Chapter Text
Leaving Madam Malkin's proved more difficult than entering it as Katie had scarcely stepped through the doorway before she found herself looking back through the window, where Pressea was already standing on another fitting stool while enchanted measuring tapes darted busily around her.
She caught Katie's eye through the glass and offered a small wave, Katie returned it before the crowd drifting along the cobbled street swallowed the shop from view.
By midday, the excitement of Diagon Alley had given way to tired feet and aching arms.
Professor Philza eventually steered them toward a small café tucked between two crowded shops, where the smell of fresh bread drifted out onto the street.
Lunch was simple, something similar to what they are back in the normal world only a little different. They had warm soup, thick slices of bread, and steaming tea for Professor Philza while Katie and Ash settled for pumpkin juice after eagerly insisting they wanted to ‘try the wizard drink.’
Ash immediately declared it tasted nothing like pumpkin while Katie wasn't entirely convinced it tasted like juice either.
By the time they finished eating, the bustle of Diagon Alley seemed even livelier than before. Families hurried between shops carrying parcels wrapped in brown paper, owls called from somewhere overhead, and distant laughter echoed through the winding street.
Professor Philza checked the list tucked inside his satchel, only two items remained, which would be the most important things a wizard would get when they start their journey to magic.
Philza folded the parchment and smiled, “Let’s go kiddos, we are going to buy you both a wand.“
The shop looked almost forgotten, it was nestled between two larger buildings, its faded wooden sign creaked softly above the entrance.
Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.
‘383 B.C? Before Jesus? Damn they are old.’
Katie slowed without meaning to because unlike every other shop in Diagon Alley, and weirdly no voices spilled through its windows. As in, no customers wandered in or out, even the display contained only a single wand resting upon a faded purple cushion beneath decades of dust.
Professor Philza pushed open the door.
A small silver bell chimed somewhere inside, common for shops like these. The air smelled faintly of old wood, old books, parchment, and something Katie couldn't quite place. She started to take in her surroundings and was amazed, thousands upon thousands of long, narrow boxes covered every wall from floor to ceiling, disappearing into shadows high above them.
‘There are so many!’
“Welcome, welcome.“ A voice seemed to come from everywhere at once.
But it didn't take Katie a moment to guess before a tall, elderly man stepped from between the towering shelves with surprising grace, wisps of silver hair framed a narrow face, and pale eyes regarded the children with a sharpness that made Katie feel like he had already learned everything about her before they even came here.
“Professor Philza.“
“Ollivander.“
Professor Philza inclined his head politely, “It has been some time.“
“So it has, last I remember you with a black haired boy in tow, around two years ago mayhaps.“
The wandmaker's attention settled first upon Katie. “Miss Bennett, wonderful to meet you.“
Katie blinked, “Why does everyone seem to already know my name even when I just met them.“
A faint smile appeared on the man’s face, “I know the names of every witch and wizard whose wand has yet to find them.“
He gestured toward a small stool, “If you would.“ He then turned to Ash who was just quietly observing them, as if he knew what the young boy was already thinking about.
“We will get to you later, as for now, watch your sister get her very first wand.“
While Ollivander talked to Ash, Katie climbed onto the small stool the old man offered her. Without warning, a measuring tape leapt from Mr. Ollivander's pocket and began circling her arms, shoulders, fingers, and height, scribbling measurements onto a floating scrap of parchment as it worked.
Katie watched it in fascination. ‘Just like in that clothing store!’
While Katie was being measured, Ollivander had already disappeared among the shelves, returning moments later carrying a slender box.
“Elm, dragon heartstring, eleven inches. Try it my child, see if it calls out to you.“
Katie took the wand but it remained stubbornly still.
“No.. Not that one.“ Ollivander commented as the wand vanished back into its box.
“How about this…Willow, unicorn hair.“
Nothing.
“Apple, dragon heartstring.“
Still nothing.
