The goblin employee escorted Leo and Professor McGonagall out with ceremony. His attitude toward Leo was especially enthusiastic and fawning. No wonder... the amount of Galleons Leo had exchanged with gold directly helped this goblin complete an entire year's work quota.
The goblin's smile was as radiant as it could be, with wrinkles piling up like a blooming chrysanthemum. And this was only their first transaction... he believed there would definitely be more big orders to come.
Leo waved his hand and took the bag the goblin was holding, which contained only 300 Galleons. The remaining exchanged Galleons were all stored in Gringotts' vault.
Professor McGonagall led Leo toward Ollivanders wand shop. This was also her first time seeing a young wizard exchange for so many Galleons.
"When you were communicating with the goblin about currency exchange just now, you seemed quite knowledgeable about finance?"
Leo nodded. "It's alright, Professor. Regardless of the field, I believe the more knowledge, the better."
"Very reasonable. Leo, you have a maturity that doesn't match your age."
Professor McGonagall was known for her strict teaching at school, and she liked this kind of student who took knowledge seriously and loved learning.
Ollivanders
Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
What an antique—over two thousand years old. As Leo stepped inside, dust drifted down from the ceiling.
From the outside, the shop appeared quite rundown. Inside, it looked even more so. But the enduring reputation of Ollivanders promised quality wands. After all, they must be the only wandmakers left in wizarding Britain.
"Ah, Minerva!" said Mr. Ollivander, emerging from behind the counter. "Fir wood, nine and a half inches, dragon heartstring core. Quite rigid, excellent for Transfiguration work. Still performing well, I hope?"
Professor McGonagall smiled slightly. "Indeed, Mr Ollivander. It has never failed me."
"Excellent, excellent!" Ollivander's pale eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Minerva. Each one finds its perfect match." His gaze then shifted curiously to Leo. "And you, young man, must be here for your first wand."
Leo observed the elderly wandmaker with his snow-white hair and pale silver eyes. Garrick Ollivander was well accustomed to this ritual—every year, Hogwarts professors brought young first-years here seeking their perfect wands.
"What's your name, young sir?"
"Leonardo Grafton," Leo replied.
"Right-handed?"
"Yes, sir."
Ollivander produced a silver measuring tape from his pocket. It magically unrolled and floated to Leo's side, measuring the length from his wrist to his elbow, then to his middle finger with practiced precision.
"Now, length is only one factor," Ollivander murmured thoughtfully as he examined the measurements. "Each wand has a unique combination of wood, core, and flexibility, all attuned to the wizard's nature. No two wands are alike, and the wand chooses the wizard. A perfect match allows magic to flow as smooth as water."
After noting the measurements, Ollivander moved swiftly to the rows of cabinets and began the meticulous process of selecting wands to test on Leo, his eyes alight with anticipation.
Gently pulling out a box, he dusted off the accumulated grime. "Chestnut, twelve inches, unicorn tail hair."
Ollivander handed it to Leo. Taking the wand, Leo felt the magical power within his body become somewhat more active. Naturally guiding this magical power to flow toward the wand in his hand, he released it accordingly.
A gentle white light emanated from the wand tip, making all three people present feel warmth and comfort. However, Leo felt the process of releasing magical power was still blocked and not smooth enough, as if this wand couldn't perfectly handle his magical power.
Glancing at his status panel, the magical power talent column was indeed still in a locked state.
Before Leo could actively suggest it, Ollivander had already seen the problem. He took back the wand, muttering: "Don't mind it... the wand chooses the wizard. I definitely have a wand suitable for you here! More vigorous magical power than your peers... let me look..."
He pulled out another wand. "Ebony, fourteen inches, dragon heartstring. Sturdy, powerful. Try it."
Leo took it and released his magical power again.
"BOOM!"
Deep green flames burst forth, shooting straight toward the ceiling. Fortunately, Leo was prepared and immediately restrained his internal magical power. The green fire serpent immediately contracted, changed direction, and spiralled away into thin air.
Ollivander wasn't angry that his shop nearly burnt down but instead made sounds of amazement. "Excellent control! Perhaps this wand is too impulsive, not suitable for a young wizard like you."
The cycle repeated: Ollivander searching for wands, Leo trying them, finding them unsuitable, and switching again.
"Dogwood... ah, too lively."
"Spruce... no, too rigid."
"Thunderbird feather... a bit too temperamental."
Ollivander went back and forth dozens of times without finding a wand suitable for Leo. Yet he maintained his patience throughout, even enjoying it immensely. Because the more difficult it was to find a wand for a wizard, the more distinctive their characteristics.
Such wizards often shone brilliantly in one or even several fields, and Ollivander very much enjoyed finding matching wands for them. Geniuses are different from ordinary people... could they be called geniuses?
Placing the most suitable wand in the hands of each young wizard, initiating their first step into the magical world. This was something that gave Ollivander great satisfaction.
Professor McGonagall waited patiently on the side. She was also curious about what wand Leo would get. Or rather, what kind of wand could match Leo's talent?
Just as Ollivander was rummaging through boxes and cabinets, busily searching for wands, in the deepest part of the shop, in a dilapidated cabinet in a dust-covered corner, a large amount of dust suddenly flew up, and a yellowed, ancient box was thrown open.
A shadow flew out from within, shooting straight toward Leo.
Professor McGonagall, reacting quickly, raised her wand, about to cast a spell to intercept it. But she saw that thing had already stopped, hovering steadily in front of Leo's chest.
It was a wand of overall silver-black colour. Though clearly a solid wand, it gave the illusion of constantly flowing and changing.
Startled and nearly falling from his ladder, Ollivander disregarded the dust on his body and hurried over. His eyes fixed intently on the wand before Leo. He examined it carefully for over ten seconds.
Ollivander, with his extraordinary memory, actually showed a bewildered expression, muttering somewhat uncertainly: "Trickster wood, twelve and a half inches, sphinx spine feather."
Leo was also observing this wand that had actively come to him. Semi-illusory symbols would occasionally appear on the wand's surface, some of which would aggregate into complex symbols before quickly retreating into the wand's interior.
Being closest to the wand, Leo heard intermittent... snickering? It carried a mocking, superior tone.
Sphinx... also known as the creature with a lion's body and human head. I remember it's from Egyptian mythology. They like to catch people and make them solve riddles. Do such magical creatures exist in the Harry Potter world? But what is trickster wood?
"Mr Ollivander, what is trickster wood?"
The next second, Ollivander's answer made Leo both familiar and astonished.
"Loki Fir."