The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 5: Ollivander, the Ancestral Staff
Professor McGonagall and Ada walked out of the bookstore to buy wands, which was the last item on the shopping list and also the most important thing.

The wand shop was small and shabby, with a peeling gold sign on the door that read: Ollivanders: Making Fine Wands Since 382 BC. In the dusty window, a solitary wand was placed on a faded purple cushion.

The two men walked into the shop, and there was a clanking sound from the back of the shop. The shop was very small, with nothing but a bench, and thousands of narrow boxes almost reaching the ceiling.

"The wands sold by Ollivander in Diagon Alley are the best, and he himself is one of the best wand makers in the world. Many foreign wizards will come to Diagon Alley from afar just to buy wands made by Ollivander." McGonagall said to Ada, "So you will also get the wand that suits you best here."

Just as Professor McGonagall and Ada were talking, a gentle voice suddenly rang out, "Good afternoon." An old man suddenly appeared in front of them, his large, light-colored eyes were like two shining moons in the dim shop. Needless to say, this must be Mr. Ollivander, the wand maker who has been making wands for more than 2,000 years.

"Hello," Professor McGonagall responded, and then said to Ada, "This is Garrick Ollivander, the owner of this shop."

"Hello." Ada said softly, fearing that if she spoke louder, she would send the wand master away.

"Oh, a new student at Hogwarts, what's your name kid?" Ollivander asked.

"Esmeralda Drizzt, you can also call me Ada." Ada raised her head and looked at Ollivander. She could even vaguely see her own figure in Ollivander's eyes.

"Okay, then, Miss Drizzt, which hand do you usually use when using your wand?" Ollivander said as he took out a long tape measure with silver markings from his pocket.

"I'm more accustomed to using my right hand," said Ada.

"Very good, raise your arms." He began to measure Ada's size, first from the shoulder to the fingertips, then from the wrist to the elbow, shoulder to the floor, knee to armpit, and finally the head circumference. Ada really couldn't understand why all these measurements were made. Madam Malkin didn't measure as much as Ollivander! Who of you is selling clothes and who is selling wands? Fortunately, the tape measure was automatic, which saved Ada some embarrassment.

While the silver tape measure was busy, Mr. Ollivander was also busy. He was moving between the shelves, busy selecting some long boxes and moving them down. While carrying the wands, Ollivander said, "Each Ollivander wand has super powerful magical substances, which is its essence, Miss Drizzt. We use unicorn hair, phoenix tail feathers and dragon heart nerves. Each Ollivander wand is unique, because no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are exactly the same. Of course, if you use a wand that should belong to other wizards, it will never have such a good effect."

"All right," he said, and the measuring tape fell to the ground and rolled up. "Well, Miss Drizzt, try this one. Poplar wood, unicorn hair core, nine and a half inches. Try it."

Ada took the wand. She seemed to be able to feel the excitement of the wand, but she felt that the wand did not belong to her.

Looking at Ada who was standing there motionless, Ollivander urged, "Try to swing it. Don't just stand there like an idiot."

Ada waved her wand, and she felt that she must look stupid now. As the wand waved, the shelves in the store became a mess. Ollivander snatched the wand back and muttered to himself, "Inappropriate, inappropriate."

"Applewood, dragon's heartstring, eleven and a quarter inches, come on, try it." Ollivander handed over another wand, but just as Ada took it, before she could wave it, Ollivander snatched it back, "No, this one isn't it."

Ada tried wands one after another. She was a little numb. Like a robot, she mechanically waved every wand Ollivander handed to her. She didn't know what Ollivander meant by the definition of a suitable one. Although Ada seemed to feel the excitement of the wands every time she received one, she felt that they did not belong to her.

"A picky customer, it doesn't matter, Miss Drizzt, I can always find the most ideal, perfect and most suitable one for you here!" Ollivander looked excited, constantly shuttling between the shelves, checking each wand.

Ada looked at him and thought to herself: Mr. Ollivander, are you a masochist? Why do you feel so excited? Professor McGonagall sat on the only chair in the room from the moment she entered the room, not caring about anything that happened in the store, as if she had seen this happen many times.

