As though that advantage were not already absurd enough, Julian could also read, write, and speak elvish, which was itself a magical language much like these runes. That meant he could not only become fluent in standard runes, but also possessed a runic language that, for the moment, belonged to him alone. No one else in the world knew it, aside from perhaps the few fragments carved into his rings, and those were such tiny samples that translating them would be nearly impossible. Certainly, someone could copy the same words again and again while channeling magic through them to figure out a single consistent effect for each one, but the full potential of the language remained his and his alone.
With all that in mind, Julian focused on learning the runic alphabet given in the book, which in this case was elder futhark. The symbols were maddeningly strange to stare at for any real length of time, much less for the full hour Julian spent studying them. Of course, he was not merely staring at the alphabet the whole time. He was also reading through the uses the book assigned to the runes, most of which he already knew.
It was the usual material, things like how properly engraved runes could create enchantments or wards. There was even a section explaining that tattooing runic phrases onto the body allowed for wandless casting of whatever effects those phrases contained. The part that truly caught Julian's attention, however, was the explanation that runes were used in veritology to strengthen a wand's ability to focus a wizard's magical energy and make spellcasting more efficient. According to the book, there were many different rune combinations used in wandcraft, but the most common were the words power, focus, and spirit. So that's why wands seem to affect souls through their bond, Julian thought, intrigued by the implication.
The book also mentioned the use of runes in rituals, though the author clearly disliked the subject since it was barely discussed at all. Julian could only shrug at that. Everyone had their own biases, and he was hardly in a position to judge when, as far as the wider world was concerned, most known rituals were associated with dark practices. To someone this obviously passionate about runes, seeing them used that way likely left a bitter taste. Julian himself would have been just as displeased to see one of his own works used for something dark.
Unfortunately, he did not get much farther into the book before Ollivander appeared in the doorway wearing a curious expression. "You have a visitor in the front room. A very interesting one, too," he said.
Julian looked puzzled but still got up and slipped his shoes back on. When he stepped into the front of the wand shop, he found himself looking at a gnarled man with thin wiry grey hair, a face crisscrossed with scars, and a peg leg. One of his eyes was a magical construct that darted constantly around the room, searching for threats.
"Alastor Moody. They certainly move quickly, don't they? I assume you're here about a certain rat," Julian said with an amused expression.
Moody's magical eye flicked from one enchanted item on Julian's person to the next before fixing him with a sharp, assessing stare.
"Constant vigilance, if I remember right," Julian added, gesturing lightly toward the collection of protective artifacts he was carrying.
Moody seemed to appreciate the humor well enough, because he relaxed a fraction. "Quite right. And yes, I am here about our little rodent issue," Moody said gruffly, immediately catching on to the need not to reveal anything in front of Ollivander.
It was not that Julian distrusted the old man. It was simply that Ollivander had nothing to do with the matter, and Julian had no intention of dragging him into it.
"Looks like I'll be stepping out again, Mr. Ollivander," Julian said to the wandmaker, who only nodded and wished him well.
The moment they were outside the shop, Moody grabbed Julian roughly and apparated away. Julian shook his head and staggered a little from the sheer violence of the method once his feet touched the ground again.
When he looked around, he saw that they were standing in the middle of a field with short cut grass stretching as far as he could see.
"Couldn't risk anyone overhearing us back there. Now talk, boy. How did you find out Black and his friends were illegal animagi?" Moody barked harshly.
Julian took a moment to settle his stomach before answering. "They were rather arrogant back in school and left clues behind for anyone capable of finding them. One example would be the names used in the artifact known as the Marauder's Map, Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail," he explained calmly.