After paying for the wands, which were not cheap, we walked out of the shop. I held the wand in my hand, not letting it out for a second since I got it. It just felt so right... almost like the grooves were fitted exactly for me.
After making our way to the Leaky Cauldron, Ginny and I said a quick goodbye and promised to meet each other at King's Cross Station.
Then she disappeared through a fireplace.
Yeah, a fireplace... this shouldn't shock me anymore...
After the bright emerald flames took the place of the Weasleys and Tom assured me this was completely normal and were just going back to their house, I walked out of the Leaky Cauldron with my wand tucked into my pocket.
I mean it's not like I could just walk down a sidewalk in the Muggle world with a wand... that'd be a little strange...
I made my way down the sidewalk, a little bounce in my step. I had just been to the Wizarding World, got a bunch of magical supplies, and made friends with a witch. These are the kind of things that just aren't your typical summer day.
I walked for a couple more minutes, my footsteps echoing cheerfully down the sidewalk. Suddenly though, I felt a strange sensation wash over me. I slowed down, biting my lip. It felt like I was being watched. Looking around at the nearby sights, I couldn't see anything worth noting. Just the normal buildings, a couple people passing by here and there, nothing suspicious at all. But I couldn't shake the feeling.
With my hand in my pocket, I squeezed my wand a little tighter.
It's probably nothing...
Moving at a bit of a faster pace, trying to get away from whatever was watching me, I took a deep breath. This couldn't be anything. It wasn't like anyone was actually watching me... it was just a feeling.
Yeah, a feeling that isn't going away...
I shook my head firmly, and blinked a couple times. It didn't work. The feeling was following me... as if someone was watching my every move... waiting for me...
Suddenly I stopped. Looking around, I clutched my wand even tighter.
Why though? I mean it's not like I know any magic...
This was too weird, I had never felt something like this before. Sure in books characters are always saying how they can feel when someone's watching them... but this was real life!
There was nothing around me. Besides the normal neighbors walking their dogs or some cars casually passing by... there was nothing.
I rolled my eyes at myself, huffing out a short breath of annoyance.
I was just being an idiot...
I walked a couple more steps, close enough now to see my house. Then, as quick as a flash, I felt my feet drag and my legs collapse from under me. I face planted on the sidewalk, sprawled in an awkward position on my stomach.
Shocked, I looked around me... nothing there... then I looked at my feet... with my shoes... and my untied shoelace...
"Ow." I said flatly, rolling over and grimacing slightly... while looking at the untied shoelace. "Well that figures."
Brushing myself off, and feeling rather annoyed at my clumsy self, I started back towards my house... ignoring the few people who had started staring and laughing at me. A couple asked if I was alright and I nodded, giving an awkward smile while sighing.
Well... good days don't last forever... or even a day...
I reached my house, pulling out the key under the doormat, and opening the door. I took off my shoes, still with the untied shoelace, and lined them up next to my dad's along the wall.
"Hey, A!" my dad said, stepping into view and giving me a hug. "Get your wand?"
I raised my eyebrows and looked around, making sure my mom wasn't around. Usually we didn't talk about magic stuff when she was in the house.
Noticing what I was doing, my dad shook his head. "She's not here. I... don't know where she went."
I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek, not knowing exactly why this made me feel... weird. "Oh... well then yeah, I got my wand. It's pretty great." I shoved my hand in my pocket and pulled out the blackthorn wand, it's silver highlights shining in the light.
My dad smiled, and lightly touched it with his finger, tracing the wood down to the silver. "It's amazing, A. And you're going to do amazing things with it..."