CHAPTER 13: SEVERUS GETS HIS WAND
EXT. DIAGON ALLEY, LONDON, ENGLAND – MORNING (SEPT. 1ST, 1971)
As was suspected by Severus and his mother, Tobias continued to protest and refused to buy Severus's things for school or to have anything to do with the matter. Realizing that Tobias would not help her, Eileen soon brought her son to Diagon Alley, where they would meet up with Severus's youngest aunt, Adelaide. Adelaide Prince nee Potter, James Potter's (Harry's father's) youngest aunt, was both Eileen's cousin-in-law and sister-in-law due to having married Nathalius Prince, Eileen's cousin and brother-in-law. Eveline Rosill, Severus's Squib grandmother and Tobias's and Edward's biological mother, divorced Tobias's father Edmund when Tobias was only 5 years old and went on to marry Vincent Prince, Eileen's uncle. Edmund went on to marry Irene Wilfe, a Muggle, Tobias and his brother Edward's stepmother and Darline and Christine's (Tobias and Edward's younger sisters and younger brother Jered's) biological mother. Eveline and Vincent then had son, Nathalius, and a daughter, Daphiline. Nathalius in turn, married Adelaide, who they in turn would have three children: Jack, Janine and Joseph.
Nathalius and Adelaide went to Hogwarts School together and were 11 years younger than Tobias. Of course, Severus would not discover that his Aunt Adelaide was of the Potter Family or that he was James Potter's cousin until just before his supposed death.
"Professor Armando Reginald Dippit?" said Severus, flanking his Mother Eileen down Diagon Alley and looking up at her, going past shop after shop of wizard wears, herbs, cauldrons and other magical items.
"Yes, my dear. He was the Headmaster of Hogwarts, the Headmaster that I learned under. As did your Aunt Adelaide and your Uncle Nathalius did," said Eileen, keeping her eyes forward as she walked, "He was a kind and wise old gentleman that would give you advice and guidance now and again. But he retired around 15 years ago and it is a shame that you couldn't get to know him. But hopefully your Aunt Adelaide will be here to meet with us."
"Whatever for?" asked Severus, mildly puzzled. "Are you expecting Aunt Adelaide to meet us here?"
"Of course, my dear, she always comes here around this time to help your cousins and other members of the Prince family to get their things for school. Not everyone of the Prince family are so blessed with money like most of the Prince family are. And your Aunt Adelaide married well. Do you find it strange that your father's Squib mother married my wealthy Wizard uncle, my dear?"
"It's beyond strange, mum. It's mental! I mean, wouldn't we worry about breeding to much within the Prince and Snape families? Or is this some sort of Pure-Blood, Slytherin thing?"
"Now however do you know about such things like that, my dear? I never told you about that. But no, it wasn't a Pure-Blood, Slytherin thing. Such a pairing wasn't governed or guided by Pure-Blood Slytherin beliefs. And besides, I think the idea of Pure-blood wizard families inbreeding simply for the sake of keeping the Wizard blood pure is blasphemy. But one would think that never the less with such a pairing. Of course, you know how your grandmother Eveline loves and adores my uncle Vincent. And you know how your Aunt Adelaide adores you as you are her favorite nephew."
"I still think it's mental, mum." hissed Severus, narrowing his eyes.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rose up from the crowds of wizards and witches in front of Eileen and Severus, "Eileen! Severus! Over here!"
