“Welcome to Ollivanders, I am delighted to see you all.” As they stepped through the door, an elderly, bespectacled gentleman bowed elegantly to the group, greeting them with a warm smile.
“Long time no see, Mr.
Ollivander,” Professor McGonagall replied, gently nudging Leon and Hermione forward.
“Two prospective young wizards about to enter Hogwarts.
Let us see which two wands will find their ideal masters today.” At the sight of Hermione and Leon, Ollivander’s eyes lit up.
He warmly stepped forward, led them by their hands to the counter, and inquired about their dominant hands.
Upon learning that both were right-handed, Ollivander didn’t waste any time.
He drew a tape measure from his waist and began measuring their arm spans.
“Who’s first?” “Ladies first.” “Very well.” Ollivander winked playfully at Leon, then ducked behind the counter to search through the crowded shelves.
A moment later, he emerged with a long, slender box.
Walking up to Hermione, he opened it, slipped out the wand inside, and handed it to her.
“Vine wood, with a dragon heartstring core, fourteen inches.
Vine wand owners are almost always those who seek a greater purpose, who have a vision beyond the ordinary, and who frequently astound those who think they know them best.
Vine wands seem strongly attracted to personalities with hidden depths, and I have found them more sensitive than any other when it comes to instantly detecting a prospective match.
Reliable sources claim that these wands can emit magical effects upon the mere entrance of a suitable owner into the room, a phenomenon I have witnessed twice in my own shop.
And wands with dragon heartstrings are the most powerful, producing the most flamboyant spells.
Compared to others, wands with this core learn much quicker.” Describing the characteristics of the wand, Ollivander handed it to Hermione with an expectant gaze.
Hermione instinctively took the wand.
The previously still room suddenly grew breezy, as a warm, gentle wind swirled around her and wafted outward, bringing a deeply pleasant sense of comfort.
Hermione herself felt the change, and an indescribable surge of joy and excitement welled up inside her.
She could feel that the wand liked her immensely; their very first touch felt as intimate as a reunion between old friends.
“Splendid, an excellent match!
As I always say, it is not just the wizard who chooses the wand, but the wand that chooses the wizard.
Clearly, you are both well-pleased with each other.
Congratulations, young lady, you have found a companion to last a lifetime.” Seeing the wand’s reaction to Hermione, Ollivander pumped his fist in excitement, appearing even more thrilled than Hermione herself.
“Thank you, Mr.
Ollivander,” Hermione replied politely, expressing her gratitude before carefully cradling her newly acquired wand in her arms like a precious treasure.
Having sorted out Hermione’s wand, Ollivander turned his attention back to Leon.
“Now, it’s time to find this young gentleman his companion.” But as Ollivander looked closer, he suddenly realized the boy before him looked strangely familiar.
Noting his distinctive black hair and amber eyes, Ollivander inquired tentatively, “Are you Mr.
Leon Laevatein John?” “Yes, how do you know me?” Leon asked, rather surprised.
This was indeed his full name, yet it was definitely his first time meeting Ollivander.
It was quite baffling that the man could rattle off his full name, including his middle name.
“Of course!
Though you don’t remember me, I saw you when you were just a babe in your mother’s arms.
It was back then that your mother, Madam Laevatein, entrusted a wand to me, waiting for the day you would come to claim it.” Ollivander explained with delight, and immediately turned around, eager to retrieve it.
Leon was left completely bewildered.
He had never imagined that his eccentric mother was actually a witch.
In his memories, she didn’t seem like a witch at all, but rather a careless, goofy girl.
If his mother was a witch, what about his father?
While Leon was lost in thought, Ollivander returned, carrying a long, slender black wand.
Unlike Hermione’s natural, seamless wooden wand, the one in Ollivander’s hand featured a silver handle at the base, engraved with a mark shaped like an eye.
“Ebony, with a Thestral tail hair core.
A marvelous combination.
Wandmakers rarely choose Thestral tail hair as a core material because it is notoriously unstable, but once a balance is achieved, such a wand is destined for greatness.” At this point, Ollivander sighed with a hint of nostalgia.
“Regrettably, however, this wand was not crafted by the Ollivander family.
Though I have studied it, I cannot fathom the craftsmanship behind it.
This wand resists any and all diagnostic magic.” But a moment later, his expectant look returned, and he extended the wand to Leon.
“Give it a try, Mr.
John.
Your mother left it specifically for you, and I truly cannot believe any other wand in the world could suit you better.” Leon nodded and took the wand.
The moment his fingers closed around it, an inexplicable sense of relief rushed through him—a sensation akin to finally emptying a bladder held all night long.
Though no grand spectacle occurred like it did with Hermione, and the shop remained perfectly still after Leon took the wand, Ollivander nodded repeatedly in approval.
“A flawless match!
Not a single shred of magic was wasted or leaked.
To think it is such a mysterious, understated wand—truly an eye-opener.” Ollivander then turned to Leon and said earnestly, “Guard it well, Mr.
John, for you will scarcely find another wand constructed with a Thestral tail hair core that is this stable anywhere in the wizarding world.” Hearing this, Leon nodded instinctively, though his mind drifted to another wand crafted from a Thestral tail hair.
The Elder Wand, currently in Dumbledore’s possession—one of the Deathly Hallows, and universally recognized as the most powerful wand in the wizarding world.
But Leon didn’t dare say that aloud.
He simply tucked his wand away and asked Mr.
Ollivander with a smile, “How much do I owe you for the storage fee?” Even though the wand was left to him by his mother, Ollivander had kept it safe for a very long time, and Leon felt he should pay for the favor.
“No need.
Although Madam Laevatein and I were not particularly close, she once did me a grand favor.
A small matter like this doesn’t begin to repay that debt, so how could I possibly take your money?” Ollivander refused flatly, then changed the subject, turning to Hermione.
“Of course, we still need to settle the payment for this young lady’s wand, as it was crafted by my own hands.
But there’s no need to worry about it being overly expensive—it is just seven Galleons to take it home.
And if you add another ten silver Sickles, I can throw in a wand maintenance kit.”