“Let's get your wands, boys.” Aunt Merry smiled, and Thomas perked up. Wands meant magic, and magic meant a whole new world for Thomas. To say he was excited wouldn't even begin to explain his feelings! “Can't wait?” She shook her head, her hair shaking around her in waves.

“Neither can I!” she said, skipping down a couple steps to the main floor. Thomas smiled. She was the happiest person he had ever met. He couldn't help but smile at her.

“Have fun!” The braided-hair girl called out, and when Thomas turned, both Madam Antoinette and the tape snapped at her moving hands.

“Stay still!” Madam Antoinette shook a finger at her. Thomas shook his head. He knew the girl for under five minutes, but he had the feeling she wasn't one to stay still. Lars' hand came around his shoulder, pulling him into a half hug.

“You're going to love this.” Lars said, “Honestly, I've been looking forward to it myself.” Lars' eyes were dancing between colors. Revealing how important this was to him.

Uncle Liam fell beside them as they followed Aunt Merry, who was leading the way, saying, "A wizard's wand is the first significant step in his journey."

“The wand chooses the wizard, Thomas.” Aunt Merry said once they were outside, they were walking backwards like it was second nature. “It's a bond that is easily forgotten, but not easy to break.”

“Some wands do leave their partners, though.” Lars brought it up, making Thomas panic.

“A wand can leave you.” Forget choosing you; what if it picked you and then left you? Thomas couldn't imagine a worse fate. What if it took place at the school? Then you would be wand-less, magic-less, in a school of magic. Thomas' stomach turned at the very thought.

“That only works if you lose a magic duel.” Uncle Liam knocked on the top of his son's head.

“And only with some wands will we leave their owners to follow a new one.” Thomas frowned, not feeling much better. Magic duels sounded like a fight, and Thomas had never won one of those in his life.

“Duels rarely happen, Thomas. Don't worry.” Aunt Merry smiled at him. “I've had my wand all my life; never once has it left my side.” Thomas took a deep breath to settle his nerves. That did make him feel better, but then another worry struck Thomas.

“Will a wand choose me?” Thomas asked, looking between the three of them. “With me being of mixed blood?” Do vampires use wands? Thomas didn't think so, or at least he didn't see any here on the way to the wand shop. Lars' parents gave each other a look. Thomas wasn't sure what it said, but he was sure it wasn't good.

“I'm sure it'll work out.” A mixed feeling struck Thomas' chest at his new aunt's words. It wasn't the heavy feeling of a full lie, but it wasn't the clear feeling of truth either. Thomas looked down at his shoes, another gift from Lars's closet. He didn't say anything; he couldn't, and even if he did, saying the truth out loud wouldn't make it better, and it's not like she meant Thomas any harm.

“You'll have a wand, Thomas.” Lars forced his chin up with his hand. “Trust me.” Lars winked, and the cloudy feeling disappeared from his chest. Even if he couldn't tell the truth from the lie, Thomas thought to himself. That he would have believed in Lars anyway. He seemed that sure of himself.

“If Lars says so, it must be true.” Uncle Liam said, stopping them in front of a large wooden storefront. An old glass window that was more dust than window. Showed nothing more than a need for cleaning the shop's interior. An old sign dangled above, in gold script, on a simple wooden back. Scrolled the word "Olivander's Wand Shop”. Underneath it said on a smaller sign in the same script it read Danny Kaye They were already there, much to Thomas' surprise. He had hoped for more time.

“It's going to work out, Thomas.” With a well-meaning push, Thomas was forced into the wand shop. A bell dings a small, unfamiliar tune above Thomas's head. Looking up, he saw three odd-shaped bells finishing their music.

“Ah!” A voice cried out, bringing Thomas' attention to him. He could see nothing but a large, dark-grained counter and boxes upon boxes towering over each other. The boxes were slim and narrow and of various lengths. Thomas didn't need to be told what was in them. To know what they were. Thomas gulped down air. Not calming his nerves one bit.

