Professor Snape's meticulous approach to correcting even the smallest details had long surpassed the standard of teaching at Hogwarts.
In another era—say, the Middle Ages—such instruction would have been considered nothing short of a master's full transmission of secrets.
It was strict, even harsh at times, but it offered a rare glimpse into the deepest mysteries of magic.
Reflecting on this, Ollivander couldn't help but laugh softly to himself. "And now… aren't I doing exactly the same thing?"
Wyzett asked, a little tentative, "Mr. Ollivander, should I keep going? Start brewing the activation potion? All the ingredients are ready."
Ollivander had meant to suggest a break, but seeing the eager anticipation on Wyzett's face, he found himself swept up in it as well. He was genuinely curious to see just how far this Ravenclaw could go.
If the first attempt failed, it would be a perfect chance to talk about the value of rest and pacing oneself.
But if Wyzett succeeded on his very first try…
Ollivander shook his head, feeling he might be expecting too much.
Even with Snape's rigorous tutelage, success at the first attempt was far from easy.
With that in mind, he decided to leave only one set of ingredients on the table, storing the rest with a preserving charm to keep them fresh.
Once everything was set, he looked at Wyzett and asked, "Wyzett, if I walk you through the steps as you brew, will that be too difficult?"
Wyzett confirmed, "You want me to follow your instructions, step by step, as you say them?"
"Isn't that a bit much?" Ollivander coughed lightly, trying to sound casual. "If it's too hard, I can show you first, then let you try."
"It's fine," Wyzett replied, shaking his head. "Professor Snape used to teach this way too. I think I can keep up."
"So Snape's tried this before, has he…" Ollivander nodded. "Then let's begin! Start by adding three pints of dew to the cauldron, bring it to a boil, and then…"
Ollivander guided him carefully, afraid his instructions might come too quickly.
He'd prepared over ten sets of ingredients for Wyzett to practice with—setting his expectations accordingly.
But Wyzett's attention was wholly on the bubbling cauldron.
He activated his Oculus Magicae, pouring all his focus into the process.
Following Ollivander's directions, he added each ingredient, watching their reactions and making subtle adjustments as needed.
For him, at least, the process didn't feel especially difficult.
The activation potion he was brewing was of exceptionally high quality—on par with the Draught of Peace itself.
As the dew reached a rolling boil, he dropped in the mistletoe berries. Their magical properties seeped out, turning the potion a milky white.
He skimmed off the impurities, then poured in the oak sap.
The potion steamed and frothed, the liquid rising dangerously close to the rim.
Ollivander had warned him about this, and Wyzett calmly reduced the flame, using his wand to gently soothe the restless brew.
When flecks of gold light began to dance on the surface, Wyzett added the remaining ingredients in careful sequence.
The cauldron responded with a dazzling display, as if he were adding the very colors of a rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—each hue shimmering in turn.
Two hours slipped by. The activation potion was nearly finished, and above the bubbling surface, a faint rainbow arched in the rising steam.
"Your timing is impeccable!" Ollivander exclaimed in genuine awe. "You followed every step perfectly…"
"Now, add the clover essence. Wave your wand above the cauldron—three times clockwise, then three times counterclockwise…"
"Excellent! Now, move the cauldron off the flame. Using the rim as your guide, trace out a triangle…"
As Wyzett completed the final movement, the once-viscous, rainbow-colored potion began to clear.
In the blink of an eye, it settled into a pool of crystal-clear liquid—utterly pure, not a single impurity in sight.
It looked colorless and had no scent, yet it radiated a vibrant, living energy.
After several hours of work without a single pause, Wyzett felt no fatigue—only a deep, exhilarating joy.
Whether magic or potion-making, the process always filled him with a sense of wonder.
"You did it on your first try!" Ollivander was, if anything, even more delighted. His voice rang with excitement. "Absolutely extraordinary!"
He fetched a crystal goblet, pouring the potion in and holding it up like a fine vintage.
The clarity and brilliance of the potion drew a low whistle of admiration. "Beautiful! Even better quality than I'd hoped for!"
"Wyzett, if you're interested, I'd happily have you brew all my activation potions from now on."
Wyzett gave a helpless little laugh. "Mr. Ollivander, I don't have a potioneer's license—I'm afraid I can't help you with that."
"Potioneer's license? Oh… I nearly forgot!" Ollivander caught himself. "You'll need your O.W.L. in Potions, at least…"
The wizarding world was strict about potion sales.
Unless you were dealing in Knockturn Alley, you needed at least a basic potioneer's certificate to sell potions legally.
By the usual process, Wyzett would need to pass his O.W.L. Potions exam before even applying for accreditation.
But Wyzett didn't dwell on it. Instead, his mind turned back to the brewing process itself.
As the activation potion neared completion, observing through his Oculus Magicae had confirmed his earlier suspicion—there were striking similarities between this potion and the Draught of Peace.
He followed that hunch, searching for connections, and finally arrived at a theory…
"Mr. Ollivander, I think the potion doesn't just awaken magical wood—it also bestows a kind of soul characteristic on the wand. Is that possible?"
"Bestows a soul characteristic?" Ollivander nearly dropped the crystal goblet. "What makes you say that?"
Wyzett explained simply, "I've brewed the Draught of Peace before. With the Eye of Magic, I noticed certain similarities between the two potions."
"So I wondered—maybe the connection between wand and wizard comes from this similarity. The activation potion might be what gives a wand its soul."
"Merlin's beard… I suddenly feel like I'll never surprise you again." Ollivander sighed, half in defeat and half in admiration.
"I'd hoped to reveal this to you after you finished your first real wand… but you've already pieced it together yourself."
Wyzett smiled. "Mr. Ollivander, honestly, the process of making a wand has already given me more than enough surprises."
After a brief explanation, his thoughts drifted back to the potion. "Mr. Ollivander, what would happen if we increased the proportion of different traits in the activation potion?"
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