Wand Musings

[Kurtis Dowey]

Kurtis was a Ravenclaw which was something of a surprise for him. Not something he had expected really, but he supposed he could be happy with the hat's decision. Anyway, it was not like he had specifically begged to be put in one certain house, any of them were up for grabs and surprisingly the hat and picked out Ravenclaw as a good fit. Maybe it was just proof to him that he was smarter than he thought he was, but for now Kurtis didn't really believe it all that much as he found himself sitting in the students lounge slumped over one of the tables staring at the wand in front of him. It was his wand and yet somehow he didn't feel very comfortable with it in his hand which was never going to be a good thing.

Right about then, Kurt was too uncomfortable to even touch the Ebony wood. While it was pretty and black and seemed to almost be shiny, it was the core which was worrying him a little. Belladonna was supposed to be deadly and yet the shopkeeper person had said there was essence of it in his wand. That could hardly be safe, could it? Maybe he would need to do a little asking around. Head turning a little he looked at the other people in the room with him before he caught sight of someone walking behind him. Well, there was no time like the present. "Excuse me, can I just ask what wand core you have?"

 

[Niamh Macmillan]

Niamh wasn't very surprised at being sorted into Hufflepuff. Most of her family were Hufflepuffs including her sister, who was practically squealing at the ceremony because of it. Niamh was pretty happy too, knowing that she could just lounge around in the Common Room after the stress of classes with her big sister, and talk about their day. Speaking of stressful classes, Niamh was one that liked to be more familiar with new places. She decided to take her own little tour of the corridors before the House meeting her sister told her about. Since the Hufflepuffs were in the Fourth Corridor, she was going to look around there first. She started at the Library.

The Library was a lovely sight to her. Huge shelves stacked with books filled with magical information just waiting to be read. She stayed long enough to scan a few books and even check a few out to read later, and where better to read them than the Student Lounge. A place where students can relax and study together. Although, she wouldn't be studying, just relaxing with a good book. So, She left the Library in pursuit of the Lounge. Once through the doors, she could already feel a sense of relaxation. The fireplace was softly crackling, students were playing games, and even a few were sleeping.

Niamh looked for a place to sit, but as she walked, a boy sitting at a table interrupted her, and asked what wand core she had. "Uh, unicorn hair..." she said in an unusually quiet voice, hoping that he heard her. It was an odd question to ask a stranger. Niamh wanted to walk away so she could read one of her new books, but her curiosity got the best of her, "...w-why do you ask?"

 

[Kurtis Dowey]

The person in the shop had said that the wand chose the wizard so there had to be some kind of reason why this particular wand had picked him out of the hundreds of other people venturing into buy their own wands. Really it was all still just some mystery wrapped in an enigma to him, he would probably never understand how a piece of wood could pick out a certain person and decided it connected with them better than anyone else. Kurtis would almost go as far as saying that it was all just a trick and that couldn't possibly be true in any way, shape or means. Wands picking out wizards, how rubbish, though it did make everything feel just a little more magical and he was in a magical school so he had to suppose that anything could happen. Maybe there was some meaning and practice behind it all, it was just a subject for him to look further into when he got older, for now he would just settle with the idea in his head that there was something fishy about it all.

Chewing on his bottom lip a little, the Ravenclaw boy looked between his fourteen and a half inch ebony wand to the girl he had asked his question to. Still after years of being awkward around people it seemed that it was something which was no likely to stop no matter how much his parents wanted otherwise. But she had answered his question which was good enough for him, but she had also come back with a question of her own and this did trouble him somewhat. Brow furrowed he thought about it for awhile before she shrugged his shoulders. "I was just wondering really. Because my wand has Belladonna in it and that could hardly be safe..." Maybe he really was just worrying about nothing, but it was in his nature to worry until the fact was settled soundly in his head and by the looks of things that could be some time.

 

[Niamh Macmillan]

Niamh very much liked her magic wand. A 10 1/2 inch, knotted, rosewood wand, with a unicorn hair core to power it. She could hardly believe that it was this particular wand that chose her at the shop. Rosewood was usually attracted to beautiful people, but Niamh wouldn't exactly call herself beautiful. Average, maybe, but never beautiful. The core itself definitely went with the wood. Although Niamh had never seen the creature, she knew unicorns were beautiful. One thing she didn't know was, well first of all that they were real, and second is that they had healing powers. She learned that from the shopkeep at Ollivanders. A wand with a unicorn hair core had healing properties within it's magic and performed healing spells without fault. Maybe when she was older Niamh could become a healer of sorts.

Standing there, books in hand, the boy seemed to struggle with her question. He just shrugged and said he was just wondering since his wandcore had Belladonna, thinking it wasn't safe. Niamh believed he had nothing to worry about. If it was dangerous, why would they be selling it? Not to mention that Belladonna was completely harmless as long as it didn't end up in someone's system. But she knew that from her plant guides back home. This boy probably didn't know that. "Well, um, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It's not exposed to you in anyway," she said with a reassuring smile, "so I think it's safe."

