Chapter 13

After leaving Madam Malkin's with our robes neatly packed away, we found Mrs. Snape waiting for us at the shop's entrance. She had a stack of books from Flourish and Blotts tucked into her arms.

"Here are all the books you'll need," she said, handing the stack to my dad, who looked slightly overwhelmed by the weight. "Now, I think it's time for the most exciting part of your shopping trip—getting your wands at Ollivanders."

The idea of holding a wand of my own sent a thrill of excitement through me. We walked a short distance to a narrow, ancient-looking shop with a sign that read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

The shop's bell jingled as we stepped inside, and we were immediately surrounded by towering shelves filled with narrow boxes. The air smelled of polished wood and something faintly magical, like lightning after a storm.

An old man with silvery hair and wide, curious eyes emerged from the shadows. He moved with an odd, fluid grace as though he were a part of the magic in the room.

"Ah, Eileen Prince," the man said, his voice soft but sharp. "Dragon heartstring, 10 inches, blackthorn. Supple. Still serving you well, I presume?"

Mrs. Snape smiled faintly. "Indeed it is, Mr. Ollivander."

The wandmaker's piercing gaze shifted to us. "And these must be the new students. Well, well. Let's begin. Who shall go first?"

Severus stepped forward, looking both nervous and excited. "I'll go," he said.

"Right-handed, I assume?" Ollivander asked.

Severus nodded. The wandmaker began pulling boxes from the shelves with quick, precise movements.

"Try this one. Hazel, unicorn hair, 11 inches. Swishy."

Severus gave it a flick, but the wand emitted a small bang, causing a stack of books to topple over. My parents jumped, but Mrs. Snape waved it off. "Completely normal."

After another failed attempt, Ollivander's eyes gleamed. "Perhaps… this one." He opened a box and handed Severus a wand made of ebony with a dragon heartstring core. The moment Severus held it, the room seemed to hum with energy.

"Ah, ebony, 10 ½ inches, unyielding," Ollivander said with satisfaction. "Excellent for spells requiring precision and control. A wand that chooses someone destined for mastery in the magical arts."

Severus looked at the wand with awe, then stepped aside as Lily was called forward.

"Let's see now," Ollivander mused, pulling another box. Lily tried three wands before finally holding one that emitted a soft golden glow.

"Willow, phoenix feather, 10 ¼ inches," he announced. "Ideal for charm work, adaptable, and quite loyal. A wand for someone with great potential."

Lily beamed, clutching her wand tightly. Now, it was my turn.

I stepped forward, feeling the weight of Ollivander's sharp gaze. "Right hand," I said quickly, to avoid the question.

Ollivander began pulling wand after wand from the shelves. Each time, I felt nothing, and some attempts even caused small explosions or gusts of wind.

After the ninth try, he paused and looked thoughtful. "Curious... Very curious."

He disappeared into the back and returned with a box that looked older than the others, its edges fraying slightly. "Try this," he said, his voice softer.

The wand was a deep, glossy black with a faint silver sheen. As soon as I touched it, a warm, electric sensation ran up my arm. The air seemed to shimmer.

"Yew wood, 12 inches, thestral hair core," Ollivander said, his tone reverent. "A rare combination. Yew wands are powerful and suited to those destined for greatness. The thestral hair core speaks of someone who has faced darkness but emerged stronger. This is a wand of transformation, both for the caster and the world around them."

Everyone stared at me as I held the wand. I felt a little self-conscious under Ollivander's intense gaze. "Well," he said finally, "it seems you are set for a remarkable journey, Miss Evans."

With our wands in hand, we left Ollivanders and made our way through the rest of our shopping list—potion ingredients, cauldrons, and even matching suitcases for Lily and me.

At Eeylops Owl Emporium, we picked out twin snowy owls. Lily named hers Marie, and I named mine Anna. The owls were curious and elegant, their bright yellow eyes scanning everything with intelligent precision.

Our last stop was Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. The brightly colored shop was bustling with wizards and witches of all ages enjoying towering sundaes. We each ordered a cone—Severus and I chose chocolate, while Lily picked strawberry.

As we ate, Mrs. Snape chatted with my parents about Hogwarts, while Severus described his recent trip to Brazil. "My grandfather took me to see a Quidditch match between the Brazilian and Bulgarian teams," he said, his dark eyes lighting up with excitement. "It was incredible. Their Chasers were brilliant!"

Lily leaned closer. "Did you fly while you were there?"

"A bit," Severus admitted. "Grandfather got me a broom for my birthday."

As Severus talked, I watched him with a soft smile, enjoying his enthusiasm.

By the time we finished our ice cream, the sun was beginning to set. Mrs. Snape guided us to a quieter spot in the alley and said, "It's time to get you home."

She apparated us back to our house one by one. When it was my turn to leave, I hugged Severus tightly. "Write to me, Sev," I said softly.

"I will," he promised.