64 Unexpected meeting!

Now many would think, I am powerful, and I would say to this world something like, 'I am the strongest, now what?'

Then a heaven-defying expert who became weaker, due to some unforeseen circumstances (which would inevitably involve me), would come and say, "HAHAHA! 'There is a man above a man, there is a heaven above a heaven.' You think you are the strongest? No! You are the strongest, in the weakest raised to weakest of the places, and now everybody around you is stronger than you!"

But as it happens, in reality, world is rarely like a Xinxia trope. If you have an ounce of recognised power, then it is worth something all over the world.

Case in point, when I reached Hogwarts with Ollivander, I saw Newt Scamander, his wife Porpetina Scamander nee Goldstein admiring the thousand year old Basilisk, as she lazed around near Hagrid's hut.

They had travelled the world, were renowned as talented wizards and recognised as the expert spokesperson for any incident related to magical creatures, despite being a wand-touting wizard.

They may seem weak, mediocre and average, just like every other wand-wielding wizards, but they played a key role, in bringing down the real Greatest Dark Wizard of recent history: Gellert Grindelwald!

And they were currently admiring the Basilisk, who I call my own. She must have smelled me, as she came to me, and raised her head, as the Scamander couples turned to see the new arrival, who excited the Basilisk.

I came to her, and rubbed her head, while asking, "Did you enjoy your spider-hunt today?"

She hissed dismissively. "Not much fun. Found some newly hatched ones. Some even had their eggshells in their fur."

I laughed at her irritation. "Perhaps, you have grown rusty."

She hissed turning her head. "I saw the spiders you asked to spare, and the other ones hid behind them and escaped."

I pondered about it. "Aragog is using my oath against our will. I wanted to be generous to the cunt, but he takes me for a fool. I will have him and his children relocated to a farm, where we would spin his silk, and fatten him up while the spiders in the forest would be all yours."

She hissed, which sounded like a laugh. "That will teach him. They were taunting me today. Will you take them away soon?"

I shrugged. "I could make that happen. But there is something I need to do before that. Did you give your horn to your master, as a core for his wand?"

She shrugged. "I did. My master wanted the horn, from the King of Serpents, when his Horned Serpent Core refused to answer him."

Her answer made sure, at least some part of the story is true. "Would you be willing, to give one to me? I found a wood, that grew from your master's wand. So I want to see, if you would allow me to wield a wand made from your horn."

She stopped in place, and thought about it. Then she hissed, "I refuse. Giving my horn to my master is different, he made me and took care of me. You have been kind to me, freed me from my prison, but you are still a child. I cannot give you my horn, until I acknowledge you as my equal. And even if, as a Wizard you are stronger than me, you are a Basilisk too. You must fight me as equals, and conquer me as equals, before I accept you."

That stole the wind from my sail! I mean, I understood her reasonjng, even if I was bummed out about it.

One might wonder, I have a überpowerful smartphone which would be better than any wand I can find, and yet I am spending my time looking for a wand. Well, I had learnt over the years, that the smartphone has unlimited battery, unlimited memory storage and absolutely no lag in transferring information. And adding the lovely blessing of ROB, it was an irreplaceable tool.

The smartphone was a Goldfinger, in and of itself, and even if it was indestructible, I didn't want to hold it in public, to use spells. I didn't want to expose it, either as a phone, or as a magical focus, when I am in public. And since, regular wands refused to pair with me, I was forced to go on a wand hunt, even if the wand itself was merely like an accessory at best, and a piece of wood to display in public at worst.

Also, even if a phone was sleek and light, it's shape and size made it unwieldy for wand movements and gestures, not to mention, even now I cannot cast a spell silently with it, while I can do so, with a borrowed wand, like I did in my excursion for hunting Death Eaters. And that meant, crafting a suitable wand was essential, and my proficiency with it, that much higher on my list of priorities!

I told Ollivander what the Basilisk told me, and was about to ask his advise, when I heard a kind elderly voice.

"I am sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear what you told Mr Ollivander. Are you looking for a wand core young man?"