Choosing a Wand in Reverse

Ollivander's wand shop was quiet and solemn. Countless long, narrow boxes were stacked neatly on shelves that reached almost to the ceiling, and a pleasant scent of wood drifted through the air. In the sunlight streaming through the glass, faint dust motes could be seen dancing, accompanied by a slight tinkling sound coming from somewhere unknown.

"Good afternoon."

A soft voice drifted from the depths of the shop, followed by an old man. His eyes were silver-white and large, like two moons. To Avada's Magic Sense, that pair of eyes corresponded to an incredibly complex and singular structure.

He froze for a moment after seeing Dumbledore, then his face filled with delight: "Oh, Professor Dumbledore! It is an honor to see you again... Have you brought this child here to purchase a wand?"

"Yes, Mr. Ollivander. Please, would you select a wand for him?"

Dumbledore greeted Ollivander with a smile and then stepped aside.

Ollivander seemed to want to say something more, but seeing Dumbledore's action, he could only shake his head helplessly before turning his attention to Avada.

"Then, let us begin."

Ollivander's silver-white eyes stared at Avada for a moment, making him feel a bit unsettled. Just as he was about to ask a question, he noticed that Ollivander's expression was becoming increasingly peculiar: "What is your name, child?"

"..."

Avada turned to look at Dumbledore and received an affirmative nod.

"Avada Kedavra."

He mimicked Dumbledore's tone, drawing out the syllables to minimize the shock to Ollivander. Yet, Ollivander still shuddered upon hearing it, though a look of sudden realization soon followed.

"So that is how it is. No wonder..."

"Very well, Mr. Kedavra, which hand do you use?"

"My right."

"Raise your arm."

The measuring tape in Ollivander's hand floated up of its own accord, measuring every part of Avada's body, while Ollivander himself dove into the pile of wands behind him, rummaging through them.

"My eyes can see certain special things, and combined with the customer's name and measurements, I can roughly determine a range for selecting a wand. But if I encounter a picky customer, it is inevitable that we might have to test ten or even dozens of times..."

"Alright, try this one. Ten and three-quarters inches, acacia wood, phoenix feather core. Give it a wave and try..."

His words were cut short, stuck in his throat, as he watched in astonishment while a red glow surged from the tip of the wand, enveloping the hand holding it and gradually shrouding Avada's entire body.

"Whoa!"

Avada couldn't help but cry out in surprise—the moment he grasped this wand, his Magic Sense felt as if it had suddenly been fitted with glasses, instantly becoming several times clearer!

Moreover, he vaguely sensed that his own golden radiance, which was to say his mental energy, could be directed and extended through the wand, becoming more solidified, and its range would increase significantly!

This thing was practically a spell-casting artifact!

"Success on the first try? A rare occurrence!"

Ollivander exclaimed with some delight, then calmed down and smiled: "Then, Mr. Kedavra, congratulations on finding the wand that suits you best. It will accompany you, starting your journey into the magical world together."

"Uh..."

Avada felt a bit strange. He had watched others test wands for a long time, and only after they picked out a powerful and peculiar wand would Ollivander get excited and shout; how did it turn out like this for him...

"How about I try some others?"

He asked with a sheepish request.

"You want to try others? Very well, after all, not experiencing an unsuitable wand during selection can be considered a bit of a regret." Ollivander was amused, then took out another wand: "Twelve and a half inches, ebony, unicorn hair. Come, experience this one."

Avada curiously reached out and grasped the wand. The moment he held it, the wand also instantly erupted with a red glow, emitting a warm current that passed through Avada's entire body, making him feel exceptionally comfortable—exactly the same as the previous one.

"Eh?"

A trace of surprise appeared in Ollivander's eyes once more.

"Very few people can adapt to a second wand so perfectly." Ollivander stared at the little fellow in front of him with great interest: "The decision you made to try another wand, I fear it was also an attraction from the unknown, was it not? Perhaps this is the guidance of fate?"

