Chapter 2: Ollivander's
Rachel
Rachel was in the back of the shop with a soon to be first year. She was jumping up and down with excitement. Rachel couldn't test the wands fast enough. The door at the front of the shop opened just as the wand in the little girl's hand came to life.
"Coming!" she heard Ollivander shout. He worked his way to the front of the store. His voice was suddenly filled with excitement, though she couldn't hear what he was saying. She took the little girl's hand, which was still clutching the wand that had chosen her.
"Did she find one?" asked Ollivander when they came close.
"Yes, sir" she said. He took the wand from the girl, and Rachel dashed behind the safety of the counter.
"Elm and dragon heartstring, 10 inches" said Ollivander, he winked at the girl, "You have a good eye young lady."
"Thank you, sir" she said.
Ollivander handed the wand to Rachel, who bagged it and completed the transaction with the girl. As the girl left the shop, Ollivander started talking again.
"So, Zero, where exactly have you been all these years," he said.
"It's kind of a long story," a boy's voice answered.
"What was that?" a girl's voice asked.
Rachel, when she had heard Zero's name, had dropped the wand that she had been polishing. It went over the edge of the counter. Rachel, embarrassed, scrambled to catch it. She picked it up, keeping her head down, as she struggled to pretend that nothing that had happened.
"Rachel, how many times do I have to tell you to stop dropping things?" asked Ollivander, "Give it to me."
"Yes sir," she whispered and ducked behind the counter again.
"Clumsy girl, I don't remember why I hired her," Ollivander said.
"Maybe you shouldn't be so hard on her sir," the boy's voice replied.
Rachel, through the veil of hair that covered her face, studied the newcomers. Two were definitely Muggles, though the man seemed more at home than the girl. Rachel's eyes drifted to the wizard that was talking to Ollivander. Her breath caught in her throat.
Zero was older than she remembered but that was to be expected. There was a tattoo on his neck and he had multiple piercings on his ears. She had to resist the urge to hug him; she had missed him so much.
"Can I see your wand?" asked Ollivander.
"Sure," Zero said and handed it to him. Ollivander inspected it carefully.
"Black hawthorn, twelve inches…" Ollivander paused, "Griffin feather am I right."
"You always are, Ollivander sir," said Zero. Polite as ever, thought Rachel.
Then Ollivander turned and pointed the wand at Rachel. Before she could duck her hair was pulled back away from her face into a tight braid, revealing her electric blue eyes. She turned bright red, and ducked under the counter, trying to take it out. She couldn't.
"I've always wondered what color her eyes were," Ollivander mused and handed the wand back to Zero. Rachel heard someone approach the counter. She shrank into the shadows, trying to hide.
Zero leaned down next to her, his lavender eyes sparkling when he looked at her.
"You are just as shy as ever aren't you," he said.
Rachel's face got redder but she somehow managed to stand up. He followed suit, studying her. With a sudden burst of courage she tackle hugged him, nearly knocking him over.
"Zero, I missed you so much," she whispered into his shoulder.