"Ah! Welcome back Ms. Liddell!" Ollivander greeted Alice, although with lackluster and obvious glint of mixed emotions, including an apparent fear. Alice looked around and felt a twinge of disappointment for not seeing Tom. She had to admit that the young man intrigued her. There was something about him she couldn't quite place. Whether it was a negative or positive impression, she'd still like to know and wished she could see him again.

"Let's start trying out wands. Remember, wands choose their owners, so trying out wands would require much patience." Compared to his usual enthusiasm earlier, Alice have noticed that he was starting to get as gloomy as the shop, but he was still earnest with his job.

"If you don't mind me asking, I'm still new to this world. May I ask what wands are exactly?"

"A wand is the object through which a wizard or a witch channel their magic. It is made by wood and has a magical substance at its core. Our wands have cores of phoenix feather, unicorn hair or dragon heartstring and are of varying woods, lengths and, flexibilities. Although, we are not quite restricted with just three cores but those cores are the pride of Ollivanders." Ollivander gave a little shrug, having said the same words to muggleborns before made him memorize and occasionally reinvent his way of telling. "What is your birthday?"

"May 4," was Alice's instinctive reply. She felt it odd to have someone ask her birthday, but then everything in her life is odd.

"Hm." With his back turned, Ollivander began to search through the shelves and quickly found a box, opening it and handing it to Alice. "Try this. Just swish it or give it a wave. Whatever gesture you feel like it."

Hesitant, Alice took the wand and felt her heart thumped in nervousness. She felt the magic alive, in the wand and surging in her veins. Giving it an unsure flick, a tiny blue spark came out there tip of the wand and fell to the ground, disappearing. Confused if her heart leapt from actually being able to use a wand or if her heart sunk with such a small spark, she gazed worriedly at Ollivander who frowned.

"Nope. Not this unicorn hair then.." Ollivander turned back to find another wand, meanwhile Alice stared vacantly on the shelves, seeing a few mushrooms pop out and flowers talking to themselves. There were a few bugs too, but Ollivander didn't seem to mind them.

"Here. This is one has a core of a dragon heartstring."

"A dragon heartstring?" The following cores were mentioned before, but Alice was itching what the cores actually are.

"You see, cores are what makes the wand alive. I am a wandmaker and I make sure that each core I have corresponds accordingly to the wood they'll be made with. Some are stubborn and some even rejects it completely, that's why wandmaking is an ancient, proud yet difficult job. The three common cores that is used here in Ollivanders are the unicorn hair, dragon heartstring and the phoenix's feather." Ollivander paused and pointed at the one Alice is currently holding.

"That one is made out of willow and dragon heartstring. As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn more quickly than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord. It is also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental. Although, willow is a wood enough to balance the core's flamboyance. Willows are usually for those highly creative, intuitive and intelligent, which I say suits a dragon heartstring core well. Willow holders are usually bursting in potential, but have a tendency to hold themselves back for fear of appearing flamboyant or overindulgent. That wand will help balance the user's ability and personality. It is your powers of perception that ultimately allow your true nature to shine, and what leads you to success in life." Alice's eyes shine eagerly, it seemed like such a powerful wand the way he describes it. She can't help but think of him as a wonderful salesman.

"Go ahead, give it a try." Ollivander gave such a smile, and it made Alice felt envious, for the love he has over his job is much apparent. With a much firmer grip, she waved the wand and suddenly a huge explosion of light came out of its tip. It stunned both of them for awhile, Alice felt overwhelmed by such a powerful reaction from a wand. She grinned hugely but then it wavered as she saw Ollivander frown.

"Hm, not this wand then." Ollivander head back on the shelves again before sprouting back and returning with another wand, handing it to Alice.

"Here's another willow wand with a unicorn hair core."

"What does a unicorn hair do?"

"Unicorn hair can produce the most consistent magic, least subject to fluctuations and blockages, most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts and the most faithful of wands. However, they do not make the most powerful of wands and are prone to melancholy if mishandled. And since you are Alice from Wonderland, I think unicorn hair might suit you." A soft smile graced Ollivander's mouth, vaguely reminding Alice of a reminiscing old man.

"And how about phoenix feathers?"

"Ah. I rarely use that core since it is one of the rarest core types. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn hair or dragon heartstring cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike. Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won. However, it will surely surprise me if you are chosen by a phoenix feather wand. Tom, the gentleman earlier is a proud wielder of a phoenix's feather wand." With the mention of Tom, Ollivander's growing calm face backtracked into a dour expression.

'Huh. I wonder what happened between them earlier. He was oh so cheerful with Tom earlier.' Alice inwardly shrug and wave the wand quite with lesser anxiety and unease. 'Here goes.'

With a swish, the amount of magic that came out of the magic became more stable, yet it wasn't enough. Ollivander frowned further and shook his head.

"Hm. I thought it would be easy with you being Alice of the Wonderland. This might take long. No matter. Choosing your first wand was never an easy task." Ollivander offered a comforting smile before returning to the high shelves to find another wand for Alice.

