Wand Shopping
Draco's plain green sweatshirt and joggers bored Pansy as she saw him walk down the Slytherin stairs into the common rooms. He looked uncomfortable. Which, while others probably think that's normal and, sure it was the new normal, she distinctly remembered last year he looked... like he wanted to look over his shoulder every possible second. And maybe that seems worse, but Pansy could at least make him genuinely smile or the people around him enjoy his company.
It didn't surprise her that his friends grew distant from him. Or even why she was feeling the same.
They still chatted, walked, and sat together in classes. Gossip was fun, they both could admit. And while Draco would always claim otherwise, Pansy knew he enjoyed talking about fashion with her. Sure, his eyes had this distant look if she looked well enough and his hands sometimes clenched until white.
He was holding back. He had to be.
Either way, she smiled as he walked over to her.
"You look nice, Draco. I'm sure your wand will look nice with that..." she gestured to his body, making Draco frown.
"It's a sweatshirt, anything'll look nice with it," Draco huffed. Pansy rolled her eyes. They both began walking to the Great Hall, Pansy smiled at Draco. Today would be a good day for him. He needed this.
-/-/-
Delfina's foot tapped the ground with a speed equivalent to a firebolt. They were soft, rapid taps as she waited for Griselda to arrive for breakfast. The initial plan that the 3 of them, Griselda, Weasley, and herself, agreed on was to meet after breakfast.
Which, she supposes, shouldn't be Griselda's fault for taking long since Pansy and herself arrived before most professors had a chance to sit down. Moving one hand around her lips and face, having no idea what else to be doing, she watched the doors, waiting for a professor to enter. Pansy, much to her delight, had been mostly quiet. The silence was a small comfort, against the usual bickering from her house. It gave her time to plan. Yes, Delfina knew how ridiculous it sounded, especially when she could be incredibly impulsive. See Luna Lovegood for more. But, more times than not, having a plan a goal, or a direction was better than not.
Ronald was getting a new wand. For reasons unknown to her, not like he'd have a reason to tell her. Though, distinctly, the heiress remembered Weasley with a taped-up wand, surely no good for casting. Though, she thought he'd fixed it or bought a new one. So, keep conversations low with him. She wasn't here to make friends, just get her wand and get out, unless Griselda had other plans.
And that brought up a different discussion: 'other plans'. To Delfina, the most scary thing that could happen would be going to Madam Malkin's. She... didn't even want to think about what could happen in there. Or the barber. Or the ice cream store. Or anywhere she could be exposed on any level. The wand felt humiliating enough, surely whatever God was looking down at her could give her one good day.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when Griselda snapped her fingers in Delfina's face. With a stupor, the girl quickly blinked her eyes and looked up at the century-old professor.
"We'll be heading out in 15 minutes. Hopefully, Mister Weasley will be ready by then. Oh, and before I forget, is there anywhere else we should visit? I want to make sure you acquire everything you shall need," the Professor informed and asked her with a small smile. Though she couldn't tell if it was forced.
Regardless, Delfina cleared her throat.
"Um, I'm okay. I don't need anything else. How will all of this be paid? Is this covered by Hogwarts? Is it just the wands covered? Not that I need anything else, of course," Delfina told her, biting her lip unconsciously.
"Hogwarts will be covering any costs, regardless if there will only be wand purchases."
Griselda, much to Malfoy's happiness, cut the conversation short with a quick goodbye. Delfina continued to stare where she'd been.
Though, if she will be paying with it for Hogwarts' balance...
Delfina pondered as Weasley entered the room.
-/-/-
When Hermione said nothing would be worse than being expelled, Ron initially disagreed. In Hermione's example, Ron could, in no way, see a fate worse than death. No nobility or honor? Just dying? That's the worst way to go.
But today? With Malfoy?
Sign him out. If he'd known Malfoy would be coming with them, he'd never agree to come with Marshbanks. The wand could wait, and so could talking to Malfoy. While the git hadn't been a bully the first couple of weeks, Ron knew it was all an act. One moment he'll show his true Slytherin colors. Despite Hermione's disagreement, which Ron knew not to trust since Hermione was likely Draco's second favorite target behind the Boy-Who-Lived himself, Ron knew to trust his gut.