 

[Kurtis Dowey]

His young brow knotted together a little as he reached out to roll the smooth black wood under one finger, tilting his head a little to the side as he tried to work things about. Kurtis still didn't know why the wand had picked him, he still wasn't sure if he believed the whole thing about wands choosing wizards instead of the other way round. All in all, he didn't really trust his wand all that much, there was something fishy about it, but he seemed to be the only one worrying about it which did lead him to believe that maybe there was just nothing wrong. It was normal for wands to be picking out wizards they preferred to be with rather than anyone else and it was also normal for essences of poisonous plants to be used to power the wand as well. Still all seemed a little weird though.

Sitting back he folded his arms across his chest a little before his eyes slid over to the girl who was still standing there looking at him. Kurtis had not expected her to hang around after he had asked the question and yet she was still there and that was not helping the boy with his awkwardness after all. People, he had never been very good and talking to people and now he was expected to hold some kind of conversation with someone. "I still don't trust it" he responded firmly with a nod of his head, uncurling his arms to brush back his brown hair. "Like, what if it breaks or something. Then anything could happen."

 

[Esme Lancaster]

Returning to school for her third year so soon was more than a little disappointing for Esme. The holidays had flown by in such a small amount of time and with her taking up a job working the Ollivanders branch in Obsidian Harbor, she'd seen very little of her family. Her brother Emmett especially she'd been apart from for too long, the older wizard attending school in Durmstrang. He'd been a little jealous to hear of her new employment, as out of the two of them it was he who was studying Wandlore, taking an intense interest in recent years. If it hadn't been for him slowly teaching her about it on occasion, and mentioning random facts in their owls, she probably wouldn't have been accepted in the first place.

Now, sitting in the Student Lounge, Esme lay comfortably across a plump couch, a blue speckled quill in one hand and a roll of parchment in the other. She was in the middle of writing up a letter to her sibling, a thank you of sorts for his help during the holidays, when she overheard the voice of a nearby firstie, adorned in a Ravenclaw uniform. The mention of a wand core piqued her interest, so the Slytherin let a portion of her attention drift to the exchange between the Ravenclaw and another first year, Hufflepuff by the looks of it. She had to bite back a scoff when it came to the boys fear of his wand, as if the deadly flora inside would just spontaneously break free and poison him. His distrust for the dark stick was a perfect echo of the core, from memory.

After a minute of listening to the two of them, and growing slightly annoyed at the Ravenclaw's irrational fears of a piece of wood, Esme piped up. "Well, if we're lucky, it might kill you if it breaks. Then we won't have to suffer through you talking about it any more." The Slytherin commented quite loudly, not moving from her position on the seat. She continued to write across her parchment, as if disinterested. Her eyes however, briefly flickered across to the eleven year olds.

 

[Niamh Macmillan]

Niamh could see that the boy was still unconvinced that his wand was harmless. So, she wasn't surprised that he turned to her to say he still didn't trust it. Then proceeded to ask what if the wand broke. Niamh didn't even know these wands could break, let alone what would happen. That question really stumped her, but she still had to put the boy's worries at ease. Niamh started to say something but was cutoff by a girl a little ways from where they were in the Lounge. The comment was a bit rude for this older girl to be making. Seeing that she was older, she should be helping the boy with his problem not worsening it. The girl even had the the nerve to keep going about her business as if she had said nothing at all! Niamh made a face of disbelief.

Angry as she was, Niamh was too scared to walk up and confront the older student. Firstly because she hated conflict. Especially now in a new setting, she didn't want to make any enemies. Secondly, this girl was a Slytherin, according to her school uniform. It would be considered unwise to pick a fight with them. Yet Niamh had to say something..."There's no need to be rude..." she practically forced out. Niamh was quiet, but loud enough to be heard by the girl.

 

[Kurtis Dowey]

He couldn't help but be nervous and question everything, Kurtis had always been like that about everything and that wasn't very likely to change. It was just who he was, might be annoying to some people to try and answer all of his questions or to actually explain what would happen and there was actually nothing to get all nervous about, but that wouldn't stop him from acting different really. It was why he wasn't really expecting much in the friends area of things, he was probably just going to end up being alone most of the time, no one to talk to or hang out with, but it had been like that for a long time and in the end he didn't care. If only he just had Caspar the dog at school with him, then he would never be lonely.

Then one of the older students decided to butt in just for some stupid remark before going back to whatever she was doing. Kurtis scowled a little, turning his head to look over his shoulder at the Slytherin as he tried to think of something to say. "Well no one's asking you to listen in," he decided to go with after a moment, chewing on his bottom lip just a little as he looked at the older girl. "S'not like we're talking that loud or anything..."

 

[Esme Lancaster]

Esme's gaze slowly returned to the two first years, the Slytherin girls expression one of pure judgement as she glowered from under her lashes, first at the bumbling Hufflepuff and then to the Ravenclaw, smirking at his slightly delayed response. Could he be any more lame. She thought with a roll of her eyes, though the way the boy chewed on his lip, almost nervously, brought a smile to her lips. It was quite pathetically cute really, and she realised how intimidated they seemed to be by her after one comment. Poor firsties.

