Chapter 9: The one with the Sword of Wine

Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

A/N: Buona notte means good night.

Chapter 8

I stood on the stairs to the entrance and did not want to let go. I couldn't. Linus and Lenzo had always been around.

"Ky…Come now, I thought this is what you wanted."

"Can't you guys just stay here in the castle? I'm sure Nonno wouldn't mind."

"I told you. Not tonight. I have to go back to see Agnes and try to sort things out. I told her to go back to the hotel and wait for me. Thank heavens this place doesn't have reception, or all we'd be hearing would be Wagner's march. You just have to sleep, and in the morning, and we'll be here."

"Yeah, we wouldn't miss getting our wands! And if you're scared or anything happens, anything at all, I asked the old man for this," Len handed me a piece of paper. He had a piece as well. "I wanted to get a hold of you, just in case, you know. So just write on it, and whatever you write, will come up on my page. And just say the word, and I'll be here in seconds." He leant down and kissed my forehead. This was a big step for them too.

Linus hugged me again and kissed me on my forehead. "Anything at all, ok?"

I nodded. I was too sad to even make a joke. They walked down the pathway to the gates; I could see the silhouette of the person who would be apparating them to the hotel. I didn't turn around until they were small dots, that disappeared.

"This is your room. It's not far from my own, so if anything might arise where you might need…assistance or…" Professor McGonagall seemed to be uncomfortable with this whole thing. Being the lady, I suppose she got left with the job of getting me settled in. Well, I'm just happy it wasn't Sev.

"Thanks Professor McGonagall. You don't need to worry. I'll be fine. You're the Transfiguration Mistress, that's what Nonno said?"

"Yes I am. Your...Nonno… was the master before me. I trust you get some sleep Miss Thornton; you have a long few weeks ahead of you."

"You don't think I can do this, do you?"

"It doesn't matter what I think…. I think you might just be pushing yourself too hard to prove a point that isn't necessary to be made. There isn't anything wrong with starting from scratch, you're young. The circumstances are unfortunate but…"

"I am sorry Professor McGonagall; I know too well what unfortunate circumstances are, and this is not one of them." She gave me a contemplative look, and I thought I might have crossed the line. The thing about lines, I wasn't good at sticking behind them. She then surprised me with a smile.

"Goodnight Miss Thornton, and good luck."

I changed into my pyjamas and got into bed. It was decided that if this was to work, then I should live at the castle and make the most of the teachers on hand. This room was temporary, until they sorted out quarters for me which should be done by tomorrow. I played with the locket, seeing it in a whole new light. I ran my fingers over the diagonal indents which I now knew were phoenix wings. When the locket is open, it resembles a phoenix in flight. I opened the drawer next to me and took out a piece of parchment and a quill and some ink and sighed. This was going to take some getting used to.

My core subjects were Charms, Defence against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Herbology, and History of magic. Well History of Magic seems to be just theory; the rest have a practical and theory aspect to it. I could read the prescribed literature at night and write the assignments, practice the spells and potions during the day. From the third-year electives, I'm definitely not doing muggle studies, and divination looks like bullocks. So that leaves me with arithmancy, ancient runes and care of magical creatures. I guess there's nothing to it but to do it.

I got up and grabbed a Beginners Guide to Transfiguration from the pile of books on my bed side. It seemed Nonno was also keen on me getting a start, because there were tons of books here, probably to help with the assignments and reading. He said that a week before start of term I'd write the exams. He said since it was just one person sitting an exam, two days should cover it. Just as I was about to delve into turning a match into a needle, I heard a scratching sound. I looked at the dresser, and something was glowing. I went over to it and smiled; I forgot about the parchment.

"Did you brush your teeth?"

"Nope, did you brush yours, Len?"

"Of course not! I'm insulted you even asked. Are you settled in?"

"I'm staying in a temporary room for now. Nonno says I could choose one of the spare quarters tomorrow. You guys can help me get sorted out after we go shopping. "

"Well, when you ask so nicely, how can I deny you? Anyways we're probably going to have to sneak Linus out tomorrow; I can still hear Nessie shouting."

"Ahhhh, how I miss that. I'm sure she took the news well."

