Gervaise made all the appraisals and measurements necessary before disappearing into the shelves, returning a few minutes later with four wand boxes. With any luck, one of them would suit the youngster.

“Try this one first,” he instructed, eyes focused not on his customer but on the wand he slid from its box. “Mahogany, nine inches precisely, with a phoenix tail feather at its core.”

The rigid wand featured some intricate vine carvings on and around the grip. Gervaise handed it to her.

“Give it a wave.”