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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 15, 2007 8:41:40 GMT -5
D'rorah looked up from her inventory list. "It is a rather recent development," she remarked wryly. "As it so happened, Professor Kade asked me to mind the store for a... bit... that bit has turned into a rather long period of employment."
She smiled briefly and accepted his slip of paper. "Well Mister Cooper..." she trailed off thoughtfully, mentally reviewing the stock of the store. "Oh yes, of course," she remarked to herself before stepping from behind the counter towards one of the heavily laden shelves at the front of the store. Stepping up onto a short stool, she raised her arm to select the topmost box. As she did so, the sleeve of her robe slipped back a bit, revealing an arm covered with scars. Hastily, she retrieved the box and straightened her sleeve.
She returned to the counter and set the box down. "Well then, " she said as she gently pried the lid from the box, "I believe this should suit you well. It is ten and three-quarters inch willow with a fwooper feather core... slightly swishy and well-suited to charms work." She slid the box toward him, offering him an opportunity to test out his new wand.
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Post by cubicu on Sept 15, 2007 15:28:03 GMT -5
Sarah walked into Ollivander's and up to the front desk. She saw Dylan standing there waiting for his wand. "Oh, hello Mister Cooper. Getting a new wand yourself? Mine's been a little on the fritz and was wondering in Professor Kade could get me a new one." She turned towards the counter, smiled at D'rorah and placed her paper next to Dylan's.
Name: Sarah Spencer Preferred Wand Length: 11 3/4" About: I'm currently teaching Transfiguration at Hogwarts. I do love Charms, and working on various spells. I also am fond of Defense of Dark Arts type magic. The wand should be light for easy movement, yet sturdy because you never know what you will encounter with students.
"Good day," Sarah said to D'rorah. "How's business going? Sorry, to keep you busy, but I do need a new wand, because my old one was acting up, then split. I figured I've over done it while abroad."
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Post by Dylan Cooper on Sept 15, 2007 16:45:32 GMT -5
Laughing lightly at her explanation of employment, he watched as she made her way onto a stool to grab a rather high wand box. Her sleeve slipped back with the angle her arm was on, and revealed an immense pattern of scars carved into her forearm. Seeing her rush through the rest of her box-retrieving actions, he figured she really didn't want that to be seen and as she returned to the counter he wondered what on earth had done that. Assuming, because she was extremely intelligent as well as a seventh year, that maybe she was involved in the war against the witch. The war had not particularly sunk in for him yet, but seeing this just gave him a slight jolt of realisation. Whether that was how she got those scars or not, it made him realise that people did get hurt, and would die.
Gazing into her eyes with a sombre expression on his face, someone else entered the shop, and he looked away, picking up the wand laid before him. It felt right in his hand. "Orchideous," he muttered, a rather lovely bouquet of flowers appearing out of the tip of his wand. "I hope you like roses," he said, turning to D'rorah with a dozen red and white roses clutched in his hand. Handing them to her, he inquired as to how much the wand would be.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 15, 2007 20:57:51 GMT -5
"Why, thank you Mister Cooper," replied D'rorah, accepting the proffered flowers with a slow smile. She set them aside as another patron entered the shop. "Business is going well," she said absently as she quickly read over the card. She glanced back to Dylan. "Actually, there is no charge today. All wands are currently courtesy of the house."
Brandishing her own wand, she conjured a small vase filled with water to place the flowers in. "Thank you again Mister Cooper." She offered him one last smile before turning her attention to Sarah. "Well then, Professor Spencer, I believe we have just the thing for you here. Please excuse me for one moment." Turning, she headed into the back storeroom and returned shortly bearing a long slender box.
"This particular wand is eleven and three quarters inch alder with a core of demiguise fur. I believe you should find it suitable." Carefully, she lifted the lid from the box. "Please try it to see whether it will work for you," she prodded.
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Post by Dylan Cooper on Sept 15, 2007 21:50:45 GMT -5
"Free? Now that's a word I rather like," he said, a small grin creeping onto his face. With her last word of thanks, he took his brand new wand, in a nice dusty box and headed for the door, the image of Dee's forearm imprinted in front of his eyes. Passing the Professor he smiled vaguely, his mind on more important matters.
Exiting the store, he took a deep breath, inhaling the stench of hundreds of people crammed into Diagon Alley, before moving off into the crowd. He took his wand from the ancient-looking box and placed it into his jacket pocket, walking off to get some icecream from Fortescue's.