But, either way, he'd never talk to him during the trip. Not unless forced to. And if Malfoy was the one to start...
As they walked to Dumbledore's office, himself, Marchbanks, and Malfoy, he suddenly felt worried that he was imagining everything. That, maybe, his wand was still working rightly. Maybe he just needed to practice more. But, when he pulled it out, he couldn't help but cringe as it felt... cold.He had no idea how this could even happen! No Weasley ever had wand troubles and, now, he's gone 0 out of 2 for wands in just 3 years!
When he heard a sigh, he glanced up to the git. What did he have to sigh about? He was just getting a second wand, probably by his father's request. Plus, all of this, even if it was embarrassing, was paid for by the school. Malfoy glances at Ron, only for Draco's eyes to widen. That's right, Malfoy, you can be judged for being a privileged, racist bully. Rolling his own eyes, he paid back attention to Marshbanks.
"So, each of you takes some floo, and... well I'm sure you know where we want to go. I'll go first," taking some floo, as they stood near the Headmaster's fireplace, and walked into the flames.
"Diagon Alley."
The fire lit up green as the professor vanished from Ron's perifoveal. Ron, then, assuming he was the next person, walked to the floo, only to bump into Draco. The youngest Weasley boy was prepared for a fight.
"Oh, sorry. You can go first," Draco said, not daring to look at his face. Ron had to blink a few times to register what the heir said. Letting him go first? Maybe... no. This was all some act. He almost got fooled.
Taking a massive stride, Ron continued on his way to the fireplace and quickly dropped his floo and shouted, "Diagon Alley."
-/-/-
"Hmm, very interesting Mister Weasley, very interesting," Olivander murmured, his voice a whisper that Delfina could hardly hear. She was a little surprised to hear that. At least in her experience, interesting usually wasn't a good sign.
He held the wand delicately between his slender fingers, his movements slow and deliberate, as though he were deciphering secrets etched within the wand's core.
"Completely different from your first wand... Phoenix feather, Blackthorne wood, 10 and a half inches," Olivander continued, his tone with more curiosity than reverence. Weasley, from Delfina's eyes, was glued to the wand. His hand squirmed in the grasp of it. Was this the wand that truly fit him?
"Yeah, but it's got a bollock's grip. Are the scratches on it completely necessary?" He asked the wand looking uncomfortable in his grip. Delfina slowly tilted her head. Would this be what her new wand was like? An uncomfortable fit?
She liked her current wand. Maybe the gradient and platinum grip was a little much, but it was pleasing to her eye.
She scoffed in her head. How could she be so nervous about all of this? Not only anxious but fearing the wand that would choose her. It was a wand, for bloody sake! Yet, the weight of expectation hung heavy in the air, mingling with the scent of ancient wood and faded dreams.
A tap on her shoulder made the girl flinch, instantly shooting her eyes to see a black finger resting on them. It was just Griselda. She gave a nervous smile.
"Garrick was telling you that he's almost ready," Griselda said, her voice soft and reassuring, a stark contrast to the hushed tones of the wandmaker. Delfina nodded, grateful for the interruption that brought her back to the present moment.
"Alright, here is your case and cleaner, Mister Weasley, do take good care of them," he said with a patient smile. Delfina thought Olivander would be crying like a parent sending their child to Hogwarts if it weren't for the 3 sets of eyes looking at him, "Now," he said with trepidation, "Mister Malfoy. I don't understand why you require a new wand. I thought that was one of my best matches, especially the unicorn-hair core?"
Delfina grew pink. While she enjoys feeling girly, she doesn't enjoy that fact pointed out. Even though she knew it was normal to get unicorn hair as a core for wands, it made her squirm.
"Yeah, it was a magnificent fit in my first 3 years, but over the summer and now the connection is... sparse, to say the least," glancing at her robe's pocket where the wand was stored, "sometimes the grip feels alien, the wood too jagged, the length too large, but all of the time I can't cast most spells. Even 'lumos' has been... dismal. The only spell that seems to work correctly is 'nox.'