While Katie was getting worried, repeatedly glancing at Ash and Philza who was watching the whole scene, but Ollivander showed no sign of frustration, instead, his expression grew increasingly thoughtful.
“Hm...“ He wandered farther into the maze of shelves before returning with another box.
“This one has been waiting for its rightful owner for a while.“ He then lifted the lid.
“Hawthorn, dragon heartstring, eleven and a quarter inches.“
Katie admired it before wrapping her fingers around the smooth wood. The moment her skin contacted the wand, warmth spread immediately through her hand, it seemed like the wand almost seemed to pulse beneath her fingertips.
Without thinking, she raised it and a ribbon of silver green sparks spiralled upward, circling lazily around her wrist before dissolving into the air like mist.
Mr. Ollivander's eyes brightened, “There you are, both of you found your match.“
“Both of us?”
“Yes, you and your wand. What do you feel?”
Katie stared at the wand, “It feels as though it belongs to me, all this time, like something I had lost.“ she said absentmindedly, taking in the surreal feelings of having a wand in her hands, and forming a connection with it.
Mr. Ollivander gently took the wand back for one final inspection, “Hawthorn is a curious wood,“ he said quietly.
“Its masters are often people of contradiction, people capable of great compassion, yet equally capable of walking darker roads should life lead them there. It does not choose simple people.“
Katie listened carefully, amazed and equally interested, “What about the dragon heartstring, Sir?“
“The most powerful of the three supreme wand cores.“ His pale eyes met hers, “Capable of producing brilliant magic though it has never been known for restraint.“
‘Whatever that means.’ Katie shrugged in her mind, all she heard was that it was powerful.
He placed the wand carefully back into her hands, “I suspect the two of you shall understand one another very well.“
Katie smiled, she wasn't entirely certain why, but hearing the wandmaker say that filled her with quiet confidence.
Ash stepped forward next and Ollivander regarded him for much longer, much much longer than Katie. His gaze then lingered, almost imperceptibly upon the pale scar partly hidden beneath Ash's hair, though he asked no questions.
Instead, he disappeared into the shelves and brought out the first want, which expectedly did not reach success for Ash.
They tried the second time with another wand, unsurprisingly nothing happened again, just like how Katie didn't get it in the second try either.
“Am I broken?“ he whispered, his voice strained and insecure after they have tried six wands now, and the young boy is growing concerned.
Hearing this, Professor Philza chuckled softly. “Silly Ash, I can assure you, you're not. Just keep trying, your wand will find its way to you.“
Ollivander nodded before he continued searching. Unlike Katie, whose wand had revealed itself after only a handful of attempts, Ash seemed to reject every wand placed into his hand, and every attempt Ash looked as though he was on the verge of crying.
After twelve tries finally the wandmaker climbed a small ladder near the very back of the shop and retrieved a dusty box from the highest shelf.
He descended slowly while muttering, “Interesting.“
“Yew, twelve and three-quarter inches…. Phoenix feather.“
Ash accepted it carefully.
Nothing happened for a few minutes until-
“...!“
Every candle inside the shop suddenly burned brighter, the dust resting upon the highest shelves stirred gently despite the still air. The countless wand boxes trembled almost imperceptibly before settling once again into perfect silence. Katie held onto Philza’s robes, thinking it was an earthquake of sorts.
Ash looked up, startled, “Was that me?“
Mr. Ollivander never took his eyes off him, the old wandmaker spoke almost to himself.
“Yew is often found in the hands of remarkable witches and wizards. It is a wood of immense strength, but one that demands conviction from its master.“
He glanced toward the phoenix feather core, “And the phoenix chooses only when there is extraordinary potential.“
Professor Philza folded his arms, “A demanding wand.“
“A demanding wizard,“ Ollivander corrected.
Ash looked down at the wand resting across his palms, grasping it at first before holding it with surprising gentleness. And for the first time all afternoon, the old wandmaker smiled.