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Post by cubicu on Sept 17, 2007 0:00:16 GMT -5
"This particular wand is eleven and three quarters inch alder with a core of demiguise fur. I believe you should find it suitable." Carefully, she lifted the lid from the box. "Please try it to see whether it will work for you," she prodded. "Alder with demiguise fur you say?" Sarah said lifting the wand from it's case. She pulled her glasses out from her robes and slipped them on to examine the wand. " "I must say, the wands here are extraordinarily well made." She twirled it around and caused a small footstool to turn into a puppy. "Nice...it's very light." She said turning to D'rorah then refocused her attention back on the puppy. She gave another twirl of her wand and changed the puppy back into a footstool. Spraks started to fly as Sarah turned around and accidently flicked her wand in her hand. The table sprouted legs and started walking around while the lights grew wings and were flapping widly trying to free themselves from the wires. "Oops. Sorry about that." Sarah said as she gave another hard flick of her wrist changing evrything back to normal. "I guess I got too much going on getting ready for classes." She flicked her wand and brought the table to it's original place in the store. "Thank you D'rorah, it's been a pleasure doing business with you." Sarah took off her glasses and put them back into her robes. She then put the wand back into the box and closed the lid. "I'll be seeing you at Hogwarts then" Sarah said as she walked out the door smiling at D'rorah. "I'm sure this year will be interesting."
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Post by Caira LaPointe on Sept 19, 2007 10:06:18 GMT -5
"Oh, hello Sarah," greeted Caira as the two passed each other at the entrance. "Lovely day isn't it? I thought I'd stop in to check on D'rorah, actually. But I'll see you soon at Hogwart's. We have to get together for tea really soon, but I don't want to hold you up now. Ta ta!"
Having suitably greeted Sarah, she continued on her way into the shop, making her way to the counter. "Oh D'rorah, how's business?" she asked casually. "It looks like you've been really busy," she added, looking around at boxes which were now neatly stacked and organized. "Mordred should have had you here ages ago. You've done wonders for the place."
She assessed the girl before her, severely dressed and a bit emotionally cold. "Now, I don't need a wand; I just thought I'd stop in to see how things were going." She waited, offering her sunniest smile, hoping it might melt some of the ice in the girl's eyes. "And please dear, call me Caira; I'll have none of that 'headmistress' business everyone seems to be so fond of."
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 19, 2007 10:22:09 GMT -5
D'rorah had resumed her inventory as Professor Spencer had left, dutifully returning to her listing of the wands currently stocked in the shop. She heard a voice, almost painfully chipper on the other side of the door, greeting the Professor she had just served as though they were old friends. She hoped fervently that she wouldn't be the one next victim of that bright demeanor. However, the door did indeed open to reveal none other than the headmistress.
"My apologies Headmistress, but I do not believe I can be quite so familiar," she demurred, not feeling she knew the woman well enough to even consider being on a first name basis with her. "Business seems to be going rather well, however, and I am perfectly fine," she added, responding to the questions Caira had presented. "Actually, with organization, inventory, and servicing customers, I have been rather busy." She glanced out the window and noted that, once again, the shops seemed to be closing for the day. "If there is nothing that I can help you with, I really should close for the day."
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Post by xuilin on Sept 19, 2007 22:49:55 GMT -5
Xiulin looked up at the building and then back down at the wand held firmly in her hand. This had seen her through many tough situations and it was like a part of her.
But it was a part that she had to get rid of. It tied her back home and if she kept this wand with her, she wouldn't be able to look ahead at what lay in front of her. She would constantly be looking over her shoulder, afraid that one of the Zhaos would send someone after her.
She stepped through the door and quickly shoved the wand back into one of the many pockets of her rather large white cargo pants. Maybe, just maybe, she would keep it...for old times' sake. "Hiya!" she said excitably, bouncing--that was the only word to describe it--to the desk and filling out one of the forms in the neat, almost mechanical handwriting that she had been forced to perfect in school.
Name: Zhao Xiulin--written in characters just to be annoying... Preferred Wand Length: anything that didn't make her look like a foolish little kid playing with her daddy's wand 11 1/2 inches About: My old wand was Bloodwood and made for divination. I have no love of divination, not even a 'like' of divination. Instead, I need something that will help me with defensive magic, healing, and whatever else might help in dealing with dangerous animals.
She passed through the people, grinning randomly, and set the paper down on the desk, leaning idly as she wondered what she was supposed to do next and who exactly she was supposed to be giving this all-important paper to.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 19, 2007 23:18:32 GMT -5
D'rorah looked up at the new customer, happy to have an excuse to put off the Headmistress for the moment. She simply wasn't up to facing the woman's sunny demeanor. "May I help you?" she asked, gesturing to the paper in Xiulin's hand.
