Dumbledore Was Looking Forward to It

It was hard to say what McGonagall was thinking right now. Even she herself could not explain it clearly.

But half an hour later, Silvan left the office with five of McGonagall's hairs.

McGonagall soon left as well. After passing through two corridors, she arrived at the entrance to the Headmaster's office, also on the eighth floor.

What had happened today was simply too unbelievable. She needed someone to help her sort it all out, and Dumbledore was the best choice.

The Headmaster's office was guarded by an ugly stone gargoyle.

"Acid Pops," McGonagall said.

The gargoyle stepped aside, revealing the spiral staircase rising behind it.

McGonagall stepped onto it and was quickly carried to the top, where it stopped before an oak door.

She raised her hand and knocked. Dumbledore's voice soon came from inside.

"Come in, Minerva."

McGonagall pushed open the door. Dumbledore was standing before a bookshelf, dressed in pink pajamas patterned with strawberries and wearing a matching pointed hat—also pink.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

Perhaps she was already used to it, but McGonagall showed no surprise at the Headmaster's cake-like attire. She got straight to the point and recounted what had happened half an hour ago.

"If a wizard's wand core is made from their own hair, then they would surely be the most perfectly matched partners. It would move as easily as an arm, unstoppable in every direction..." Dumbledore adjusted the glasses on his nose with great interest.

"He really said that?"

"That's right." McGonagall nodded. "But Dumbledore, is that possible? Using a wizard's hair as a wand core?"

"Hadn't you already witnessed another impossibility with your own eyes?" Dumbledore countered. "Casting three different spells at the same time is practically unheard of."

"If I hadn't seen it myself, I never would have believed it." McGonagall sighed.

In truth, even after seeing it with her own eyes, she still had doubts. Otherwise, she would not have rushed to the Headmaster's office.

"Ollivander's craftsmanship truly is superb, but why have I never seen a wand like that before?"

"No, Minerva, I don't think it had anything to do with Ollivander. Or rather, with Garrick Ollivander," Dumbledore said. He walked over to a table laden with all kinds of silver instruments and fell into thought for a moment.

"I suddenly remembered something interesting."

"Something interesting?"

"It was a year ago, when I was looking for a suitable Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for the school."

"Excuse me, Headmaster." McGonagall interrupted him. "By suitable, do you mean a wanted criminal of the Ministry of Magic?"

"Minerva, your words are truly hurtful." Dumbledore's expression did not change. "These days, it is already very difficult to find a wizard willing to come teach... I have to say, thank goodness Quirinus volunteered to take over the class this year. Otherwise, I would have had to keep searching for another two months."

"I only hope you can take this a little more seriously..." McGonagall said. "All right, go on."

"Where was I?"

"A year ago."

"Oh, right." Dumbledore said, "A year ago, while visiting an old friend, I happened to meet Garrick Ollivander there.

"My old friend told me that Garrick was looking for a suitable wand-core material for his grandson. He said Garrick was an unconventional genius wandmaker, capable of turning all manner of unusual materials into wand cores."

"Unusual materials?" McGonagall froze for a moment.

"That is the interesting part." Dumbledore smiled. "I imagine you overlooked a very important detail—the core of that round wand was the brain of a Quintaped."

McGonagall raised her head. Her eyes flickered, then quickly filled with confusion.

"It seems you have already thought of it," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Based on our ingrained understanding and experience, when we think of wand cores, don't we always think of something slender, like a feather, something that can easily be fitted into the middle of a wand?"

"That's right." McGonagall nodded instinctively.

"That is precisely what makes it so interesting." Dumbledore walked to the window. "I once studied wandlore for a time. I cannot claim to be proficient, but I barely reached the level of an apprentice.

"In my view, a single brain nerve alone would not be enough to cause such extraordinary changes in a wand. It would most likely be much like an ordinary wand... But if it were an entire brain, that would be another matter entirely. It involves the transformative theory of the integrity and complexity of magical mediums in alchemy.

"Wait, perhaps it was not a complete brain either. After all, a Quintaped should be capable of controlling five kinds of magic simultaneously, yet you only saw three.

"Oh, I understand. He must have picked up the wand core in Knockturn Alley. The things sold there are never quite complete."

"Hold on, Albus." Seeing Dumbledore grow more animated, his eyes shining ever brighter, McGonagall hurriedly stopped him. "But how did he... Silvan, manage it?"

"Minerva, I do not know everything." Dumbledore shook his head. "Wandlore is a profound field of knowledge, as ancient and mysterious as magic itself. Perhaps only Silvan can answer that question."

McGonagall said nothing.

Of course, she could not possibly ask a student such a question outright.

A few minutes later, McGonagall prepared to leave.

Although many of her questions remained unanswered, she had not come away empty-handed.

Dumbledore seemed to know about Silvan. That was enough.

"Wait, Minerva." Dumbledore suddenly called after her. "May I ask you for a favor?"

"Of course." McGonagall answered without hesitation. Turning around, she asked, "What is it?"

"Well..." Dumbledore suddenly became somewhat awkward. "If Silvan really does make a wand from your hair, could you let me know?"

"Hmm?" McGonagall?

"I'm very curious." Dumbledore thoughtfully stroked his beard. "Perhaps I could ask him to make one for me as well."

"Forgive me for saying so, Albus..." McGonagall stared at him. "I don't think you need a wand that moves as easily as an arm and is unstoppable in every direction."

"Thank you for the compliment, Minerva." Dumbledore's face reddened slightly. "I'm merely curious. Besides, my current wand... how should I put it? It can be a little too willful at times."

McGonagall stared at Dumbledore for a while longer, as though judging whether he was joking.

Besides, as far as she could remember, it had been a long time since she had seen Dumbledore holding a wand. She had even wondered whether Dumbledore truly needed such a thing as a wand.

But after hesitating for a while, she still nodded and agreed.

"All right. If that day comes, I will."

She did not make any promises too firmly. She still remained skeptical that hair could be used as a wand core.