Wands

A short while later, the four ladies present appeared on the streets of Diagon Alley, each with an ice cream cone in hand.

"Shall we go buy books first?" Hermione caught sight of a bookstore not far away, her eyes lighting up as she spoke excitedly.

Su Er knew that this girl had no sense of moderation when buying books, and if they went to the bookstore first, it would easily turn into a situation where they had to haul dozens of pounds of books while doing the rest of their shopping, so he shook his head.

"No, the most important thing right now is to buy a wand."

"Alright." Hermione nodded in slight disappointment, but then perked up again with excitement. "Professor McGonagall told me that having a good wand makes casting spells twice as effective with half the effort, and speaking of buying wands, she recommended one place to me---Ollivander."

"Mrs. Granger and I would like to go take a look over there." Mrs. Ellison seemed to have other ideas, and Su Er looked in the direction she indicated.

Oh, it looked like a Clothing Store, so that settled that.

"Then shall I meet you and Hermione over there later? Mom?" Su Er said tactfully.

"Alright." Mrs. Ellison nodded, and the seven of them split into a group of two and a group of five, parting ways at this intersection.

The two of them walked along the cobblestone path for a long time before they saw a small, shabby shop.

The golden sign above its door was peeling, reading---Ollivander: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

"This is it." Su Er stopped in his tracks, and Hermione looked at the small shop in front of her with a puzzled gaze.

"Are you sure?"

"Ah, millenia-old wandmakers, it's normal for the shop to be a bit rundown. Anything left for a thousand years would fall apart."

As they spoke, Su Er pushed the door open and entered, with Hermione following closely behind.

A tinkling bell rang deep within the shop, seemingly alerting the shopkeeper that guests had arrived.

Su Er and Hermione stood by the bench near the door to examine the shop's furnishings. Countless boxes were stacked neatly all the way up to the high ceiling, and a folding chair sat lonely beside a mountain of boxes. Anyone here with trypophobia would likely feel dizzy.

The atmosphere here was solemn and mysterious, and Su Er and Hermione didn't even dare to breathe heavily.

"Good afternoon," a soft voice said, startling them both. Looking toward the source of the sound, the two of them saw that an old man had appeared before them out of nowhere. He was dressed plainly but very neatly, and his eyes were a very pale silver, looking somewhat like two shining moons in the slightly dim shop.

This must be Ollivander, akin to an equipment mentor in a game.

"Hello, Mr. Ollivander," the two said in unison, speaking stiffly.

Ollivander gazed steadily at Su Er, seemingly recalling something.

"Ah, I remember," he said. "Mr. Bones, I remember, I remember, your father, thirteen and a third inches, Cypress, Unicorn Tail Hair."

"And Madam Bones, made of Cherry, very smooth to wave. That was a truly fine wand. Now it's your turn, young Bones."

Hermione looked at Su Er with some suspicion and astonishment.

"Actually, my name is Su Er Ellison, sir," Su Er replied softly. Perhaps he might have another surname in the Wizarding World, but it was Mr. and Mrs. Ellison who had raised him from a tiny baby. If he had a choice, he didn't want a surname from the Wizarding World to replace the name Ellison.

"No, I cannot be mistaken. You look very much like your father and your mother. Are they here?" Ollivander walked up to Su Er, observing him closely to reinforce his own judgment, and then he stood on tiptoes to peer outside the door.

"They didn't come, they have passed away."

"Oh..." Ollivander seemed somewhat saddened. "Mr. Bones and Madam Bones were both good people. I'm sorry, child, I didn't know..."

"It's alright, Mr. Ollivander. Right now, I'm just hoping to get a wand of my own," Su Er said.

"Of course, of course," Ollivander nodded repeatedly. "I understand. Young wizards always hold great expectations for their first wand."

"Then, Mr. Bo... Mr. Ellison, which hand do you use for your wand?" Ollivander reached out and summoned a tape measure from a small table not far away.

"My right hand, sir."

"Very well, hold it out." The tape measure began to move, taking measurements as Ollivander directed. "People always think it is the wizard's power that commands the wand."

After the tape measure finished measuring the length and girth of Su Er's arm, it began from shoulder to floor, knee to armpit...

"And my ancestors determined very early on that it is the wand that chooses the wizard, and it always faithfully reflects the qualities of the wand's master."

Ollivander began walking backward, leaving the tape measure to flutter around Su Er.

"From long ago, we began using Dragon Heartstring, Phoenix Feather, and Unicorn Tail Hair. They all possess extraordinary properties."

Sounds continued to come from the direction where Ollivander had disappeared, and soon, Ollivander walked out carrying a few boxes.

"Dragon Heartstring, twelve and two-thirds inches, Fir, give it a try." He took the wand out of the box and handed it to Su Er, hilt first.

Su Er took it, but before he even had time to wave it and test the feel, a beam of red light burst from the tip of the wand and smashed into the mountain of boxes nearby, causing several boxes to fall to the ground with a continuous series of thuds.

Ollivander didn't mind in the least, drawing the wand out of Su Er's hand. "This bad-tempered fellow clearly doesn't like you, Mr. Ellison. Then let's try this one, Willow, Phoenix Feather."

As soon as Su Er held the new wand in his hand, Ollivander snatched it away.

"Not quite right either," he said. "Come, try this one, Unicorn Hair, just like Mr. Bones, Cypress."

The moment this wand was held in Su Er's hand, the tip began to emit a glowing radiance.

"Oh, that looks good," Mr. Ollivander said, and for a moment Su Er thought this was going to be his wand.

However, Ollivander shook his head immediately after. "But it is not the best."

The boxes piled higher and higher, and wand after wand was exchanged, but Ollivander showed not the slightest bit of impatience; instead, he grew even more excited.

"A picky customer, no matter... hmm, let me think, I seem to have one..." Ollivander gently clapped his hands. "Oh, yes, that one..."

He muttered to himself as he walked deeper inside, and then a succession of thumps, thuds, and crashes echoed from the depths of the small shop.

A soft "ouch..." also drifted out.

It sounded as though Ollivander had been hit by a box.

Hermione was already sitting on the bench against the wall and beginning to nod off.

"Ah... this is it." Ollivander's shoulders were dusted with a layer of ash, but a smile wore his face.

"Give it a try."

Ollivander took out the wand. It was an exceptionally beautiful wand, and the grain of the shaft carried vitality.

It was the breath of life, making anyone who laid eyes on it instantly associate it with the word life.

"An extraordinary combination, an early work of my father's." Ollivander gently stroked the wand in his hand, caressing the grain over and over again.

"Sycamore, Thestral Tail Hair, a very contradictory combination, yet they get along harmoniously. Apart from this, I can't think of a more suitable wand."

Su Er took the wand in his hand, and suddenly a feeling welled up in his heart.

This was it.

The wand quivered gently in Su Er's hand, wisps of light motes diffusing from the tip. Soon, the air was completely filled with the light motes drifting from the wand, and the atmosphere of the entire little shop felt as though it had been refreshed.

"Exquisite." Ollivander gently applauded, though his expression was somewhat inscrutable.

"Life is the most wonderful thing in the world, and death is equally a grand proposition..." he said.

"It has chosen you, and I hope you will not let it down."

"Well then, next should be this little witch's turn."

"Ah..." Hermione lifted her head in a daze. "Is it over?"

"Wipe your drool, Hermione." Su Er gripped the wand in his hand tightly and said with a smile.