Chapter 4: The Wand Chooses the Wizard
Chapter 4: The Wand Chooses the Wizard
Regardless, a wand was still essential, and Kyle cautiously pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Diana and Chris didn't follow; perhaps they thought wand shopping would take a long time, so upon learning that Kyle was heading to Ollivander's first, they decided to visit Gringotts instead.
...
The shop's interior was much better than the outside, although it still looked old and cluttered, but at least it was cleaner.
A jingling bell announced the arrival of a white-haired man behind the counter, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"Good afternoon, young one," he greeted.
Ollivander looked at Kyle and asked curiously, "Did you come alone?"
"Yes," Kyle replied, puzzled. "Is there a problem?"
Ollivander shook his head. "No, of course not."
As he spoke, Kyle caught a glimpse of disappointment in his eyes.
Strange, why would a customer's arrival bring disappointment?
"I must have seen wrong," Kyle thought, shaking his head and not giving it further thought.
"Well then, young wizard," Ollivander said, stepping out from behind the counter. "Can you tell me your name?"
"Kyle Joba," Kyle replied quickly.
"Joba..." Ollivander paused, slightly taken aback. "And Mr. Chris is..."
"My father," Kyle explained.
"Oh, of course..." Ollivander glanced instinctively towards the shop's entrance but quickly averted his gaze and clarified, "I mean, after all, the surname Joba is quite rare in the British Wizarding World."
It was confirmed; the old man was indeed disappointed that Chris wasn't there!
Kyle saw it clearly; when he mentioned that Chris was his father, the disappointment in Ollivander's eyes was almost palpable.
Furthermore, Ollivander started muttering to himself, repeatedly mentioning woods like willow and cedar, his voice too soft for Kyle to make out, though he didn't mind.
At this moment, Kyle's mind was solely focused on his wand, leaving no room for such trivial matters.
After stating his name, Kyle proactively added, "Mr. Ollivander, I'm right-handed."
He then extended his arms straight out, making it easier for Ollivander to measure his height and arms.
Kyle was well aware of the process that would follow.
After taking the measurements, it was time for wand selection, the most time-consuming part.
There were thousands of wands in the shop, and even Ollivander might find it challenging to quickly find a wand that suited a young wizard. The best he could do was narrow down the options and try each one individually.
Kyle was prepared for this.
Moreover, trying out wands was one of the things Kyle had been looking forward to, just like moving garbage bins.
However, Ollivander's next words left Kyle baffled.
"Oh, young one, there's no need for that."
Without measuring his height or asking any further questions, Kyle watched as Ollivander swiftly walked behind the counter, pulled out a box from the most prominent position, opened it, and presented it to Kyle.
The entire action was executed fluidly, without a moment's hesitation.
"What are you waiting for? Try it!" Ollivander urged when he noticed Kyle's inaction.
"Huh? Oh, right," Kyle snapped out of his daze and instinctively picked up the wand from the box.
It was gray-black, with a sleek exterior and no unnecessary decorations beyond the essential handle.
Kyle held the wand, and before he could make any movement, a white light burst from the tip of the wand, filling the entire room in the blink of an eye. The once dim and cramped shop instantly brightened, as if a skylight had been opened above.
"Good, very good."
Ollivander looked extremely excited. Without waiting for Kyle to ask, he said to himself, "Thirteen and a quarter inches, cedar, phoenix feather. I must say, this is a truly magical combination."
"Magical combination?" Kyle was a little puzzled.
"Yes, magical."
Ollivander gazed at Kyle and patiently explained, "Cedar wands usually choose wizards who are naturally calm and possess sharp insight. Every choice these wizards make is well thought out. Just like my father used to say, you can never deceive a wizard holding a cedar wand. I deeply agree with that."
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"So, wizards with cedar wands often prefer the stable and loyal unicorn tail hair, while phoenix feathers can be a bit too proactive.
In fact, I have made and sold thirty-six cedar wands in total. Thirty of them have unicorn tail hair cores, five have dragon heartstrings, and the last one..."
Ollivander didn't speak but smiled and pointed at Kyle.
"But sir, didn't you say that these two materials are not suitable to be combined? Then why did you still make it?" Kyle asked, puzzled.
"Not suitable, so I shouldn't make it? No, no, no. That's wrong. The wand chooses the wizard, child. Every wand, from the moment it's born, will choose its destined owner. Just like them..."
Ollivander pointed to the mountain of wand boxes behind him and laughed, "The reason they are still here is not because they are bad, but because their fate has not yet arrived. Their owners are just waiting for the Hogwarts owl."
Ollivander paused and continued, "Moreover, a wand with completely contradictory wood and core can perfectly bring out their respective roles in the hands of a wizard. This is also the most fascinating part of wandlore.
"Like the wand in your hand, your father, Chris, has tried it, and your mother, Diana, has tried it too, but they were just a little bit off, just a little bit.
So, after I learned about your birth, I've been waiting for this day. It's perfect, isn't it?"
Um... yeah.
Kyle nodded subconsciously.
The feeling of the wand in his hand, as if it were an extension of his arm, did indeed captivate him. He was reluctant to let go of the wand.
Although the process was a bit different from what he had imagined, Kyle was satisfied with the result. He was very pleased with his wand.
"Then, child, seven Galleons."
Ollivander's smile widened.
"Okay," Kyle placed seven gold Galleons on the counter, which he had prepared beforehand.
The first wand for new students is usually seven Galleons, which is already a very favorable price in the wizarding world. However, this discount only applies to young wizards who have just enrolled.
After paying, Ollivander bowed slightly in farewell and watched Kyle leave. Only then did he turn to another young wizard who had just entered the shop, along with the adult behind him.
"Oh, Mr. Thomas, eleven inches, rowan wood..."
(End of Chapter)
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