It did took long, much longer than both of them expected. Alice lost count by the 50th wand and eventually lost count of time too. All the wand swishing and waving spent her energy, and the excitement of owning a wand faded and was replaced by impatience and growing hopelessness.

"Oh this is hopeless! I've lost count of the wands I've tried!" Alice cried out in despair, murmuring about her magical inadequacy and aching for the little comfort her bed offers. Ollivander however was serious and has forgotten about the previous encounter, and was instead distracted by the company of Alice.

"Remember, it is not you who chooses. It is the wand." He was patient. Throughout his years in the shop, aiding customers to choose their own wands, his patience was tested then and then, deeming it to be the most laborious job, and the labor equaled boredom. It was always the children he helped seek their destiny through their wands, and it was the children he is always the proudest. He noticed Alice's impatience and he only shook his head mentally.

"We've tried all other woods, even the phoenix feather doesn't suit you along with the other cores.." Ollivander thought long and hard, remembering a beautiful wand that has stayed in the shop for innumerable decades. "I finally got it!" He quickly scampered off the farthest and highest of shelves, finding the beautiful blue box and showing it to Alice with a huge smile rolled up until his ears. He opened it and revealed a wand with beautiful flower and butterfly carvings, its color an elegant pastel lavender. Alice took the wand and felt it snuggle right in her hand.

"This is such a beautiful wand." She strokes it lightly, her eyes lighting up in delight and a warm, crackling feeling surged through her.

"Yes, it is. It is carved out of Hawthorn and its carvings are indeed fine and requisite." Ollivander frowned and sighed. "However, I do not know what core it is made of. Even my father doesn't know. Others have tried it, but it didn't produce any powerful spells. It refused to do so. I still would like you to try it. It seems like the wand suits you perfectly." He smiled gently, and Alice looked down at the wand, hoping it is the right wand. The mystery of its core seemed to intrigue her, and it is such a beautiful wand.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, giving a gentle yet sure swish. She felt a light magic flow through her and into the tip of the wand. As she opened her eyes, she saw a beautiful display of a few several blue butterflies fluttering about in front of her before diminishing slowly.

"My! Those sure are beautiful butterflies! That's the first time I see that wand perform a magical display. So it did indeed chose you." A proud and relieved smile made way into Alice's face, happiness surging through her. "Wonderful."

Alice paid for the wand and bade farewell to Ollivander who had a gentle and friendly smile on his face. She happily hid the box on along with the other shopped goods and headed straight to the Eeylops Owl Emporium. She bought a beautiful black owl and named it Obsidian, very pleased with herself as she stared adoringly at the caged owl. Not even a moment before she remembered him, Dumbledore appeared cheerful as usual.

"Ah. I see you've bought a beautiful black owl. How was shopping?"

"It was great." It was indeed, and she felt like the extraordinaire events that relayed in one day couldn't be justified by any adjectives in her vocabulary without being superfluous, so she settled for 'great'. Her eyes had never been as bright as it is today than it was for years.

"That's good to hear. It's getting late, I'll apparate you back home. Let me help you with that cage." Alice nodded and let Dumbledore take the cage. They linked arms and once more, to Alice's displeasure, apparated. Even though it was the second time, she still felt as nauseous as she was when she first experienced it. The numerous bags she held fell at the same time her knees touched the ground.

"Alice!" Dumbledore quickly came to aid, with a wave of his wand the things she bought were unharmed, bringing them inside her shack. He kneeled and tried to help Alice up, to which she didn't protest with.

"I'll be fine. Let me be for awhile please." And that Dumbledore did. After several deep breaths, Alice was able to regain her balance, sighing deeply as she raised her brow at Dumbledore.

"Aren't there more.. Less nauseating ways rather than apparating?"

"There are." Dumbledore chuckled. "Countless ways, of course. However, portkeys can be as equally nauseating. Well, you could've traveled through floo powder, but you can floo another time. I just find apparating more convenient. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

Alice's face furrowed into a frown, then sighed. "Well, I guess so. Thank you very much, professor. For accompanying me today, and teaching me along the way."

"It was only my job to do so. Also, I am very interested on what kind of person you'll grow into at Hogwarts." He gave a gentle, supporting smile that made Alice felt glad, but also hollow.

"You know professor, I still can't believe this is actually happening. Oh don't get me wrong. There are all kinds of reality, and it has always been a pleasure to relinquish each and every one of them. However.. Everything today felt real yet so.. Impossible." Her hand clutched on her dirty apron tight, head casted downwards as she felt troubled by an unknown emotion.

"Reality has always been a vague thing. Reality is a word whose meaning is defined by its viewer. It is up to you if you will believe or not. As for me, I believe in you Alice." He placed his hand on Alice's shoulder, his gentle and understanding gaze remained as she looked up to him.

"That's.. Thank you."

"You're welcome Ms. Liddell. It has been a pleasure to spend the day with you, but I must now go and bid you farewell. I'll see you on school." Alice waved him off as he apparated, leaving her once more in the company of her own mind, and it was a very noisy and crowded company.