Severus and Eileen looked over and saw that it was Adelaide Prince, waving at them and gesturing them over to her, standing in front of Ollivander's wand shop. Adelaide was a tall and beautiful woman with long, black hair and green eyes and was the youngest sister of James Potter's father, Gerald. She stood in front of Ollivander's wand shop, holding a small purple draw-string purse with money inside. As a beautiful, elegant and sophisticated young woman, Adelaide often dressed to impress and delighted in wearing long expensive scarves and elegant dressy hats. She didn't care much for wearing dresses though, so never really wore one except when she had gotten married to Nathalius a couple years ago. And having recently gave birth to hers and Nathalius's first child, Jack, she was glad to finally get out of her little English cottage. Her cottage was located in the small Northern England village of Topplemoor, located right next to and on the banks of the river Topplemoor and was located only nine miles past the town of the Shambles. Topplemoor was a quiet and shelter rustic English village where wizards and witches lived there along with a few trusted Muggles who also lived there. Another small, neighboring rustic English village where wizardfolk and Muggles lived in, called Nine Mile, was located near Topplemoor and also laid next to the river.
Severus walked up to Adelaide and coolly spoke, "Hello, Aunt Adelaide. It's been a while."
"Nephew! I am so glad to see you! Come here you!" said Adelaide joyfully and before Severus could react, Adelaide had her arms wrapped tightly around him, holding him up close to her chest. Stunned by his aunt's sudden show of affection, Severus began speaking out his Aunt's name in protest as he wriggled in his aunt's arms, trying to break free from his Aunt's strong grip around him. Severus was not use to being manhandled in this way, so it sort of annoyed him. But Adelaide took it all in stride, happy and smiling as she hugged him and held him tightly. All that Eileen did was watch her son be smothered with affection, giggling quietly under her breath. Adelaide then let go of Severus and smiled at him, while Severus looked up at Adelaide and narrowed his eyes at her in disagreement as he straightened up his school robes and brushed himself off.
"Ready to get your things for your first year at Hogwarts School, Severus dear?" said Adelaide cheerfully.
Severus looked at his mother, than looked at Adelaide puzzlingly as he spoke, "But Father didn't give me and Mum the money to get my things for school. He refuses to have anything to do with it."
"Which is why we are here with Adelaide, my dear," said Eileen, "She is here to help me buy your things for school."
Severus's face lit up briefly, then smiled softly and calmly, though Adelaide and Eileen could tell that Severus was excited and glad that Adelaide was going to help his mother get his things for school. Severus's friend, Lily Evans, was also going to Hogwarts School this year, having also been born in January, 1960 like Snape was. But Severus was born on Jan. 9th, 1960, while Lily was born on Jan. 30th, 1960, therefore Lily was a bit younger than he was. Severus and Lily would be going to Hogwarts School together to learn magic and witchcraft together as friends and fellow schoolmates.
INT. OLLIVANDER'S WAND SHOP, DIAGON ALLEY, LONDON, ENGLAND - MORNING (SEPT. 1ST, 1971)
The bell on the door to Ollivander's rang as Adelaide and Eileen entered, followed by Severus Snape. Within Ollivander's wand shop, the entry room was the largest room in the building as far as Severus could tell and was dark, drafty and dusty, with only a couple candles sitting nearby as the only source of light in the room. Every nook, cranny and crevasse was covered in dust, with shelves of dusty wand boxes on every wall from floor to ceiling.
Facing the front counter near the back of the entry room from the door behind him, Severus noticed a dusty wooden staircase with railings that ran up the left side wall, which led up to narrow balconies and further shelves of wand boxes and cabinets above. Behind the front counter, there were more cabinets full of wand cores, disused wands and other strange and magical items, as well as an entrance to a backroom which led to further rows of shelves full to the brim with wand boxes. A tall, older gentleman with silvery eyes and short wavy white hair then walked out of the backroom and walked up to the front counter, cradling some wand boxes in his arms, though his hair had been reddish-brown at one time.
This was Garrick Ollivander, the owner of the wand shop. He had been a wand maker since he was in his 30s and was an intelligent man, with an excellent memory when it came to his work. Ollivander remembered the details of every wand he ever sold, seemingly becoming happier the more difficult the challenge to find exactly the right wand for a difficult customer and often used a magical tape measure to help assess customers for their wand.
Garrick looked at Severus in front of the counter and spoke, "Ah. A new wizard here for his wand I take it?"
