Walking through the streets of Diagon Alley, Scorpio kept an eye on the map. It still showed a path for him to reach the shop in its closest route. Astoria walked behind him," Slow down Scorpio."
"It's just so exciting Mom," said Scorpio.
Astoria smiled." I still remember the first time I bought my wand. I heard it took a long time for my sister to get one. Luckily, I bought my wand in just three tries."
"I guess you got lucky mom."
Scorpio didn't have the heart to tell his mother that the more time it took to obtain a wand, the more complex the person was likely to be. In other words, his mother was pretty simple-minded.
Astoria's smile remained serene as they continued their walk, but Scorpius couldn't help the small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He could already imagine recounting this moment to Peter later, who would surely howl with laughter at the irony.
The wand shop came into view, its slightly crooked sign reading Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. The peeling gold letters seemed to shimmer faintly as if imbued with their magic. Scorpius quickened his pace, pushing the door open with a soft chime of the bell above it. The shop smelled of polished wood and parchment, with countless narrow boxes stacked haphazardly on shelves that stretched toward the ceiling.
Astoria followed more leisurely, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips as she gazed around. "It hasn't changed a bit," she murmured, her voice soft.
A figure emerged from the shadows behind the counter. "Welcome," came the smooth, almost otherworldly voice.
"Mr.Ollivan~" Scorpio paused. He looked at the middle-aged man who emerged from behind the counter. He had brown hair and black eyes. His eyes twinkled with mirth as the man waved 'hi' at him.
"You're not Garrick Ollivander," said Scorpio.
"An astute observation young man," said the man, "My name is Greg Ollivander. Mr.Garrik was my grandfather you see."
"Is Mr.Ollivander retired?" asked Scorpio.
"Unfortunately, my grandfather died in his sleep a few years after the Great Battle of Hogwarts," said Greg.
"I'm sorry," apologized Scorpio," I've just heard tales of Mr.Garrik Ollivander, how he was devoted to wand lore."
"It's okay," said the man," Regardless, I am glad to see that the younger generation still appreciates my grandfather. Comments like yours mostly come from your parent's generation."
"I remember Mr.Garrik's funeral," said Astoria, "It was truly a somber passing."
Greg Ollivander nodded solemnly, his expression softening. "It was indeed. My grandfather was a remarkable man, and his knowledge of wand lore was unparalleled. But life must move forward, and the craft continues through me." He gestured toward the shelves, his demeanor brightening. Now, let us find you a wand, young Scorpius."
Scorpius stepped closer to the counter, feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. "Do you have any advice for someone getting their first wand?"
Greg smiled warmly. "The wand chooses the wizard, as my grandfather always said. But the bond between wand and wizard isn't instantaneous—it grows stronger as you work together. Just be yourself, and the right wand will find you."
Astoria chuckled softly from behind Scorpius. "That's exactly what Garrick said when I came here years ago. Some wisdom never changes."
Greg gave a soft laugh as he disappeared into the rows of shelves, his voice echoing faintly. "It is a truth that has stood the test of centuries. Let me see... hawthorn? No, not quite. Perhaps walnut or alder?"
As they waited, Scorpius turned to his mother. "What's your wand like, Mum?"
Astoria tilted her head thoughtfully. "Cypress wood, ten inches, with a unicorn hair core. It's light and swishy—a perfect match for Charms' work. Your Aunt Daphne has a sturdy beechwood wand with a dragon heartstring. It suits her temperament."
Scorpius nodded and filed the information away. He was about to ask more when Greg returned, carrying an armful of boxes.
"Let's begin," said Greg, opening the first box to reveal a polished wand. "Ebony wood, eleven inches, phoenix feather core. Strong, adaptable, and excellent for Transfiguration. Give it a try."
Scorpius picked up the wand and gave it a tentative wave. A sharp gust of wind shot through the shop, scattering a few loose parchments. Greg snatched the wand from Scorpius's hand before more chaos could ensue.
"Not the one," Greg said with a chuckle, setting it aside. "Let's try Maple wood, 10 and a quarter inches, phoenix feather,"
This time, the wand glowed but did not do anything. Cluelessly, Scorpio looked at the young wandmaker.
"Go on, give it a harder wave."
When Scorpio waved hard, the wand flew out of his grasp and began to shoot fireworks inside the shop. Scorpio and Astoria crouched behind one of the tables and Greg wrestled with the out-of-control wand. The process repeated itself several times, each attempt either producing an unexpected effect or none at all.
