"Let's go buy you a wand first." Solim walked Sylna through Diagon Alley.
"Should I just use your books, or buy new ones?" Solim asked Sylna. After all, the textbooks used by first-years had not changed for many years.
"Just use yours. I know you don't have much money," Sylna said considerately to her brother.
"I still have a little money. If you don't need to buy new books, what kind of pet do you want? An owl? A cat? Or something else?" Solim added, "But let me be clear first—if you want a toad or a mouse or something like that, I won't buy it for you."
After hearing Solim's words, Sylna gave her brother a strange look.
"Toad? Mouse? Do you think your sister is some kind of weird person? How could you think I'd be interested in that kind of animal?"
Seeing Sylna's normal pet preferences, Solim sighed with relief. "That's good, that's good. Ah, we're here."
Ollivander's Wand Shop was famous not only in the United Kingdom but throughout the European wizarding world. The wand shop, run by Ollivander, was the only one in Diagon Alley and was quite renowned across Europe. The shop was always full of wand boxes and had been founded in 382 B.C.
Ollivander's shop was small and shabby, with a single lonely wand displayed on a faded purple cushion in the window. The gold lettering on the door had peeled off, and it read: "Ollivander, Fine Wandmaker since 382 B.C."
"This is Ollivander's Wand Shop?" Sylna looked up and down at the small store. "It's so dilapidated—it feels like it's about to close down."
"Come on, let's go in," Solim said, pushing open the shop door.
The shop was small, with nothing but a bench and thousands of long, narrow wand boxes stacked almost to the ceiling. There was no one behind the counter, but Solim was certain Ollivander already knew they had arrived.
"Ah, good morning, boy." Ollivander appeared from the depths of the shop, sliding down a tall ladder. "Oh, Mr. Selwyn, is that wand still serving you well? I haven't met many wizards chosen by an alder wand over the years."
Ollivander climbed down the ladder and went behind the counter. This was Sylna's first time meeting the famous wandmaker. Anyone who met Ollivander for the first time was always struck by his silvery eyes.
"If I'm not mistaken, this must be Miss Selwyn," Ollivander said, taking out a tape measure and a parchment from beneath the counter. "Let's get started. Which hand do you prefer to use?"
Sylna answered honestly and followed Ollivander's instructions as he measured the length of her arm, the length of her forearm, her height, and even her head circumference. After finishing his notes, Ollivander turned and disappeared into the shelves to fetch her first wand.
"What's the use of all that?" Sylna asked, puzzled, as she watched him go.
"The Ollivander family has been making wands for centuries," Solim replied. "They have their own methods. It's best to leave professional things to professional people. If you want to know more, you can ask him later."
Solim himself wasn't sure why so many measurements were necessary when choosing a wand. But he knew it was better to leave things he didn't understand to those who did.
"Come and try this, Miss Selwyn," Ollivander said as he returned from the shelves. "Cypress wood, with a—"
"No! No cypress ones, Mr. Ollivander! Please change it. That's too unlucky!" Solim interrupted hastily the moment he heard the word cypress. "I'm sure that's definitely not the right one for Sylna!"
Looking at Solim in surprise, Ollivander said, "Mr. Selwyn seems to know a lot about wands. You should know, then, that the wand chooses the wizard. Come now, Miss Selwyn, try it."
Ollivander ignored Solim's objection and placed the cypress wand into Sylna's hand.
"Well… it's really not very suitable, is it?" Ollivander said, snatching the wand back almost immediately. "Wait a moment." He disappeared once more into the shelves.
"What's the matter, brother? Why were you so nervous when you heard about the cypress wood?" Sylna asked.
"The cypress wand is unlucky," Solim said shortly, not wanting to elaborate.
Cypress wands were associated with courage, and their owners were often self-sacrificing. Wizards chosen by cypress wands usually met an honorable death. Solim knew that the current peace was fragile, and such an omen wasn't a good sign for his sister.
It wasn't superstition—wandlore was full of mysteries. As with ordinary people's views on ghosts, it was better to believe than not.
Soon, Ollivander returned, this time carrying several wand boxes.
"Try this one first," he said, opening a box. "Walnut wood, unicorn tail hair—female, of course."
Before Sylna could even wave it, Ollivander took it back again.
"It's not very suitable. You could use it, yes, but something feels missing."
He tossed the wand casually back into its box. "Next—elm wood, dragon heartstring. For a lady of a pure-blood family, elm is said to be a good fit. Though personally, I think that's complete nonsense."
When Sylna waved the elm wand, there was a sudden explosion. The front window shattered, startling two wizards passing outside. Sylna quickly threw the wand onto the counter.
"Well, not perfect," Ollivander said calmly, seemingly unbothered by his broken window.
"Mr. Ollivander," Solim said quickly, "I know my sister very well. Perhaps you could try a wand of pine, applewood, or black walnut. Acacia wood wouldn't be bad either."
"Oh?" Ollivander mused. "That's possible… though I don't think this young lady is suited for a pine wand."
Solim's face twitched. Aren't you supposed to be the expert? he thought.
As Ollivander disappeared into the shelves again, Sylna turned to her brother.
The woods Solim had mentioned each carried their own distinct characteristics.
The acacia wand was known to deny magic to anyone but its owner, and only revealed its true power to the most gifted. Its owners were often cautious and precise wizards.
Applewood wands were powerful and suited for those with lofty ideals. Applewood resisted dark magic and was said to bring its owner love and long life.
Black walnut was rarer than regular walnut. Wands made of it sought owners with keen intuition and insight. Beautiful but temperamental, black walnut wands required skill to master.
Pine wands, on the other hand, were Solim's personal wish for his sister. Wandmakers believed pine wands granted long life and were especially sensitive to nonverbal spells.
After a while, Ollivander returned again.
"Mr. Selwyn's suggestions reminded me—perhaps pear wood might suit you best." He handed Sylna a beautiful wand with a golden sheen. "Pear wood, phoenix feather core, twelve and three-quarter inches. Very powerful, and it will help you avoid straying from your path."
The moment Sylna took the wand, Solim knew it was the one. The wand glowed bright gold, then slowly faded.
"Miss Selwyn, congratulations," Ollivander said with a smile. "Owners of pear wood wands are usually popular and respected. Your wand will never choose a wizard with a cold or dark nature."
"How much, Mr. Ollivander?" Solim asked, pulling out his wallet.
"Twelve Galleons."
"So cheap?!" Sylna exclaimed, staring at her brother in disbelief.
"I'll tell you why later," Solim said quickly, counting out twelve Galleons and handing them to Ollivander.
"By the way, Mr. Ollivander," Solim added, lowering his voice, "I have some rare materials. Would you be willing to make a wand for me?"
"We don't accept custom orders, Mr. Selwyn," Ollivander said, frowning slightly. "But I must ask—what rare materials are you referring to? Not all materials are suitable for wandmaking, you know."
"Ghostwood and snakewood," Solim said. "I don't think those are common."
Ollivander raised his eyebrows.
"It's said that Slytherin's own wand and staff were made of snakewood," Solim continued.
It wasn't that Solim didn't trust other wandmakers—but those materials were too valuable. He feared that if he took them elsewhere, they might simply disappear.
Ollivander, however, was different. He was trustworthy, and he knew Dumbledore. Still, Solim wasn't sure whether he would agree.
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