Disclaimer: I don't own it.

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Chapter Seventeen: Sasha and a Wand!

"Robes, books, potion's supplies, a cauldron, what else is there?" Hope asked, skipping down the road of Diagon Alley, her previously sour mood forgotten.

"You still have to get a wand. And a pet if you desire one."

"Oh! I want a pet. Let's go look at pets!" Hope said, running off like a three year old.

By the time the adults had caught up with Hope, she was kneeling down in front of a White Bengal Tiger.

"Umm, Hope, that isn't the typical animal to bring to Hogwarts. Actually, they aren't allowed at Hogwarts," McGonagall said to the girl.

"Why didn't you guys tell me wizards could talk to animals?" Hope asked, still petting the tiger, who was now purring.

"Hope, normally wizards can't talk to animals. Every now and then, you'll run across a rare parselmouth, like Potter, but that's it."

"No, I can talk to the tiger. Surely other people can too?" She responded, thinking they were just messing around with her.

Severus shook his head at the girl. "Hope, you can't talk to the tiger. Nobody has ever talked to a tiger"

As if to prove a point, the tiger growled, causing Hope to burst out laughing.

"Well, Sasha says that nobody else has problems with greasy hair, but it's apparent that you do."

Severus was torn between being upset at the joke and shocked at this new ability.

"Can I keep him? What if I left him at my parent's manor during the school year? Or that tall guy might watch them. Then would it be okay?"

"You don't want that cub there, young lady. He causes a bunch of problems."

Sasha growled at the old man who'd come over to the group, causing Hope to laugh again.

"She's a girl, and her name's Sasha. Besides, I think we'll get along great. Don't you, Sasha?"

The cub purred at her while she continued petting it.

"I'm buying her. If Dumbledore doesn't let me keep her, then I'll figure something out. How much?"

Hope counted out the coins and gave them to the man before buying some other stuff for Sasha and heading on her way.

"So all that's left is a wand?" Hope asked, cuddling Sasha closer to her chest.

"Yes, and you get your wand at Ollivander's. Severus will escort you while I go and pick up a few things across the street I need for classes."

Hope nodded and walked into the shop. Instantly she was recognized by the old man on a ladder, sorting through boxes.

"I was wondering when you would make your way here, Miss Collins."

"Umm…Hi?" She replied, backing away from the man.

"I remember your parents well. You look just like your mother. Come, come, let's find you your wand."

Hope sorted through a magnitude of wands and was ready to give up. Ollivander was also extremely confused. He'd been through most of the wands in his shop and none of them worked for this girl. He was looking through them again when he saw the tiger the girl had brought in with her clutching a white box in his mouth.

He took the box and shooed the tiger back over to the side of the desk where customers sit. Even before he had opened the box, he gasped. He knew this had to be the perfect wand for the girl.

Hope had forgotten about her fight with Severus and now sat talking with him over the seemingly hopeless hunt for her wand.

"It's pointless, Severus! I'm never going to have a wand. This is a sign, telling me I should just go and forget everything I ever learned about the wizarding world," she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air for added measure.

"Hope, you're a unique person. You can do unique things. It's going to take a unique wand to work for you. Ollivander will find something, just wait."

As he was speaking, the older man came over to them, carrying a white box, just as Sasha jumped into Hope's lap and started purring again.

Hope absently stroked Sasha's fur and took the wand in her hand. As soon as she touched it, a glow the same color as her eyes surrounded her and pushed everyone else back.

Ollivander sat up with a start and rubbed his head. "Well, it seems we've found your wand."

Severus was a little less surprised. "What are the properties of that wand?" He asked politely.

"The core is surprising. When it was made, I put it away, thinking nobody would ever match it. It would take a very pure-hearted wizard to be matched with this wand."

"Yes, Mr. Ollivander, Hope is very special, but what are the wands components?" Severus asked again, his voice showing the man's impatience.

"Yes, yes. It's almost a twin to Mr. Potter and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's wand. Made of holly and eleven inches long. This wand, however, is not made of a phoenix feather, but of four drops of phoenix tears."

Hope stared at him, confused. "Why is that so special? I could understand how its significant that Harry's wand is the brother to Voldemort's, but why does it matter that my core is more pure than theirs?"

"Because Hope, after your wand gets used to you, nobody will be able to directly touch it. Notice the pure white color of it? That's from the phoenix tears."

Hope's mouth formed a shocked 'O' shape before she regained her composure and paid for her wand. She twirled it around in one hand while holding Sasha in the other.

Things were definitely getting more complicated in her life.

They sat in Dumbledore's office later that evening explaining everything to him. Hope kept checking the clock because she had to meet everyone at the quidditch pitch at seven and she didn't want to be late.

"Hope?" Severus called, pulling Hope out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" She replied irritably.

He glared at her momentarily before continuing. "We're going to have you perform a charm right now so we can see how quickly you're going to pick up on things. This way we know how long it will be before we're ready to start your real training sessions. Watch what I do and repeat it."

Hope was less than excited about her training sessions. While the other students were taking Arithmancy or Divination or Ancient Runes or some other class, Hope was stuck with some teacher, first getting caught up on her schoolwork, and then training for her future attacks with Voldemort. Harry was also being required to drop Divination and start these training sessions.

Hope watched as Severus did a simple swish and flick movement with his wand and copied that and the incantation perfectly before watching a sleeping Sasha being lifted from her chair and into the air. Hope sighed and lowered her back down before looking at the two men.

"Look, I'm grateful you're willing to help me. I'm even more grateful that you're letting me keep Sasha with me, but can I go now? I'm already going to be late."

Dumbledore nodded but Severus' voice stopped her. "Draco will be down there as well. I don't want you outside without either one of us there, it could be dangerous. He'll escort you to my quarters afterwards where you will spend the night."

"NO WAY! The entire Gryffindor team will be out, maybe minus Harry. I'll be fine. And I'm staying in Gryffindor's common room tonight!" She replied back heatedly.

"Your bed is not ready there, and you will be staying. Draco is a seeker for Slytherin and will be good to have around. Besides, I want him to be around other houses since he's not safe around Slytherins any longer."

Hope rolled her eyes. "Fine, since you're so intent on ruining my life and making certain your son gets everything in the bloody world he wants, send him down. But if everyone ignores him, it's not my problem, so I'm not fixing it!" She yelled before storming out of the headmaster's office and successfully making her way to the doors where she was meeting Ginny, who would lead her out to the pitch. Hope was early, so she sat down and waited, knowing when she went to Severus' quarters tonight she was in for earful.

She sighed and shrugged it off. She would worry about that later. For now, the redheaded girl was coming towards her, and she was going to enjoy learning how to ride a broom.

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A/N: Hey, here's the chapter. I'll probably post another one tonight. Hope you enjoyed. Love ya'll, please review, make my day a little nicer.

Kayla