A wand.

Just a teeensy, little, SINGULAR wand.

That was what Kiera Burton wished she could be leaving this old shop with very soon but rules were rules: no wand until she was headed to Hogwarts next year—SHE GUESSED. Huff.

Her mother had sent her off to this shop after being pestered all through the HOURS they had spent in Florish and Blotts while she shopped for her tawdry romance novels she loved so much. Kiera didn’t even want to think about that mess and had wanted to do something, anything else. Her mum finally told her she could go on her own while she made her way to the counter with her teetering stack of literary filth, just as long as she didn’t go more than a few stores away.

After entering the wand shop and registering the tinkling bell overhead, Kiera looked around with eyes as wide as saucers. There were so many. Would the witch or wizard working notice if one disappeared? Or would the obviously ancient and gnarled old wandmaker themselves burst from their hiding place and lock her up and make her sort feathers and unicorn hairs for the rest of her natural life??

Alas, no. Larceny was not on the table for today.

She instead inspected the catalog board and peered interestedly at the small list of books on wand care and history.

Xerxes took his new wand, the one that had chosen him, over the counter to pay for it. As he was getting his money bag out from under his robes, he saw a sleek brown leather wand holster hanging on the wall behind the counter.

"I'll take that really sharp-looking brown leather wand holster too" he said to the clerk, who was already in the process of ringing him up for the wand. "And while you're at it, I might as well take some wand polish."

All together the three new items cost him 11 galleons, 2 sickles, and 21 knuts. He didn't have exact change, but gave the man 13 galleons instead and told the clerk to leave the rest as a tip for the prestigious Wandmaker who was the stores proprietor.

...

Full of ice cream and butterbeer, which likely meant that Sai would be bouncing off the walls later thanks to a sugar rush, she returned to the shop. Excitement and anticipation in the undulate levels that she was feeling surely would not help.

Sai stepped up to the counter, her eyes searching for the familiar form of the nice shopkeeper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

...

Full of ice cream and butterbeer, which likely meant that Sai would be bouncing off the walls later thanks to a sugar rush, she returned to the shop. Excitement and anticipation in the undulate levels that she was feeling surely would not help.

Sai stepped up to the counter, her eyes searching for the familiar form of the nice shopkeeper.

Victor had been huffling back and forth behind the counter and returning wands that needed a little more time to settle into their matches when the bell chimed again, announcing her entrance. He paused mid-step, a small, amused lift of the brow crossing his face when he spotted her.

"Madre mía," he said under his breath with a chuckle, stepping lightly to straighten a row of wand boxes as he spoke. "Has it really been an hour already? I trust the wait was… well spent?"

Without hesitation, he dipped beneath the counter, his hands emerging with the wand box and the bag of her other purchases, all neatly gathered together. He set them on the counter then knelt slightly, adjusting the box so that it sat at the perfect angle.

When he opened it, the wand revealed itself: delicate floral engravings curling along the handle, white-petaled blooms etched with precision in a pearlescent paint, each center gleaming with tiny citrine stones. Victor's fingers lingered on the edge of the box for a brief moment, brushing away an imagined speck of dust, before he tilted it gently toward her, echoing the careful gesture he had made during her fitting.

"As requested," he said softly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small, encouraging smile. He inclined his head slightly, a subtle invitation for her to reach out. "Go ahead, pick it up. Feel for the warmth. I can perform only basic checks for magical conductivity myself… so let's ensure it still recognizes you."

He stepped back a fraction, hands folding loosely behind his back, posture relaxed but attentive.

SPOILER!!: Victor! <3 Katherine is reassured that it's all good ^_^

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Victor had been huffling back and forth behind the counter and returning wands that needed a little more time to settle into their matches when the bell chimed again, announcing her entrance. He paused mid-step, a small, amused lift of the brow crossing his face when he spotted her.

"Madre mía," he said under his breath with a chuckle, stepping lightly to straighten a row of wand boxes as he spoke. "Has it really been an hour already? I trust the wait was… well spent?"

Without hesitation, he dipped beneath the counter, his hands emerging with the wand box and the bag of her other purchases, all neatly gathered together. He set them on the counter then knelt slightly, adjusting the box so that it sat at the perfect angle.

When he opened it, the wand revealed itself: delicate floral engravings curling along the handle, white-petaled blooms etched with precision in a pearlescent paint, each center gleaming with tiny citrine stones. Victor's fingers lingered on the edge of the box for a brief moment, brushing away an imagined speck of dust, before he tilted it gently toward her, echoing the careful gesture he had made during her fitting.

"As requested," he said softly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small, encouraging smile. He inclined his head slightly, a subtle invitation for her to reach out. "Go ahead, pick it up. Feel for the warmth. I can perform only basic checks for magical conductivity myself… so let's ensure it still recognizes you."

He stepped back a fraction, hands folding loosely behind his back, posture relaxed but attentive.

“It has been indeed,” Saina remarked brightly, her face seemingly glowing with the anticipation of seeing her completed wand. “I think I may have had too much sugar?” Sai giggled. “Butterbeer and ice cream… but I don’t have either regularly so I guess this one time is okay.” Her daddy hadn’t disagreed, and she knew better than to take advantage of his indulgence.

Now for the grand moment…!

Unable to tear her gaze away from Victor’s every move, she held her breath. And nearly fainted when she saw the absolutely gorgeous result before her. Needless to say Saina was completely at a loss for words at that moment.

