(Hogsmeade) Yeah right...

[Helia Ollivander]

Helia was sitting at the desk at the back of the shop, sipping tea and feeling rather bored, wishing that for a moment she could be back in Hogwarts, causing mischief with her old buddies and solving their ever present mysteries... But this was the life of a wand-maker, she had learned quickly; rather obsolete. She still got to see Kim from time to time [as she ought!] but all her other friends were busy with QuadWizard Tournaments and O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s and quidditch... nothing that required a new wand or her company.

It was rather a shame really. She'd worked so hard the past three years to get to this point; owning her own wand shop, becoming a fine artisan craftsman in the fast-paced world of advanced magic... and what did she get for it? Solitude. Whispers. And an overstocked, under-visited shop in a back corner of Hogsmeade.
She couldn't complain too much though. She's worked out a deal with Madam Puddfoot; free catering for her shop in return for free wand tune ups, shine up, and fix ups. It was also free advertising for both parties which worked out well. And she finally had a chance to catch up on her reading... But she still felt rather isolated.

She flicked her own wand, deciding it was time to stop pitying herself--at least for the moment--and get some work done... not that it would be needed for many moons, but she liked to be ahead of the game. Way... way... way ahead of the game. 'I bet I've got enough wands in this stupid little shop to supply the entire student populus of Hogwarts twice over, and still have back ups for the staff.' She thought with slight chagrin. 'Oh well, maybe working with that new shipment of blackthorn wood will help cheer me up...' and immedeatly, a large branch with dark black bark flew through the air and landed on the table in front of her. "Here we go... Acting like the well-adjusted member of society that I am..." she giggled softly to herself. "Yeah right..."

[Sarie Thimble]

Hey Helia how r u i getting ready for school and was wounding if this a good place to get my wand checked up at

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella strolled into the shop. She'd lost her wand to Locksley's pet, Greggory, a while back and was in much need of a new one. She sighed knowing that no wand would work as well for her as that one but she was hoping she could find one here that might uphold some sort of standard.

"Helia?" She asked inquisitively looking about the tiny shop crammed with as many wands as possible. "She certainly has a lot of time on her hands," she thought idly to herself.

[Helia Ollivander]

She looked up as the door swung open. A stunning woman with dark hair managed to tiptoe her way through the store with surprising grace before calling her name, "Yes? Yes, I'm Helia. Can I help you Miss?" she asked, unfolding her legs and stepping down from her perch on the countertop.

She wasn't sure what it was exactly, but something about this woman seemed... almost regal. Not haughty, exactly, but extremly self-assured. Quite different from most customers who [rarely] entered her store. Most of them were nervous second and third years who had broken their wands playing quidditch and were trying to find cheap replacements before their parents found out.
Suffice to say, Helia was quite glad for this new customer.

[Gabriella De Conti]

She smiled at the young witch. "Younger then expected, I'm much impressed." She said nodding at Helia. She was young, certainly far younger then Ollivander was and it was indeed impressive. Wandmakers were usually quite powerful magiciens and were generally quite determined characters. She grinned, Helia would make a good ally for the Rogue Wizards if they were able to convince her to join.

"I'm in much need of a new wand. I lost mine in a bit of a...scuffle...shall we say." She started her eyes scanning the shelves upon shelves of wands glad she would not have to use the stolen wand anymore. It was getting rather shirty with her.

"I've been told yours is the wand shop to go to; you're starting to earn yourself quite a reputation there Helia." She said with a small smile; a little flattery never hurt anyone's position.

[Helia Ollivander]

'Much impressed?' Helia thought curiously. 'Now that's something I thought I'd only ever hear from professors... not customers. But then again, I've been mistaken about a lot of things lately.'
She smiled cordially as the woman continued speaking.
"Scuffle, you say?" she raised an eyebrow. This was beginning to sound more and more like Hogwarts-esque mischief by the minute.

"A reputation?" she laughed, "Well, you could have fooled me." She gestured to the half-packed little store as if to prove that a reputation would not leave you with so many wands. "Thank you, though. It's nice to hear that not everyone believes me to be the evil old crone I spread rumours about," she chuckled. "Ah, but back to business. Wands. That I can not be fooled on. So, tell me a bit about yourself; employment, hobbies... how often you get into these 'scuffles'?"

[Gabriella De Conti]

She laughed she too glanced about the store. "I suppose it's mainly ridiculously daft students who explode their wands or something to that effect eh? Granted I just lost mine as well so..."She said witha slight smirk. She was beginning to like the witty girl more and more. She oddly reminded Gabriella of herself when she was not so cynical and egotistical.

"You never cease to amaze I see," she said chuckling slightly, "Not as naive as you look."

She laughed inwardly as she asked about her employment. She didn't seem red rose league nor did the ministry have their hands in the wandmaking just yet. It was possible that she could trust her and it was beginning to seem possible that Helia join her cause.

