but daddy, i love him ♡ marcus riddle ♡

diagon alley

When Theo turned eleven on the 2nd of December and received his Hogwarts letter, Mr. Nott decided it was time that the children go to Diagon Alley to purchase their wands and school books. Cordelia hated apparition, but she hated Floo transportation more. Nothing made her feel worse than the constant spinning through fireplaces, however it was the only way Mr. Nott could take both Cordelia and Theodore with him to get their school supplies. Mr. Nott insisted on coming with them, even though it was the house elves that usually took his children out of the house - him usually being too busy at the ministry.

—————

The violent landing in The Leaky Cauldron had Cora struggling to stand, luckily Theo was expecting the trouble and caught her without a second thought, protecting her from his father's harsh glares at her 'un-lady-like' tendencies. She flicked her blonde hair out of her face and perfected her posture whilst taking a step forward, away from the dreadful fireplace. Tom, the owner, said hello to them and wished them good morning as they exited out the back towards the familiar red brick wall.

Mr. Nott tapped on the bricks and the wall opened revealing the chaos that was last minute Christmas shopping. The small group made their way towards Ollivander's wand shop, as Mr. Nott said it may take a while for each of the children to find the correct wand.

Mr. Nott went in first, the bell ringing as the door was opened, with Theo and Cora following quickly behind. Mr Ollivander was at the front desk of the dusty, dull shop when they entered, and he greeted them with a smile, saying, 'I've been expecting you Mr. Theodore Nott and Miss Cordelia Black.' Cordelia flinched slightly when he said her last name, remembering once again that her father was a murderer.

Theo got his wand on the fifth try. A twelve inch, ash wood, kelpie hair, pliable wand. Wands made of Ash are apparently said to only have one true master and cannot be won by others. Cora was a little more difficult, she had to try twenty-eight different wands before she got the right one. A combination that Mr. Ollivander said was extremely lethal, and usually only used by witches or wizards exceptional self-control and strength of mind. A thirteen inch, cherry wood, dragon heart-string, ridged wand.

Cora was scared, shown by her hair turning a pale blue. "Are you sure this is right? I don't want to hurt anyone Mr. Ollivander." She uttered shyly, fiddling with the new box he'd just given her with her wand inside.

"Yes young Miss Black, it's the wand that chooses the witch, there's nothing to be done about it I'm afraid." Mr. Ollivander replied gently, trying to soothe and reassure the future Lady Black. "But the wand wouldn't have chosen you if you couldn't control it. You'll be just fine with it, I'm sure."

Cora smiled briefly and thanked him for the wand. Mr. Nott already having paid for the wands, left quickly pushing Theo out the door, as he left also. He called back telling his niece to hurry up, not wanting to be out shopping longer than he absolutely had to. "You have your fathers eyes young, Miss Black. Have a nice day." Mr. Ollivander called out to her as she opened the shop door. Cordelia paused, and shuddered at the mention of her being anything like her father. She nodded hastily and swiftly left, hurrying after her uncle and cousin.

After they had gone around all of the shops and got all their supplies, par the school robes, as they may grow between now and September, they hurried home. Mr. Nott assured them they would go back with Mrs Malfoy and her son, their friend, Draco, in the summer to get their school robes.

—————

That night when Cora was brushing her hair before bed, she looked into the mirror at her eyes - that were supposedly just like her fathers - and willed them to change from the usual pale grey to a bright blue. And she promised herself she would never, ever become anything like her father.

author waffle:
published: 11/04/24
words: 708