“I've been waiting for you!” A bald man in a torn and tattered robe popped up above the counter. He had fresh scratches and tiny scars all over his face. Even though his nose was more misshapen than some of the floorboards back at the orphanage, a few tiny silver spots remained there. Despite having a face like that, he smiled broadly and warmly. The difference between the two was enough to break Thomas' nerves.

"Danny, you're no worse for wear, I hope.” Uncle Liam stepped forward this time. The man stood up straight, his lean form so thin that Thomas thought if Uncle Liam pulled him into a hug, he would fall into two pieces.

“New wands are waiting to be discovered! I only need to answer their call!” Danny said, his eyes looking past Uncle Liam and falling right on him. Thomas shifted towards Lars, who thankfully took a half step in front of him. The man's eyes made Thomas feel uncomfortable. They were different from the Rows and the children who hated him, but they were not filled with a good feeling.

“Mr. Thomas. As my first vampire client, I have been so looking forward to your visit.” His voice pinched in the middle and sounded downright creepy. Thomas wondered how he knew he was a vampire. Putting a hand to his hair, which was still doing its job, he hid his ears from view.

“We had to tell the school, and word sort of spread from there.” Lars whispered, turning his head, but Thomas noticed his eyes, now dark gray, were staring at Danny, whom Thomas assumed was the wand maker.

“Yes, but I would like to do Lars's wand first.” Uncle Liam smiled, looking very relaxed and unbothered by the vibe coming off Danny. “Thomas is a bit nervous.”

“Understandable!” Danny clapped his thin, crooked fingers together. “As requested, I gathered my silver lime wands.” Danny disappeared under the counter and popped back up. Reminding Thomas of a gopher that had lived by the house the Old Man lived in. He reappeared with three very different-looking wands on a black tray in his hands. “Silver lime is a hard-to-come-by material, very expensive, and very hard to work with.”

“We understand.” Aunt Merry spoke up, looking very serious.

“I can't say one will choose him either!” Danny shook his head. “The wand chooses its owner. That remains unchanged.”

“I'm sure it'll work out.” Lars stepped forward, looking just as serious and very certain that he would be chosen. Thomas feverishly wished he possessed that kind of strength, but he was much too quiet for such a loud feeling. At least, that is what Thomas thought.

“Then give it a shot! I would love to see a silver lime at work.” Danny backed away, and so did Lars's parents. Thomas tried to get a little bit closer out of curiosity. Wondering what was going to happen. Lars reached for the middle wand without even blinking. Completely ignoring the twisted white, silvery one on the right and the left one, which was a series of several large knots in its length.

The silver wood shimmered with Lars's touch. It was a smooth, long line that is larger at the base and has a bit of a curve to it. It shook in Lars' hand, only making him clamp down on it. Thomas held his breath and watched it buck and weave under his grip. Thomas could hear the sound of Lars teeth gritting as he refused to let go.

“Give it up.” Lars brogue made his whispers almost impossible for Thomas to understand. Then a light from nowhere showed up on Lars. Lighting his face in a smile that was almost all teeth. Lars looked so fierce then, it made Thomas's heart jump. Not in fear, but in a feeling Thomas couldn't describe and was quick to dismiss.

“The first time I've seen a bucking wand!” Danny clapped his hands. “No mistaking that you may have foreseen certain things? M mm.” Danny gave Lars a big grin that stretched his skin over his face, giving Thomas the shivers.

“See? Easy.” Lars turned towards Thomas with an easy smile on his face, but Thomas didn't miss the slight gleam of sweat on his brow. 

“12 inches (30.48 cm) a dramatic wand with a Thunderbird core. This wand has a feisty disposition, Mr. Lars. Don't be surprised if it tests you quite a bit before it listens to you fully.” Danny folded his arms over his chest.

"Honestly, I didn't see this wand ever picking an owner. It cursed a few students who tried their hands at it a few years ago, actually.” Danny laughed, but Thomas didn't see the humor.

“Wands can work on their own.” That idea didn't sound all that great to Thomas.