“The wand chooses the wizard.“
He closed the empty boxes scattered across the counter, “And I daresay these two have made their choices.“
The bright afternoon sunlight felt different after leaving Ollivanders, but Katie couldn't really explain why she felt this way, she could only look in Ash’s direction with a complicated look.
She caught herself resting a hand against the box several times as they walked, and Ash was doing exactly the same. Their final stop in Diagon Alley sat beneath a painted wooden sign depicting an owl in flight.
The Magical Menagerie.
It was louder than any shop Katie had entered that day, at least from what she recalls. The moment Philza pushed open the door, a chorus of different animal sounds greeted them.
The air carried the smell of fresh straw, polished wood, and animal feed. All the while the golden afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows, reflecting to the enormous wooden perches where dozens of owls rested. Cats slept on top of shelves as though they owned the place, while cages lined the walls housing creatures Katie had never imagined could exist.
Ash was already craning his neck toward every corner of the room, it was just that cool. Unlike Ollivanders, this shop felt alive in every possible sense.
An elderly witch behind the counter looked up from polishing a bird cage.
“Ah! Little children, probably no more younger than twelve. What do you need?“
“Two owls please. Ah, and yes, first years.“ Philza replied.
“First years! Wonderful, then let them take their time. Choosing a companion needs careful consideration.“ The witch smiled.
Philza nodded toward the rows of towering owl perches, “Go on, children. Find what you like, let's see if they would suit you.“
Ash needed no further encouragement because within seconds he had wandered toward the far end of the shop, where several of the larger owls perched beneath the exposed ceiling beams.
Professor Philza followed after him at an easy pace while Katie remained behind. The shop bustled with customers but separated from Ash by rows of cages and shelves, their voices quickly disappeared beneath the constant sounds of the animals.
Katie moved slowly between the owl stands, looking at how some birds watched her curiously, and how the others ignored her entirely.
She smiled politely at a small brown owl whose eyes never seemed to blink.
“Hello.“
The owl responded by turning its head almost upside down.
Katie giggled at this.
Further inside the shop, she caught occasional glimpses of Ash, her younger brother appeared to be enthusiastically introducing himself to nearly every creature he passed.
‘Pfft, he looks ridiculous.’
Professor Philza looked as though he had already accepted that they would not be leaving quickly, he chuckled to himself while he made sure that the two children didn't leave his field of vision.
Meanwhile Ash was beginning to suspect the animals were judging him, one cat looked away the instant he approached, and an owl stretched its wings before deliberately hopping farther down its perch.
“Do they not like me? Is it because of my face?“
Professor Philza folded his arms, “Animals can't judge your appearance, Ash. If they don't like you, it's either preference or something else.“
“They're avoiding me.“
“I wouldn't be so sure.“
Ash sighed helplessly, “But no one is choosing me… What should I do?“
Before Philza could answer, a large tawny owl glided soundlessly from one of the highest beams and landed directly atop Ash's head.
Ash froze.
“Professor.“
“Yes?“
“There's an owl on me.“
“Well… I can see that.“
“Can you-“ The owl hopped neatly from his head onto his shoulder before Ash finished speaking, its bright amber eyes studying him for several long seconds.
Ash smiled awkwardly, “Hello there, do you like me?“
The bird leaned forward and instead of pecking him, it gently nudged its beak against the side of his face. Ash instinctively turned away, exposing the side marked by the old scar yet the owl simply nestled comfortably against him, entirely unconcerned by it.
Slowly, almost cautiously, he reached up and scratched beneath its beak. “Guess you're coming with me.“
Professor Philza smiled. “I think that decision was made before you had a chance to object.“
Ash giggled, “But what should I call you?“ He talked to the owl.
The owl stared back patiently.