"I don't know, he still hasn't left the room since we got here."

"Maybe you've been hearing good shouting then. Lol."

"KY...! That's my girl. You should get some sleep. I'll be there at about 8. You think they'd be any hot chicks in that Diagon Alley? Should I dress up? "

"Len!"

"You're right, I don't need it. I'm always packing my swag."

"Haha…I'm missing you guys..."

"We're missing you too Kiddo. Buona notte Principessa"

"Buona notte Zoey-poo"

"Ky…no…I said no. We're not going inside that sh…KY. Put those back. No, you can't have that. KY! You better…"

Linus didn't get to finish his sentence as the shop erupted in a world of colour, sparks were flying everywhere. Something that looked like a griffon was galloping around, its colour changing from pinks to yellows.

"Sweet Mother of Pie, that was awesome! Don't look at me like that Li, you're the one that spat on the Dr Filibuster's No heat WET start fireworks." I said, has we re-joined Nonno and Lenzo outside.

"That's because you make me spitting mad. I told you; DO NOT go into that shop. But did you listen! I don't even know what goes through your head…"

I zoned out the rest. I turned to Nonno, he was humming, stopping only to nod and smile at the staring people. It had been like this from the Leaky Cauldron. We just got out of Gringotts, where we had to exchange some 'muggle' money for gold, silver, and bronze coins.

We were heading for Ollivander's Wand shop; well, we were trying to get there. It's not my fault I was distracted, it's like a little bit of heaven fell out of the sky into a sea of splendour, cartwheeled through the Valley of The Awesome and decided to set up shop in London and call itself Diagon Alley. Well, I felt like it was 'Died-and-gone Heaven'.

"Were you in a famous wizard band when you were younger?" Nonno turned and looked at me. Conversation wasn't exactly flowing between the lot of us. I think Nonno was giving the boys time to ease up to him.

He chuckled, "What gave me away. The beard?"

"Really! What was it called, wait don't tell me, I'll guess..."

"He's pulling your leg Ky. He wasn't in a band. Everybody is staring at him because he is known to be the greatest wizard of modern times, and he defeated a dark wizard called Grindelwald in 1945, he discovered the twelve uses of dragon blood and also worked on the Philosopher's stone with an alchemist called Nicholas Flamel." Linus said this in monotone, not making eye contact with anybody, and with not a stitch of pride in his voice at being the descendant of such an amazing man.

"Don't forget, he likes ten pin bowling and chamber music."

I looked at Lenzo curiously. When did they find all that out, we left straight for Diagon Alley after breakfast, and I'm sure you can't just Google him.

"Your face is on the floor."

Linus said this nonchalantly and pointed some feet back. I looked back to where he pointed and found a card lying there covered in dirt and dust, a picture of Nonno smiling up at me. I reached down to pick it up, but someone stepped on it before I could. A surge of unexplained anger went through me, and I snapped at the person,

"Why don't you watch where you're going!"

The young boy scurried away, obviously thinking I was mental. I picked it up and pocketed it. I gave Linus and Lenzo a heated stare, "If you saw it, why didn't you pick it up!"

Lenzo and Linus raised their eyebrows at me, shocked at the fact that I was actually seriously angry. I don't know why I was so angry; I just was. It just seemed so disrespectful. Nonno was being so nice to us, I could tell that he didn't come here often, because people were staring so much.

If he's as great a wizard as Linus and Lenzo says he is, then he probably doesn't just go walking around Diagon Alley, what with the stares he was getting now. He must have a really busy schedule and he actually accompanied us to get our wands. He didn't have to come personally, he could have just sent someone, but he didn't. He was making an effort. I don't know why they were being so vile. I mean, I wouldn't let people just walk around on Linus and Lenzo's faces. I even had a scrapbook where I kept every single article, picture, or no picture, which they featured in.

Linus looked the other way; he wasn't even going to say sorry. Lenzo had the decency to look abashed; he gave me a small smile.

I didn't return it.

"Well, this is it. Ollivander's, maker of fine wands since 382 BC, and not a bad cherry pie."

