His Goodwitch

Chapter 3: The wandmaker and Tabby

Third person point of view

"All right, what's left on your list Lizzie?" asked Brandon carrying Lizzie's pretty full trunk.  "Well, we have done uniform, books, stationary, potion ingredients, other nicks and bobs such as telescope, scales, phials and cauldron.  All that's left is a pet and a wand" listed Lizzie consulting her list again.  "Well then, we are almost done.  For wands we need to go to Olivander's wand shop but for pets we can either go to the magical mangaree or Eyelops Owl Emporium" said Professor McGonagal informing the group.  "Well Grace and Lorrie since you collected Lizzie's uniform with her why don't you come with me to look at pets for Lizzie for an early birthday present and Brandon go with Lizzie to the wand shop" suggested Cassie.  Everyone nodded and went their separate ways after Professor McGonagal indicated which way they had to go.  "Come on Lizzie let's get your wand" said Brandon grabbing hold of Lizzie's hand who was bouncing in excitement.

Once, they had arrived the shop was small and dark.  There was only a faded and worn wand sitting on a faded purple cushion in the window.  With a spindly legged chair in the corner opposite the counter.  "Ah hello there, I've been wondering when you would arrive here Miss Russell.  I heard great things about you from a young Miss Granger who was in here earlier" said a misty voice.  The voice belonged to an old man with wispy old hair and kind grey eyes that set you on edge due to the shining wisdom in them.

"Ah yes sir, I only met Hermione today and this is my first time at Hogwarts you see" Lizzie said nervously retreating to her brother slightly who put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently in reassurance.  "No worries, I have served many muggleborns over the years.  You should know that no Olivander wand is the same, you will never get good results with another witches wand and the wand chooses the witch/wizard.  We make them out of all sorts of wands with either dragon heartstring, unicorn hair or phoenix feather cores.  Now which is your wand arm?" Mr Olivander explained pulling out a tape measure and stepping towards Lizzy.

"Umm, I write with my left hand" said Lizzie tentatively.  Then hold out your wand arm, the tape measure will measure you by itself while I go search for some wands for you to try" explained Mr Olivander releasing the measuring tape and going out back to search for the right wand for Lizzie.  Several minutes later, Olivander comes back with twenty wand boxes in his hands by which time the measuring tape is measuring between Lizzie's nostrils.  "That will do" said Olivander placing his burden on the counter top causing the tape to fall to the ground.

"Here try this one.  It is birch wood nine and a half inches with unicorn hair core.  Once it is in your hand give it a wave to test it" explained Mr Olivander passing Lizzie the first wand to try.  Lizzie nodded in response grasping the wand firmly, she gave it a flick towards the vase of flowers on the counter which smashed.  "Nope, definitely not" said Olivander taking the wand back and placing it in its box to the side before passing Lizzie a second wand "Here, this one is thirteen inches willow and dragon heartstring" informed Mr Olivander.  Lizzie gave the willow wand a wave causing a section of wands boxes to spill from their shelves.  "Nope no matter. We will find the right wand for you" conceded Olivander placing the second rejected wand in a box.  The following seventeen wands followed a similar pattern to the first two wands causing destruction either smashing the light bulb or window that Brandon had to dodge to avoid a shower of glass, creating a hole in Mr Olivander's desk or causing more wands to fall from the shelves.

"I wonder if this will work" said Olivander in a mystified voice picking up the last box and passing the wand for Lizzie to try.  As soon as Lizzie held it in her hand she felt a surging warmth spread from her fingers up her arm and a golden light with a soft breeze blew around her.  After the light and breeze died down Mr Olivander muttered "Very curious" before saying to Lizzie "It looks like we may have found your wand but just to make sure why don't you give it a wave".  As instructed Lizzie waved her wand and a mixture of gold, blue and red sparkling butterflies shimmered briefly from the tip of her wand while also everything that was broken became repaired again.

"Very curious.  Very curious.  Your wand is very powerful a phoenix feather combined with a unicorn hair encased in holly wood at twelve inches." explained Mr Olivander causing Lizzie's brother to smile proudly at her.  "Excuse me Mr Olivander but what's curious" asked Lizzie curiously.  "Well there is foretold whispers of a girl as strong as a lion while knowledgeable as an owl will help the Boy who lived in defeating You Know Who for good that possess a wand of unicorn and phoenix tail feather.  To which each three wands are connected your wand is the sister to You Know Who's wand and another" explained Olivander in a mysterious voice.

"Who is You Know Who and this boy who lived?" asked Brandon cautiously concerned upon hearing this and his sister's safety.  "We do not speak his name.  He killed many people in the last wizarding war.  His wand was yew, thirteen inches and had a phoenix feather core.  If only I knew what hands I was passing that wand to when I first sold it.  Meanwhile, the boy who lived name is Harry Potter.  He was named so after surviving the killing curse with nothing but a scar that previously claimed his parents.  He should be starting his first year too, I think the same age as you.  I am sure though you will learn more as you go through your journey in the wizarding world and that will be eight galleons please" summarised Olivander.

"Oh of course" said Brandon retrieving the prescribed amount of money from his pocket to pay for Lizzie's wand.  "Thank you.  Have a good day and good luck at Hogwarts Miss Russell" farewelled Mr Olivander.  Once they stepped outside Lizzie asked to no one in particular "I wonder where Harry lives now?  I would hate all this attention if it was me because who would want to celebrate defeating a dark wizard when they claimed one's parents".  "No idea Lizzie.  I'm sure he's safe wherever he is.  Now come on, there are the others" ushered Brandon leading Lizzie back to the group with their father following them with Lizzie's trunk.

Once they reached the others Cassie said "here you are, this is an early Birthday present from all of us" passing Lizzie a carrying basket.  Flipping up the blanket Lizzie gasped and said "Oh he's so cute".  Inside was a small tabby cat kitten with blue eyes.  "What are you going to name him?" asked Lorrie.  At her question, Lizzie paused before saying "Tabby".  "Tabby where on earth did you get that name?  It's very original" said Grace giggling.  This earned a shrug from Lizzie before saying "Not sure, just couldn't think up a good name for him and he is a Tabby cat".  Grace nodded in understanding before saying "fair enough".  After a few more moments of admiring Lizzie's new tabby cat Tabby, Cassie spoke up "We better start heading back.  Your Grandfather will be in disarray with the shop and bed and breakfast I sense".  "Good idea. I need to get back to Hogwarts soon to sort out some things before terms starts" McGonagal seconds again withdrawing the mattered old grey scarf to travel back to Middleton once they had reached the portkey area.  With that the group returns home from an exciting day of shopping.