章 2: Wand?
"Are you sure this is the place?" Aurelius with a skeptical gaze with an eyebrow raised in doubt seeing the Leaky Cauldron.
"Don't worry; I know it's a little rough around the edges, looks run down, looks like it wouldn't pass a basic health check, but it's an important aspect to keep muggles away from it. Why else would people's portkey be ugly things like a worn boot." Ann assured him.
"They could just wear it on their person like a key inside a locket with a notice me not charm. That way, it doesn't activate randomly or get activated by a muggle should they grab the locket," I told her, unconvinced.
"Also, if someone saw a decrepit place like this, it'd become an urban legend that people would actively look for. They could make it look like a small apartment building, and no one would bat an eye whether they saw it. And it would be completely possible since we have expansion charms," I said to express my point further.
"… That's a good point," she said defeatedly.
"While the point is valid, it's not up to us, and we need to go in, so let's go." Said Martha.
We enter the iconic but disgusting place.
'Ugh, the smell is worse than it looks, and that's saying something.' I thought. The tables were dirty, and the floor was sticky.
'Was that mold on the bread?' I thought, taking a glance at some bread in the corner.
"Mr. Tom?" Ann called.
"Welcome." A man came up behind the bar, and when he saw Aurelius, he seemed to understand the situation. "New student at Hogwarts?" Seeing their nod, he gestured for them to follow him. "Don't worry, this isn't the first time muggles have come to Diagon Alley. follow me"
The family of three said nothing to correct Tom. It was better that they were mistaken for muggles than being recognized as squibs. Tom led them to a brick wall next to a dustbin, tapped on it, and the bricks fell open to reveal Britain's largest wizarding market.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley!" Tom declared proudly.
He always loved saying that phrase to first-time visitors.
"Before you go shopping, muggle currency isn't used here, so I suggest going to Gringotts to exchange muggle money for wizarding money. Just follow the path until you see a large white building guarded by goblins. Good luck."
After crossing it, the three stood looking around curiously after the wall returned to normal.
"Shall we go to Gringotts then?" Aurelius asked.
We stop before we go any further. Martha speaks to me.
"From what you've told us thus far about your memories, your family funded their projects that further funded future projects, right?"
"Okay, I'm following."
"So, I don't want you to use your noble house funds for at least your first year."
"Huh? But why? Why not fund my projects so that I can develop things right away?" I asked, hoping that I'd at least be able to dip into those funds.
"Your family first and foremost made their wealth, and so will you. Complacency is the death of development, the trait your line was known for, so I want you to honor it because I know you'll make us proud."
'Damn, that's not fair; she's playing the expectations card. It's such an overpowered card when you love your parents. I didn't want to accept it, but I knew I would.' I thought while pursing my lips.
While sighing, "Fine. I'll do it your way. I'm sure I'll learn a lesson about valuing money or something," I grumble.
"Wait a minute, but we don't have any wizard currency then," I said, slightly panicked.
"Don't worry about it. We always keep some wizarding currency in case we need to drop by. We may not come here often, but we still use some stuff that is only available on the wizarding side."
They asked for directions. And so, for the next two hours, I got almost everything on the list with no problem.
"Well, we're only missing two things," Martha said after going over what they had with them.
"I believe the only thing left on the list is a pet and a wand," said Ann.
"I'm taking Hermes with me to Hogwarts," Aurelius said, dismissing the pet issue. "They said a cat, a toad, or a rat. I've read it, and it doesn't say there are restrictions on other creatures. The only hard restriction is that I can't have my own broom. Hermes is already trained. Also, imagine the chaos if someone brings in a cat. What idiot decided to put a cat and a rat in the same room either hates rats or is incredibly stupid."
"Hmm, perhaps I shouldn't have taught you how laws are used to win cases. Technicalities are both beautiful and disgusting." Said Ann.
"We should still buy an owl for ourselves. We haven't had one since we separated from our families, and otherwise, you won't be able to write to us every week. Hogwarts has a public Owlery you could use, but I'd feel more comfortable if it was a family owl. Also, you could write to your friends during the summer or answer any other magical correspondence." Said, Martha
"Do I have to write you a letter every week?" asked Aurelius, surprised before receiving powerful glares from both of his mothers.
He only shrunk into himself and said, "Yes, mams."
"I'll go get the owl," said Martha. "Ann, you and Aurelius go to Ollivander's. We'll meet there when we're done. I shouldn't take more than 10 minutes, and it usually takes at least that long to find a wand anyway."
After reaching an agreement, they parted ways, and Ann took Aurelius to the famous wand shop. Entering, Aurelius frowned. Although it was cleaner than the Leaky Cauldron, the dust on the wand boxes left much to be desired. 'Come on, there are literal charms for this very thing. Doing the entire shop wouldn't take you more than 10 seconds. And if you don't feel like it, a rune could do the same job.'
"Welcome!" said the suddenly appearing eccentric wand-maker.
Aurelius was startled and unconsciously released a wave of magic to defend himself as he threw the old man who appeared behind him through the glass window, landing on the street to the shock of many passing wizards.
"Oh, my Merlin!" Ann hurried to help him up. "Are you alright?"
Ollivander was a bit dazed and disoriented at the sudden attack. "Oh, of course. It was my fault; don't worry," he said as he took out his wand, and in one movement, the window was restored as if nothing had happened. "Getting blasted away from a startled child occasionally isn't very uncommon for my little game. It's fun and games until you get blasted through a window, they told me, but it's worth it most of the time," he murmured.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ollivander," Aurelius apologized.
