School Shopping

Chapter 3

It’s been two years since I arrived. I told Nanny about my case after I kept disappearing into it so she didn’t worry.  Achilles only got smarter and knows it. My shoulder length wavy hair is now to the middle of my back. I have been making potions and other things to sell at hogwarts because, if my anxiety won’t let me be in the sunlight, i'll be in the shadows. Fricken Mafia boss activities. I push Achilles off and yawn. 

“Willow, come get breakfast!” Nanny calls me. I walk into the kitchen and see Nanny putting a plate of bacon and pancakes on the table. 

I greet her,” Thank you Nanny.” The smile on her face is so sweet. My heart!

“It’s okay, deary.” She rubs my head and kisses my cheek. 

I kiss her cheek,” Thank you Nanny, I’m going to be in the case.” I walk into my room and grab my case. I bring it back to the living room and set it down. I open the case and step in, climbing down the ladder then down stones stairs. I run my hand along the magically created carved handrails. The stairs are below plants of the magical and non-magical potted in terracotta pots hanging from the exposed wooden beams. I make it to the bottom of the stairs. 

I see the familiar room, even more greenery hangs in the room. I made it to resemble an old American rustic, countryside-style kitchen with a kinda warm and earthy vibe. The kitchen is built against the textured stone wall. I run my hands against the smooth wooden countertops, I open the cabinets, seeing the ingredients for feeding the creatures. I grab several and set them on the counter. I use a flint rod to light the fire for the old-fashioned flame powered oven and stove top that are set within the cabinetry. I grab a copper pan from the area where I keep pots, pans, and kitchenware. The floor is  adorned with patterned rugs in warm, earthy colors, complementing the wooden furniture and stone textures. The small wooden dining table with chairs sits nearby, Nanny wanted to create a welcoming spot for meals. We connected home and the case by enchanting a door, so she can leave me cookies when I’m not with her. Once the feed is done I put it in a bucket and go to a separate freezer/fridge like room. I get the raw meat and fresh veggies, putting the food in a bucket. I walk to the door, after a quick breath. I open the door, my eyes are filled with the view of magical and non magical creatures. 

Pixies and Billywigs zoom around as Flying Seahorses fly leisurely. Sparrows, Korean Tit, and Crows fly around as well. The giant dung beetle pushes his ball of dung, my Niffler, Lady, sits in her cave in the floating island with gold surrounding her. The Fwooper sits on its branch with my barn owl, I toss them rats. Several canvas walls indicate different areas, all enchanted. I go from area to area feeding the creatures and animals. The Grabhorn’s tentacles run over my face. I walk into the tiger area and get jumped on by multiple teen tigers. 

I laugh,” I know, mama’s here.” They all nuzzle me. I snap and the carcass of a cow flops down in the snow part of their enclosure. That should keep them happy for a while. They stop nuzzling me and run to the carcass digging in. I walk to Finigian’s area, I take a breath and walk in, seeing the large backside I scratch it and soon all three heads turn to me. I smile and love on each head. After a couple minutes I let go and let him start eating. A loud roar causes me to turn,” I’m coming!” I walk past the Mooncalves staring at the fake full moon. “Fizzle! Nibby! Can you help me?” The house elf walks around a corner to me with a smile.

“Yes, Young Miss?” Fizzle speaks. My family had several house elves and are surprisingly loyal. 

Nibby follows, holding a bucket,” Yes?” 

“I told you, you can call me Willow.” I sigh. “Can you feed the Mooncalves and the other creatures?” I ask. 

The two nod and Fizzle floats the bucket of Mooncalf feed into his feet,” Of course Young Miss.” The two elves happily go to work. I walk to an area, past the hatchery, I see a group of areas. On a desk close by is the open book with the growth rates of all the dragons who I hatched almost 18 months ago. I walk into each area and feed them, writing my observations down in the notebook. Each dragon seems excited to see me as I let them love on me for some time each. I leave their food and escape to feed more creatures. 

“Willow! Dear, you have a letter!” I hear Nanny yell from the shack. I stand from petting the Pengriff, a mix of a penguin, polar bear, and bird. Using wandless magic fish fall into the water and the creature dives in to get it. Other creatures dive, fly, or swim to the fish. I walk back in to see Nanny getting loved on by the baby Musk-ox that seems to have wandered in the shack. 

“Nalo, leave Nanny alone.” I sigh.

Nanny gently hits my arm,” Willow, don’t be cruel. Go read your letter.” She sits on the small sofa she had me put in.

“Yes ma’am.” I walk over and see the letter. ’HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY’ With the coat of arms is displayed on the front in the wax seal. I read it and gasp. “Nanny! This is my Hogwarts letter!” 

She stops petting Nalo,” Merlin’s beard!” She gasps as well. “ I suppose this warrants a trip to Diagon Alley, go get dressed.” I run up the stairs and up the ladder. I make sure the case closes and run to my room.

“Achilles!” I call and he bounds into the room. “Protect the house when I’m gone.” I say seriously, Merlin’s beard I’m turning into a child. I change out of my ‘play’ clothes and put on a nice sweater and jeans. “I’m ready Nanny!” I call as I walk out. 

