Madness

After grabbing gallons from the marble bank, Gringotts, with my new friend Neville we started shopping for all the supplies we would need at Hogwarts.

Old families such as the Longbottoms and Blacks had most of the Hogwarts supplies already in their family vaults from past generations, such as the beautifully crafted black with dark purple accents trunk that I picked up. I was told by a ghostly ancestor that the trunk was rune-carved protected. The truck was magically expanded and had the Black family crest carved into the top. When grabbing my new trunk that I had picked up with Neville, who was standing in the doorway, I also grabbed books, clothes, and potion supplies from past Hogwarts scholars that were in my family line. All the objects were in great condition and of the best quality, so I thought it would be best to save money and not buy new items, even if the amount would have been trivial compared to my net worth. I threw all the items that I would need into my new trunk and called for Kreature to send it home. I waited as Neville did the same and I caught a glimpse of a small girl version of Kreature. I thought she looked cute wearing a colorful pillowcase dress and noted to myself to set her up with Kreature.

All Neville and I needed to buy new (after we came out of the bank) were new wands, fresh potion supplies and a talisman that all olde families buy themselves when they get their letter.

Neville allowed for my arm to hook with his due to etiquette as we travelled through the busy alley managing to not bump in to anyone on our way to the infamous Ollivanders, an expert wandmaker, whose Mediterranean family line has been making wands since 382 B.C..

As soon as we stepped into the old wand shop with its infamous magic bell that stripped glamours as soon as it was heard, Ollivander popped into existence surprising Neville and making him jump. I knew Ollivander had some form of the sight (as the saying goes), “One with the sight, Knows the sight.” He was an ancient looking man with long blonde hair, as white as mine, whose bushy eyebrows rose in surprise seeing both of us come through his shop.

“Merry met. A Longbottom and a Black together....mhmmm what a surprise. You know your families use to be allied.” He seemed to be muttering to himself after that last comment and stated, “Together they were formidable allies. How interesting.”

Neville and I looked at each other with no surprise in our eyes due to many lessons on family history.
Ollivander than said, “Now let’s get you each a wand.” Neville replied in an almost scared tone, “No, thank you. My gran said I had to use my fathers’ wand.”

Ollivander looked scandalized and said with a glint in his eyes, “That just won’t do. Your father is not even dead, he is still connected to it. Besides the wand chooses the wizard.”

Neville looked at me and I said in my most convincing voice, “What your gran doesn’t know, won’t harm her.”

“Joyce” Ollivander replied in a singing tone and promptly matched Neville with a long stick made out of cherrywood with a unicorn hair core that had a spiral base.

It was then my turn, and after trying multiple wands through hand contact, I felt like my soul became alive after brushing the fourth wand with my hand and magic. I knew in that moment that I had found a partner for life, and I also knew how thankful I should be for this amazing gift, as connections were rare blessings.

My new life partner was made from elder tree wood, symbolizing death, and a string of a dragon’s heart. I said a prayer in my mind for the dragon to lady magic. I felt so very lucky to be alive at that moment and tried to savor the feeling before I knew I would be sucked back into my grief.

Neville, ever the gentleman, paid for both wands even as I tried to pay. I gave Neville a grateful smile as the elder Longbottom who had stood behind us during our time in the shop said, “Atta boy” in a proud tone when he saw his grandson’s kind gesture.

Neville and I left the shop with bright eyes and a pep in our step. We shopped for the rest of the day for essentials especially stopping at this award-winning apothecary where Neville shined showing off his knowledge of plants.

I looked over the cauldron section as we were browsing and saw a tall black-haired wizard with greasy hair staring at Neville in approval as he was explaining the pros and cons of Mandrakes.

He noticed me staring and looked over, instantly sneering. I watched as he looked me up and down while muttering and heard him swear, “Oh mother, another Black” under his breath and dramatically swooshed away in a whorl of robes. I could hear his dramatic footsteps as he walked away.

I thought it was notable but was too excited for our last item of the day, our talismans.

Many Muggleborns and half-bloods find the powerful tradition of unique talisman’s idiotic due to cliches in the muggle world. This bias has created an almost protective streak in the old families keeping the reasoning to their use to themselves.

A talisman to those who follow the olde ways is an important milestone for any magic user, as each are unique to the caster creating individual effects.

Kreature told me that my uncle, Sirius, received a powerful talisman that was shaped like American military muggle dog tags and it gave him the ability to see people’s auras. I was informed that my grandparents hated the jewelry and called it ghastly because of the muggle style, but because talismans were given by Lady magic, they were forced into letting him keep it.

Since the tiny talisman shop on the edge of horizontal alley only let one person at a time, I was not able to see what Neville’s talisman, but as he exited, I saw him grin to himself and I chose to take that as a good sign. I walked in the shop after waiting for my turn and saw a tall, beautiful witch with the most beautiful, dark caramel skin tone behind a white chalked circle.

She looked up at me and smiled. She spoke in a British accent giving me the impression that she was a local and when she told me her name, it was confirmed. She said, “Merry met. I am Annabelle Kingsley, and I will be performing the talisman ritual. It is twenty-five gallons. Please step into the circle and place precious metals on the runes as well as chant with me while releasing your magic. “

I did as she instructed, placing gold and silver from my goblin protected bag on the runes, (I had come prepared) while thinking and concluding that the only reason the ministry still allows for this ritual was the high price pure bloods are willing to pay and the taxes the ministry must receive. I also thought about how the Kingsley family were notoriously light magic users and them owning this shop in the main part of Diagon Ally must have convinced the ministry that the ritual was okay.

Annabelle danced around me and sang in tune with my magic when my nose started bleeding without prompting, which did not surprise me as my tutors had warned me, and Annabelle combined our magic with the blood which started sparkling. It took about ten more minutes of chanting for the blood to bond with the silver into a beautiful ear cuff with a space missing, obviously a betrothal space for my husband to be to gift me a gem.

It surprised me that a rare betrothal space was magically made for me as it was said that only those lucky to find true love later in life were given the space.

I loved the silver cuff and put it on right there in the shop. I had no idea what my talisman was supposed to do, but I was looking forward to figuring it out. I curtsied to Annabelle and paid for the jewelry while thanking her for the job well done.

As I walked outside, I saw a still waiting Neville, taking his duty as my escort seriously. He was standing almost like a solider in the dark, as the sky had turned black twenty minutes ago with the most beautiful of stars sparking in formless shapes. I smiled and thanked lady magic for the best day I had in a while.