"I assume there is no chance I should remain casting with it?" Delfina questioned with a small frown. It was a fact she was trying to phrase as a question. She saw Griselda cover her mouth, with chuckles emanating from her hand.
"I'm afraid, Mister Malfoy, that you are correct. If you can only keep one or a few spells consistent, then a new wand is best for you. Hold on a second..." Olivander began searching the library of wands, with mummblings that Delfina could hardly listen to. She thought she heard many 'no, that can't be it' which made her nerves pick up again. What if he couldn't find her a new wand? Would she be forced into keeping her wand? Would she have to start learning wandless incantations? She wouldn't necessarily gawk at the idea, it seemed like a fun challenge for her. Imagine how that'd look for the Malfoy house, their child prodigy.
"Try this one," Olivander said, pulling her out of her thoughts. Gripping the rod, Olivander started listing some facts about the wand, the dark, ebony wood, and its 11-inch dragon heartstring accompanying the sleek polished wand. Seizing it, she paused at the feeling she got from it.
Maybe a year or two ago, this would have fit. Its dark aura would have worked nicely with her snide comments and its length seemed intimidating enough, especially with the dragon's head being the grip. Delfina, though, rejected it. She didn't even bother testing it with a flick, afraid it might wreck his shop like Weasley's attempts had. Olivander appeared dejected, but put the wand back in the box and began looking again.
They tried similar cores and lengths with different woods. Hawthorn's aura was nearly identical, the same with ash and spruce. When she ultimately brought this up to Olivander, besides his mutterings of how peculiar it was, began pulling out all assortments of long wands with veela hair and phoenix. While those felt lovely and fierce respectively, Delfina couldn't help but still feel wrong about each wand.
It was when Olivander tried a different wand, together, that Delfina finally felt a spark of the same magic from her first wand.
"Hmm, I can already tell you favor that wand. 9 inches, cherry wood, veela hair... Go ahead and give it a flick, Mister Malfoy!"
Delfina, avoiding flinching, waved the wand like a flag, watching as fireworks began shooting out of it. This was her wand. This had to be-
Oh.
The fireworks melted from the sky and turned into sludge that Griselda waved away. This appeared to be hopeless for the girl.
"A hint from the wand that we are close," Olivander smiled as he pulled out another wand with a grin.
"This is the one, Mister Malfoy. You were an interesting case and are going to have, by far, one of my smaller wands. 7 and 3/4 inches with veela hair and encased in cherry wood. Here you are," Olivander lectured as she was handed the case. Picking the cherry wood wand up from the case, she instantly felt a connection.
An intense connection.
Her first wand felt like the wand she'd have until she grew old. A wand that was an extension of herself. That seemed to be what most wix wanted out of their wands. However, this wand felt so different. While sure, it was like an extension of herself, but the wand was also filling a void for her. Like a curious child's first discovery of a library, Delfina lightly cooed as she slowly wrapped her fingers around the handle.
The wand itself was a beauty. The slightly pink-tinted wand had subtle swirls and grain patterns running along the length. The glossy finish made it shine in the light of the shop. And the grip, oh the clasp was a mastery of the craftsmanship as a whole. The red gemstone, a ruby likely, stood out on the bottom of the wand with ridges separated by a few inches connected to it.
"Astounding! This wand is one of my best fits yet. The only person with a similar fit was... well Mister Potter," Olivander smirked, making Delfina blink repeatedly in shock. Potter's wand? He seemed to be having similar troubles to herself, however not on as large of a scale.
"That's unexpected, Mister Olivander," Delfina murmured in a voice similar to when she was on the elixir. Her eyes widened. Why did she say that? And in that matter?
"Ah, it seems your wand is already influencing you. That's a wonderful sign. Here is your cleaning kit, Griselda, I understand you are paying for these wix's wands?"
Griselda herself seemed stunned at Delfina's voice but tilted her head back at Olivander with a small smile and nod. After paying and the trio wishing Olivander a great day, they began walking to the floo network.
-/-/-
"I've never heard of a wand smaller than 10 inches... 7... how didya manage that?" Ron asked... curiously. Delfina thought it looked weird on the boy, but regardless she looked a little regretful. She hadn't had any time to think about the fit. She sighed, glancing at her hand that held the small wand. The grip was half of the wand's length.
