"Choose one yourself?"
Ollivander stared at Vade in surprise.
"Young wizard, I understand your curiosity, but you know nothing about wands.
Wands are made from different woods and cores, and there are countless possible combinations.
Yet every wand is unique. Even wands made from the same wood and core will have subtle differences."
"I may not understand wands, but I do understand divination."
McGonagall’s interest was immediately piqued.
"Mr. Moria, you know how to perform divination?"
"A little," Vade replied modestly.
Exactly how much counted as "a little" was a matter of perspective.
"You intend to use divination to find your first wand?" Ollivander asked thoughtfully. "Mr. Moria, you are the first wizard I have ever known to try such a thing.
Very well, then. Let us see what happens."
Vade took a deep breath and calmed himself as much as possible.
He then removed the silver chain hanging around his neck. A transparent crystal dangled from its end.
He extended his left hand and held the silver chain so that the crystal hung straight down toward the floor.
After a moment of complete stillness, the crystal swayed slightly and indicated a direction.
Vade walked to one of the shelves and repeated the process.
After using the spirit pendulum several times to eliminate the wands unsuitable for him, Vade finally removed two boxes and placed them on the table.
"Are you certain these two wands are suited to you?"
Ollivander’s breathing had quickened slightly, and his pale eyes were filled with excitement.
"Not entirely. Divination is not infallible."
Ollivander opened the first box. Inside lay a silver-gray wand.
"Vine wood with a phoenix feather core, eleven inches."
"Vine wands are among the less common varieties. Their owners nearly always seek a greater purpose, possess vision beyond the ordinary, and frequently astonish those who believe they know them best."
"Phoenix feather wands are capable of the greatest range of magic, but they are highly selective when choosing their owners. They are also among the most difficult wands to tame and personalize."
Vade accepted the wand from Ollivander and gave it a practiced wave.
A scarlet glow appeared at its tip, releasing an invisible yet pleasantly warm breeze.
"What an intriguing method of divination. This wand is exceptionally well suited to you."
"Mr. Ollivander, what about the other wand?" McGonagall asked.
"That is where things become truly remarkable."
Ollivander opened the second box, revealing a pale-gray wand resting quietly inside.
"This was made by my father. It is also eleven inches long and made of vine wood, but its core is a Thunderbird tail feather.
Wands with Thunderbird tail feather cores are difficult to master, but exceptionally powerful."
Vade accepted the wand, and his fingertips went numb for an instant.
As he gave it a wave, a thumb-sized spark of golden electricity burst from the tip. It crackled in the air before quickly fading into nothing.
Ollivander could not help clapping his hands.
"Excellent. Both of these wands have chosen you. I believe you are destined to accomplish great things."
Vade thought Ollivander had an excellent eye for people.
Becoming a god would certainly count as a great accomplishment, even though Vade had yet to take the first step toward it.
Unless he unraveled the secret of the Card of Blasphemy, however, there would be a firm limit to what he could achieve in this life.
"Well then, Mr. Moria, which wand will you choose?"
"Can’t I have both?"
Ollivander fell silent for several seconds.
"You can, but I would not recommend it.
The wand chooses the wizard, and the wizard must master the wand.
Mastering one wand is obviously easier than mastering two. For most witches and wizards, a single wand can last for many years. Anything you could accomplish with two wands can also be done with one, often more easily."
Perhaps you’re overthinking it. I only want a spare.
Vade kept the thought to himself.
"I would still like both of them."
"Very well. A wand costs seven Galleons, so the two will cost fourteen."
Vade opened the pouch filled with gold Galleons and reached inside.
The instant his fingers touched the coins, the Card of Blasphemy within his mind suddenly released an invisible pulse.
At that moment, Vade understood.
The condition required to activate the Card of Blasphemy was not complicated. In fact, it was almost absurdly simple.
Money.
More precisely, magical currency, like the gold Galleons currently clutched in his hand.
No wonder the Card of Blasphemy had shown no reaction over the past eleven years. Before entering the wizarding world, he had never had the opportunity to come into contact with magical currency.
Fate’s joke was not funny in the slightest.
Vade felt like a complete clown. He seriously suspected that, if he drank the Sequence 8 potion now, he would immediately digest a substantial portion of it.
Vade counted out fourteen Galleons, paid for the wands, and took both of them with him.
After leaving Ollivanders, the two walked along the bustling street outside.
"I had no idea you possessed a talent for divination."
A meaningful smile appeared on McGonagall’s face.
"Professor Trelawney may be delighted to hear about you. She teaches Divination."
"Shouldn’t every witch and wizard possess some talent for divination?" Vade asked, feigning confusion.
"No. Even in the wizarding world, those with a genuine talent for divination are extremely rare. True Seers capable of making prophecies are rarer still."
"Mr. Moria, have you considered which House you would like to join?"
Vade shook his head.
Hogwarts had four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
Personally, he was more inclined toward Hufflepuff.
The House was relatively peaceful and uncompetitive, making it ideal for someone who wanted to keep his head down and quietly build his strength.
However, he could not say that aloud. This was supposedly his first day in the wizarding world, so how could he possibly know so much about Hogwarts?
McGonagall also realized this and began explaining the four Hogwarts Houses to him. She then tactfully revealed her true intention.
"Should it interest you, you might consider Gryffindor. I am certain you would make many friends there."
This young wizard showed considerable promise. As Head of Gryffindor House, she naturally did not wish to let him slip away.
Besides, he was an orphan. The companionship of friends would ease his loneliness and provide a much-needed source of warmth and support as he grew up.
Realizing that McGonagall was trying to recruit him, Vade felt strangely guilty.
There was no chance he was going to Gryffindor.
None whatsoever.
It was far too lively, and joining it would make it much too easy to become involved with the Boy Who Lived. Who knew when he might be dragged into one of his adventures?
"Thank you, Professor. I’ll give it careful consideration."
Leaving the subject behind, McGonagall took Vade to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, where he purchased several sets of school robes. They bought his first-year textbooks at Flourish and Blotts, then visited other shops for a cauldron, protective gloves, a winter cloak, a telescope, scales, and the rest of his required equipment.
Vade checked the Hogwarts supply list.
He had purchased everything he needed.
Only a pet remained.
(To be continued.)