"Um... could I try another one?"

"Haha, still want to experience the feeling of a wand not being suitable? Very well. Thirteen inches, cherry wood, unicorn hair. Try this one."

Avada took the newly retrieved wooden box, opened it, and grasped the wand. Once again, a red glow and a warm current.

"What is going on here?!"

This time, it wasn't just Ollivander; even Dumbledore, standing to the side, revealed an expression of surprise.

If it were a coincidence for one person to touch two perfectly compatible wands in a row, then the third time meant that matters were not so simple.

"Try this one!"

Ollivander didn't even bother with his standard wand-testing routine, instead directly taking out a wand and thrusting it into Avada's hand—still the red glow and warm current that symbolized a perfect match.

"How about this one?"

Perfect match, red glow, warm current.

"This one!"

Red glow, warm current.

"This one!!"

Red glow, warm current.

"..."

A warm stream of red light.

Ollivander, Dumbledore, and Avada all fell into silence simultaneously.

"This shouldn't be happening. How could it be? It makes no sense..."

"Do you have any ideas, Professor Dumbledore?" After deep contemplation yielded no results, Ollivander had no choice but to seek help from Dumbledore, who had brought Avada there, but he was met only with an equally bewildered gaze.

Standing to the side, clutching his wand in bewilderment, Avada's eyelid twitched: at the very least, he had experienced the sensation of being constantly chosen by wands.

Though it was in reverse.

"So..." he cautiously broke the silence and asked, "How exactly should my wand be chosen?"

The atmosphere inside the wand shop grew even more silent.

"...How about we just pick the first one?"

Dumbledore's brow furrowed so deeply it nearly sent his spectacles flying off, but in the end, he nodded helplessly: "Very well."

Ollivander seemed unwilling to give up, but ultimately said nothing, merely accepting the seven Galleons silently before handing the ten-and-three-quarter-inch, acacia wood and phoenix feather wand to Avada.

However, this had one benefit: when they went to purchase textbooks, robes, and other first-year supplies afterward, Dumbledore's expression looked as if he were pondering matters of great importance to the entire wizarding world, causing those around them to avoid the trouble of approaching him. This allowed Avada to complete his trip to Diagon Alley with ease.

It wasn't until Avada signed the Ministry of Magic's compensation terms and completed the magical contract that Dumbledore stared straight at him and said in a grave, slow tone:

"You possess a talent beyond our imagination, Avada."

"I hope you can use it well."

Unlike the long-winded speech he had expected, these two short sentences were all Dumbledore said to Avada. Shortly after, however, his tone turned light again: "But before you begin to master your talent, I suggest you pick up a few real Muggle textbooks on your way back to your friends, otherwise you might find it difficult to handle their persistent questions."

"Also, I must remind you that the coming month will be the last time you can practice magic outside of school before heading to Hogwarts; you'll regret it if you don't cherish it—though do be sure to stay hidden, as matters regarding the Statute of Secrecy are always quite a headache."

"Thank you for the reminder, Professor."

Avada thanked him sincerely, then remembered one more thing: "Also, Professor Dumbledore, about my name..."

"There is no need to worry too much."

Dumbledore said with a smile: "Although the names registered at Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic cannot be changed, using a codename in front of students is acceptable. This will at least ensure that only the professors in the entire school know your real name, sparing you from any trouble from your classmates. Hmm, Avada Kedavra... how about 'Mr. K'?"

"That sounds fine." Avada sighed inwardly—but wouldn't this just make him "the person who cannot be named" as well?

Raised in an orphanage, brought to Hogwarts by Dumbledore, possessing astonishing talent, and having a name that cannot be spoken...

"I shouldn't be sorted into Slytherin... right?"

"And that's the best-case scenario. If the Sorting Hat gets a shock after learning my real name, will it just sort me straight into Azkaban?"