Ollivander's
“It's not fair. That’s all I’m saying mum.” Ron had spent the first half of the trip to Diagon alley trying to convince his Mother to buy him a new wand.
“I’m only getting one because Dumbledore is paying for it.” Belinda told Ron as she trailed behind them. She wasn’t too fond of the idea that Ron would be stuck with a hand-me-down and she would be allowed to buy herself a new one- but Molly had all but made her take a Wizard’s oath to not give up the wand that Dumbledore was paying for her to have.
“I don’t want to hear another word come out of your mouth about this Ronald, you will be happy with what you’ve got.”
“Its just cause I’m adopted-”
“What?!” Mr Weasley wheeled around to put his hands on his daughter’s shoulders, “Oh dear- who told you?”
“Arthur-” Molly grit her teeth to hold back a laugh.
“Wha- she already knew, didn’t you?” Ron asked, his tantrum over the wand fiasco now forgotten.
The gaggle of Weasley’s made their way through the list of things they needed, the few books they did not already own- and the potions ingredients for both home and school. Flourish and Blotts had one copy of “The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection” by Quentin Trimble in the second-hand section which Belinda claimed so Ron could have the new copy. Molly wouldn’t allow either of her children to have a second-hand cauldron and insisted that it was a practical investment- but warned each of her children that she would not be purchasing them another if this one were to break or melt beyond magical repair.
Belinda wondered how on Earth someone could manage to break a cauldron- but figured that if anyone could manage it, it would be her older brothers and that her mother was speaking from a very expensive experience.
“Now Belinda- go with your Father to get your wand, we’ll get some robes mended to Ron’s size.” Molly flushed when her husband gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and swatted him with a battered copy of Lockhart’s “Magical Menagerie:’ A Guide to Owl Keeping’ Edition”.
“Why does mum want me to have my own wand so bad? I don’t mind using Charlie’s.” Belinda held onto her Father’s coat sleeve so that the crowd wouldn’t separate them.
“Well- it would be dishonest to use the money meant for you for Ron.”
“I don’t think Dumbledore would care all that much.”
“It doesn’t matter if he cared or not Belinda, he wants you to have your own wand.”
“Is it that important? Fred and George switch wands all the time.” They often did so to confuse their siblings and to try and get their family members to call them the wrong names.
“Do they?” Arthur looked mildly intrigued by this as Ollivander’s came into view. “Well, I imagine it's a bit different for them.”
“Because they’re twins?”
“I’m sure Ollivander could explain it better than I ever could-” Arthur held the door open for his daughter, a bell jangled inside.
Belinda took a deep breath, it was exactly as she imagined a wand shop would smell of; wood, paint and dust. But she had never been inside, the frosted glass of the windows had kept Ollivanders a mystery to her, and now she looked up and down aisles of slender boxes stacked neatly on top of each other. While the aisles were nice and tidy- the end caps were mountains of half-open wand boxes.
“Alder wood with a core of Unicorn hair- unyielding. It was a perfect match for you, Arthur Weasley.” An older gentleman sitting at a counter said, his voice had a dreamy tone to it, like he wasn’t actually paying any attention to what he said at all. Which might have been true- since he didn’t look up at all to see who had come into his shop.
“Yes- thank you Mr Ollivander.” Arthur beamed and gently nudged Belinda to stand in front of him. “This is my oldest daughter- Belinda Weasley, she’ll be starting Hogwarts this year.”
Ollivander looked up from what looked to be a wand that was almost done, but he was carefully carving to resemble a tree trunk.
“I see.” He raised a white eyebrow at Belinda. “Which is your wand arm?”
“My left.” Belinda raised her hand a little and Ollivander flicked his wand at a measuring tape, it flew towards her- “Mr Ollivander- I know that, ‘the wand chooses the wizard’, but my brothers- they sometimes use each other's wands.” Belinda saw the old man nod in understanding.
“If I remember correctly, the twins had wands made of Dogwood and Chestnut- both contained a Unicorn Hair, which is rather common amongst Weasley’s.” Ollivander got up and started rifling through boxes left on the endcap. “While they both possess similar qualities and are so similar themselves, they are different wizards- I’m sure that their bond is recognized through their wands. However- I cannot imagine the results would be the same as with their own wands.”
Ollivander handed a box to Belinda, shooing the magical tape away with his wand.
“Beech wood, twelve inches with a unicorn hair core.”
She picked it up from the velvet it was nestled in- a spark shot out of the tip and hit the wand on the table sending it flying before rolling under a shelf.
“Sorry.”
“It's no matter.” But Ollivander hurriedly snatched the wand out of her hand and set it on top of one of the end caps. Another wand made out of Chestnut made Belinda’s hair stand on end- and a wand made out of holly that she was rather fond of made the measuring tape fly repeatedly into the window until she sat it down.
“We’ll find it, don’t you worry dear.” Arthur gave his daughter a reassuring pat.
Ollivander seemed stumped however, and he started rifling through a pile of boxes on his desk when he smiled.
“I see- but, I haven’t finished it yet…” Ollivander went to the shelf where the wand was still laying underneath. “Accio.” It flew into his hands and Belinda’s heart jumped.
It was beautifully stained, with just a touch of the original wood color showing through where it was carved.
“Twelve and a half inches, made of hawthorne with a dragon heart-string core…” Ollivander watched carefully when Belinda carefully took it. Upon gently waving the wand the shavings from the wand floated over from Ollivanders desk and melded into the wand creating a dozen tiny blooms scattered on the wand's handle. Morrigan peeked her head out of the makeshift sling- finally awake from snoozing. Belinda supposed that she had started to get used to the feeling of her magic, since Belinda spent hours attempting to make ribbons fly through the air or change color without the use of a wand.
