wired differently | veronica

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

Don't tell me I'm flawed

My flaws don't deserve it

April 23, 2027
Veronica Giselle Ollivander

Benny had never sought any kind of fame or glory in his life. His name made him popular enough the second he walked the hallways of Hogwarts. The name ‘Ollivander’ famous with the wands most, if not all, of his fellow first years held in their hands—including his own. The attention never bothered him, nor did his lack of involvement in the family business. It wasn’t something his parents had pushed on him, minus the amount of time he spent in the shop as a boy. Now, one mustn't be fooled into thinking that Benny didn’t have anything in that skull of his or behind those yellow-framed sunglasses. Even the youngest Ollivander knew about wand woods, cores, and all that—though not nearly to the extent or level of his older sisters.

Tossing the empty disposable coffee cup in a nearby bin, Benny stopped. He could see the front of Flourish and Blotts, but the time told him that he was much too early. Well, fancy that. Gehry Ollivander not late for work. But he wasn’t about to waltz in early. If Mina was working, she’d likely happily take off early. Benny was a nice guy, but he still had a half-hour of free time to himself he’d rather enjoy. So, instead, he walked past the bookstore and past the other shops he had grown up around. Past the Bank and entrance to Knockturn Alley until he spotted the entrance to his family’s shop—his last name displayed proudly on the sign.

Benny pushed the door open, the familiar bell chiming to warn of a customer. ”Ronnie?” When Benny was born, Veronica had completed half of her third year at Hogwarts. So for the first few years of his life, the boy only saw his oldest sister and sibling when she was home for summer or holiday break. And, very quickly, it became apparent that ‘Veronica’ was not easy for a toddler to pronounce. And since then, Benny had never called his sister by her given name unless absolutely necessary. Much like how very few ever called him ‘Gehry’ except for perhaps Veronica or his parents.

template by vee

[Veronica Giselle Ollivander]

━ you have bewitched me, body and soul ━

MERLIN. WHERE HAD THE TIME honestly gone? It was already April, meaning seven odd months had passed since Gideon had began schooling in Ilvermorny due to Hogwarts' destruction. Seven long months of her son being so incredibly far away that there meetings were limited to the odd weekends, either once or twice a month. While Gideon was growing into a young adult, he was in fact her only son and only child and with him being so far away only left with worries and doubts in the Ollivanders mind, just like any regular mother would face. The only issue was, it was also affecting Veronica's work. Ever so slightly anyway.

Since gaining a new intern, the work-life had been rather easier for the Ollivander, and Gideon - bless his soul - would still whittle away at wood when he could at Ilvermorny. His best results ended up being used for orders that clients had ordered. A real team-work between mother and son really. Well. Mother son, and intern anyway. But alas, the school year was close to ending for the summer, and every time a summer was due to come around, so was Veronica's birthday. She was already thirty-six and the thought of becoming one year closer to forty simply didn't sit well with her. She wasn't remarried, and instead was fooling around with her ex-husband at times, nor did she have any idea when she would next bare a child, or if that was even her plan anyway, to present Gideon with a sibling.

All these thoughts that clouded the eldest mind while she chewed away at some loose skin near her thumbnail almost resulted with the Ollivander missing the chime of the bell that was connected to the door, and even the faint voice of someone Veronica knew. As she blinked, once, twice and then once more, she got up at the final blink, placing her tools down and heading to the front. "Gehry." Veronica smiled, taking in the sight of her youngest brother and immediately pushing the small flap that separated Veronica from her customers. Pulling her brother into a brief hug, she stepped back, slightly tilting her neck upwards to look up at him. "Merlin, did you grow taller again? Or are you at that age now when you stop...Remind me, how old are you again?"

| gehry benjamin ollivander |

hopefully this works!

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

Don't tell me I'm flawed

My flaws don't deserve it

April 23, 2027
Veronica Giselle Ollivander

Sometime during the middle of his Hogwarts years, he’d suddenly towered over his sisters. And much to his amazement, his brother as well. From the perspective of a ten-year-old, his brain remembered a giant of a man. But as Frankie returned home, Benny realized that he was now much taller than him. Benny more resembled a long strand of a Toothflossing Stringmint with how scrawny he’d always been. Thankfully, he’d gained a little bit of muscle in the past few years. Veronica moved from behind the counter to greet him, her face and smile friendly as she called him by his given name. Benny didn’t mind. He supposed using his middle name had always been a habit he hadn’t bothered to break.