Greg, however, seemed unperturbed. "You're not the first to take a while, young man. My grandfather told me Harry Potter himself went through nearly every wand in the shop before finding his match."
"Why do I need a wand anyway?" complained Scorpius," Wouldn't a ring or a staff be better?"
"Although magic can be channeled through virtually anything, wands make it relatively easy to combine different materials with magical properties." explained Greg," Rings and amulets can store or amplify magic, but they are much more passive."
"Staffs seem so much cooler than wands," said Scorpio.
"Maybe you can build your own when you grow up," said Astoria.
Finally, Greg paused, his brow furrowed as he pulled a particularly dusty box from a high shelf. "How about something made my grandfather's grandfather Geobold Ollivander? It was his last creation. Something of a sentimental value to me."
"Well what is it made out of," asked Scorpio, looking at the dusty black box.
Scorpio did not receive a reply. Upon looking at Greg's face, he gasped as he saw that time was frozen. Looking around, the entire world was frozen. When he looked at the box, he saw a panel above it. It read," Wand Customization."
Scorpio looked at the map in confirmation, and lo, there was a checkmark to the right of the task,' Visit Ollivanders'.
'So this is my reward,' thought Scorpio.
Scorpio's heart raced as he turned his attention back to the panel hovering above the box. The words "Wand Customization" seemed to shimmer, like a faint reflection in the glass. It was surreal, but the excitement in his chest made him feel oddly calm, as though this moment was meant to happen.
He glanced around the shop, noticing that even the fluttering parchments had frozen mid-air. The only movement was the faint glow from the wand in his hand, still shimmering with the last remnants of its chaotic fireworks display.
For a moment, Scorpio wondered if he was dreaming. Was this part of the wand selection process, or had something more mysterious been set into motion?
Taking a deep breath, he reached for the box labeled as his reward. The moment his fingers touched it, the box creaked open, revealing the wand inside. Unlike the others, it wasn't simply sitting there, waiting for him to try it—it seemed alive, pulsing gently with energy. The customization panel glowed brighter, displaying various options.
"Customize your wand," the panel read. "Select wood type, core, length, and final adjustments. All choices will affect its bond with the wizard."
Scorpio blinked, half in disbelief. This wasn't just a selection process—it was a chance to create the wand himself.
The first section was labeled Wand Style. It had several options like natural, notched, classic, soft spiral, spiral, stalk, ringed, and crooked spiral. Scorpio selected each option and held it in his hand. After many attempts, he decided that the classic wand seemed to be the best fit. The classic wand came in three color schemes: Grey, Black, and Rosewood. Of course, Scorpius chose black.
The next section was called Wood Customisation. There were three subsections each with its slider. The first customizer was the wood type. It had several options like Acacia, Alder, Apple, Cherry, Blackthorne, Holly, Hornbeam, etc. After scrolling through it all, he finally decided on Yew. Elder was also an option, but it did not fit the aesthetics of the wand. When it came to wand length and wand rigidity, he selected 14 inches with a sturdy body.
The last modifier was the core of the wand. There were only three options available, so he just went with Phoenix Feather by default.
After he clicked confirm, the panel disappeared and time resumed properly. "Here we go," Greg held up the new customized wand. 14-inch Yew with a phoenix feather core. It's also quite rigid, and it's an odd combo, to say the least. I'm surprised that there was another wand made like this.
"Why is that surprising?" asked Scorpio.
"Yew is a wand associated with death. It mostly goes with Therestial Hair Cores and Dragon Heartstrings. Occasionally, it can be fit with Unicorn Hair, but phoenixes are associated with rebirth. An odd, but powerful combination to say the least. Give it a try."
"Alright," Scorpio murmured, standing tall and steady. The shop felt quiet, almost expectant. He gave the wand a small, tentative wave, unsure of what to expect.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sudden surge of energy, a gentle, grey flame erupted from the tip of the wand, swirling in the air before dissipating like a wisp of smoke. Scorpius blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected something so... ethereal.
"A perfect match," said Greg, who sounded a little bit disheartened. "It is the wand that chooses the wizard."
'Not in this case, I suppose." thought Scorpio, as his mom paid for the wand, a care kit, and a holster. Noting the silence, he asked," Mr. Ollivander, who was the last person to have this type of wand."
