章節 36: Ollivander’s Wand Shop
In a high tower overlooking the shimmering lake, Elrond and Galadriel stood in silence, their gaze fixed on the spot where Alex had vanished. Breaking the quiet, Elrond spoke, his voice tinged with thoughtfulness. "The moment I saw him, I knew he was not a Maia."
Galadriel turned to him, her expression calm but curious. "Then why did you address him as such?" she asked, her words carrying the weight of genuine inquiry.
Elrond hesitated, his eyes distant as though searching for the right response. After a long pause, he said softly, "Should I call him 'All-Father' instead?"
Galadriel's gaze returned to the lake, her features inscrutable. She did not reply immediately, her focus instead drawn to the quiet interplay of light and water. The air around them seemed heavy with unspoken understanding.
Both could sense the immense power that radiated from Alex, a force vastly different, far beyond the scope of anything within their knowledge or experience.
In London, August 19, 1992, Alex prepared to go to Diagon Alley for his wand. He had intended to order a custom-made wand using his own hair, but he changed his mind, thinking that he could eventually make it himself once he understood the process. He planned on observing how Ollivander crafted wands and then create his own.
Early in the morning, as he asked Markus to drive him to Charing Cross Road, Alex entered the Leaky Cauldron. The moment he stepped inside, all conversations quieted down, and the patrons turned their attention toward him. His tall frame wasn't the only reason for their stare; it was his demeanor and handsome appearance that captured most of their focus.
He walked quietly toward the back of the pub, their gazes following him, accompanied by a rising murmur of discussion.
"Who is he?" one voice whispered.
"He's so tall and handsome; is he one of those nobles?" a woman muttered.
"Is he a mix of a Vela and a giant?" a third person asked.
"I think he might be," said another voice, sounding half in awe.
"No, no. He's definitely something else entirely, look at how he carries himself…"
Alex ignored their conversation. He passed by Flourish and Blotts and noticed the shop was filled with a crowd. On the display windows were posters of a man with an overly exaggerated smiling expression, and the crowd inside seemed more interested in the man than the books. Alex briefly glanced inside but continued on his way.
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind him.
"Mr. Alex, wait! Mr. Alex!"
Alex turned around and saw Hermione waving eagerly at him. He stopped and waited for her to catch up.
"What's the matter, Hermione?" he asked, his voice calm.
Hermione, slightly out of breath, asked.
"Where are you going?" she panted.
"I'm off to Ollivanders for my wand," Alex replied nonchalantly.
Blushing, Hermione hesitated for a moment before asking if she could go with him. Alex smiled and nodded.
"I don't mind at all. If you're done with your shopping, you can come along."
Hermione's eyes lit up, and she followed him, casting occasional glances at his back as they walked side by side.
[It seems our heroine has lost her infatuation with a certain Dark Arts teacher,] Lily teased in Alex's mind.
"Oh, not my fault. Blame it on my handsomeness," Alex joked playfully.
[Pfft. You wouldn't hit on a child, would you?] Lily laughed.
"Of course not, I have my Arwen already," Alex replied with a smirk.
[Yeah, yeah. You'd better clarify things with her soon. She may fall deeper. What's more, you might even end up being classmates with her.] Lily warned.
"I know, she's just a child. I still hope Harry and she get together instead of Ron. Well, Ginny is good for harry too." Alex responded thoughtfully, as he listened to Hermione chat about her summer.
Soon, they arrived at Ollivanders. The bell above the door jingled as they entered, and a warm, musty scent filled the air. Ollivander looked up from the counter, his sharp eyes narrowing in on Alex.
"Ah, young master Alex," Ollivander greeted, a twinkle in his eye. "I've heard much about you from Dumbledore."
"Good to see you, Mr. Ollivander," Alex said. "I've come here because I need a wand, I want to learn about how they're made."
Ollivander raised an eyebrow. "Learn about how wands are made? That's not something I typically show anyone."
"I understand," Alex said calmly. "But I'm willing to pay whatever it takes for it, and I will only let you show it to me once. I'm truly interested in the process."
Ollivander hesitated, clearly unsure. "Wand-making is a delicate craft, Mr. Alex. It's not something I share lightly."
Alex's expression didn't falter as he reached into his robe and pulled out a small, dark pouch. From it, he withdrew a dragon's heart, large, pulsing with magic, and glowing faintly. Ollivander's eyes widened in disbelief, his breath catching.
"That—" Ollivander stammered, "That's impossible! Where did you—?"
"It's a dragon heart from an ancient dragon, not the typical dragons in the farm," Alex explained, his tone even.
Before Alex set out earlier, he created it using his magic based on the knowledge he gained from Ilúvatar. Anything created in the LOTR universe, he can recreate.
Ollivander took a step back, stunned. He had never seen anything like this before. He couldn't help but reach out, carefully taking the heart from Alex's hand and examining it closely. "This... such valuable material, this may be the only one left in this world…" Ollivander's voice trailed off in awe.
After a moment, he straightened, his usual professional demeanor returning. "Very well. If you wish to learn, I will show you. You can ask any question you may have, young master Alex. I will also pay you an additional hundred thousand galleons for the material you provided."
Hermione stood in stunned silence, watching the exchange between Alex and Ollivander, her eyes wide in disbelief. She had no idea why the dragon heart was so important or why Alex wanted to learn how wands were made, but she could sense the gravity of the situation.
Ollivander led Alex to the back of the shop, where several long tables were covered with various tools and ingredients. The process of wand-making began to unfold before Alex's eyes.
He watched intently, using his senses and magic to sense as Ollivander shaped wood, selected cores, and infused the materials with magic.
Hermione's eyes flickered from one motion to the next, still trying to comprehend what was happening.
When the demonstration concluded, Alex nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Mr. Ollivander. This was more than enough."
"Are you sure? I only showed it to you once," Ollivander asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I've already mastered it." Alex replied calmly.
"You're welcome," Ollivander replied, his voice filled with admiration. "You have an excellent understanding of magical craftsmanship, Mr. Alex."
As Alex and Hermione left Ollivanders, Hermione couldn't help but ask, "Alex, what was that dragon heart? It's not from a dragon in the Forbidden Forest, is it?"
Alex smiled at her curiosity. "No, Hermione. That was from an ancient dragon, a dragon that lived long ago, could use magic, and could speak to humans using their own language." He answered.
Hermione nodded slowly. "Are they still around? I mean, I thought they went extinct." She asked.
"They died off and are no longer around since a long time ago."
"But you have that heart … ?" Hermione asked, confused.
Alex just smiled at her, making Hermione embarrassed.
"Sorry, I asked too much." Hermione muttered quietly.
"It's okay, it's good to be curious. Once you have doubts, you want answers so you study it well and learn other knowledge in the process.
That's how smart people gain more knowledge, and it's not something to be ashamed of," Alex comforted.
Hermione nodded, feeling a sense of acknowledgment.
"Thank you…" Hermione muttered.
"Well, see you at school, Hermione... I'm off," Alex waved as he separated from her, walking towards the Leaky Cauldron.
Hermione stood in place, watching Alex's back, unsure of what she was thinking.
Soon, Harry, Ron, and Ginny joined her as they made their way to Flourish and Blotts.
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