"Yes, sir, I've been wanting a wand since summer. But Mum said that it was too soon to have one."
"Indeed that's true, young wizard," said Ollivander with a smile, "Though there are a few young wizards and witches in this world who tend to go against that rule and manage to get a wand before they should ever have one. What is your name my dear boy?"
"Severus Snape, sir." said Severus softly.
A mild look of awe fell upon Ollivander's face as Ollivander looked at Eileen and then back at Severus, sitting the wand boxes he had been holding on the front counter as he spoke, "Upon my word. I didn't recognize you all at first, it's been too long. I've heard about you, Mr. Snape. Apart from your own mother marrying into your family, you're the first wizard born into your family in a great many years. The last wizard to ever exist in your branch of the Snape family died 171 years ago."
"So I've heard, sir. And I think that's Serinus Snape you're talking about. I know of him, sir. He's the ancestor of the Muggle branch of the Snape family." said Severus coolly.
"Right you are, Mr. Snape, a most intelligent young boy you are," said Ollivander as Snape smiled shrewdly at him. Ollivander continued, "From what I've heard about Serinus Snape, he left the old wizard Snape family behind long ago and went on to marry Mary Rosiline, a Muggle..." - Ollivander brought out his enchanted tape measure and began getting Severus's measurements as Ollivander continued - "There only child, Thedric, was born a Squib and went on to marry Joanna Maresdale, also a Muggle. Eventually, all the wizard blood was purged from the family, leaving only Muggles in the branch. But then your grandmother Eveline Rosill came along and married your grandfather Edmund. She was also a Squib and didn't stay long after your father Tobias and uncle Edward were born..." - Ollivander brought his tape measure up to his eyes and stared at it a moment, "...Yes, indeed..."
"You seem to know allot about my family, sir. May I ask how?" said Severus, who kept being distracted by the wand boxes on the front counter in front of him that Ollivander was holding only moments before, as if something was prompting him to look at them. Ollivander continued as he finished with his tape measure and hid it away, looking up at Adelaide and smiling as he spoke. It was clear that he recognized her in some way, "I'm an old friend of the Prince Family, Mr. Snape and Godfather to Tomas and Rosanna, your aunt Adelaide's older brother and sister. Then of course, there is Gerald and Amelia, your aunt Adelaide's oldest brother and sister, but I'm not Godfather to them. A pity really," - Ollivander paused a moment, then spoke once more, "Let's just say one hears many old stories when around the Prince Family table on holidays, Mr. Snape...even those stories that one was never meant to hear or know about outside the family. Bad blood and family feuding brought about the Muggle branch of the Snape family, whereas the remaining members of the wizard Snape Family vanished into other wizard families, never to be seen again. I'm certain you must know about that, Mr. Snape."
"I do, sir. Most certainly," said Severus coolly, "The Snape Family history is pretty sorted, but we still soldier on."
Ollivander smiled, than turned to the shelves of wand boxes behind him. He then began running his fingers down the wand boxes as he continued, "Now then, Mr. Snape, let's see if we can find your wand...ah..." - he spotted one that caught his eye and pulled it out. But Severus's eyes kept being drawn to one particular wand box that was already on the table, very dark green, almost black in color. Ollivander then turned with the wand box he pulled out and opened it, shoving the wand boxes that were already on the counter over to his left as he spoke, "A wand made of Rowan, 15 inches with a rather unusual core of Ashwinder Ash. A bit overbearing this one is."
He handed the wand to Snape, who looked at it a moment before speaking coolly again, holding the wand in his right hand, "What do you want me to do with it, sir?"
Ollivander looked around a moment and noticed a book on wand lore near the end of the front counter, "Do you see that book there, at the end of the counter?" - Severus nodded as Ollivander continued, "I want to use your wand and open the book with it. When you're ready, I'll step out of the way a bit."