Greg sighed," It was a person before your time. I remember my father telling me about the time he took two feathers from the headmaster's phoenix. From one feather, he made a wand of Holly, 11 inches, and for the other, he used Yew. Both people were renowned, but one was a savior and the other was a dark lord. It seems that you are destined for greatness."
Scorpio stiffened, getting an inkling of what Greg was saying. "Wait, Voldemort's wand was made of yew?"
Astoria and Greg shuddered a bit when they heard that name. Despite Voldemort being dead for 22 years, the stigma had not faded from the older wizards who experienced the war.
"We are leaving now Scorpio!" said Astoria. She grabbed all the items and almost dragged Scorpio out of the shop. Before leaving the shop, Scorpio said, "Goodbye Mr.Ollivander. Thank you for the wand."
Greg did not say anything. He looked at one of the owls caged in his shop, and sighed, "I hope this means nothing."
As Scorpius and Astoria stepped out of Ollivanders, the world outside seemed a little bit darker. The weight of the wand in Scorpius's hand seemed to grow a few kilograms when he found out. He glanced over at his mother, who had a grim look on her face.
'Damn, what kind of Potterhead forgets that Voldemort's wand was made of Yew. Great, I'm just adding fuel to the fire now,' thought Scorpio. He regretted choosing Yew now. He could already feel the rumors of him being the son of Voldemort spread throughout Hogwarts in the future. Luckily, he didn't think that many people remembered what core and wood Voldemort's wand was.
"Mom, I'm not him," said Scorpio.
"You are nothing like him!" Astoria hugged Scorpio. They remained like that for a while. Then, Astoria went back to her usual mood.
"Ready for some ice cream?" she asked, her voice warm. Scorpius nodded enthusiastically, his excitement about his wand selection fading.
They made their way to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, where Draco was already waiting at a table outside. He looked up as they approached, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Well, I take it the wand selection went well?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow when they did not react the way he expected.
Scorpius shrugged "Let's just say it was a frightening experience!"
Draco frowned," What happened?"
Astoria was more cautious. "Let's talk after we go back."
Draco's gaze faltered at the unusually serious tone from his wife. "Was it bad? I trust you didn't make too much of a scene in there."
"Well..." Scorpius hesitated, "Maybe a little. The wand wasn't what I expected. But I guess it doesn't matter."
Draco sighed at the cryptic responses, "Come on, let's get something cool. It looks like you both need it."
They sat down at the table and indulged in their ice cream, with Scorpius nearly inhaling his entire cone in record time, his mind still swirling with thoughts of the game-like screen in his vision. 'Did someone make an RPG out of Hogwarts?' he asked himself.
The peaceful moment was interrupted when the shop's door swung open, letting in a cool breeze. A new family entered, and Scorpius's attention was immediately drawn to them. The woman leading the group had long, silvery-blonde hair that seemed almost otherworldly in its luster. Her large, round eyes sparkled with a dreamlike quality, and her loose, flowing dress gave her an ethereal presence that felt a little out of place among the bustling crowds of Diagon Alley.
At first, Scorpius didn't recognize her. The woman's face was familiar, but it took a few seconds for the realization to hit him: Luna Lovegood. The eccentric Ravenclaw student from his parents' generation, had always been known for her bizarre but endearing views of the world. What surprised him most was that she was accompanied by a man and two boys, none of whom he recognized.
The man walking beside her had dark hair and a rugged, weathered look, like someone who had spent a lot of time outdoors. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face a little rough around the edges. Scorpius couldn't place him right away, but something about his demeanor made him seem easygoing.
The two boys following behind them were younger than Scorpius. They had the same silvery-blonde hair as Luna, but their eyes were darker, and sharper, like their father. The twins glanced around the shop, clearly in awe of their surroundings.
Luna and the man exchanged a few words, and then the woman's eyes flicked across the room. They landed on Scorpius, and her gaze fixated on him. Scorpius wasn't sure if he should greet her or not. After all, he didn't know her. He glanced at his mother who was subtly avoiding eye contact with Luna. There was a palpable awkwardness in the air as the two families sized each other up from a distance.
