The Time Turner

Chapter Three

Hagrid walked me through crowds of people. Old men in gowns and children with their parents lugging behind them passed by me. Only young kids looked as in-awe as I did at the wonder that surrounded us; the only difference between them and me was a few years. I felt out of place, like I didn't belong. Yet, somehow, I did.

"Stay close. It's easy to get lost here." Hagrid said. He towered over everyone, trying to get by walkers peacefully but ended up knocking into a few. I followed, as he instructed. He led me to a little shop wedged in between others, where when I walked in tiny boxes lined the walls.

An old man with the looks of 70 came out from the backroom, holding onto a ladder that swung from one side of the store to the other.

"Rubeus!" His eyes lit up once he saw Hagrid by the counter. The man hopped off the ladder and made his way over to us.

"Garrick," He started, "I've got this one who needs a wand." He motioned to me. The old man widened his eyes, then smiled.

"I see, I see." He then looked at me, growing closer. He reminded me of an old uncle I had who rarely showed up to family gatherings, and when he did he wowed everyone with a carefree air and a smile that charmed everyone enough for them to forget his absence. "Your name, miss?"

"Loralie. Loralie Treblin," I said. He reached his hand out and took mine, holding it in his cold ones. How rude I must look to not have offered my hand first.

"Very nice to meet you," He turned to look at Hagrid with a queer look on his face; I could see it through a smile much too wide to be normal. "Little late, isn't it?"

"Better late than never," Hagrid replied. They both laughed, though I didn't know what was funny about it. I would be an outsider here. Well, more of one.

"My name, child, is Garrick Ollivander, but just call me Ollivander. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Nice to meet you, too."

He stared deep into my eyes, as if he was listening to my soul. "A strong one we have here," Then he closed his eyes, breathing deeply. A bit later, they shot open. "I think this wand will be perfect."

He turned and climbed onto the ladder, reaching all the way to the top to grab a tiny box. When he returned, he was beaming. "This one's been waiting a long time to find its owner... no, companion."

"10 1/2" Holly Wood with a Phoenix Heartstring core, and a surprisingly squishy flexibility." He opened the box hastily, admiring the wand once he took it out. "This one's a beauty, isn't she, Rubeus?"

"Yes, she is."

Like a newborn to its mother, he handed the wand over to me. "Go on, try it out." A moment went by as I did nothing. I wasn't exactly sure how to. He waited in anticipation, growing impatient at my inaction.

"What do I do?" I finally asked, my discomfort trumping my shyness. The old man sighed, then waved his hands in the air, flicking his wrist. So I did the same. Abracadabra, I guess?

A few boxes flew off the shelf, slamming into the opposite side. It was truly a sight to behold. I instinctively dropped the wooden stick after realizing its power. Hagrid chuckled uncomfortably at my clumsiness. When Ollivander quickly retrieved it from the floor, a pang of guilt hit my stomach.

"I'm sure it doesn't like that, now," he said, wiping dust from the floor off of it, "with great power comes great responsibility. You've heard of that, haven't you?"

"Of course."

"Well, remember it then. Try again." I was afraid to, but I did as he requested; this time, though, I made sure to have a good grip on the wand. Sparks flowed out of it, as if it went along a current. Now this looked like the magic you see in movies.

"That's it now," It was like parents watching their child ride a bike for the first time. After a few more practices, Hagrid quickly paid for my new device and we moved on.

Magical Menagerie, what an odd name for a store. No matter how strange it was, we entered purposefully.

Animals of all kinds were spread throughout the store. A poor unicorn to my left was backed into a corner of its cage in attempts to evade a nosy and audacious child poking at it. The store was filled to the brim with everything you'd need to raise your own spirit animal. I, of course, was in awe.

Hagrid led me towards the back of the store; it was no less crowded than the front with excited children, but there were animals I was much more familiar with.

"Take a look around, plenty 'a choose from." Hagrid said. As in a trance, I moved closer to a kitten with oversized ears and a unusually-small body. Its fur was tinted brown, not from dirt but by natural pigmentation. It wasn't necessarily a pretty thing; but for some reason it spoke to me. As I reached its cage the cat gingerly approached me, rubbing its tiny head against the wooden frame.

"Hello, little thing,"

"You like her?" Hagrid studied the cat in the same way I did: with adoration and curiosity. The kitten craned its neck up to view the giant, sharing with him a look of greeting. I nodded my head, entranced with the oddness of the creature. Hagrid then grabbed the cage's handle and started away.

"Where are you going?" I tried to stop him, but he was steadfast.

"All students are allowed a pet during their time at Hogwarts." Seeing my excitement, he smiled before moving ahead with the transaction.

The day went by rather fast after that, the rest of our shopping being for uniforms and textbooks. When we finished, I was brought to an inn that smelled like charcoal cigars and beer.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

"Well, you need to rest up for tomorrow," He smiled, "because tomorrow, you start learning magic."