A Wand That Brings Luck

"Are you here to buy Hogwarts uniforms, dear?" As soon as Albert entered the tailor's shop, a short, plump witch greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Yes, ma'am." Albert nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

"What a polite young man. Come on, I'll take your measurements." With a flick of Madam Malkin's fingers, a measuring tape, pins, and scissors flew over and began taking Albert's measurements automatically. Herb stared at the sight in stunned amazement.

Having clothes tailored was a complicated process. It took a full half hour, and Madam Malkin told them to come back for their packages after they finished shopping.

"Ma'am, besides the clothes required by the school, I'd also like to order a black pointed hat and an ordinary black robe. Make them to my measurements, but without a name tag. Oh, and please wrap them separately." After straightening his slightly rumpled clothes, Albert spoke to Madam Malkin.

"A black pointed hat and an ordinary robe?" Madam Malkin looked doubtfully at Herb and repeated Albert's request.

"That's right." Herb nodded. He knew they were gifts for Nia.

"All right." Madam Malkin did not give the strange request any further thought and nodded to show that she understood.

After paying a deposit in Galleons, the two left Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and went to the nearby Weasley Is Our King Magical Supplies. There, they bought the Brass Scales, Brass Telescope, and Glass Phials on the list.

In fact, Albert simply handed the list to Weasley Is Our King and told him that he wanted everything on it.

Weasley Is Our King took only a few minutes to gather every item on the list and pack them up for him.

With the shopkeeper's directions, Albert easily found Potage's Cauldron Shop and bought a Pewter Cauldron there.

Through the shop owner, Potage, they found an apothecary and stocked up on the ingredients needed for Potions Class.

The apothecary was definitely not a pleasant place. Even before they got close, they could smell a nauseating stench, as though it had been deliberately prepared to drive customers away.

The apothecary was filled with all sorts of strange things. Jars of herbs, dried roots, and brightly colored powders lined the shelves.

Bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and furry claws also hung from the ceiling.

Good heavens, how could wizards possibly brew these things into potions and drink them?

Herb did not dare think any further after spotting a jar of slugs.

It was simply too disgusting.

The father was beginning to question his life choices.

Maybe sending his son to that Hogwarts place really was not a wise decision.

Besides the ingredients, Albert also bought some tools for brewing potions.

After paying, he dragged the troubled-looking Herb out of the apothecary.

"Albert, how about we give up?" Once Herb had pulled Albert some distance away from the apothecary, he spoke with a serious expression. "Let's go to Eton College."

Albert's cheek twitched, and he shook his head.

"But... the more I think about it, the less reliable it seems. Maybe Daisy was right." Herb looked at his son with a complicated expression.

"We still need some books, a wand, and an owl." Albert looked at Herb. "At least don't jump to conclusions before we understand the wizarding world."

"All right." Herb was a little depressed, but he nodded in agreement.

After buying the books on the list at Flourish and Blotts, Albert also purchased several books on the history of the wizarding world.

Actually, Albert wanted to linger in the bookstore for a while, but considering the time, he gave up and asked the bookstore manager for a catalog so he could order books by owl in the future.

Then, at Diagon Alley Stationery Shop beside Quality Quidditch Supplies, he bought a large amount of Parchment, Quills, and Ink.

With the owner's enthusiastic help, they found Eeylops Owl Emporium. It was on the north side of Diagon Alley and easy to find, with a great many owls hanging outside.

He had to buy an owl, or he would have no way to contact his family.

Herb also bought a bag of Owl Food and Owl nuts.

Pushing the cart, Herb crossed off the items they had bought one by one. Only the wand remained.

Ollivanders Wand Shop was on the south side of Diagon Alley. They had learned its location from the witch selling owls.

It was a small, shabby shop.

When Albert pushed open the door, a tinkling bell rang. The interior was tiny, with nothing inside except a long bench.

When Herb pushed the cart inside, it felt as though he had filled the entire shop at once. He sat on the bench, eating Pumpkin Pasties he had just bought from a stall. There were also some sweets in the cart, likewise gifts for Nia.

Albert was holding a Pumpkin Pasty as well. He was hungry too.

"Is anyone here?"

"Good afternoon." A soft voice sounded as Ollivander emerged from the back.

"Hello, sir. I'd like to buy..." Albert set down his Pumpkin Pasty.

"A wand. Oh, of course. A new Hogwarts student."

"Yes, sir."

"By the way, what is your name?" Ollivander seemed to notice Albert's confusion and explained, "Every wizard who buys a wand here must be registered with the Ministry of Magic."

"Albert Anderson," Albert introduced himself.

"Very well, Mr. Anderson." Ollivander pulled a measuring tape from his pocket. "Which hand do you use most often?"

"I'm used to using my right hand." Albert raised his arm.

Ollivander began taking Albert's measurements, first from shoulder to fingertip, then from wrist to elbow. The complicated process made both father and son suspect that Ollivander sold clothes rather than wands.

"Every wand I make is unique. Wizards can always find the one most suited to them here." Ollivander rambled on as he measured, but Albert was beginning to question his life choices too. The measuring tape was actually measuring the distance between his nostrils.

Albert reached out, brushed the tape aside, and walked toward the counter.

Ollivander had already taken a wand from the shelf. "Holly Wood and Phoenix Feather, seven inches, very flexible."

Albert had barely reached out to take it when Ollivander snatched it away.

"Try this one instead. Ash Wood and Unicorn Hair. Eight and a half inches long. An extraordinary combination, with good flexibility."

Albert took it and gave it a wave, but nothing happened.

"Doesn't seem suitable," Ollivander muttered to himself. "Try this one..."

Albert tried wand after wand. Sometimes, a wand displayed tremendous destructive power, even blasting the vase on the counter to pieces and startling Herb.

"I like picky customers." Ollivander brought over another pile of wands and smiled. "Redwood and Phoenix Feather, nine inches long, with good flexibility."

Albert took the wand and felt a faint warmth at his fingertips. With a gentle flick, red sparks burst from its tip, blooming through the shop like fireworks.

"That's the one." Ollivander happily placed the wand into its box and smiled at Albert. "Legend says that wands made from redwood bring their users luck."

"Do you believe that?" Albert asked in return.

"No. I believe wands made from redwood are drawn to certain wizards, and those wizards already possess the ability to escape danger when they encounter it."

"So it isn't redwood that brings luck, but its owners that gave it its lucky reputation?" Albert raised an eyebrow.

"You could say that." Ollivander nodded. "That will be 10 Galleons. Thank you for your patronage."