It wasn't until a few moments passed, and Luna continued to glance over at him, that Scorpius felt the need to do something. But as he stood up to offer a greeting, he hesitated. He had no idea what to say. Should he mention Hogwarts? Or ask about her time after graduation? But he wasn't her age, so he couldn't greet her so casually. Luna's smile remained gentle, but she didn't approach him. Instead, she seemed content to let the silence linger between them.
Rolf Scamander, Luna's husband, was more preoccupied with the boys, giving them instructions to grab ice cream. The twins were already bustling about, though they occasionally glanced at Scorpius with curiosity. They didn't seem to recognize him either, and Scorpius wasn't sure if he should introduce himself or not. The whole situation felt oddly disconnected.
Luna and Rolf took a seat at a nearby table, the twins following them, and their awkwardness persisted. No one exchanged words—there was a clear sense that they were simply two families in the same place, not quite sure how to bridge the gap.
Scorpius continued to eat his ice cream, his thoughts drifting again. Why didn't I recognize her sooner? he wondered. It wasn't that Luna had changed all that much—she still had that same quirky aura about her, but the lack of familiarity with her life outside of Hogwarts was jarring. He hadn't known she'd gotten married, or that she had children.
He looked at his father, and almost dropped his ice cream. His father was fidgeting in his seat. His gaze was unfocused, looking everywhere except towards Luna's table. Growing up, Scorpius was kept out of most streams of information of the outside world, so he technically was only supposed to know that Draco was a former death eater who betrayed Voldemort, but accounting for his previous life knowledge, he knew the rift between Draco and Luna.
"How are you Scorpius?" Scorpio heard Luna ask him. Scorpio blinked. How did Luna know his name?
"I'm fine Miss…" Scorpius trailed off, unable to justify how he could know her name.
"Luna Scamander," she introduced herself.
"Scamander? Like Grindelwald Newt Scamander?" asked Scorpio.
"I hear someone talking about my grandfather." said the man. He had a laid-back mannerism to him. Scorpio couldn't help but feel relaxed around him.
"I had no idea," said Scorpio.
"These are my children," Luna continued, gesturing to the two twins who were now sitting beside them, eagerly digging into their ice cream. "These two," she said with a soft chuckle, "are Lysander and Lorcan. They will attend Ilvermorny in a few years"
Scorpius glanced at the young twins, who both had that distinctive, almost otherworldly look that Luna possessed. Lysander had his mother's large, dreamy eyes, while Lorcan seemed to have a sharper, more mischievous look about him. They both gave him polite, if slightly curious, smiles, but they didn't offer any introductions of their own.
"Ilvermorny, huh?" Scorpius muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He had heard of the school, of course. It was the American wizarding school, known for its strong connection to magical creatures. But hearing it mentioned in such a casual way, especially by Luna, made him feel oddly distant from this other part of the magical world.
"Does that mean you moved to America, Ms.Luna?" Scorpius said, trying to make conversation, "What's it like there?"
"I met Rolf when I was still living here, back after the war. He was one of the first people who truly understood my... quirks." She laughed quietly as if the memory brought her peace. "Rolf is very much in tune with the magical creatures of the world, and I suppose that's why we clicked. He doesn't mind my odd ways of thinking, and I've always admired his passion for discovering new species."
Rolf, who had been silently listening, grinned at his wife's words, his eyes twinkling with fondness. "I can't say I didn't find her interesting right away. Luna's perspective on the world was refreshing, and we both shared an understanding of how important magical creatures are. I think it was inevitable we'd end up together."
Luna nodded in agreement. "After we were married, we spent a lot of time traveling for Rolf's work. We spent some time in various parts of the world, studying magical creatures. Eventually, we settled in America when Rolf was offered a position at Ilvermorny to continue his research on magical creatures. It seemed like the perfect place for us. The school is so open to new ideas, and it's full of opportunities to explore."
"Sounds like you've had quite the adventure," Scorpius said, almost wistfully. "I've heard about Ilvermorny. It's so different from Hogwarts."
"I think I'm the perfect person to answer your doubts," interrupted Rolf.
"Did you study in Ilvermony Mr.Scamander?" asked Scorpius.
"I practically grew up in Ilvermony. It's nothing like Hogwarts. It's more... free-form. They teach us to think for ourselves. I mean, they still have classes and things, but there's a lot of wandering around in the forests and studying creatures and—"
"It's so free," said Luna. Rolf smiled. Scorpius looked at their marriage and felt like Luna truly married someone who could understand her. She deserved it after all the times people called her Loony.