
"Mom, maybe we can ask her where to go?" Phoenix said pointing to Madam Malkin.
"Excuse me, Madam Malkin?" Paige said.
Madam Malkin turned around hearing her name, "yes, dear?"
"Um, we are not from around here, and I was wondering if you knew a place to get a wand?"
"Yes, dear, you would want to go to Ollivanders. He makes the finest wands in all of England, He is two blocks away."
"Thanks." with a wave goodbye, Paige and Phoenix set off for Ollivanders.
"I wander how your father is doing?"
"Don't worry, mom. He has Katie and Henry with him. I'm sure he'll be fine."
Paige looked down at her daughter with a smile. As they continued their way to Ollivanders, both talked and carried a box with two sets of uniforms.
As they finished their conversation, a small building came into view. If neither one of them was trying to look for it, they would have passed it easily. The building itself looked old and worn. It wasn't as kept up as most of the surrounding buildings. In the window, there was no fancy display, only one wand laid out beside an opened box.
Phoenix noticed the worn down gold letters. It read Ollivanders Makers of fine Wands since 382 B.C.
"382 B.C.? I guess we can't blame Aunt Phoebe for this one." She looked at her mother with a replicated smirk. "Unless there is a story you never told us?"
"Well, if she did, they never told me. So as far as I know, she only started the flying broom fad."
Phoenix pushed the door and went inside. Huge shelves surrounded the shop with tiny boxes. It reminded Phoenix of a giant shoe store. Out of the corner of her eyes, Phoenix saw some movement. Out of nowhere, an old gray-haired man with grayish silver eyes jumped in front of her, making both her and her mother jump.
The old man gave a soft smile, lifted his chin slightly up, and looked Phoenix over from head to toe. After his look, he stepped back and did the same to Paige. Both feeling awkward, Phoenix continued looking at the many tiny boxes.
When the old man finished, he extended out his hand to Paige, "Hello, I am Ollivander."
"Matthews, Paige Matthews, and this is my daughter Phoenix."
"Ah, the name of the fiery legendary bird, excellent name, excellent name."
"Thank you, sir." Phoenix responded.
Mr. Ollivander clasped his hands, "Okay, I'm thinking the young Miss Matthews is here for her first wand?"
Phoenix nodded her head slowly. 'Is this old man on something? He is odd.'
"Let's see which arm is your wand arm?"
"Erm… excuse me?" 'Now I know he is on something!'
"Your wand arm, child!" Ollivander said in annoyance.
"Um… I'm right handed?" Phoenix answered, still confused.
"Okay, okay, let's see now." Ollivander grabbed a measure tape and held it in front of Phoenix. "Well, child, hold out your arm."
Phoenix did as she was told, looking at her mother with an uneasy expression. Paige laughed, vouching she will never forget this day.
"Every wand here at Ollivanders is unique. No two are the same." He explained while measuring every inch he needed, but Phoenix realized Mr. Ollivander was walking in between the shelves. The tape measure was measuring itself, then stopped when it was through. Mr. Ollivander came back with two small boxes in his hands.
"That's all I need, thank you." The tape measure dropped on the floor without warning. "Okay child, I want you to try this one. It is seven inches willow wood with unicorn hair." He handed the wand to Phoenix.
Phoenix looked at it for a while then looked at Mr. Ollivander "What do I do?" she asked him.
"My gosh child, just give it a wave!" he exclaimed unbelieving his ears.
"Oookay." She said looking at her mother and back at him. Phoenix waved the wand, but Ollivander snatched it out of her hand before even trying it. He reached for the next box he had and pulled out another wand.
"Try this one. It is eight inches dragon heartstring and ebony. Give this a wave."
The moment Phoenix waved the wand, a shelf full of boxes flew off and went onto the floor.
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" Phoenix exclaimed, shoving the wand back into Ollivander's hands. "I'm so sorry! Here, take it back!" Paige couldn't help but laugh out loud at the scene before her.
"It's okay, child. This wand defiantly is not yours. Let me get more." He ran off in an opposite direction. When he came back, he held three more boxes. "Try this one nine inches phoenix feather and pecan wood."
Phoenix took the wand and let out a small sigh. Again barely able to wave it, Ollivander snatched the wand out of her hand.
"No, no, no. Try this one. Unicorn hair seven and a half inches maple wood." The moment he gave it to Phoenix, he snatched it back again. "No, try this dragon heartstring maple wood ten inches."
Phoenix cautiously took the wand. She was unsure what he was looking for. 'Is he looking for a bright light?'
"Is this going to take long?" Paige asked in annoyance.
"Mrs. Matthews, do you need to be somewhere?"
"Well, yes, we do. It is ten o'clock, and we need to get to Kings Cross by eleven."
"Well, Mrs. Matthews, it is not up to me how long this will take."
"What?"
"The wand chooses the wizard, Miss Matthews." He responded by looking back at Phoenix as if he was telling her not her mother.
"And why is this?" Both Phoenix and Paige asked.
"No one knows why Miss Matthews."
At that note, he dashed behind his desk. A few minutes went by until the gray-headed man appeared again with a slight smirk on his face. The box, covered in thick dust, looked ancient and worn, as if forgotten. Ollivander took the lid off, reached in, and slowly took the wand out.
"Try this one." He said in a creepy, excited voice.
Phoenix took the wand. A warm sensation went through her. It was like fire was surrounding her. She waved the wand, and a bolt of lightning shot out.
"Interesting. How very exciting! Two in one day! I have never hoped for more!"
"Um, what is exciting?"
Ollivander took the wand out of Phoenix's hand.
"Thirteen inches and oak wood. But inside there are two powerful magic cores, not just one like an ordinary wand. One is a Phoenix feather and the other… well… the other is a lock of hair from a powerful witch." He stopped for a moment before continuing. "I was trying to create wands that had two power cores like yours, but I stopped because they would not work. Though this one I knew had promise. I tried to sell it for a long time after I made it, but I gave up. Realizing it was impossible to sell it, I put it away. Until now. Something about you intrigued me."
"What?" Phoenix saw herself getting into the story.
"Mrs. Matthews, may I ask, do you know the name of your oldest ancestors?"
Paige did not know where this was going. Ollivander saw the look on her face and continued.
"Well, the witch who the hair belongs to was none other than Melinda Warren, New England's most powerful witch. She told me only a true descendent could wield it. I, making wands forever, did not believe her. Until now. You, Miss Matthews, must be a descendent of Melinda Warren in order for this wand to choose you!"