A Single Rose

Chapter Five

The two of us walk into the shop. It's dimly lit, with the only light coming from the windows and a few lamps here and there. It looks as if it would be dusty, but it doesn't feel that way at all. I glance at George. The only sound in the shop is the ticking of a great grandfather clock that's up against the left side wall.

"Are you sure this Olive guy is actually here?" I whisper to him, looking all around the store. But before he can answer I hear a gasp from behind me. Well, it's more of a croaky gasp. I turn around and see an older man appear from the stacks.

"Ah, Rose is it?" How does he know my name? Then again, everyone seems to know everything here so maybe I should just get used to it.

"Um... yes?"

"You look just a combination of your parents..." He says, trailing off.

"Y- You knew my parents?"

"Yes. I sold each of them a wand a little over twenty years ago... I remember the day as if it was yesterday... When they bought their first wands before heading off to Hogwarts..." I look at Goerge and he looks as shocked as I do.

"So- so I'm n- not a muggle?" I ask in disbelief.

"No child, you are not. You're halfblood. Mother a muggleborn and father also halfblood."

"I- I-" I look to the boy beside me because I don't know what else to do. Not how to react. My parents are apart of the world that I just discovered. They- are they alive? If they are then why did they abandon me when I was only a baby? I have so many questions and not very many answers. Practically none in fact.

"Are her parents alive?" George finally asks the man.

"I am not the person to answer your questions... but don't worry," he looks at me, "you'll be getting the answers you're seeking when the time is right. Now, are you ready for your wand to find you?"

"I-" I'm too curious. I'll take what I can get. "Yes, yes I am. What do you mean the wand finding me?"

"Well the wand chooses the wizard, or witch, Miss Rose. Now let's see..." He disappears into the stacks once more and comes back a few moments later with a long, narrow box, which he opens and hands me the stick that rests inside. "Pear wood with a dragon heartstring, nine and half inches."

"What do I do with it?"

"Wave it around a bit, see what happens."

"Um... okay..." I give the wand a flick and one of the lamps suddenly explodes. I yelp and jump back. The man - what's his name again? - reaches for the wand and I immediately hand it to him.

"Yes... that wasn't quite right. Now I suppose that maybe..." He starts mumbling as he goes back into the stacks.

"What's his name again?" I ask George.

"Ollivander. Um... are you okay?"

"I- I don't know. I thought my parents died... but what if they're still alive? If they are then why did they abandon me? Wh- I don't understand anything anymore. I barely get introduced into this world and now I find out that my parents were apart of it... I don't understand."

"I don't understand either. But maybe I'll be able to help you figure it out."

"Really? You'd help me?" He shrugs.

"Of course. We're friends aren't we?" I start to smile at that. Friends. I have friends. I know more about my family than I did before. I'm- I'm a witch.

"Ah ah ah," Ollivander says, coming back into view. "I have a feeling that this is the wand for you..." He hands me another. "English oak, a rarer wood type, with a unicorn hair core. Ten and a quarter inches long. Loyalty, I sense you have it in you. Do you perhaps love the natural world? Exploring and other things such?" I nod a bit. I really do. Plants and animals, I love them. "Now give it a nice little swish." I do as he says, gripping it strongly in my hand. Firm but not tight. Then suddenly I feel a sort of warmth spreading through me. The wand glows and sends star looking sparks flying towards the ceiling.