"It looks like two more energetic guests."
Ollivander took out a measuring tape: "Who will go first?"
"You go first, Hermione."
Ivan asked Ollivander to measure Hermione first. The old man first inquired about her dominant hand, and then began to measure the little witch.
From shoulder to fingertips, from wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and finally, he measured the circumference of her head.
"Each Ollivander wand contains a core of powerful magical substance, which is its essence," Mr. Ollivander explained while measuring. "We use unicorn hair, phoenix tail feathers, and dragon heartstrings."
"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 another wizard, it will never perform as well."
"Sorry, sir," Hermione interjected, "I don't quite understand why you need to measure our body when buying a wand. After all, our bodies will continue to grow. Will the wand need to be replaced like clothes as we grow?"
The young witch was genuinely curious.
If she had been alone, perhaps to leave a good impression on Professor McGonagall, she might not have asked such a question. However, Ivan's presence bolstered her curiosity.
"Ah, good question," Mr. Ollivander was not offended but replied with enthusiasm: "Remember what I said just now, it is the wand that chooses the wizard!"
"The wand is not just a tool in the hands of wizards, but a companion that can accompany them throughout their lives. The wizard's body will change, but the wand will adapt."
"Mr. Ollivander?"
Hermione looked confused: "You speak as if the wand has its own life?"
"Of course the wand has a life!"
The old man laughed, but did not elaborate further. Instead, he selected a wand from the numerous boxes and handed it to Hermione: "Try this one, ten and a quarter inches, willow, dragon heartstring."
Hermione took the wand, but as soon as she touched it, the old man shouted, "No! Not this one!"
In her panic, Ollivander snatched it back, appearing as though he had touched something unclean.
"???"
The young witch looked perplexed. She wondered if there was something wrong with her touch: 'Did I do something wrong when I touched the wand?'
'What happened?'
Hermione turned to Ivan, her eyes filled with confusion. Ivan smiled and said, "I think the wand has the ability to identify a wizard's magic. Didn't Mr. Ollivander just say the wand has life?"
"Yes."
Ollivander looked back at Ivan and smiled, "Every wand is unique, just as no two leaves in the world are exactly the same."
"Many wizards regard wands as mere tools, but they fail to realize that wands are actually the best partners for wizards."
"Wands evolve as wizards grow. They are part of a wizard's life."
A wand is chosen when a young wizard enters school, becoming bound to their magical characteristics and growing alongside them.
And when a wizard's life comes to an end, the wand will soon perish as well.
Otherwise, with Ollivander's 2,300-year history of wand-making, there would be thousands, if not tens of thousands, of wands left in the world.
But the reality is that there are not so many wands in the wizarding world because wands are closely tied to the lives of wizards.
"Well, it should be this one."
Ollivander searched for a long time and finally found a new wand in the back.
"Try this one, 10 and 3/4 inches, vine wood, dragon heartstring."
Hermione took the wand, and the moment the young witch grasped it, an inexplicable sense of intimacy arose.
"Wonderful."
Ollivander laughed: "Vine wands are very rare. They usually choose those who seek greater things, have foresight, and will do things that shock even their closest friends."
"I feel like it is an extension of my arm."
Hermione waved the wand gently, leaving a trail of fluorescent light in the air. This sensation, like freeing a heavy shackle from one's body, was exhilarating.
"Hehe."
Ollivander watched Hermione's delight with satisfaction, pleased that his craftsmanship had found the right owner. "That will be 7 gold galleons."
The first wand purchase for young wizards is subsidized, hence the lower price.
Hermione paid and also bought a set of wand care tools.
"Next, Mr. Ambrosius?"
Ollivander repeated Ivan's last name several times, seeming to recall something: "Your last name reminds me of a legendary family."
"Legendary family?"
Hearing this, not only Ivan and Hermione, but even Professor McGonagall, who had been silently standing beside them since entering, became intrigued: "Garrick, which family are you referring to?"
The surname Ollivander is very ancient, counted among the twenty-eight sacred families in the British wizarding world.
Professor McGonagall was curious about Ivan's background and hadn't expected to glean a clue from Ollivander.