"Employment, me?" She started smirking slighty, "Let's put it this way; I had good enough grades in all my courses to do just about anything I wanted too and there was a time when I was ambitious enough to try but that was seven years ago when I just graduated from Hogwarts. Now I'm a Rogue, wandering as I will and doing as I feel while getting chased by ministry personel. AS for the scuffles...unfortunately they are becoming even more frequent as the spies gain a few more braincells to knock between the lot of them. As such it would be really lovely to have a wand of my own; it would be quite helpful generally speaking." She said with a smile hopnig she wouldn't have to fight her way out of the store. This young witch might just prove a worthy adversary.

[Helia Ollivander]

"Explode their wands, drop them in the forbidden forest, get them confiscated for inappropriate behavior in class, other things along those lines," she shrugged, "I've been planning on taking a trip to help me get rid of some of these things," she patted a pyramid of wand boxes, kicking up a small cloud of dust as she did so. She coughed and grimaced a bit before returning her attention to the woman in front of her, "Wands don't really get lost as far as I've seen it, though. More often than not it's a case of the wand sensing that it's needed elsewhere. Even stolen wands are never truly lost. They always find their way back to where they're supposed to be."

"Naivity lies in the subject of the conversation. Were we talking about mountain trolls or humidity in Peru or the price of eggs in China I wouldn't be any help at all. As it is, 'scuffles' are something I know a thing or two about," she smiled distantly, thinking of the trouble she'd gotten into with Bog and Kim and even Malfoy during her days at Hogwarts.

"A Rogue, you say? Are you running from the law, fighting its injustice, or simply seeking revenge on the Ministry for hurting someone you love?" she asked, quite intrigued by now at this woman's blatant honesty. Plus, this was beginning to explain, at least a bit, about some of the woman's strange comments. "No matter the case, you're definatly going to need a heavy duty wand for your line of work," with that she began carefully picking her way through the store, though still keeping an open ear for her strange customers conversation.

[Gabriella De Conti]

She smiled, "Travelling's a good idea. I always wished I could've done some more of it; maybe I will someday." She said, "And travelling while making money is an even better idea. That way if you want to you can keep going.

"Scuffles eh? Credited to your Hogwarts years I suppose." She said with a light laugh. The young witch definitely was interesting. Gobien would love her.

"I fight because I beleive the ministry to be corrupt and that's about it. i'm a Rogue because the supposedly selfless Res Rose League makes me want to throw up. As soon as they gain power they'll be corrupted it's a fact of life. I'd rather not see another ministry crumble before my eyes." She said watching the young witch as she walked along the rows of wands searching for one that would fit her lifestyle.

"You'd make good Rogue you know," she said absentmidedly. "You seem intelligent enough."

[Helia Ollivander]

"Oh, definatly. Besides, I'm hoping that getting rid of some of these wands will make room for some of the new supplies I hope to come back with. Did you know that when an Antipodean Opaleye dragon dies, its eyes don't disintegrate? I've been wanting to see how that would work as a core... maybe with elm wood, or willow..." she paused for a moment as her mind began racing through the wand possibilities, but she soon resumed her plod on Earth.

"Yes indeed. Though I suppose going to Hogwarts is just asking for trouble. There's rarely a person who graduates that hasn't been in a scuffle or two, be they big or small."

She looked up slowly at the womans next comments, "Absoloute power corrupts absoloutly. Any one person being in charge entirely will undoubtedly corrupt them completly. That's why I imagine things were easier in olden days, when there were whole councils of people you had to share power with. All of this Sovreignty business is complete uselessness in my own opinion, and unless you and your friends have some idea on how to remedy that I shall have to respectfully decline your flattering offer," she tried her best not to jump to conclusions or sound harsh, these political power struggles just got under her skin.

"Now then, try this," she said, finally pulling out a wand after taking a moment to calm herself down. "Redwood with a sphinx claw, six and seven-eigths inches long. It's a bit inflexible, but extremly sturdy and very handy with defensive charms."

[Gabriella De Conti]

"Getting rid of some wands is definitely a good idea," she said chuckling slightly as she glanced about the store. "It's eye doesn't disintegrate? That's slightly creepy. Can you imagine finding one them lying arund dead; all skeletal except for it's eye. Not a lot scares me but that certainly would.

"Hogwarts always was and is an exciting place. The breeding ground for teenage hormonesat every age." She said laughing lightly.

Gabriella laughed aloud. "Rogue Wizards and organize are two words together that don't go very well. A colleague and myself are attempting to organize the lot of us into something productive. BUt right now we're all a bunch of small insignificant groups that battle each other more so then our enemies.

"Dictatorships are often the most effective form of governement. Things actually get done instead of old men arguing about it for years. The problem is that in most dictarships people start dying and it's usually the civilians. If the Rogue wizards somehow won I'd suggest a moderate governement with representatives of each group and all poliutical spectrums. Don't know if that'd go over well though; people would want vengeance agaisnt the ministry. Civil wars are terrible." She said ignoring the fact that she had declined the offer. It definitely wasn't something unheard of. Most didn't enjoy the lfiestyle and the lack of organisation. She knew though if her and Gobien's plan worked they could get more supporters easier; they weren't what was important at the moment.