She wrapped her arms around his middle before stepping back. ”Twenty-three.” Benny replied proudly as if he were still a small boy. But he shrugged at the question of his height. ”Hmm…Mum asked me the same thing yesterday. Perhaps I have.” Their mother was of shorter stature, whereas all the Ollivander children seemed to gain their heigh from their father. Out of habit, he glanced at the floor and noted it had all but a few specs of dust on it. ”I see the new intern has taken over my duties, that’s very kind of them” Not that Benny was employed here, but every once in a while, he would grab a broom much like had as a boy. It was easy work, so he didn’t mind, and then he’d chat with Ronnie while here. Much like he did when he stopped by Nell’s shop as well, who did not have an intern.

template by vee

[Veronica Giselle Ollivander]

━ you have bewitched me, body and soul ━

AS THE TWO SLIGHTLY STEPPED back from one another, Veronica couldn't help but keep her smile wide as she looked up at her younger brother. "Merlin..twenty three already?" She grinned then, gently pushing the hair on his face back, similarly to how she would do so in his younger years. "Where has the time gone already?" Luckily for Veronica, after giving birth to Gideon, she felt prepared enough to raise her son, especially since she played an active role in caring for Gehry as he grew up. "She did? You must have grown then." Veronica added. "How is she? I haven't called in a few days."

In her younger years, Veronica was closer to her parents but since Gideon was born and later on, her fateful divorce, the eldest Ollivander found she had more arguments with her parents than casual conversations. Oddly enough, the arguments weren't really there with her father, unless the topic or discussion at hand was about the shop. As Gehry pointed out the lack of dust on the floor and the mention of Veronica's new intern, she couldn't help but smile a little wider.

"When you're so awfully busy, of course I needed to find help from elsewhere." Veronica patted his back then and stepped to head back behind the counter, leaving the flap open as an invitation for Gehry to join her. "Tea? Coffee? Cigarette? Anything?" She questioned in offering, digging into her pockets to fish out her usual pack.

| gehry benjamin ollivander |

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

Don't tell me I'm flawed

My flaws don't deserve it

April 23, 2027
Veronica Giselle Ollivander

Veronica had been well into her studies at Hogwarts by the time Benny was born. It was exciting news, another son! Things might have been different if he’d been born a decade sooner. But Benny simply couldn’t imagine any other life than his current one. Managing the shop, perhaps? The idea didn’t appeal to him at all. There was freedom where his obligations were simple, his work schedule predictable, and the rest was up to him. Benny flinched a little, moving slightly away as Veronica fixed his hair much as she had when he was a little boy. It wasn’t new. His mother never did that though she hadn’t minded Veronica minding her youngest brother when he was small.

”I think she’s starting to lose it a bit.” Gary spoke, though not dramatically enough to imply that he was serious. ”She was going on and on about marriage and this and that, but I managed to leave before she finished her rant.” Their mother was growing more persistent. Benny had gotten into the habit of scarfing down his dinner, so he didn’t have to sit through all of it. Not that his father ever commented unless called upon. And at least in that instance, he was grateful, for perhaps the first time, that he had to be at work.

Benny followed Veronica behind the counter. It hadn’t changed, as far as he could tell. Certain items were in different places, but he could still visualize where his father would have kept them. ”Some Tea would be lovely.” The caffeine addiction itched at him, but he would pop by the Pi Pâtisserie later for some coffee and baked goods he’d grown very fond of. Plus, the owner Decima was a very kind woman who’d always told the once scrawny boy he needed to eat more pie, and Nova always had something new up her sleeve for him to try. ”When does Gideon return? I don’t understand why he didn’t just go to Beauxbatons. It's so much closer.” The American school was so far, and Benny missed seeing his nephew, though he often forgot that technically he was his uncle.

template by vee