She waited for the paper to be handed over and glanced at it. She noted that the girl had written her name in Chinese characters. "Well then Miss Zhao," she remarked quietly, "I believe I have exactly the think you may be looking for."
Without a further word, she disappeared into the back storage room. Several minutes later, she re-emerged carrying a long, narrow box. She set the box on the countertop and lifted the lid to reveal a wand. "Here were are eleven and one half inch mahogany with a core of Gytrash Fur. It will be quite durable and should prove rather adept with a variety of spells. Please, do try it," she offered, sliding the box across the countertop towards Xiulin.
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Post by xuilin on Sept 20, 2007 9:26:33 GMT -5
Xiulin stared after the girl in surprise and when the 'stranger'--though, admittedly, Xiulin was the stranger here--returned with the box, she asked: "You can read Mandarin?"
Speaking was one thing. Most people, even considering those she knew back home, had trouble reading.
Right, she hadn't come here to stand next to a desk and stare at some random person. She had come for a wand. She took the box and smiled at the wand inside as her fingers wrapped around it. She pulled it out, looking it over, still with her usual smile, as she flicked her wrist. "Much better than the old one," she said.
Whether that's true or not is anyone's guess. But she did honestly like the wand. Maybe it was just a matter of becoming used to it the same way she had to become used to her new life.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 20, 2007 10:31:12 GMT -5
"I read many languages, Miss Zhao," replied D'rorah simply. Indeed, she had studied languages so extensively that even among the ones she had never learned, she could puzzle them out. "My father was a diplomat," she added, as though that might explain a bit.
She watched what had become a familiar scene as Xiulin grasped her new wand. Since being randomly thrust into minding the shop back when she had first arrived at Hogwart's, several of her new classmates, as well as some of the Professors, had come for new wands. It appeared she had somewhat of a knack for selecting appropriate wands for her customers.
She smiled slightly at Xuilin's pronouncement that her new wand was much better than the old one and nodded slightly.
"Luckily, you have come at an opportune time. Currently, there is no fee for your wand. Shall I wrap it? Or would you prefer to simply carry it out?"
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Post by xuilin on Sept 20, 2007 11:41:24 GMT -5
"A diplomat..." she repeated thoughtfully. "That must be an interesting job," she continued unnecessarily. Note: Xiulin had almost no filter on her thoughts and she tended to say whatever was on her mind, whether anyone cared to hear it or not. "Certainly much safer than my fathers'," she decided to stop there.
She didn't want to relive the moment when she came home to see her father with a tail and her mother with an extra head. Though she did allow the slight shudder to pass through her small frame.
But the smile quickly returned to Xiulin's face. "I'll carry it out...and please call me Xiulin. Miss Zhao is way too formal," she added thoughtfully. That, and it was what so many people had called her back home. She shoved the wand in another of her many pockets and adjusted the white cap that covered her long, dark hair.
"Do you have any ideas of what to do with an old wand?" she asked somewhat uncomfortably. That old wand might have been a bit of a security blanket, but she had to get rid of it eventually, right? This was going to be harder than she thought....
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 20, 2007 11:51:13 GMT -5
D'rorah watched without comment as a shudder passed through Xiulin. Though she was a bit curious as to what Xiulin's father might have done that would be unsafe, she showed no sign. It was not her place to pry into the lives of others... she had her own secrets to keep.
"Very well," she replied to Xuilin's request to address her as "Xiulin" rather than "Miss Zhao". Having been raised to address others formally, she felt a bit awkward about the request, but decided that it could hardly be worth attempting to rebut, as she doubted she would encounter the girl often at Hogwart's anyway.
"Most retain their old wands as a backup, I believe," she answered simply. "I find that wandmakers would typically rather have their creations returned to them, rather than hearing they were destroyed. Though, you may also be able to pass it on to someone who is in need of a wand."
She paused, and noted with some satisfaction that the Headmistress seemed to have left while she was waiting on her current customer. Something about Caira's manner of questioning unsettled D'rorah, though she felt a bit silly in admitting that.
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Post by xuilin on Sept 20, 2007 22:48:05 GMT -5
Xiulin's smile widened. "So, now you know my name, but I still have no idea what yours is...though there's no guarantee that I'll remember it."
Such was the lack of filtering that existed in Xiulin's mind. And the 'having their wands return to them' sounded like a good idea to her. Maybe she would send it back. But, then again, that might not have been a good idea since she was distantly related to the wandmaker. And by distantly, we mean very distantly, though he still managed to keep in close touch with the head of the Zhao family. Long and unimportant story.
"I'll keep it as back-up then," she decided finally and quite randomly now that she had already tried to change the subject.
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