The Wand Chooses

The blonde girl's expression was cool as she corrected Ollivander in an ethereal, indifferent voice.

"My surname is Grindelhill, Mr. Ollivander. Grindelwald is my great-uncle's surname. You may simply call me Aisling."

Ollivander looked around at the elderly wizards accompanying the young witch. Seeing that none of them reacted, he then glanced at Dumbledore, who stood unconcernedly by the door, before slowly speaking.

"Please forgive me, Miss Grindelhill. Then, are you here to choose a wand of your own?"

Aisling nodded, maintaining her detached expression as she drew an exceptionally slender wand and handed it to Ollivander.

"This is the wand I have been using, but I can feel it resisting me. Sometimes, the spells I cast even backfire on me."

Ollivander accepted the wand with both hands and held it before his eyes for a close inspection. His withered fingers traced the patterns along the slender wand, and he immediately recognized its materials. He spoke with some shock.

"Elder wood with Thestral tail hair. Gregorovitch actually succeeded in replicating the Elder Wand. But..."

Ollivander raised the wand beside his ear and listened to it carefully.

"It even retains some of the Elder Wand's power. After all, Gregorovitch once possessed the Elder Wand. He should have known that, powerful as this wand is, it still cannot compare to the real Elder Wand. And the more powerful a wand is, the choosier it is about its wizard. You were very wise, Miss Grindelhill, not to become obsessed with this wand's great power."

Upon hearing Ollivander's words, one of the older wizards following Aisling looked anxious and pleaded with Ollivander.

"Mr. Ollivander, I know you are one of the world's foremost wandmakers. If possible, could you see whether this wand can be adjusted to make it easier for my lady to use?"

Ollivander shook his head, indicating that he could not do so.

"Wolf. I have already decided to give up this wand. My strength does not need to rely on a wand that refuses to obey me."

"But it is still a creation modeled after the Elder Wand. Back then, Lord Grindelwald..."

"Enough."

Aisling cut Wolf off in an unquestionable tone. Wolf immediately fell silent and respectfully stepped back. Aisling resumed her cool tone and addressed Ollivander.

"Please choose a wand for me, Mr. Ollivander."

Nearby, Roy secretly observed Aisling's every move and formed an opinion of his future classmate. That little girl sure talks big. She's probably a female version of Haojia.

Ollivander's slight figure moved skillfully through the mountains of wands. Every so often, he selected one from the pile and cautiously handed it to Aisling. Yet whenever Aisling had just taken hold of a wand, Ollivander would snatch it back in an instant with lightning speed.

"Please try this one."

Ollivander took out a glossy, straight black wand and handed it to Aisling. The instant she gripped it, several blue flames sprang from its tip and danced through the air, bursting with cheerful pops.

Ollivander introduced the wand to Aisling with satisfaction. "Ebony, fourteen and three-quarter inches, with a dragon heartstring core from an exceptionally fierce Hungarian Horntail."

At last, a trace of satisfaction appeared on Aisling's coldly beautiful face. With a light wave of her wand, the blue flames dancing in the air vanished.

"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander. May I ask how much this wand costs?"

"Seven Galleons, please."

Aisling waved to Wolf. Wolf stepped forward, took out a purse, and poured out a large pile of Galleons for Ollivander. The little mountain of gold coins numbered far more than seven.

"Keep the change. I greatly admire your wandmaking skill. Consider the extra payment a token of thanks for your effort."

Ollivander accepted it with trembling hands and counted nearly twenty Galleons. He immediately and respectfully brought out a large number of wand care kits and several very expensive dragon-hide wand holsters for Aisling.

As Aisling prepared to leave, Ollivander reluctantly returned the wand modeled after the Elder Wand to her. However, Aisling did not take it.

"I can see that you like this wand very much, Master Ollivander. Since I cannot use it, I might as well give it to you, so that it will not go to waste. If you wish to find it a new owner, that is fine as well."

Upon hearing Aisling's words, Ollivander could barely contain his smile. Seeing that the wizards accompanying Aisling did not object, he did not decline. He bowed deeply and obsequiously escorted Aisling's group out of the shop.

Before leaving the shop, Aisling seemed to finally notice Dumbledore and Roy, one tall and one short.

Aisling moved with graceful composure as she bowed to Dumbledore in greeting.

"We meet again, Professor Dumbledore."

Dumbledore's expression was as calm as still water. Ignoring the hostile glares from the people behind him, he merely returned Aisling's greeting with equal calmness.

Then Aisling turned her gaze toward Roy, her amber eyes fixed intently on his face.

Being stared at so closely by such a pretty little girl made Roy somewhat uncomfortable. A puzzled look appeared on his unremarkable face as he awkwardly asked,

"What?"

Aisling said nothing. She continued staring fixedly at Roy's handsome face for a long while, then left the wand shop with the others without another word.

"Never seen a handsome guy before? Honestly." Roy spoke helplessly in a dashing tone.