Ollivander quickly stepped a little out of the way, allowing Severus to aim the wand given to him at the book. But as Severus was aiming the wand, the wand reacted by trembling wildly in Snape's hand before sending out a powerful white bolt from its tip, hitting the book and disintegrating it instantly. Adelaide gasped as the book flew into a million pieces, while Eileen just giggled quietly under her breath.
Ollivander quickly stepped back behind the counter as the cloud of shredded bits of the book and parchment floated in the air and fell around him, "No, no, absolutely not!"
Severus sat down the wand on the counter and stepped back as Ollivander pulled out another wand box from the shelves, this time from the left back wall which sat within one of the entrances to the backroom and brought it over to the counter. But Severus's eyes continued to be drawn to the small group of wand boxes already on the counter. Ollivander pulled out the wand from the box that he just brought out and looked it over, "A wand made of Elder, 13 and 1/4 inches, with another exotic core of Hippogriff Feather. This one is rather stubborn."
Once again, Ollivander handed Severus a wand. This time, Ollivander wanted Severus to use the wand to levitate a feather that sat near the other end of the counter, near the wand boxes that Severus's eyes kept being drawn to. Once again, Ollivander stepped over and away from Severus's aim. When Severus aimed the wand in his hand at the feather, the feather began to slowly float up into the air and hover. For a moment, it appeared to Severus and to those who were with him that he had found his wand, but then suddenly - flash! Like a magnesium flame, the feather burst into flames and fell smoldering on the counter. Eileen brought a hand up to her mouth in amusement, while Adelaide glared on, mildly petrified.
Ollivander then looked at Severus and spoke as he turned and walked over to the right wall of shelves further back towards the backroom, "No...A tricky customer you are, Mr. Snape. No matter, I like tricky customers. I no longer work with exotic wand woods and wand cores anymore, Mr. Snape, they're too expensive. These wands that I've been trying on you are from some of my older stock, which I still have some of it around. Though I still use Elder and Rowan in my wands, I don't use Ashwinder Ash or Hippogriff Feathers as wand cores anymore."
Severus once again sat down a wand on the counter and stepped back. Ollivander then looked back towards Severus and paused as he pulled out yet another wand box from the shelves, before looking back at it and pondering. After a few seconds, Severus could no longer withstand the urge to pull out the very dark green wand box that his eyes kept being drawn to.
Eileen and Adelaide soon noticed what Severus was doing and walked up closer to Severus. His mother Eileen spoke, "What are you doing, my dear?"
"It's this wand box, Mum," said Severus, holding the wand box, "It keeps drawing my eyes to it."
As Ollivander put away the wand box he was holding and pulled out yet another wand box and looked at it. Severus soon pulled off the lid to the wand box he was holding and looked into it. Inside the box, there was a black, seemingly featureless wand. But upon closer inspection, Severus noticed some elaborate markings and patterns carved into the handle of the wand, which looked Celtic in origin. Severus then pulled the wand out of the box and held it up in his right hand. At the instant he held the wand in his hand, something strange and amazing happened. An aura of golden-orange light began to shine and surround Severus's entire body, bathing him in light. It was a gentle, peaceful light, neither intense nor overpowering, though it did outshine the candles nearby, but only just.
Severus brought his arms up and looked himself over and at the light around him as he spoke, beaming in mild astonishment and smiling nervously, "Mum, I'm glowing. Why am I doing that?"
Adelaide brought a hand to her mouth in awe, while Eileen glared in mild surprise. Ollivander soon walked out of the backroom with another wand box and came upon the scene that was unfolding. Ollivander glared a moment in puzzlement, putting down the wand box he was holding on the counter as he spoke, "Curious...what manner of wand has got you doing that? Let me see."
The golden-orange light surrounding Severus soon faded and vanished. Severus then gave the wand he was holding to Ollivander before bringing his arms down to his sides.