"Look, it's here. How could it not be here? A powerful combination. Yew wood and phoenix feather. Ten and three-quarters inches long. It has a certain toughness." Ollivander opened the box and solemnly handed a wand to Ada.

This is a wand with black protective paint and some exquisite patterns engraved on it. The handle is made of silver and looks very beautiful. Ada took the wand and felt a warmth coming from her fingertips. This wand was like an extension of her arm, and she felt a sense of empathy. [Ding! The host has obtained her own wand and has become a real witch! As a reward, the system has awarded the host the most powerful spell in the entire wizarding world! Please check it as soon as possible. ]

Ada ignored the system's noise and waved her wand casually. The tip of the wand emitted a dazzling light, just like a gorgeous firework. The dancing spots of light were cast on the wall, shining brightly.

Professor McGonagall clapped her hands in her chair and cheered. Ollivander also shouted, "Very good, very good! Very good, it's like they are a perfect match!"

Ollivander put the wand in the box and tied a very delicate knot with a ribbon. Ollivander said to Ada: "Yew wands are relatively rare, and the wizards they choose are also unusual. There have been some bad and terrible rumors about wands made of yew. Yew has a very long lifespan, and people always think that wands made of yew represent death. But in fact, yew also represents life, and it is more willing to choose wizards with a strong desire to protect as its masters."

"The wand chooses the wizard. The yew wand can bring people powerful strength, the power to control life and death, a power that makes people obsessed but also full of fear. But in the end, the person who uses the wand is the wizard. The wand obeys its master, and people are the easiest to lose themselves in the process of pursuing power. So, Miss Drizzt, please remember, while holding the wand tightly and pursuing power, never let the power blind your eyes, forever!"

Ada was a little confused by the wand master's story, but fortunately she remembered and understood the last words - control the power, rather than being controlled by the power!

Professor McGonagall, who was sitting on the bench, was also thoughtful. She looked at Ada's thin and frail figure and frowned unconsciously.

Taking the box containing the wand, Ada paid ten Galleons for it. Every young wizard will receive some subsidies when buying their first wand to reduce the price of the wand.

But if they need to replace the wand later, they need to buy it at full price. Mr. Ollivander bowed and sent them out. This mysterious master of wand making left a deep impression on Ada.

After crossing half of London again, Professor McGonagall and Ada returned to the door of the orphanage.

"There's also a ticket in the envelope. It's your ticket to Hogwarts. September 1, King's Cross Station, as shown on the ticket. Platform nine and three quarters..."

"I'm sorry, professor, I've never heard of a platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station." Ada asked the question at the right time. This was a special platform, but Ada could no longer remember the specific way to find it.

"The platform is between platforms nine and ten. You'll find it if you go and look for it. Pay close attention." Mag thought for a moment and continued, "I think you can go earlier so you have more time to find the platform. Even if you don't find a way to enter the platform, at least you'll see some people who are looking for platform nine and three-quarters like you, and you can get to the platform through them."

"Okay professor, I'll be there early. I don't want to miss the train."

"Anything else?" asked Professor McGonagall.

Ida thought about it carefully, but she couldn't think of any problem for the time being. "No, professor. I don't have any problem for the time being."

"Well, see you at school. Enjoy your vacation." Mag waved goodbye to Ada and turned to walk towards the corner. When he was almost at the corner, he turned back to Ada and said, "I personally suggest that you read the textbook more and prepare in advance."

After Professor McGonagall finished speaking, she continued to walk towards the street corner without waiting for Ada's response. As soon as she passed the corner, she disappeared in an instant, as if the Professor McGonagall she saw before was an illusion.

Looking at Professor McGonagall disappearing around the corner, I recalled her neat and tidy clothes and her capable and capable style of doing things. Although she was serious and always pursed her lips with a serious expression, I could feel her warmth and reliability in some of her words.

Although Professor McGonagall was no longer young and the traces of time were written on her face, for some reason, Ada suddenly thought of the words she often heard in her previous life: Time never defeats beauty...

(End of this chapter)