"Minerva, you should know, right?"
"We always mention that," Ollivander chuckled, then added playfully: "Merlin's beard."
"Merlin's?"
"Oh, Merlin's beard!!"
Suddenly, it dawned on Professor McGonagall, and she turned to Ivan with a look of astonishment: "Merlin, Merlin Ambrosius!"
In this world, Merlin is a wizard of immense power, a natural seer who could transform his appearance at will.
"Uh..."
Ollivander noted McGonagall's intense gaze, then turned to the equally surprised Ivan.
The old man's expression shifted subtly as he asked, incredulously: "Excuse me, Minerva, this couldn't just be a coincidence, could it?"
"..."
Professor McGonagall wanted to dismiss it as mere coincidence, but considering Ivan's extraordinary prophetic abilities, she hesitated: "I'm sorry, Garrick, but I believe this child may indeed be a descendant of that singular lineage."
"Merlin's beard!"
Ollivander's eyes widened, and he stared at Ivan for a long moment: "The great Eternal Family, I never imagined that such a noble bloodline would manifest in this era."
Ambrosius means "eternal" and "immortal," so in the wizarding world, those who inherited Merlin's bloodline are often called "immortal descendants."
The surname Ambrosius has left a legacy of the Eternal Family in the wizarding world. "But I heard that the bloodline of the Eternal Family was cut off a thousand years ago."
"No, it's not cut off," Ollivander corrected. "It was scattered."
Today, there is no Ambrosius family in the wizarding world because this family disappeared a thousand years ago.
The reason was not due to a disaster, but simply because the male heirs had died out.
As the female descendants married, Merlin's bloodline was dispersed among the families, and only those who simultaneously awakened both the Prophecy Magus and the Metamorphosis Magus abilities could truly be called the immortal descendants.
"Ahem."
Hermione was initially confused by the conversation: "Sorry, I mean, are you saying Ivan is a descendant of Merlin?"
Who is Merlin? Presumably, no one in Britain doesn't know. He is a legendary figure invariably linked with King Arthur.
Upon reflection, Ivan does indeed possess a strong prophetic ability.
"But Ivan doesn't seem to have the ability to become someone else."
Hermione isn't jealous of Ivan. She simply wants the best for her friend.
Yet, the title of 'eternal descendant' sounds quite burdensome. The young witch doesn't want Ivan to be in danger.
"Well, based on what I've just demonstrated in the bookstore, I should still be considered a natural Transfiguration Magus."
After Ivan spoke, he transformed into Hermione, Professor McGonagall, and Ollivander right in front of them.
Gasp!
"Oh, my...."
The transformation was seamless, executed swiftly without any hesitation, leaving the onlookers astonished and incredulous.
"This is the first time I've seen such a complete human transformation."
Professor McGonagall had witnessed Transfiguration before, but those practitioners could only alter their appearance to a certain degree.
However, Ivan could change his body shape, voice, and even minute details.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Professor McGonagall would have suspected that Ivan had swallowed a bottle of Polyjuice Potion beforehand.
"Remarkable magic!"
Ollivander felt honored to witness the blossoming of a descendant of Merlin. He trembled with excitement as he extended his hand to shake Ivan's: "Welcome back, great Ambrosius."
Ivan, inexperienced with his lineage, had received his Merlin bloodline from the system when he transmigrated to this world. Before today, he had no idea what the surname Ambrosius signified in the wizarding world.
"Oh, sorry, I'm too excited," Ollivander said, his fingers trembling as he began to search for a wand suitable for Ivan: "Now, let me see which wand is honored to serve you."
Facing the descendant of Merlin, a legendary figure in the magical world, Ollivander referred to choosing a wand as "serving," reflecting his inner turmoil and reverence at that moment.
Partner?
Please, is it aggrieved to be Merlin's knight?
It is an honor for a wand to fight side by side with the greatest wizard!
If you don't want to serve, there are other wands. If you do, Ollivander's wand shop has no shortage!
"Let's try this first."
Ollivander handed a wand to Ivan: "Elm, thunderbird tail feathers, nine and a half inches."