"It's nothing." Ollivander looked at him with interest. "Hmm, I don't recall you, but then again, I am still disoriented, but you're here for your first wand, yes?"
Aurelius nodded.
"Which is your dominant arm?" said the curious man.
"I'm ambidextrous."
After coming out of his daze, Ollivander began to measure with the tape of both arms and did not recall selling the woman accompanying him a wand. 'Must be a wizard child born into a muggle family. Hmm, or perhaps a son of squibs. Eh, no matter.'
Ollivander soon returned with some boxes.
"Try this one. Mr.?"
"Aurelius, Aurelius Galegold."
Suddenly, the boxes throughout the store began to shake briefly before going limp again.
"Curious," Ollivander murmured, never seeing such a reaction before. "As I was saying, Mr. Galegold, try this one. Thirteen inches, black walnut wood, and dragon heartstring, a bit stiff and good for enchanting."
He barely reached his fingers for the wand; Ollivander pulled it away almost immediately.
"Hmm, not quite." He put it away resolutely. "Try this one, twelve and a half inches, rowan wood and unicorn hair, supple and decent for defensive magic."
Aurelius didn't even touch the wand before Ollivander pulled it away from him.
"Hmm. Not this one, either. Perhaps this will be more suitable, twelve inches, willow wood and phoenix feather, slightly flexible, ideal for those with a knack for healing."
This time, Ollivander didn't immediately withdraw the wand before Aurelius was able to touch the wand. The wood was well-polished, and the texture was smooth. "Come on, what are you waiting for? Give it a swish." Ollivander urged.
"Okay." Aurelius waved his wand to the side slightly.
KA-BOOM!
People passing the famous wand shop saw it fill with dust and a coughing Ollivander with what little hair he had singed.
"Clearly, I'm going wrong somewhere," he muttered as he rose to his feet with a frown, annoyed with himself for picking such an incompatible wand.
"Try this one, English oak wood and phoenix feather..."
BOOM! His shop was getting blasted into splinters. Meh, nothing a little repairing charm can't fix.
"It's fine! Let's try this one, pear wood, and dragon heartstring..."
The wand drops limp like a wet noodle.
"Well, that's new," says a confused and astonished Ollivander.
In enters Martha into the danger zone known as the famous wand shop.
"Perhaps something more unorthodox? Olive wood and unicorn hair."
Phew! The core shoots out of the wand like a bullet.
"What the bloody hell is going on?!?" said my mother.
Everyone ignored her as Ollivander continued in a crazed fervor.
"Hornwood and..."
The wand goes flying like a rocket bouncing off the walls.
"Hit the deck!!!" said Ollivander, and everyone complied
After getting back up.
"Maybe we need to expand the catalog a bit. Dogwood wood and thunderbird feather."
KA-BOOM! A bigger dust cloud appears out of the wand shop because they are not even bothering to fix the window this time.
After the dust settles.
"I think I found it! Cherry Wood and Wampus Cat Hair"
BOOM!
"Hazelwood and coral core?" he stammers, unsure if it will explode as soon as it touches his hand.
He hands me the wand but realizes his mistake and tries to grab it, but I'm already in motion.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The wand continuously keeps firing off blasts of pure magic. The ground rumbles continuously.
"Confound it all!!!" Ollivander said tearfully with wounded pride, looking at the pile of shards of wood that were perfectly usable wands this morning before they exploded at the hands of his newest customer. "I'm sorry, Mr. Galegold, but I don't think I can provide you with a wand. None of my wands can handle channeling your magic, and I don't understand why the compatibility is so poor." What Ollivander assumed was the rattling of his wands was the boy's magic resonating with multiple wands that he only later would realize was their fear of being his next victim.
"Um..." Ann, Martha, and Aurelius were puzzled and embarrassed as they looked at the shattered wands, "Mr. Ollivander, how much do we owe you for the damaged wands?"
-"For the lost materials just seventy galleons, but my pride as a wandsmith is priceless. Perhaps that is my folly." His eyes shone with a new fire in his eyes "I thought I had reached the top of wandcraft, but Mr. Galegold has taught me a lesson in humility. There is still much to discover in this wonderful art!"
"What do I do then?" Aurelius asked, depressed, as he stared at his hands. "I can't go to Hogwarts without a wand, right?"
"Mr. Galegold, although I am reluctant to give you these suggestions...perhaps you should try the alternative forms. Staves, staffs, grimoires, or even wandless magic," Ollivander suggested with a sad face.
"Unfortunately, the art of creating grimoires was lost decades ago, and only a few remain changing hands in the world."
"Staves and staffs could be helpful, but they differ greatly from wands in practical use and power output. Due to them being out of use for so long, most spells have been lost to time. If he tries learning with one, he's more likely to blow up the surrounding area with himself included due to the much stronger amplifying effect of a staff with much less control and versatility."
"Wandless magic arguably is the most compatible for you, but takes the most effort because it lacks the amplifying effect due to the lack of a focus."
"But unfortunately, all of these methods require a large amount of luck and control. While others require both the former and strong magical power."
"I can assure you from my experience that Mr. Galegold has more than enough magic to meet the second requirement." Ollivander pointed bitterly at the broken wands and his damaged shop. "As for control, it only takes will and discipline. While it is true that a young wizard's mind is restless, I may suggest that he practice Occlumency for the following months, he should gain a decent level of control."
"Oh, that won't be a problem," Ann commented, sighing relief. "Aurelius is a natural occlumens."
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