“Son.“
Philza raised an eyebrow, “Son?“
Ash nodded confidently, “It fits him.“
Philza glanced at the owl in amusement, “Does it? It seems to be a girl, wouldn't it be more fitting to call her ‘Daughter’?“
Ash turned to look at the owl, taking a few seconds to think about a solution, “Then she will be an owl named Son. What do you think, do you like it?“ he asked, and the owl gave a soft approving hoot in response.
Elsewhere in the shop, Katie was on the other side of the owl section, while browsing, one specific perch near the back caught her attention.
Perched quietly upon it sat a snowy owl with soft grey markings scattered delicately across its wings, unlike the louder birds nearby, it remained perfectly still.
Its pale eyes met Katie's.
Katie took a slow step forward, fascinated, “Do you want me to be your mama?”
The bird tilted its head, seeing as the owl made no visible cue of discomfort or distress when it saw Katie, she extended a hand carefully and started to pet it.
But before she could pet it again, another hand suddenly lifted the owl from its perch.
“Oh wow- Just take it from me, fuck me I guess.“ Katie mumbled almost immediately.
A boy, perhaps her age, had approached from the opposite side without either of them noticing. He cradled the owl with practiced ease before turning toward an older man standing nearby.
“I think It was this one, she's perfect.“
His voice carried an easy warmth, cheerful without being loud, while the older man beside him wasn't dressed like a parent, he looked more like a butler. He wore immaculate black robes trimmed with silver embroidery and stood with his hands folded behind his back, watching the boy with quiet attentiveness.
“Very well, young master. Although I don't see the reason to specifically head here to buy an owl, we could've had it imported.“
The servant accepted the owl with both hands as though handling something priceless, only then did the boy reply to Katie standing beside the perch.
“I'm sorry? Were you about to pick that one?“
His expression shifted almost instantly, he glanced toward the now empty perch before looking back at her.
Katie didn't know whether to still feel offended or to just let it go, “Maybe, but it's totally fine. Not that I wanted it or anything.“
His smile became sheepish, eyes turning apologetic, he then rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry man, I should've checked first, I wasn't paying that much attention.“
“It's okay.“ Katie answered quickly, “There are plenty of others.“
She smiled politely, though she couldn't quite hide the disappointment and annoyance in her voice, the boy seemed genuinely sorry though, but it's clear that he wouldn't be giving up the owl to her either way.
“I'm Roier.“
Katie blinked, “Oh, then I guess I'm Katie.“
“It's nice to meet you, sorry again for taking the owl, but I've already reserved it a week prior. The early bird takes the worm, hope you understand, no hard feelings alright?“
Roier was undeniably friendly according to his mannerism and cadence, though Katie noticed his clothes before anything else, and an unexplainable emotion swelled in her chest.
His travelling robes were impeccably tailored, stitched from deep red fabric far finer than anything she had ever touched. A silver clasp fastened his cloak neatly around his shoulders with a spider-like family crest just around his left chest, its design subtle but unmistakably expensive, just like Pressea. Even his boots looked freshly polished despite the cobbled streets outside, he didn't even look like he belonged in this small shop.
‘Damn rich kid.’
Yet nothing about him felt boastful, only that he was accustomed to quality. This made Katie suddenly become aware of the sleeves of her own clothes, although they were clean and well mended, she couldn't deny that they were undeniably ordinary.
The servant carefully transferred the owl into an ornate travelling cage and Roier thanked him with a familiar ease that suggested this happened often.
He turned to Katie and asked, “You're starting Hogwarts too?“
Katie nodded. “First year, I'll be going soon.“
“That's great! Don't we kind of look alike?“ Roier laughed. “I wouldn't be surprised if you were my cousin. Can I ask what family you're from?“
The question was so casual that he clearly hadn't meant anything by it, but the comment was so random, she was convinced that it was only brought up so he could ask her family name.
‘If not, then this kid seriously needs to get his eyes checked.’
Katie remembered Pressea's words and it drifted quietly back into her thoughts.