Ollivander looked over the wand and spoke, "This is one of my older wands. A wand made of Ebony, 14 inches long, with a Dragon Heartstring core. Is this the reason why you kept looking down at the wand boxes that I left on the counter, my boy?"
"I didn't think you noticed me doing that, sir. But I couldn't help myself, it kept drawing my eyes to it."
"Fascinating, Mr. Snape, and I was just about to put this wand on one of the shelves in the backroom. This wand tells me allot about you, my boy. A boy with a very powerful and unwavering desire to protect one's self and one's own as well as those he is devoted to and those put under his charge. It also tells me that you are a boy with exceptionally powerful magical abilities and skills which greatly surpass most wizards and witches in the Wizarding World. The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Snape and with this wand having a Dragon Heartstring core, you have firm convictions as well as the determination and drive to make your mark on the Wizarding World..." - Ollivander brought out his other hand, gesturing to the wand box that the wand had come in as he continued, "May I?"
INT. KING'S CROSS STATION - MORNING (SEPT. 1ST, 1971)
After all his school supplies were bought and accounted for, Severus went on to King's Cross Station with his mother and aunt in toe. Placing his trunks, school supplies and other luggage onto a luggage cart, he soon pushed his things towards the direction of Platform Nine and Three Quarters, with his mother and aunt walking beside him. After a few minutes, Severus found his way to the entrance to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, which was located in a support pillar and was invisible to Muggles. Severus soon stopped in front of the entrance, watching several other students run towards the pillar and vanish into it with their luggage carts. Eileen and Adelaide then walked up to Severus and kneeled down next to him. It was time for Severus's journey to Hogwarts.
"Ready to go off on your own, my dear?" said Eileen softly, though Severus could hear both a mild gladness and sadness in his mother's voice.
"I think I am," said Severus softly in return, and like Eileen, sounded mildly glad and sad at the same time, "But what about you, mum? Will you be alright without me here? What if Father turns around and hurts you again?" said Severus, noticing the bruise on his mother's right wrist.
Seeing that Severus noticed the bruise on her wrist, she quickly covered it up with her left hand and held her right wrist as she spoke, "Of course I will be, my dear. And I can deal with your father, never fear. Remember what I've taught you, my dear. Control your emotions, keep your thoughts safe and close to you. Keep them away from all outside forces or influences. You must never show weakness or defeat, keep your mind safe and strong. You are a very powerful wizard, my dear. If you keep your nose to the grindstone and your mind in your magical studies, you are certain to become a true force to be reckoned with. Let nothing distract you and steer you off the path to greatness and know that you are best with potions, for I have seen your superior abilities and mastery in making them. Will you remember that, my dear?"
"I will, mum, all of it. I will not neglect nor shut out the lessons you have given me. And yes, I will become the greatest Potions Master in the entire Wizarding World! No one and nothing will ever match me in potions! I will be the best in my Potions class ever and will make you proud of me. I swear it!" said Severus, looking up at his mother with a smile.
Eileen's face lit up briefly before going blank and melancholy again. Eileen then wrapped her arms around Severus and hugged him close to her as tears started welling up in her eyes. Severus then turned to Adelaide, who looked at him and smiled.
Adelaide then spoke softly, seemingly taking on the father's roll if only briefly, "Now remember, Severus dear. I want you to behave and not get into any trouble while at school. Always respect and listen to your teachers and learn from them all you can. Most important of all, respect and remain loyal to your Headmaster, for he or she will count on you to stand by his or hers side in times of peril as well as maintain a common courtesy and a respectable attire. You are of the next generation of budding wizards and witches to go to Hogwarts and the older generation is counting on you carry on as they did before you. We want you to have fun and delight in learning new ways of magic as well as the spells and tricks of the trade. And I have also seen your budding talent for potions. Become the best student in potions you can ever be, master your potential and skills in potions. Will you do that for me?"
"Yes, Aunt Adelaide. I will do what you say. I will make you proud of me to."
