Augury [Harry Potter Fanfic]

b. seven

In complete silene, not bothering to grab breakfast, Meeko and Sawyer walked to the entrance hall, where Filch, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking out who shouldn't be going.

"Staying here, Potter?" shouted Malfoy, who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. "Scared of passing the Dementors?"

"Hey, Malfoy?" Sawyer turned to the blond boy, who gave her a strange look.

"Who're you?"

"Your biggest fan, so would you keep your mouth shut before I change my mind?"

Confused, Malfoy stayed silent for quite a while, as Sawyer passed both him and Filch, the Dementors stopping her at the gates.

Snape was about to interfer, when he realized that the girl wasn't even bothered by their presence. Intrigued, he stood by, watching.

"You again?" she spoke in an angry hiss. The only answer she recieved was a rattling breath, a slimy hand drawing near her. "Get out of my face, you stinking creature," she huffed, making them glide back, making way.

Snape was, at the very least, stunned, as she passed the gates.

Before long, she broke into a run, hurrying towards the shop, and opening the doors to the stuffy shop.

A bell rung, and to the front walked a short man with circular glasses and white, messy , hair, brown eyes twinkling. "Welcome!"

"Hello, sir," she smiled politely, walking over to the counter, watching as the man got rid of some crumbs that were littering his trimmed beard.

"What can I do to help a lovely young lady as yourself?"

"Well, I'd like a specially made wand, if possible," surprised, he nodded.

"Do tell, what is it that you're looking for?"

"Well, I have the wood and core, I just... need someone that will make the wand."

Intrigued, he nodded, opening a small door that would allow Sawyer to step into the back room, and the two walked back. There were a few wands on the front, but the back was stuffed with them, and even though the store was smaller and obviously less popular than the one at Diagon Alley, Sawyer was almost certain there were over 1000 wands in the room.

"Show me, I'll tell you if it's good enough for me to make something out of it." He pushed up the glasses that slipped on his crooked nose, and Sawyer took out the Elderberry's branch, allowing him to look at it.

"Huh, bizarre." He looked it over. "That's a fair piece of Elderberry, but... are you aware of those wands reputition? They're quite troublesome, I think that the only wands that could somehow compete with Elder, in that sense, are─"

"Acacia?" Sawyer asked, showing him her current wand. Impressed, the man grabbed the wand, looking it over.

"It's not Ollivander's." he stated after a moment. "But it's a very good wand, Acacia and Dragon Heartstrings, both troublesome for a wand. I'm surprised that you get along with the mixture, it says quite a lot about you."

"Good things?"

"Oh, I do hope," he said grimly. "Am I mistaken, or is it Gregorovitch's work? He did use Hawthorn on most of his works, so I'm surprised."

"Yes, it is," Sawyer smiled. Ollivander himself would know without even asking, probably, but she was glad that man recognized the wand.

"When did you purchase it? He's retired, last I heard."