“It seems the wand knew before it was made who it would belong to. I could not dream of a more perfect match. The hawthorn tree is particularly special, as its blooms and berries are used in countless healing potions- and if you cut the branches of the tree it will smell of death.” Ollivander handed Belinda an unmarked box to keep her wand in. “Wands made of hawthorne are popular amongst healers, but are also exceptional curse casters.” Ollivander’s eyes trailed up to Mr Wealsey.
“My first bit of magic was healing- maybe I could be a medi witch.” Belinda looked up at her Father, her face fell when he was still looking intently at Ollivander. When the two broke eye contact, Arthur smiled brightly.
“That sounds brilliant dear, let's go show mum. I expect she’ll adore the flowers.”
“Now, no matter the house you’re in- we’ll be proud dear.”
“Percy said I’d be a good fit for Slytherin-” Belinda did her best to ignore how she had hissed the last word rather than whispered it to her Mum. And Mum did her best to ignore the sounds of chaos downstairs.
“You know how Percy can be, he hardly ever looks past the most logical outcome-” Mum cleared her throat and amended her statement, “I only mean that you are clever, and witty and all of the best things that Slytherin’s are supposed to be.” She smoothed Belinda’s hair and played with the curls for a moment before speaking again. “You are more than whatever house you belong to. Don't let what anyone says about you define you either!”
“But I'm not sure what kind of person I am yet.”
“Well, I'm certainly looking forward to watching you figure it out on your own. Just remember that.” Mum patted Belinda’s knee before she waved her wand to finish what little bit of packing Belinda had left to do.
“Thanks mum.”
The next morning however, Belinda wasn't too thankful for her mother. She felt rather Slytherin as she broke the rules by fire calling her brother Bill at his flatshare in Epping.
“Stop laughing Bill, it's not at all funny.”
“Beevies- you mean, she forgot you! Out of all of us?” Bill’s head faded in and out of view as he laughed like an unhinged grindylow. The fire crackled as he wheezed, fanning the flames.
“Stop cackling, and get over here so you can get me to school! Dad won't be home for hours and Mum is taking Ginny to the Diggory’s for tea- and you know how she is when she and Mrs Diggory get talking-”
“Alright, settle down now Beevie. I'll be right there- just let me send an owl to Dad’s office first.”
“Why!? I've missed the train already!”
“The express leaves at 11:00 AM on the dot, and honestly if mum hasn't noticed you gone by now I doubt any of the rest have.” Bill clicked his tongue and Belinda looked at the clock in a panic. 10:49, 10:50… on the family clock on the other side of the room, her face looked frantic as it swung to “running late”.
“Just hurry please!”
Bill disappeared from the fireplace and reappeared in the Burrow’s den as the grandfather clock ticked 10:52.
“Hullo, little sister.”
“Just- come on already.” Belinda hesitated for a moment as she realized that she'd never apparated before. Bill held out his arm to her but pulled it back at the last second,
“You know mum’ll be furious with me for apparating with you.”
“I reckon she’ll forgive you if you remind her of that time she lost you in Diagon Alley and you wound up wondering about London by the time they found you.” Belinda clamped her hand down hard on Bill’s arm.
Bill looked like he was weighing his options before he patted her hand and held it even tighter to him.
“Ready?”
The prat didn't wait for Belinda to answer before they were beside the Hogwarts express.
Belinda promptly found the nearest trash can and emptied her breakfast into it.
“Ah, that happened my first time too.” Bill said jovialy.
“Great…”
“Beevie! Bill!?” It seemed mum had noticed she had two more children on the platform than before.
“W-erk-” Belinda covered her mouth, and held up a finger to her Mum stopping her in her motherly rampage. “Well- Well, look who it is. My Mother, lovely to see you.” Belinda took the handkerchief Mum offered her.
“Oh- no Belinda dear I’m so sorry I didn’t realize until-”
“No- no it’s alright, Mum. I understand.” Belinda sniffed loudly and used the other end of the obnoxiously large hanky to wipe at her eyes. “I KNOW YOU WOULD NEVER FORGET ME ON PURPOSE-” Belinda sighed dramatically as her siblings watched in amusement, save for Percy who looked just as embarrassed as Mum. Some passersby watched with mild interest.
“You stop that, this instant, young lady!” Mum looked at her eldest son for help.
“You should hold out till she gets you a new broomstick.”
Belinda rolled her eyes. She was actually deeply hurt by her mother forgetting her, but knew no good would come of letting it show. If someone had to be left behind, so be it that it was her- and not Ron who would’ve just panicked.
“I don’t like flying Bill- that’s Ginny.”
“Oh right, sorry. You like…? Something I suppose.” Bill shrugged.
“Birds.” Fred chimed in.
“Hair ribbons?” George flicked the long lilac ribbon that their Mum had insisted would look lovely in her hair last night after their lovely chat. Belinda swatted at his hand.
“Oh, I’m sorry dear- but it's time for you all to get on the train, I’ll write to you I promise!” They hugged, and her brothers all piled onto the train. Mum held her back with Ginny and Bill for a moment, swiping back the hanky to actually dab at the tears. Mum had never gotten used to her children leaving her, and usually moped about the house the first couple of days after dropping the others off at the train. Would she be able to manage once they were all out of the house for school?
“I’ll write you loads- IF I don't forget that is.” Belinda smiled cheekily and dodged a playful swipe from her Mum’s hanky.
“Oh. Just get on the train, and look after your brothers-”
Belinda was already running to the train as the brakes released- Percy pulled her onto the steps as the train started its crawl out of the station. With a final wave to the Weasley’s left on the platform she let herself get corralled into a long hallway lined with compartments by Percy.