the_debt_of_time

"Dorea Black," Mr Ollivander said with a tone of fond nostalgia. "Ten and a half
inches. Cherrywood, pliable, dragon heartstring core."
Dorea chuckled. "It's Dorea Potter now. My children are going to Hogwarts this year
and are in need of wands."
Mr Ollivander grinned. "Always happy to provide wands to new Potters. Charlus's
wand is eleven inches, walnut, supple with the core of a unicorn hair, is it not?"
"You know it is, you great show off," Dorea said in amusement. "James, you first."
"Hold out your arm. That's it." Mr Ollivander measured James from shoulder to
finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and around his head. As he
measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr
Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No
two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are
quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's
wand."
Mia blinked, wondering if her original wand was somewhere in the shop, waiting to
choose her, or if perhaps she would end up with something different and the beautiful
vinewood wand would sit on a shelf and wait.
After only three tries, James eagerly reached for an eleven-inch mahogany wand
with a unicorn hair core as Mr Ollivander held it out to him. His eyes lit up, and he let out
a breath. "This.. ." he whispered, "this feels... good." He grinned and swished the wand
which immediately sparked red and gold.
"Ah, wonderful, wonderful," Mr Ollivander exclaimed. "This has very consistent
magic. Good for transfiguration. Now, the young lady?" He looked to Mia, who
immediately approached the counter to be measured like her brother had been.
The wandmaker turned to the shelves and pulled out three boxes for her to try. The
first was a brittle ash wand with the core of a unicorn hair, but it did not touch her fingers
for longer than three seconds before he shook his head and removed it from her grip.
"Ah, here." He pulled a familiar-looking wand from a box, and Mia's eyes widened.
No, no, absolutely not!
"Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."