‘My family has always been in Slytherin.’
‘Families like mine’
Pressea’s voice echoed in her mind, Katie thought long and hard about the context of the french girl’s words.
Katie soon recognized only from a few interactions that in the wizarding world, the family name is probably important enough to be asked about every time she meets someone new.
For the first time all day, Katie didn't answer immediately, yet she gave a smug smile instead.
“The Bennetts, I don't think you've heard of it but our family is kind of relevant.. It would be embarrassing if you haven't.“
Katie gave a bold-faced lie without even breaking a sweat and Roier nodded as though that answered everything.
“Y'know my parents keep telling me I'll meet loads of people from old families. But man, I don't think I'll remember half the names.“ He laughed softly, clueless about whether or not what Katie said was the truth.
Katie laughed politely, though it sounded fake.
Neither of them noticed the older servant watching the conversation with mild curiosity, and from somewhere farther inside the shop came another familiar voice.
“Young master.“
A witch dressed in elegant navy robes approached them, carrying a stack of neatly wrapped parcels.
“The remaining purchases have been prepared.“
Roier sighed dramatically. “Aw man, I suppose that's everything, I would've wanted to talk more.“
He offered one last smile to Katie, “Maybe we'll see each other at Hogwarts.“
“Hopefully not.“ She said underneath her breath.
“What was that?“
“Nothing. See you soon.“
“See you soon Katie! Nice knowing you.“
With that, he turned and followed the adults waiting for him while the servant carrying the owl walked a respectful pace behind.
‘I hope I don't see that guy again, I just lied to his face and he didn't even know it.’
A soft rustle interrupted her thoughts.
She turned and another owl had descended silently from a higher perch. Unlike the first owl which Roier just took, this one was colored charcoal and walked confidently across the wooden rail until it stood directly beside her.
Katie smiled, “Hello, you wouldn't get stolen from me too, would you?“ she asked, clearly still a bit disturbed by what happened earlier with her first owl. At the same time, she was bracing herself for rejection but the owl remained where it was.
‘It's like it had already decided I'm going to be its mommy.’ Katie cheered in her thoughts as she immediately got attached to her new companion.
Professor Philza found her several minutes later, gently stroking the owl's black feathers.
“I take it she's made her choice.“
Katie nodded, “I think she has, I love her already.“
“And what will you call her?“
Katie looked into the owl's pale, watchful eyes, “how about Rylee? Hmm? Do you like that name?“
The owl gave a soft, contented hoot and Professor Philza smiled.
“I'd say she approves.“
By the time they stepped back into Diagon Alley, the afternoon sun had begun its slow descent across the rooftops.
Katie carried Rylee's cage carefully in one hand, while Ash walked beside her with Son perched comfortably inside his own travelling cage, the owl occasionally rotating its head to observe passing witches and wizards with solemn curiosity.
Professor Philza led them toward the far end of the street, where the crowds had begun to thin.
For the first time since arriving, none of them were in any particular hurry since they practically had everything required for their first year at Hogwarts.
Philza finally stopped beside a quieter corner of the street, he smiled gently, “We should be going, don't be too sad, you guys can visit again when you have time.“
Katie took one last look down the bustling street before following him, the wizarding world did not begin and end with Diagon alley.
As evening approached, Professor Philza led them through the leaky cauldron once more and back into London's ordinary streets. The change was almost startling, she saw how horse drawn deliveries rattled along the road with people hurrying past carrying shopping bags, paying no attention to the magical street hidden only a few steps behind them.
It felt impossible that two entirely different worlds could exist side by side.
Philza led them only a short distance before stopping outside a modest brick inn.
“I've arranged rooms for us here. We'll spend the night, and tomorrow morning I'll show you King's Cross Station.“ Philza says as he opens the inn's front door.
Katie looked once over her shoulder, and she saw how the entrance to the leaky cauldron was already disappearing into the ordinary rhythm of London.