The Last Horcrux/Diagon Alley/Ollivanders
You arrive at Ollivander's, the wand makers, and remember the first time you came here, in your original body. You can feel the girl inside you, excited to enter for the first time. You step up and open the door, a magical bell tingling to alert the wand maker that you have arrived.
You step inside the store, and immediately feel a sense of peace and quiet, as if the shop is affected by a muffliato enchantment. Perhaps it is. The shop is filled from top to bottom with shelves and boxes, each containing a magic wand no doubt. It smells of wood and resin and old paper, much like a library.
“Ahh hello miss,” says an old wizard, whom you immediately recognise as Ollivander, “you must be Miss Emily Lestrange, if I am not mistaken.”
“I am indeed,” you say smiling, and giving him a little nod and curtsy for some reason, “have we? Have we met before?” You ask him.
“I don’t believe so,” Ollivander replies, “but you do bear a striking resemblance to you mother, if you don’t mind my saying so. Sofia, of course, she was Sofia Zabini back then…”
You are struck by curiosity, and by a sense of sadness at the mother you never knew, but whom strangers seem to remember so well.
“You have a most excellent memory sir,” you compliment him, trying to swallow your sadness.
“I never forget a wand, or the witch or wizard that it chooses,” he says, smiling at you, “I can remember your mother’s wand too. Ebony and Goblin-wrought Silver, with Unicorn Horn. Not one of mine, a family heirloom, from France or possibly Italy.”
You smile back and pull out your mother’s wand, showing it to him, “I have inherited it,” you explain, “I was wondering if it is the right wand for me, or if I should choose another?”
Ollivander’s face lights up at the sight of your mother’s wand.
“Ahh this is wonderful. They don’t make them like this any more. May I?” He motions and you hand him the wand. He examines it closely, checking it for any warping and even smelling it briefly.
“A beautiful wand. Ebony wood, silver embellishments, unicorn core. Ten and a quarter inches. This would have been made by the Goblin wand maker This is new, this black leather cord is reinforced with goblin-wrought silver. Strange to see a wand modified…”
“What is the cord for?” You ask, genuinely curious, “I did wonder.”
“It’s purpose?” Ollivander replies, “Oh it’s a duelling cord. Quite the fashion in Paris I’m told. It’s quite simple, the witch, or wizard, holds the wand, and intones Cingulo and the cord tethers itself to their wrist. It prevents the wand from being dropped or lost, if someone uses the Expelliarmus hex for example. It also prevents another from seizing your wand using Accio.”
You are surprised at the simplicity of it. Tying ones wand to one’s wrist. You take the wand back from Ollivander and try it for yourself as he nods with encouragement.
“Cingulo” you chant, and the wand cord fastens itself to your left wrist.
“Haha! Very good!” Ollivander laughs, “Are you naturally left handed then?”
“Ambidextrous,” you respond, realising that Emily is equally able with both of her hands, “is it possible,” you ask, the thought only just occurring to you, “for a witch to use two wands at the same time?”
“It is possible,” Ollivander agrees, “but only with wordless magic or to parry a spell being cast at you. You can obviously only intone one enchantment at a time, although you can use either wand to cast it. The problem is finding a pair of wands that are both as attuned to the caster. Wands can be fickle, and not work well together. I’m also afraid that I don’t have a single Unicorn core wand in the shop, they don’t make them using Unicorn horn any more.”
“Hmmm,” you say, somewhat disappointed, “a pity. Might there be a Wandmaker in Paris or Rome who would have one, or could make one?”
Where do you go next?
- Grincott’s Goblin Bank to see your wealth in your family vault
- Ollivander the Wand Maker to see if you can use your mother’s wand or if a wand of your own would be better
- Stowe and Packer’s on Carkitt Market to buy a magical bag or trunk
- Cogg and Bell’s Clockmakers in Carkitt Market to inquire about your broken Time Turner
- Twilfit & Tattings Clothing to ask about enchanted clothing and footwear
Or are you ready to go home now?
