The window was dusty. Inside, it was dim and cramped, and the air smelled of cedar and something electric, like the air before a storm. Stacks of long, thin boxes teetered toward the ceiling.
A soft bell rang as they entered.
“Ah,” a voice said quietly from behind the shelves, “A new witch.”
Duchess felt something shiver down her spine—not fear, exactly, but something close.
Hermione gave Duchess an encouraging nod. As Duchess stepped forward, Hermione gently guided her parents out the door and followed close behind.
A voice called from behind the tall shelves,
“I know, you were expecting my father. He’s long retired. You know, he sold Harry Potter his wand. The wand that defeated the greatest dark wizard who ever lived, Voldemort. People used to never say his name until Harry Potter defeated him. Now we know, he was just like any other wizard. You live, you die… anyway,” the man continued, “I’ve heard about you,” Ollivander started as he stepped up the ladder. He pulled out a long box.
Ollivander’s son was a striking man in his thirties, with the quiet intensity of someone who’d spent his life listening more than speaking. His hair, a rich brown, was combed neatly over one side in a style that felt both deliberate and effortless, as though he’d walked off the page of a Muggle men’s fashion catalogue without realizing it.
His eyes, a pale, metallic silver, held a kind of ancient wisdom—eerily reflective, like polished steel catching candlelight. They flicked over wands and customers with the same cool discernment, as though measuring the weight of their souls.
He didn’t dress like a wizard. Instead of robes, he wore a fitted blue polo that hugged the muscular frame of his chest and arms, its collar crisp against his tanned skin. His shorts, tan and well-tailored, cut just above the knee, revealing strong, toned legs. On his feet were clean boating shoes—practical, quiet, and stylish in a way that didn’t try too hard.
Everything about him suggested strength kept in check, power held in reserve. He could have passed for a Muggle athlete, but the air around him shimmered faintly with magic. The kind that makes a room quieter when he walks in.
“Let’s try this one…” As Ollivander slowly stepped back down the ladder, she saw that Mr. Ollivander was a young man. He looked nothing like the man in the packet Professor Granger left with Duchess.
“What did you think when you received your letter to attend Hogwarts?” Duchess suddenly looked sad,
“I thought my brother was playing a trick on me. Mike’s always popping out at me and playing pranks. He’s a menace like that. I don’t think Bill had anything to do with it, but he just ignored it and never really defended me.” Ollivander laughed,
“Well, you’ll be playing tricks on him long enough.” Duchess suddenly stood up straight and grinned. It was the first time she didn’t look scared or nervous since they arrived at Diagon Alley. He handed Duchess a light wand.
Immediately, Duchess felt a wind blow across the room. The cool air left a chill in her spine and she suddenly felt she was flying. “I knew it!” Ollivander said. “I’m too good!” he exclaimed commenting himself. “Your hair and your eyes… This is a willow wand with a Veela hair. I know my father used to say it’s so tempermental, so he didn’t make any wands with with it, but I had to make just one. I could tell, this wand will be loyal to you.”
Ollivander wrapped up the wand in a neat box and handed it to her. “Ten galleons,” Ollivander let her know. Duchess took out her wand and looked up at him not knowing quite what to do. “Oh, right,” Ollivander chuckled. “You’re the first one who’s trying this money wand thing, you know? Let’s see if it works.” Ollivander took out a golden music box that fit in the palm of his hand. Only it wasn’t a music box . It didn’t even open. Duchess tapped the box and his cash register suddenly gave a ring. Ollivander went over the cash register and opened it. “Oh… it works. Fascinating. There’s actually a function to have it go directly into my vault in Gringott’s, but I don’t want to do that quite yet. I’d like to keep the galleons close so I can make sure it works.”
Duchess carefully put the wand in her expanding satchel.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him and left the shop.