“Only the odd one.” Lars approached Thomas and patted him on the shoulder while directing his wand away from him. It gleamed a tiny bit when Thomas looked at it. It appeared to be plotting, in Thomas' opinion.

“It is an odd feature, but so he's a Thunderbird core with silver lime wood. I'll never have another like it.” Danny nodded with a sigh, like that was a bad thing.

“Come on, Mr. Thomas, we're about to make history!” Danny waved him over. With a gentle nudge from Lars. Thomas swallowed his fears and took the first step toward gaining his magic.

“Okay.” Thomas stood in front of Danny. He was shaking like a leaf, and he couldn't stop it, but he didn't run either. “What would please your vampire abilities more than a bond with your wizard nature?” Danny looked at Thomas, or more accurately, through him. Thomas's hair stood on end, but determined to show some grit, he didn't move an eyelash.

“Thomas is unique. Maybe a wand that is very different from your others would work?” Lars spoke up from behind Thomas. Making the light in Danny's eyes ping to life.

“That's it!” He shouted, turning around in a swirl of dust. He disappeared into the hoard of shelves and boxes behind him. Coming out of his arms with several boxes and dumping them without care on the counter. Pulling out a box, Thomas was handed a long wand with a rainbow strike running through its center.

“Try this.” Taking it in hand. Thomas waited for it to move, but it didn't.

“Try giving it a wave, dear.” Aunt Merry said from the side. Thomas did as instructed, and from the tip, a bolt shot through, whipping a whole shelf clear of its wands. Thomas jumped and quickly dropped the wand onto the counter.

“No, no. Too big, much too big for you.” Danny muttered, his bald head bent and his finger moving the lid of a box. Thomas was handed a smaller, dark wand with a seahorse as a handle base. The wand felt warm in his hand, and Thomas felt hopeful when he gave it a wave. The wand shot from his hand, like he was planning on snapping it. Landing perfectly back into the box from where Danny pulled it.

“That's new.” Danny blinked as much as Thomas. Did the wand just run away from him? Thomas wondered.

“The next one, for sure.” Lars encouraged him, and Thomas looked at Danny. As creepy as he was, he was his only hope of getting a wand.

“A troublesome wand for a troublesome boy.” Danny narrowed his gaze at Thomas.

“I'm not troublesome.” Thomas muttered mostly to himself. Feeling a little offended by both the last wand and Danny.

“Here!” This time, Danny gave him the box instead of the wand. Thomas took a peek inside. He was met by a white, glossy wood with red streaks running through the grain. It was flawlessly straight and smooth. At least two extra inches of white metal at its base were shaped into a number of tiny hoops that rose to a pointed crown. A delicate red stone in the shape of a diamond serves as the clasp. The stone had dark and clear spots and held a strong appeal for Thomas.

“Laurel wood is very difficult to work with. Not a dishonest thought can stroll through your head or heart when working with this wood.” Danny whispered, catching the attention of Thomas. “This wand will not perform for the dishonorable and possess lethal magic only released to the most loyal.”

“It can't lie.” Thomas asked, feeling attached to the wand already.

“Correction. You can't lie.” Danny said. “This wand didn't even like to be touched by me after I made it. The unicorn I got its core from was young and curious, but far more unyielding in its loyalty than any other. It is the only wand I have ever made using that unicorn.”

“Can I?” Thomas asked his trembling self to try this wand. Danny pushed the wand box closer. Thomas took it out with care. Move it in his hand until it reaches a comfortable spot in the center of his hand. His fingers curled around the edges of the metal base. Thomas felt a warmth spread through his body. Spreading, the warmth came out around Thomas, covering him in a soft glow that retreated back into him and his wand.

“It likes me.” Thomas smiled and turned towards Lars, who gave him a thumbs up in victory.

“A small wand, 8 inches (20.32 cm) without the 2-inch base, will favor a more elegant style. I wonder if that is what appealed to your vampire nature.” Danny nodded his head in thought, tilting it left and then right. “Perhaps the white gold appealed to it? Vampires are as attracted to riches as a dragon, after all.”