Thankfully, the words being said to her, and that warm smile of the shopkeeper’s, were encouragement enough for her to extend her dominant hand to gently lift the wand out of its box. ‘Gently’ because the girl was slightly nervous about breaking? injuring? the thing. Hoping with all her heart that she was still recognised, Saina curled her fingers around the top. Immediately, a surge of warmness surged through her arm and all through her body. And was it just her or did she feel a gentle zephyr, almost like the Universe was offering its blessing upon the pair. It was all enough to jolt her from speechlessness.

Squeee!

“It does recognise me!” Was it possible that the wand felt like it fit even more snuggly in her hand this time around? “The engraving is nothing but pure perfection. It is exactly as I imagined. Thank you!” Sai beamed her gratitude at Victor. The wand was nestled back into its box with her thinking how pitiful it was that there was a long waiting period {at least in her mind} until she was able to use it again at Hogwarts. “Please convey my gratitude to your staff that worked on the engraving. They are quite talented.”

Victor's expression brightened almost immediately at her delight, the earlier trace of amusement giving way to something quieter. There was a particular kind of magic in moments like this — far removed from spells or incantations — and he never quite tired of witnessing it.

"Ah," he hummed gently, one brow lifting as she mentioned the sugar that he may or may not have encouraged, "a dangerous combination. Butterbeer and ice cream? I should consider myself fortunate you didn't attempt to test the wand while under such powerful influences." The corner of his mouth quirked upward, tone light, indulgent rather than admonishing.

But his attention returned, fully and intently, the moment her fingers closed around the wand.

He watched quietly a her fingers closed around the wand. Her reaction, the way she carried her shoulders and the brightness that illuminated her face, coaxed an exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding out of him ― the gentle breeze caressing his face after.

"¡Sobresaliente!" Victor exclaimed, offering her ― and the wand ― a round of applause.

As she returned it to the box, his gaze flicked briefly to the engravings, his fingers moving to rest lightly along the edge once more, as though ensuring everything remained just so.

"I will pass along your words," he continued, inclining his head with a touch more formality now, though the warmth lingered easily in his expression. "They take great pride in their work, but sentiments certainly feel different hearing them from the witch for which it was made for." He gently slid the lid closed, adding it to her bag, and nudged her things a fraction closer to her side of the counter.

"And, before the inevitable fall from such lofty heights, happens…” he chuckled, his words much less about her wand and all to do about the unusually amount of sugar intake, "make sure you have some water. Perhaps a bit of bread to go with it."

None of that nearly as exciting as ice cream and butterbeer ― or wand fittings ― but with remarkable magic in their own right.

"And, good luck with your first term at Hogwarts."

SPOILER!!: Victor! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Victor's expression brightened almost immediately at her delight, the earlier trace of amusement giving way to something quieter. There was a particular kind of magic in moments like this — far removed from spells or incantations — and he never quite tired of witnessing it.

"Ah," he hummed gently, one brow lifting as she mentioned the sugar that he may or may not have encouraged, "a dangerous combination. Butterbeer and ice cream? I should consider myself fortunate you didn't attempt to test the wand while under such powerful influences." The corner of his mouth quirked upward, tone light, indulgent rather than admonishing.

But his attention returned, fully and intently, the moment her fingers closed around the wand.

He watched quietly a her fingers closed around the wand. Her reaction, the way she carried her shoulders and the brightness that illuminated her face, coaxed an exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding out of him ― the gentle breeze caressing his face after.

"¡Sobresaliente!" Victor exclaimed, offering her ― and the wand ― a round of applause.

As she returned it to the box, his gaze flicked briefly to the engravings, his fingers moving to rest lightly along the edge once more, as though ensuring everything remained just so.

"I will pass along your words," he continued, inclining his head with a touch more formality now, though the warmth lingered easily in his expression. "They take great pride in their work, but sentiments certainly feel different hearing them from the witch for which it was made for." He gently slid the lid closed, adding it to her bag, and nudged her things a fraction closer to her side of the counter.

"And, before the inevitable fall from such lofty heights, happens…” he chuckled, his words much less about her wand and all to do about the unusually amount of sugar intake, "make sure you have some water. Perhaps a bit of bread to go with it."

None of that nearly as exciting as ice cream and butterbeer ― or wand fittings ― but with remarkable magic in their own right.

"And, good luck with your first term at Hogwarts."

Mr. Shopkeeper was as funny as he was kind! His words made Saina giggle, her mind zipping off to picture a scenario where a simple wave of the wand caused the entire shop to be engulfed in glitter of multiple colours {how rainbow-y!| Or worse… set it ablaze. What a great tragedy that one would be. Yes, it was probably best she didn’t use the wand while her mind was hyperactive.

Beaming brightly, Sai curtsied as the exclamation and applause were made. “I can’t take all of the credit,’’ she spoke up humbly. “You’ve made a very fine wand.” Together with the engravers, she couldn’t be more happy that Ollivander’s is where she got her new friend. The girl reached for the bag as it was sent closer in her direction. “They deserve to know their work is highly appreciated!”

Her purchases now taken, Saina let another giggle fall from her lips. “Water and bread. I certainly will consume each as soon as I can. I will need to do all that I can to cushion that fall.” A last smile was offered. “Once again, I appreciate your assistance and well wishes. Perhaps I’ll stop by the next time in Diagon Alley to say hello.” With a cheery wave, Sai departed.