"One for you, Wand for me"

She ran down the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.

Serenity had found herself in the unusual predicament of being dragged by her hyperactive sister. As owls flew over their heads and rats scurried away from cats- closely followed by their bickering owners- Serenity was muttering constant apologies to everyone she accidentally ran into. Behind the two girls, was Christian Rier. He was doing his best to keep up with them despite the bag in his hand barging against every other witch or wizard.

"Girls! Don't run off!" It was too late, however, as a large crowd exited Flourish and Blotts blocking his view. Huffing, he spun around on the spot in an attempt to get a better view, uttering an apology as he steadied a young boy he'd accidentally hit with his bag. "I am so sorry!" He rushed, attempted to aid the boy while his mother continuously scowled and pushed him away. "Sorry!" He called after them, sighing as they proceeded to walk away.

"Chris?" Spinning at the sound of his name, he wondered if there was another Chris around... or perhaps he was finally losing his mind. "Chris'chun Rier!" Snapping his head around so fast he was sure he'd give himself whiplash, Christian recognised to tall, hairy half-giant called Hagrid. Smiling, Christian pushed his way to the side of the crowd trying to look around for his daughters. "Yer look lost, Chris." Nodding absentmindedly, he continues to stand on his toes.

"I don't suppose you can see my girls, can you? Both brunette, one dragging the other?"

"'Citable?" Christian nods enthusiastically causing Hagrid to laugh jovially. "Yeah! They're 'eaded into Ollivander's." Laughing slightly, he finally looks up at the half-giant. Frowning, he motions to his chin.

"You shaved?" Hagrid rubs his bare chin with a nod.

"Fel' like I was competin' with Dumbledore yer know?" With an 'ah', Christian nods and they begin walking through the crowd.

Like magic, the sea of people parted for the large man.

"So what are you up to now, Rubeus? We've been out of Hogwarts for twenty years now and I know you must have struggled when you were expelled." Hagrid nods and smiles kindly.

"Dumbledore took me on as Game Keeper fer 'ogwarts. He's a good man, Dumbledore." Christian nodded in agreement.

"And a great wizard too." With a happy laugh, the two men stop outside Ollivanders.

"And wha' about you? What are yer up to these days?" Pocketing his hands as well as he could with a bag on his wrist, Christian rocked on his heels and looked through the window at the two girls marvelling at the wands as the wandmaker smiled from behind the counter.

"I'm a full-time dad and also a Wizengamot official." With a wry smile, he scratches the back of his neck and waves through the window as the girls noticed him and made their way outside. The two of them skipped up to him and he threw his free arm around Serenity's shoulders. "Girls, this is an old school friend of mine, Rubeus Hagrid. This is Serenity, she's off to Hogwarts this year." Offering the large man a small smile, Serenity nods trying to hide her slight intimidation.

"Ye'll love it!" The man bellowed, causing her to flinch slightly, whereas Merritt just grinned and bounced up to Hagrid, tugging at his long shaggy coat. "'Ello!"

"Hi! I'm Merritt and I'm going to Hogwarts next year." Hagrid smiled and looked between the girls.

"Both of yer will love it, I'm sure!"

"Oh, I know I will!" Merritt chirped. "Auntie Irene told me so many stories and I can't wait to go. Is the Whomping Willow still there? I want to see it! Our cousins Erin and Dexter will be coming too. Dexter only just, though because his birthday's really late. But the twins- their names are Cormac and Winston- won't be at Hogwarts for another three years! They're so little, it's adorable. They can control things really well because their hands are really small and they can't pick anything up; that's because their dad was a really mean man-"

"Merritt." Clasping his hands on her shoulders, Christian bows down to her height and shakes his head. "Calm down, Auntie Dara and the boys might want to tell that story themselves, okay?" Smiling sheepishly, Merritt looks up at Hagrid.

"Sorry, Grandad says I'm too excitable sometimes." Hagrid smiles broadly.

"It's alrigh', Merritt. I can' wait teh see yer choosin' ceremonies girls, but I suppose yer want teh get yer shoppin' done." Nodding, Serenity grasps Merritt's arm and pulls her closer to the wand shop.

"It was nice to meet you, Mr Hagrid," as the girls walked back into the shop whispering between themselves. Christian moves to hurry after them but catches himself, smiling up at Hagrid.

"It was good seeing you again, Rubeus, take care, okay?"

"You too, Chris!" And with that, the two men turned and split ways.

▪~○••○~▪

Ollivander's Wand shop was exactly how Christian remembered it was back when he accompanied Dara before her first year. The walls were stacked with wands and miscellaneous decorations in the emptier spaces, behind the counter the ever-ageing yet the forever-energetic man was smiling over the counter, the background decked with rows upon rows of wands.