"Don't make Malfoy embarrassed. It isn't a bad predicament or even a predicament at all. When I was growing up, many of my peers held smaller wands about the size of Malfoy's. Though the "special" properties are ones I've never heard of," Griselda looked like she wanted to say something else, but hesitated as they looked at the many fireplaces spread out, "Alright, Mister Weasley, you'll go first. No need to wait for myself or Malfoy. Thank you for reaching out for help."
Ron looked embarrassed, surely the boy could take praise. Or, if the big smile that overtook him told Delfina anything, did he like the positive attention his way? Eh, Delfina didn't much care, she was more thoughtful of the phrasing.
"Wait? Aren't I just-"
"Alright, Mister Weasley, here is some powder. Make sure you finish all of my work before Monday! Get the 'Veritas Vinculum' movements down as well as the application."
With Ronald's shout, he vanished in the flames.
"Now, Malfoy, we need to have a little chat," instantly the girl paled, "No, nothing wrong. We just need to talk about the wand charms and anything further. Garrick, blinded bastard, was so worked up about getting you your wand that he didn't tell you about your wand."
"Well, he said it was interesting-
"He says that about every wand."
"Well, he told me about the descr- okay yeah, I guess he didn't. Sorry, Professor Marchbanks-"
"Hmm, he was right though, very peculiar charm," Griselda smiled, covering her shrink from her proper address. Delfina hadn't meant to call her that, it just... slipped. It was like practicing her driving skills. Usually, you'd go with some tester and they'd have slight controls over braking. Instead of her normal wand always breaking in time with her or, as of recently, breaking too hard, her new wand just sat there. Maybe throwing her a compliment about her brake or her speed limit or whatever, but it felt like the wand was...
"Malfoy, your wand has a rare, very rare, charm associated with it. Truth-seeking. It will likely be something you learn to control, as it was something that I've learned how to deal with from my past," Griselda told her, seemingly lecturing her as if she were at her desk.
"What is truth-seeking?" She asked with a small inclination to her head. Griselda smiled.
"To put it simply, your wand will force you and others to tell the 'truth' about any particular thing, idea, or memory. For example, the obvious one is your voice. You don't need to feel skittish about it, Malfoy. Due to your wand's length, you probably have more powerful inner demons and secrets than most.
"I take it your voice is one of these secrets, again not a bad thing. It just means that the truth about most things regarding yourself can be revealed, even if you don't want to. The wand can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you glimpse it."
"And how do you see it, if I may ask," Delfina asked rigidly, her gaze lowering to Griselda's legs. Her white knuckles were just as strict as her wand.
"I see a blessing. A chance at showing your true self," Griselda took in the girl in front of her and sighed. Delfina lowered her eyes to her heels, clenching her jaw as she gazed at Griselda's black heels.
Griselda didn't say anything, prompting Delfina to look up at her. She appeared to be focused on a thought.
"You are doing a great job of hiding your responses, but your emotions..." She trailed off, focusing now on the burning flames of the floo. She had an opportunity. Slowly clenching her eyes, she nodded.
"Well, Malfoy. I won't tempt you to tell me something you don't want me to know. Instead, do not make me regret this as I'm likely bending- nay breaking- some rules. Whilst I told you earlier other purchases were okay, I purely meant educational spending. However, any other spending would be forbiden. We have an hour before we need to get back for lunch. I told Albus we'd be back before then. Even then, that wouldn't be a problem. I will be allowing you to make non-educational purchases using the Hogwarts bal-"
"What?!? No, I couldn't possibly be trusted with that! We can-
"No, Mi- Malfoy. I need to prepare you in the case of any... truths, get out. Important truths. So, take this. This should be more than enough galleons, enough to buy a couple of houses a hundred years ago. Meet me back here in an hour and tell no one about this, understood? Good. I am trusting you since you've trusted me with your class participation."
And with that final sentiment and a wave from Professor Marchbanks, Delfina was on her way to Madam Malkin's, afraid for her desire for new fem clothes.