"Elm wands are usually chosen by those with grace, outstanding magical talent, and an innate noble temperament," Ollivander explained: "Its core comes from an extremely powerful adult thunderbird."
"While wands with thunderbird tail feathers as cores can be challenging to master, they possess great power and are especially valued by masters of Transfiguration."
The same material, just as lightning-struck wood varies greatly in age, so too does elm vary.
The wand Ollivander presented was his masterpiece, crafted from the finest elm and thunderbird tail feathers—top materials in their respective categories.
Its value far exceeded the usual seven galleons; indeed, it was practically priceless.
Buzz~~
When Ivan grasped the wand, a peculiar magical wave emanated from it.
Ivan tried waving it and noticed that the flow of magic within him became remarkably smoother: "I feel like my magic power has suddenly become ten times lighter."
"..."
However, just as Ivan thought he had found the perfect wand, Ollivander shook his head: "No, not this one."
The old man appeared very disappointed, as if his craftsmanship had not been fully appreciated.
"Why?" Ivan asked, seeing Ollivander continue his search.
Ollivander explained that the wand had not chosen Ivan but had merely surrendered under the overwhelming pressure of Ivan's formidable power.
Ollivander's intention had been to find a squire knight for Ivan, not just any wand.
If Ivan were likened to a king, then the wand should be a loyal minister to that king.
The elm wand was too obsequious. Its readiness to serve was not genuine fealty but rather an attempt to ingratiate itself with its master, an act of sycophancy....
This did not mean the elm wand was inferior; Ollivander still believed in the superiority of his creations.
But such thoughts were merely Ollivander consoling himself.
Reflecting on his own elm wand's obsequious behavior towards Ivan, Ollivander felt it was a blow to his pride.
'Choosing a wand is not about giving the best to someone.'
With no other recourse, the old wandmaker comforted himself by reciting the Ollivander family's guiding principle in wand-making: 'The most suitable is the best.'
The implication was clear: My craftsmanship was inadequate, so I had to seek guidance from my ancestors.
"This wand is my father's last work and his proudest creation."
Ollivander then selected a wand with a black shaft and a silver-white handle: "The wand body is made of ebony, known for its impressive reputation and appearance. It is particularly effective for all types of offensive magic and transfiguration."
"Ebony typically chooses those who dare to be true to themselves. They do not follow the crowd, are independent, and often find themselves on the fringes of society."
"Moreover, the ideal wielder of an ebony wand is someone who can withstand external pressures and remain true to their convictions."
"Additionally, the handle of this wand was crafted from fairy mithril, a highly valuable alchemical material in the wizarding world."
Ollivander's decision to offer it was a significant acknowledgment of Ivan: "The wand core is made from the tail feathers of a phoenix. Wands with this core are particularly selective and challenging to master."
"Go ahead, give it a try."
He handed the ebony wand to Ivan, who immediately sensed excitement from the wand upon touching it.
If the previous wand had made Ivan's spellcasting ten times smoother and easier, this one seemed to enhance it by at least twenty times—though not necessarily increasing the power twentyfold.
Ivan himself possesses the talent for wandless casting, yet he often experiences a sense of blockage, which significantly impacts his control and casting speed.
However, with this new wand, Ivan can easily perform spells that were previously challenging for him.
For instance, if the difficulty of casting the Lumos spell is rated as 1, the Protego spell as 5, and perfectly casting a controlled Fiendfyre as 20, Ivan's ability in wandless casting rates only about a 2.
This means without a wand, he cannot overcome the magical resistance required to cast Protego.
In the Harry Potter universe, wizards do not utilize a concept akin to "mana" or "magic points."
In Ivan's perspective, the magic in this world is not so much about expending energy, but rather about using what is termed magical power to manipulate rules to achieve desired outcomes.
Theoretically, as long as a wizard remains sufficiently focused, they could potentially cast spells continuously throughout an entire day.
Nevertheless, mental fatigue is unavoidable.
After all, even without engaging in any physical activity, humans naturally feel extremely tired at night, let alone when performing spellcasting, which is as mentally demanding as doing intensive mental work.
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