The smile that stretches on her face is adorable,” You look just like your mother…”Her boney hand runs along my cheek before she pats my head. “ Let’s go.” I push the small button on the case and it shifts into a leather bag. I carry it out to the car with me. We travel to the leaky cauldron. I hold her hand nervously, god no matter what life time, I got bloody Anxiety! We go round back and Nanny taps the bricks with her wand. The bricks shift and move revealing the bustling street  of wizards. Some people doing tricks while mothers drag their children around. We walk in and I hold her hand as we go around to each store. I catch glimpses of other students, I cover my mouth as I see Theodore Nott, I’ve never seen him young… woah. He’s kinda attractive, the fact I know he’s gonna be drinking by year six is crazy. I catch glimpses of red hair and see Molly dragging Ron followed by the twins into the robe store.

“Can we get robes now Nanny?” She nods and we walk over. We look around and Nanny helps me with robes and the plain back pointed hat. When we get our house chosen by the Sorting Hat house the representative animal will get magical embroidered on. We go to check out and Molly goes behind us. I look back and Molly smiles at me. I hide my face.

Nanny laughs,” Oh dear, sorry young lady. Willow is just shy.” The twins appear from behind her, snickering.

“No problem at all, it’s sweet.” Molly smiles. I smile shyly and look down. We buy our things and go from shop to shop. I freeze as I see a boy that looks identical to Tom Riddle. What the hell! How- what- I gaze at him, he really looks like a copy. Same features and hair. Next to him is a boy slightly taller than me with brown curly hair, but with the same facial features of Tom Riddle. As if feeling my eyes they both turn to me. I hide my face again quickly. Ahhh, Anxiety! We walk into Olivanders. 

I manage to squeak out a “Woah…” I look around in pure awe at the store. I’m really actually here… I know I believed it before but really being here, in Olivanders… I’m really into my favorite novel. I run my fingers over the old wooden counter covered in things, my heart racing with excitement. The shop smells of slight dust, aged parchment, polished wood, and a faint trace of something electric, like static. Stacks upon stacks of narrow wand boxes fill the towering shelves. I turn to the sound of someone shuffling. The familiar old man with wispy silver hair and knowledgeable pale eyes steps into view.

“Ah,” he hums, examining me with curiosity. “A new student… yes, I was wondering when I’d be seeing you, Miss Mann.” I freeze momentarily.

I blink,“ You know who I am?” I ask him dumbly before my brain catches up. Ollivander’s lips curve into a knowing smile. 

”Of course. I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, and I knew your parents well, they both broke their wands several times in school… But let’s not dwell. We have work to do.” He smiles before turning, gliding toward the shelves and plucking out a thin box. “Try this. Blackthorn, ten inches, dragon heartstring. Quite sturdy.” My hand twitches as I take the wand from him, a shiver shooting down my spine at the idea that this could be the one. The moment my fingers wrap around the smooth wood, I wait for a zap or an ethereal this is the one’ moment.

Nothing.

Ollivander swiftly plucks it from my grip before I can even attempt a flick. “No, no, that won’t do.” He hums thoughtfully, putting it away before rifling through another stack. The next wand is shorter, made of laurel with a phoenix feather core. I barely get the chance to wave it before a stack of papers on his desk bursts into flames. I freeze as Nanny puts the fire out.

“Oops, I’m sorry.” I wince.

Ollivander simply chuckles, already moving on,“ It’s alright. Fascinating… tricky one, aren’t you?” I go through wand after wand—rowan, ash, walnut—each time resulting in something either fizzling out completely or nearly destroying the shop which nanny fixes right away. I shoot Nanny a helpless look. I can’t be a squib, the figure… My wishes… She just pats my back, her warm, wrinkled hand bringing me out of my head. 

“Nanny, what if-“ I start.

She cuts me off,” Dear, breathe. You just haven’t found the one yet, your father was the same.” All of a sudden, Ollivander stops in his tracks at the statement. His head tilts ever so slightly up, as if listening or looking to something beyond my senses. Slowly, he climbs up the ladder reaching for a box on the highest shelf, coated in a visible layer of dust. He brings it down with careful reverence before opening it.

“Try this.” His voice is quieter now, almost expectant. Inside lies a wand of dark, rich wood—smooth and polished, but with one slight natural knot along its bottom. The moment my fingers brush against it, warmth spreads up my arm, like sitting with the lion cub I summoned in the sun. A gentle, calming hum fills my ears, like a distant melody. “Ah,” Ollivander breathes. “Hawthorn wood… twelve and three-quarter inches… with a thunderbird tail feather core. Incredibly rare.” His eyes twinkle with something like excitement and another I don’t recognize. “Loyal, adaptable, but not easily mastered. A wand for those who walk between worlds, I’d say.” I barely hear him. The wand feels right, like an extension of my very being. When I give it a small wave, golden sparks dance through the air like fireflies. Nanny gasps.

 I grin softly,” Thank you.” Ollivander nods, seemingly satisfied.

 “Yes… yes, I believe this is the one.” We leave and finish shopping. I hold the wand gingerly as everything is in Nanny’s bag of holding. I smile at Nanny, she hands me my Gringotts key. As we get into the car, I tap my hand against my bag and it returns to a case. I crawl in and walk down the ladder and the stairs. I walk into the library area and the wall of trinkets. “ Proprietas.” i say and hang the key up.