Hearing Roy's words and looking at his face, both Dumbledore and Ollivander could not help laughing.

"What, is that really so funny?" Roy was a little annoyed. It seemed to remind him of his days at GTI, when everyone always laughed at him.

"No, it's just that your face is rather funny."

Roy seemed even more irritated by that answer.

"Very well, Mr. Smee, which hand do you prefer to hold your wand with?"

Roy raised his right hand. Ollivander hesitated briefly, then found a wand and handed it to him.

Roy took it and gave it a flick. It felt good, like an extension of his own arm.

"Something isn't right." Ollivander took another wand and handed it to Roy.

Roy flicked it and found that it still felt good.

"Hmm..."

Ollivander's expression grew grave. He kept bringing over more wands for Roy to try one by one. Unsurprisingly, Roy found every single wand easy to use.

Faced with this situation, Ollivander fell into hesitation.

"What's wrong? I think all of these are pretty good," Roy asked Ollivander in confusion.

Ollivander did not answer. Instead, he went deeper into the wand shop, found a very thick old book, and rapidly flipped through it with his head lowered.

Ollivander closed the book and began explaining to Roy.

"My family has made wands for thousands of years, and we have always believed in the theory that the wand chooses the wizard. Therefore, most wizards cannot be compatible with multiple wands of vastly different temperaments at the same time. But you are different. You are compatible with every wand."

Roy took another wand Ollivander handed him. It was the wand Aisling had just left behind.

"So, I'm special?"

"You could say exceptionally special. According to my ancestors' records, only one type of wizard possesses such a trait: those gifted in Ancient Magic." Ollivander looked toward Dumbledore. "Did you know he was an Ancient Magic user?"

Dumbledore accepted the situation calmly and shook his head.

"No, I did not know. I only knew that Roy's magic was far stronger than that of ordinary children, even more abundant than the magic of most adults."

Roy wore a somewhat smug expression. Although he did not understand what Ancient Magic was, judging from their conversation, he was apparently quite extraordinary.

"So I'm a genius, right?"

Roy's smile became a little too self-satisfied.

"Quite a genius, Mr. Smee. In that case, take whichever wand you like." Ollivander and Dumbledore exchanged a glance before Ollivander answered the smug Roy.

"Can I have two? I rather like these two wands."

Roy selected two wands, one of which was the wand Aisling had just left behind.

"One of these wands suits my magical power better, while the other feels like it has the greatest strength."

"Hmm, dogwood with a phoenix feather core, exactly eight inches. It seems you are a playful wizard. As for the other one..."

Ollivander sighed, but ultimately agreed to Roy's request.

"Forget it. Most likely, no one but you will be able to tame this wand. Fourteen Galleons, please."

Dumbledore had stood to one side with a smile throughout, silently watching Roy and Ollivander. After paying Ollivander fourteen Galleons, Dumbledore quietly spoke with him for a few moments before taking Roy out of the wand shop.

"It's nearly noon. I think you should head home for lunch." Seeing that the sun had risen directly overhead, Dumbledore Apparated with Roy back to Wool's Orphanage.

After a sensation of twisting, Dumbledore and Roy stood at the orphanage entrance.

Dumbledore took out a small pouch and handed it to Roy, preparing to say goodbye.

"I still have matters to attend to. An owl will deliver your textbooks tomorrow. This is your student allowance. Do not spend it carelessly. During the summer, you may begin preparing for your first-year classes. Hogwarts professors are quite strict."

Just as Dumbledore turned to Apparate away, Roy called out to him.

"Professor, I have a question for you."

Dumbledore stopped, looked at Roy, and gestured for him to continue.

"You hold a very high position in the wizarding world, don't you? You probably haven't personally welcomed a new student in years. I could see how surprised the others were to see you. I know I may have some talent, but it should not be enough for you to personally come and bring me to school, right? Why did you do this? To encourage an orphan like me?"

Dumbledore did not answer directly. He raised his head to look at the sign of Wool's Orphanage and began telling a story as if speaking to himself.

"More than seventy years ago, I was still the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts. I personally came here to welcome a new student. He was very talented. Even without anyone teaching him, he could use magic in a rudimentary way."

Dumbledore looked upward, lost in memory. Roy watched him, unable to see his eyes.

"Back then, I saw his evil nature. At the time, I was occupied with fighting Grindelwald and failed to guide him properly. Later, he went down the wrong path and caused enormous destruction to both the wizarding world and the Muggle world. It was a failure on my part as an educator."

"And you, Roy..."

Dumbledore's tone carried either disappointment or self-reproach as he turned the subject to Roy.

"You also came from here, and you are just as talented, even stronger than he was back then. When I evaluated this year's new students, everything about you reminded me of that person."

"But I know that you are different from him. You are a good child."

"The future still belongs to you young people. I am old, and I am tired."

After leaving those words behind, Dumbledore vanished at once. Roy stood alone before the orphanage, sighed, and walked inside by himself.

"Damn old man. I was going to invite you to stay for a meal."