With a dramatic sigh the Slytherin girl sat up from her comfortable position on the couch and propped herself on to one shoulder. She smiled at the two, though nothing about it conveyed a hint of friendliness. "It's hard not to be distracted by your stupid ramblings over a wand. I'd tell you that it's unlikely that it'll ever break, but with you as it's owner, I wouldn't be surprised if it snapped itself in half." she deadpanned, looking at the Ravenclaw with an expression that suggested she wouldn't actually be surprised if that scenario came to pass.

 

[Niamh Macmillan]

Niamh noted the Ravenclaw's scowl at the older girl. His comeback back to her was a lot better than Niamh's pathetic 'you were rude' comeback, even if it was a bit delayed. He made a good point too. They weren't being very loud at all and her listening in was her mistake. She could've ignored them or move somewhere quieter, but instead she decided to pick a fight. Well, not a fight per say, but an argument only, hopefully. Niamh did not want to get caught up in a fight, first day of school. But when she saw the Slytherin turn back to gaze at them, Niamh accidentally made eye contact, seeing nothing but pure judgement in her expression. Quickly, Niamh averted her eyes and looked to the floor.

When she looked back up, the Slytherin girl was smiling at the two of them. A smile that Niamh wouldn't exactly call friendly. The older student, once again, made a very rude comment about how 'stupid' his questions were and that if the wand were to break, it would be because the boy was its owner. Okay, What in Merlin's name is her damage?! she thought. I mean, the guy's never had a wand before and here she is telling him he's 'stupid' for asking legit questions for his safety! Niamh knew she should say something, but she was just too scared to do anything.

 

[Kurtis Dowey]

There was no need to be so rude about it or anything, he didn't know a thing about wands and so he thought that it was a legitimate question. She was older and probably knew more than he did and it was in his right to ask questions anyway. Kurtis still didn't see why she was butting into the conversation anyway seeing as they had never spoken to her or invited her to make a comment anyway. Older students probably thought that had more rights to butt in than first years did or something and Kurtis did hope that he wouldn't turn out to be so rude. If he saw a first year asking about something like that then he would help them and actually at least talk politely.

"Well there is no need to be so rude about it," he mumbled after a moment as he gingerly picked his wand up off the table, looking at it a little more closely. It was still strange how a stick of wood was supposed to cast magic in the first place. He was supposed to have magical parents sure, but this kind of thing was still very new to him and now he just found himself sitting in an uncomfortable situation with a rude Slytherin judging him. "I don't know about this kind of thing. I'm allowed to ask questions."

 

[Esme Lancaster]

Esme felt strangely satisfied by the reactions she was getting from the two students before her. It was a way to release the pent-up stress from over the holidays, with her father emphasizing the importance of blood purity whenever she was home. Her parents had been furious when they found out she was merely acquainted with a muggle-born student, despite Esme not liking her all that much, the Gryffindor girl had no manners or proper etiquette at all. Even her brother had been unimpressed. It was unfair. The Slytherin carried an immediate intolerance of muggles, especially after their portrayal during History of Magic classes, yet she was still lectured and scolded for so much as letting one come near her. Now, she was in a position where she held the power, and it felt great.

The Hufflepuff girl was visibly uncomfortable and avoided eye contact, but the boy couldn't keep his mouth shut. Esme tucked her hair behind her ears and held up a hand, pretending to be looking over her nails as she listened, disinterestedly, to what he had to say. Once the Ravenclaw had finished, she yawned. "Rude? I'm just being honest and saying what everyone else is thinking." The witch's eyes passed over the room, focusing on the nearest students who were either watching the exchange with quiet interest or pretending not to hear it. One Slytherin chuckled in agreement. "And sure," she looked back at them, head tilted to one side, her voice condescending as ever. "You're allowed to ask questions, but do you really think you'd be given a wand that could be deadly to you? No. That's just completely irrational. Don't be so daft. Even your girlfriend there seems to be brighter than you, and she's not even a Ravenclaw!"

 

[Niamh Macmillan]

Niamh became flustered and confused. She never had much contact with this boy and definitely didn't intend to acquire any romantic relations with him. She tried not to care about that though. With her experience in such situations, it is best to ignore questioners. Whatever you say, the inquirer will think you "like-like" the person they inquire you about. Besides, she was more concerned about the insult the Sytherin girl made on the boy. All she could do was imagine being in a house of intelligence and being dubbed the opposite. Heck, she was embarrassed for him. How had things escalated so quickly, she thought All I wanted to do was read and maybe become friends with this boy. But all I had gained out of this encounter was loathing this irritating girl.

Niamh, though not wanting to particularly make enemies with this girl or any Slytherin, decided she needed to say something in defense of her acquaintance. "I am, in fact, not brighter than him!" she exclaimed clumsily. "You are not a Ravenclaw but he is! Thus he must be, by definition, incredibly smart!" Niamh concluded aloud.