"While you were chatting with your pal, Christian Rier, your daughter and I have had the most fascinating discussion; and based on that discussion my better judgement is telling me that I have found the perfect wand for you, Serenity Rier." He directed his final words to the girl who now seemed more so excited. Carefully removing the wand from its box, Mr Ollivander leant over the counter with a smile. "Laurelwood," he began as he turned the wand over in his hands, "intolerable to laziness and cannot perform a dishonourable act." The look he gave her over the brim of his glasses was one that clearly reassured her that he did not expect any such acts from her and, somehow, the man's glance comforted her and reassured her already sure mind. "Phoenix feather core," he continued, returning his gaze to the wand in utter awe, "extremely rare and picky. Just like the animal it comes from, it is independent and has the most initiative than most cores- alike to its other counterparts, unicorn hair and dragon heartstring, it is capable of the greatest range of magic... though it takes an immense amount of concentration and hard work." With each word that fell from his mouth, the girls were ensnared in complete awe as they stared at the wand, its tip bent ever-so-slightly and an acorn patterned wrapping bulged around its base, "ten inches and three quarters in length... slightly yielding flexibility... I believe it will serve you well." After demonstrating its slight flexibility, he turned the handle of the wand out to the eleven-year-old.

Suddenly, Serenity wasn't so excited. Irene had told her stories of wands that rejected their potential owners so hard the witch/wizard was hospitalized in St Mungos. With those stories fresh in her mind, it took some urging by her sister and the wandmaker for her to accept the wand.

Wrapping her hand around the handle, she immediately felt a quiver ripple down her arm and throughout her body. Her breath caught in her throat as she stumbled backwards, each step resonating loudly as the room warped and hollowed out. Suddenly, she was alone.

Dropping her hand to her side she spun around. Despite the blackness shrouding her, there was still a usual glow that mimicked the wand shop as though a curtain had been dropped around her.

"Hello?" She called out, in her hand, the wand vibrated and illuminated. Raising it in wonderment, the light flowed from its tip and surrounded her.

"You don't need me." A voice said, sounding barren of any emotion or tone if that was even possible. Every syllable was blunt, broken, out of place and it was painstakingly obvious that it was not a voice she should be able to hear.

"No," she breathed out in disbelief, knowing that it was the wand speaking to her, "I don't."

"So, why are we here?" Looking around, Serenity's initial thoughts were 'you brought me here', but she didn't want to be rude to the wand. It had done nothing to her. So, as she looked back at it, she pinched her lips.

"You're a requirement to my family and Hogwarts."

"What am I to you?" She felt extremely uncomfortable in the situation she was in. Where was she? She could see the wand shop, but it was all much larger and in such a haze she could hardly make anything out. Was she dying? Was the wand deciding whether or not to kill her?

"You're a necessity that I would be honoured to learn to use. Just as a witch should." There was a break and the area was silent. Had she said something wrong?

"You're very unique."

"I know." She takes a deep breath. "I don't want to be."

"Why?" Were her ears deceiving her? Or had she really heard the tiny shred of curiosity in the wand's voice?

"Because," she sighed, closing her eyes, "my future was mapped out for me from the day I was conceived. Learn to wield wandless magic before Hogwarts, graduate Hogwarts, become a ministry official and uphold the family traditions and reputation."

"What are you going to do about that?" Opening her eyes, she watches as the light dims with a small smile.

"I'm going to change it." She didn't receive a response, she only found herself sitting up from where she had been lying on the ground. As Christian and Mr Ollivander helped her to her feet, Merritt watched curiously. Looking around as her head spun, she smiled up at the two men. "I spoke to the wand." Stepping back in shock, Ollivander looks from her to the wand in her hand.

"How peculiar..." He began as he wandered away from them and into the back of the shop.

Christian bowed down beside her as she steadied herself.

"Are you okay?" She nodded with a grin.

"I'm perfect, Dad, just absolutely perfect." Merritt watched her with her top lip lifted oddly.

"She's gone cooky, Dad, completely bonkers." Throwing a questioning look over to his youngest, he hadn't noticed Serenity move around the back of him and cup her sister's cheek.

"You young people and your crazy lingo." Merritt scowled and pointed to her sister.

"B-O-N-K-E-R-S I tell you. Bonkers."

"No! Not bonkers. She's just recovering." Ollivander ran back around to them. "Her subconscious travelled into the wand, there's only been a few witches and wizards who could do that. All Pureblood and all extremely powerful, however, they only ever did it on command after they mastered wandless magic at an older age. The last recorded instance was Albus Dumbledore only a few months ago." Looking up to Serenity in awe, he grasps her free hand and shakes it, adoration evident on his face. "It was a pleasure to meet you Serenity Rier, an absolute pleasure. I can't wait to see the kind of magnificent work you do in your future. That wand will serve you well!" Carefully pulling away from the man, Serenity turns to her dad as her mind now unscrambles and she can focus clearly. Staring down at the wand in her hand, she moves away from the group as she began to feel short of breath and looks around in befuddlement.

"I'm so confused." She breathes out around a deep breath.