The bell tinkled as the Potter family entered the dusty wand shop. Harry looked around fondly, memories of getting his first wand flooding back. "Why hello Potters!" said the wizened wandmaker, emerging from the back room. "A familiar face I see. Young Albus getting his first wand today?"
Harry's second son, Albus nodded shyly. His mother Ginny gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze. Ollivander began taking measurements, boxes of wands zooming off the shelves. "Try this one - vine wood with a unicorn hair core." Albus gave it a wave, but nothing happened. They tried wand after wand until finally, golden sparks erupted from a carved wand of cherry wood.
"Aha! Cherry and dragon heartstring, eleven inches. A powerful wand for a powerful wizard." Harry beamed, remembering the feeling. Harry's first son, James pouted. "When do I get a second wand? This one's getting old!"
Albus's younger sister, Lily crossed her arms. "No fair, I want to get my wand first next time!" The family bickered happily, looking on with an amused smile. Another generation of Potters was ready for the wizarding world.
As the Potter family left Ollivanders, a wand box tucked under Albus's arms, James was still grumbling. "It's not fair, I should've gotten a new wand too! This one has a crack in the handle from when I dropped it playing Quidditch last year."
"You'll just have to take better care of your belongings," chided Ginny. "Wands are expensive, we can't replace them every time you're careless." "But Alllllbus gets a brand new one!" whined James. Harry ruffled his eldest son's hair. "Your time will come. Don't you remember how brilliant it felt to get your first wand? Let your brother have this moment." Lily tugged on Harry's sleeve. "I want to go get my wand fitting now too! No fair Albus goes first just for being the middle child." "Patience, Lil," said Ginny. "You're only nine, you'll get your wand when you're eleven like we all did. This day is about Albus." Albus walked along silently, clutching his wand box tight and grinning. He couldn't wait to practice spells, now that he had a wand of his very own.
At last, the family reached the Leaky Cauldron where they were meeting Ron, Hermione and the rest of the Weasley clan for a celebratory lunch. As they entered the pub, Albus's cousins Rose and Hugo bombarded him. "Let us see your wand!" "What's the core, what wood is it?" Beaming with pride, Albus carefully opened the box to show off his cherry wood wand. The cousins oohed and ahhed over Albus's new wand. Rose traced a finger along the intricate carvings on the handle.
"Cherry wood with a dragon heartstring core? That's so neat! We read about wandlore in class, cherry wands are said to belong to those with a fiery spirit and determination."
"Fiery like his hair!" Hugo joked, ruffling Albus's messy red locks. Albus tried to squirm away, blushing. "Alright you lot, give him some space," said Ron, grinning at his nephew. "Pretty exciting getting your first wand, eh Albus?" Albus nodded fervently. "I can't wait to start learning spells! Maybe you can teach me some simple ones over the summer, Uncle Ron?"
"We'll see," Ron winked. "For now, why don't you give it a wave?" Heart pounding with excitement, Albus gripped the wand tightly and flicked it through the air. Immediately, a shower of ruby red sparks erupted from the tip, dancing around them. "Brilliant!" The family erupted in cheers and applause. James pouted, crossing his arms. "Lucky... I want to do wandless magic already, wands are for babies."
"Don't be jealous, James," chided Hermione. "You'll gain more control over your abilities with practice. For now, let's order some food and celebrate your brother!"
Settling around their usual large table, the Potters and Weasleys dug into plates of steak-and-kidney pie, roast chicken, and pitchers of butterbeer. Albus could barely eat, he was so delighted just gazing at his new wand, feeling its powerful magic humming beneath his fingertips.
As the family meal wound down and the laughter and chatter died to a contented lull, Harry raised his glass of butterbeer. "I'd like to make a toast," he said, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses as he looked at Albus. "To my son, on this proudest of days. Getting your wand is a pivotal moment for any young witch or wizard. It's the start of an incredible journey of learning, growth, and discovering your true potential."
Albus felt his cheeks flush as all eyes turned to him. Ginny reached over and gave his hand a squeeze."We're all so proud of you, sweetheart," she said warmly. "This cherry wand has chosen you as a great match. I know you'll go on to amazing things." "Here here!" The others raised their glasses to Albus, who was grinning ear-to-ear.
"Thanks, Mum. Thanks, Dad. I'll make you both proud, I promise!"
"You already do, son," Harry replied gruffly, clearing his throat. Even after all these years, emotional moments like this still choked him up.
Suddenly, a mischievous grin spread across James's face. "Go on then, Albus! Give us a spell! If that wand chose you, you must be pretty powerful."
The others laughed and echoed the call for Albus to show off his new abilities. Albus gulped, gripping the wand tightly as he wondered what simple charm he could attempt. Screwing up his face in concentration, he focussed his mind and gave the wand a precise swish and flick.
"Lumos!"
But nothing happened, but that's fine...he's going to learn the spells at Hogwarts.