Diagon Alley
It’s a warm August afternoon in Diagon Alley and the Black sisters and their younger cousins move confidently through the alley.
The older sisters drop Sirius and Hyacinth off at the wand shop, and head towards Sibal’s Sweet Emporium, reminding the pair to stand outside when they were finished.
The interior of Ollivanders was dim and mysterious, lit by a soft, flickering glow from enchanted lanterns that hung from the low, arched ceiling. Shelves upon shelves of wand boxes lined the walls in haphazard rows, each waiting silently for the moment a wand would choose its owner.
Sirius shifted nervously near the front, his eyes darting about. The usual clamor of excited chatter was replaced by an almost reverent quiet that made him feel out of place. Hyacinth tugged lightly on his sleeve.
“Come on, Sirius,” she urged in a hushed tone, “you know it’s now or never.”
Sirius hesitated, then forced a grin. “Alright, I’m going,” he said, voice trembling slightly as he stepped forward.
A few moments later, a gentle, measured voice called, “Mr. Black,” and a thin, silver-haired man in a worn velvet robe emerged from behind a tall shelf. “Step forward, please.”
Sirius straightened as best he could, though his excitement still wavered with nerves. Ollivander studied him with his piercing, ancient eyes. “Your wand, young Sirius, shall be found by you.” With a graceful motion, he extended his hand. Sirius tries about two wands before he finds the right one. A slender wand of holly, about 11 inches in length with a core of dragon heartstring, sparked with a warm, amber light as it whirled as soon as it landed in Sirius’s hand.
“Ah,” Ollivander murmured, “a wand of holly with a dragon heartstring core—excellent for charm work and mischief alike.” Sirius grinned broadly, the nervous tremor in his hands easing into exhilaration.
Then, all eyes turned to little Hyacinth. “And you, Miss Black,” Ollivander intoned softly. “Step forward.”
Hyacinth’s heart pounded as she approached. Ollivander hastily walks about his shop, as if he knew exactly which wand to pluck from his stack. He pulled out a small purple box, and gestured for Hyacinth to take it. After a moment of silence, she reaches forward and immediately the wand, 10 inches long and made of polished cherry wood, with a core of unicorn hair that shimmered like moonlight on water, sent a wave of refreshingness through her body.
Ollivander’s eyes sparkled behind his spectacles. “A most suitable wand. Its gentle nature is especially conducive to healing magic—a rare quality that may serve you well in the future.”
Hyacinth’s eyes widened in wonder as she cradled her wand. “Healing magic…” she repeated softly as if discovering a secret meant only for her.
“May these wands be the instruments of your destiny,” Ollivander said, his voice echoing in the dim light.
Sirius and Hyacinth exchanged a look of shared excitement.
Once the pair were done, they rejoined the group. The sisters chat easily about their upcoming return to Hogwarts, Bellatrix grumbles about Slughorn’s overblown flattery, and Andromeda confides in a hushed tone about a new sweet recipe she’s experimenting with for the Yule celebration. The air is filled with both the excitement of new school supplies and the comforting familiarity of family banter, a mix that feels as natural to them as breathing.
Next, they wandered into a small apothecary to gather books and supplies for their classes. The shop was dimly lit, with shelves crammed full of potion ingredients, enchanted quills, and leather-bound notebooks. As Narcissa and Andromeda delicately selected potion cauldrons and their benefits, Sirius and Regulus trailed behind, their eyes flickering with a mix of excitement and the unmistakable caution they felt under Bellatrix’s watchful glare.
In a quiet corner of the shop, Hyacinth whispered, “I can’t wait to see Hogwarts… to learn all the spells and walk the corridors.” Her tone was hushed but bright, her natural excitement carefully tucked beneath the veneer of pureblood poise. She looked over at Regulus, who managed a small smile—one that, if you looked closely, carried a trace of longing.
Outside, as they regrouped near a busy intersection of shops, Bellatrix took charge. “Remember, we have a strict schedule. You two—behave yourself,” she snapped, her voice leaving little room for discussion. Sirius and Regulus exchanged uneasy looks at her stern tone. Despite their inherent mischief, they instinctively shrank back when Bella’s presence loomed large.
With their supplies gathered—a few carefully chosen textbooks, a set of quills, notebooks, and a new broom for Sirius—the family began their slow walk back through the sunlit streets.