She grabbed the wand and muttered a spell under her breath and watched as she blew a whole in the wall. "Is the expelliarmus spell generally supposed to do that. I mean I personally like this wand already; imagine the harm I could inflict on that wretched woman and her pet. Last time they'd give me a concussion," she stopped abruptly as she realized she spokent he last bit aloud. "So next wand aye?" she continued passing over her last comment she waved her stolen wand and repared the wall without a word been spoken. "Sorry about that."

[Helia Ollivander]

"I think it would be fascinating!" she said enthusiastically, "Coming across a skeletal dragon in a forest or something, nothing left but its glowing pastel eyes... imagining what they'd seen during the dragon's life... It's a shame my brother doesn't work with Opaleyes, I'll have to get a list of his colleagues if I plan on working with them."

"Sovreignty is not the same as Dictatorship... well, I suppose these days it is. Were dictating now like it was in the ancient Roman world, then we'd have something to talk about. With the Magistratus ordinarii, and the Magistratus extraordinarii. Councils, but with a sole, elected dictator who, should something come down to arguing for centuries, could overrule and make a final desicion but was still held responsible for his actions. As opposed to all this Word-is-law, shall it be writtin shall it be done shenanigans... never having to explain the stupid rules or why they were put in place for what purpose. Just bossing people around and pissing me off..." she seethed slightly, remembering her last year at Hogwarts when that horrible Illyana Deitrich woman came around acting like she owned everyones very souls... She smiled meekly, "Pardon my outburst."

"Hm... This would be odd, but what isn't aorund here?" she pondered to herself as she reached under a table and pulled out an intricately carved box with a depiction of Bellerophon defeating the Chimaera on it. She blew the dust off the top and opened the lid, revealing a slender wand with a dainty grey hue to it. "Poplar and Chimaera scale, thirteen inches," she said handing it to the woman, trying to ignore her stange outburst. "It's whippy, and a bit sharp, but it works wonders with hexes."

[Gabriella De Conti]

"Yes, well you are a bit odd then," she said laughing. "Any way related to Ollivander?"

She smiled as she listened to her speak of the old Roman way of doing things. "I see you know your history. Muggle history is so much more fascinating."

She chuckled at her outburst, "Indeed. Illyana didn't even get voted in. Hitler was the only elected dictator in history eh? He saved Germany from it's poverty and destroyed the rest of the world. She will destroy Britain; I used to fear that somebody like Voldemort would come along and wreak havoc. But now the hurt is coming from the outside in and killing more people then Voldemort could have ever hoped. She's managed to turn our entire population against eachother. You can't even trust your family or your greatest friend." She said quietly. Her mood now melancholy.

Gabriella shook her head and returned to the task on hand. She took the wand from Helia and it immediatly felt good. She shot sparks out of the end and grinned. "Chimaera scale eh? That must've been an adventure." She said smirking. "So what do you think?"

[Helia Ollivander]

"Ahh, yes. The original Ollivander," she laughed. "He is my great-grandfather. He actually made my very first wand for me when I was born," she pulled out her own wand and twirled it through her fingers like a baton.

"You must learn your history or you are doomed to repeat," she said rolling her eyes slightyl. She htought it wwas a silly phrase. "Personally, I think you've got to learn your history or you'll be doomed to suffer through something extraordinarily worse. But I quite agree, muggle history is fascinating! The greeks are probably my favorite study as far as war and mythology, but for politics you've got to go Roman," she giggled slightly, but her mood also sobered at the mention of distrust among allies. "It's impossible to know where anyone's loyalties lie; mostly because lying is the only thing anyone is truly loyal to anymore," she sighed.

She smirked slightly when she saw that the wand was a fit, "Oh, it wasn't me who got that scale. That's one of my Grandpa Olly's wands." A mischevous expression settled on her features, "I think... that you and I had better become really good friends, because its sister scale happens to be right here," her fingers stopped twirling and her own wand stopped moveing, resting comfortably in her upturned palm.

[Gabriella De Conti]

She laughed, "Direct descendant aye? That certainly is fascinating. I was quite frightened of him when I bought my wand all those years ago; I wasn't so arrogant and sur of myself all those years ago."

"I agree with you there and all humans are bound to repeat History ten times over and create a new world that is ten times worse. Funny how that works eh?" She said rolling her eyes slightly. "Ancient Greek is fascinating and I love their mythology; it's all so beautiful. I do admit though; I don't know a terrible amount about Greek or Roman history. Mainly My interests lie closer to home. I love the crussades and medivel Europe and the Tudor Regime; good ol King Henry XIII was a fascinating man. His predescessors and heirs almost more so."

She raised an eyebrow as she listened to what Helia had to say. "Indeed, that is most interesting. We should definitely not end up on opposite sides; the whole Priori Incatatem thing makes fighting difficult."