"No need to make me proud of you, my dear, I already am," said Adelaide with a mild grin, "It's your Headmaster and your teachers that you should make proud of you. Good luck, my nephew."
"Yes, Aunt Adelaide, I will." said Severus confidently.
And with that, Adelaide gave Severus a hug and gently pushed him on forward to the entrance to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Adelaide called at Severus as he approached the entrance, "And remember to look after your new friend, the fire salamander I bought you. He will serve you well in making potions and lighting your way at night."
"I will, Adelaide. He will be most helpful." called Severus back at her. With his luggage cart in front of him, Severus slowly picked up speed, faster and faster until he had picked up enough speed to go through the entrance to the platform, disappearing into it in a sparkle of light.
INT. PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS TO ON THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS - MORNING (SEPT. 1ST, 1971)
Once on the platform, Severus was greeted by the sight of wizards, witches and students alike, bustling and moving about, trying to get where they were going. His eyes came upon the Hogwarts Express, which appeared as though it had just gotten a new coat of blood red paint. He then stood and looked around, ever so watchful of any sight of his friend Lily. After a couple moments, Severus soon caught sight of Lily, standing with her parents and her younger sister Petunia. Petunia was in her own way jealous of her sister, but also angry and appalled by her sister and her magical abilities, for when the subject of her sister's magical abilities would come up, Petunia would scoff and turn her nose up in disgust, brooding and sneering like any normal Muggle child that was against magic.
Lily's and Petunia's parents on the other hand were proud of Lily and delighted in her magical abilities and despite the fact that Lily was only a quarter of a Witch when it came to her blood, she still had marvelous magical abilities and was extremely talented magically. For a brief moment, just before leaving her parent's side, Lily showed off her wand, which was made of Willow, 10 and 1/4 inches with a Unicorn Hair core. Though normally her wand was meant to be made of Rowan, she was chosen by a Willow wand instead, which seemed to match closer to Lily for some reason or another. But Severus's wand was matched perfectly to him, there was no denying or mistaking that. After a few moments, Severus soon watched as Lily gave her parents a hug, than turned towards the train, walking off to it as Petunia and her parents looked on. Severus would follow soon after.
Once on the train, Severus walked down the corridor between the compartments, looking for a place to sit. He then realized that he had left his new pet fire salamander with the rest of his luggage and turned to walk back down the corridor towards where the luggage was, but then remembered that he wasn't supposed to show the creature or tell anyone that he had it, for fear that the beast would be stolen or taken away from him. Fire Salamanders were extremely rare magical creatures of the Wizarding World, especially in England, where none were known to live out in the wild. Fire salamanders were small, black amphibious lizards with spots and broken bands of yellow or orange all over their bodies.
Although they bred and lived in water, they would spend much of their lives engulfed in the flames of fireplaces and pyres, though any kind of fire was a safe haven for a fire salamander. Their skin produced a mucus that protected them from burning up in fire and to light fires with, but also produced a potent and poisonous toxin that was deadly if not used in certain potions or elixirs properly. All that one would need in order to collect some of the toxin was a swab or a rubbing stick. They were, or rather the toxins and chemicals in their skin, where especially useful in making certain types of potions and elixirs, which was the main reason why Adelaide had bought the creature for Severus in the first place.
Severus soon spotted Lily in one of the train compartments and opened the door to it to join her. It didn't take long for him to find out that Lily had been crying about her sister disliking magic and calling her a freak. Another boy, named Sirius Black, respectfully of that pure-blood wizard Black family, was sharing the compartment with Lily and would travel to Hogwarts with Lily and Severus in the compartment, sharing stories, telling jokes, making faces and eating candy with one another. Though Sirius would eventually join up with James Potter and The Marauders, thus giving Severus a whole world of trouble in the coming months and years while in school that were to follow soon after.
CONTINUED...CHAPTER 14...