Nonno winked at the last part, and we walked in. The room looked cramped as it was full of boxes. We went to a clear spot; I reached over to ring the bell, because I loved doing that. Before doing so, an ancient man with white hair popped out of nowhere. Gosh, all I could think was, which came first, the Dumbledore or the Ollivander.

"Merlin! Albus, I never thought I'd see the day you waltzed into my shop."

"Why ever so Garrick, I purchased my first wand from this very shop. Well of course it was from your father at the time."

Well, I guess that solved who came first.

"Quit being Headmaster and decided to become a tour-wizard for TerrorTours, have you?" He was looking at us curiously. I guess we did give off the touristy vibe, all wide eyed and staring around. We were just missing the camera.

"Unfortunately, no Garrick. This is Ky, Lenzo and Quilinus. My grandchildren."

Mr Ollivander didn't even bat an eyelid at that and shuffled to the back of the store. I looked at Nonno, he smiled at me, not seeing anything odd at the wizard's behaviour. Maybe I just don't speak crazy.

Three measuring tapes magically appeared and started dancing around us, making all sorts of measurements. Before he could look at any of the measurements though, Ollivander came back with an armful of boxes in his hand. He placed a box in front of Linus, and one in front of Lenzo. The rest he left in front of me.

Linus took the box and opened it. A very handsome wand lay inside, he picked it up and immediately a bright light glowed around him. He gave us a nervous look, and after giving it a wave, the bell turned into a goblet. My previous anger forgotten, I smiled radiantly at him. Seems Ollivander had this thing down to a science.

"Beech wood with Dragon heart string, 12 and half inches, pliable. Good for transfiguration." He nodded at Nonno at that. Oh yeah that's right, Nonno was the Transfiguration Master back in the day.

Lenzo took the top off his box, and snatched up his wand and waved it, all in one movement. Water sprung out, into the goblet that Linus made. He tapped it again, and it turned to wine.

"That's more like it."

"Blackthorn with dragon heart string, 12 and half inches, swishy. Evidently, good for Charms."

I stepped forward excited and took a wand out of the first box and gave it a wave. The boxes behind us burst open. I looked at Ollivander and he shook his head and I tried another.

Six wands later and shards of glass and paper everywhere I was getting really anxious. What if we'd never find a wand? I mean, Linus and Lenzo got theirs on the first go.

"Unless…"

Ollivander walked away muttering to himself.

"Don't worry; I had to go through quite a lot to get my wand."

Nonno smiled down at me reassuringly and pressed his index and middle finger onto my forehead, pushing out the worry line crease that I had there. It was such a strange gesture, I laughed. This man was preciously weird.

"Well, give it a wave."

I looked down at the opened box that Ollivander placed in front of me. It was gorgeous. It was so white, it looked incandescent. It had black, intricate carvings around the handle. I picked it up, held my breath and gave it a wave, pointing it at the wine filled goblet.

Immediately the wine gushed out into the air. It suspended for a second and then solidified. It was shaped like a blade, with the golden goblet transfigured into a golden hilt. It hovered in the air, as if waiting for me to direct it to its victim.

"Fascinating. This wand was made by my grandfather I believe. Something of a prototype, an experiment. It never chose anybody, so he concluded it as failure. The white part you see, is Aspen wood. The eighteenth-century Silver Spears duelling club's exclusive choice of wood. The carvings etched around it is from blackthorn wood. Like your brother's. Phoenix feather core. Eleven and a half inches. Pliable. Good for transfiguration, charms and duelling."

I stopped paying attention after grandfather, I was just happy to have a working wand and I already knew what spell I was going to use first. I came across a few whilst reading The Standard Book of Spells this morning. I took out the card that I picked up earlier.

"Scourgify."

The scuff marks and dirt disappeared it and the card gleamed clearly. I waved my hand horizontally downwards, "reducio" and finally waved it in the pattern I saw in the book earlier, "Ferula" and tapped my locket.

The shrunk card attached to the locket, and I tucked it back in my shirt. I don't know what Linus and Lenzo were playing at, but I had space in my heart for one more person. Especially if that person had space in his heart for me.

A/N: I don't speak Italian so please excuse any mistakes.

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Kalina