As he spoke, I was almost open-mouthed. Generally, when I went on one of my ramble sessions, people just looked at me like I was crazy, even for a highly intellectual person, and walked away. Which is reason two I didn’t have any friends (reason one being that I was just not interested for the most part - just someone around to hurt you).

Listening to his ambitions, I felt a slight smile creep across my face. Alex was, by far, the most interesting person I’d conversed with in a long time. I was definitely looking forward to our duelling sessions, and I wouldn’t entirely be against another chat with him next time we were in Hogsmeade, between the two of us we could carry a fair amount of books back to Hogwarts if we were so inclined.

Watching his fingers twirl his gnarly wand back and forth, I found myself really opening up for the first time in a long time. His view on potions I agreed with, Professor Snape was the best. Besides, potions were technically magical objects, or at least could affect actual objects if applied to them. Or so I’d studied, anyway.

I had just taken a sip of butterbeer when he slapped his wand down on the table and practically ordered me to examine his wand. “Smartass,” I muttered under my breath, reaching out to pick it up anyway. Running my fingers slowly down it’s length, I closed my eyes and focused. I could tell what the wood type was, that was the easy part. Breathing in and out slowly, I clutched the handle and the tip in opposite hands, looking almost as if I was going to break it (I wasn’t).

For the most part there wasn’t a clear indicator when examining a wand. It was more of a deep connection and study of magic that allowed me to be in tune. Not that it would make sense if I tried to explain that to Alex. For almost two minutes, I sat there like that, then I opened my eyes and held it out to him in my hand, a slight shiver running up and down my spine.

“Cypress. Dragon heartstring and doxy wing. This wand is resilient and stubborn, only to be wielded by someone with a strong will. It has extremely dark tendencies, although it can be controlled in the proper hands. I -” I cut myself off, contemplating how to present what I wanted to say. “I’m a little surprised that you’re even in Ravenclaw, if this is your wand. Sorry,” I immediately apologized, giving a little shrug.