5 :Ollivanders

"Good afternoon, my dear boy," said the wizard, his eyes sparkling with a knowing twinkle. "I am Garrick Ollivander, the proprietor of this establishment. And you, my boy, are here for a wand, I presume?"

Max nodded, feeling slightly nervous. He had heard stories about the magic of wands and how they were crucial to a wizard's abilities. He wondered what kind of wand would choose him and how it would feel to hold it.

"Excellent, excellent," said Ollivander.

"What's your name boy,"

"Max," replied back as he watched Olivander crouch down behind the counter looking for something.

"Ah, here we are," Ollivander said as he emerged from behind the counter with a tape measure in his hand. Just like in the books and movies, he began to ask Max a series of strange questions, such as whether he was right or left-handed, and even started measuring the length of his nose, ear, and arm. He had no idea what any of this had to do with finding the right wand, but he answered the questions as best he could.

After a few minutes, Ollivander disappeared behind the shelves, leaving him alone in the dimly lit store. He heard a rustling sound, and soon Ollivander emerged with a small box.

"This wand is made of holly, eleven inches long, and contains a core of phoenix feather. It is known for its exceptional power and is highly sought after by skilled wizards." Max took the wand and gave it a wave. A puff of smoke shot out of the tip, causing Ollivander to chuckle. "Not quite right, I'm afraid," he said, taking the wand back.

Next, Ollivander handed Max another wand. "This one is made of willow, nine inches long, and contains a core of unicorn hair. It is known for its flexibility and adaptability." Max waved the wand, and a small spark of blue light shot out, causing a plant on the shelf to grow a few inches taller. "Interesting," said Ollivander. "But not quite right either."

This continued for several more wands, each with a unique combination of wood, length, and core, but none of them seemed to be the right fit for Max. Ollivander kept up his commentary as he handed over each wand, explaining their properties and what they were known for.

Ollivander's hand paused for a moment before he finally reached for a box hidden away at the back of the shelf. Max watched with bated breath as the old wizard climbed down the ladder, his movements slow and deliberate as if he was savoring the moment. He approached with the box held tightly in his hand, his piercing eyes fixed on him with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine.

As Ollivander opened the box, Max caught a glimpse of the wand inside. It was longer than the wands he had tried before, made of a twisting,flexible dark wood that seemed to absorb the dim light of the shop. He could feel a strange energy emanating from the wand, as if it was calling out to him. He swallowed hard, his heart racing with anticipation.

Slowly, Ollivander took the wand out of the case and handed it over. Max reached out tentatively to touch the wand, and as soon as his fingers brushed against the wood, he felt a sudden jolt of electricity that ran through his body. The whole shop shook, and all the wands on the shelves rattled loudly, threatening to fall. Max jumped back, his heart pounding with fear and excitement.

Ollivander quickly steadied the wands with a wave of his hand, his eyes fixed on Max with an intensity that Max had never seen before. Max could feel the weight of Ollivander's gaze on him, as if the old wizard was scrutinizing him for any signs of weakness. Max swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.

For a moment, there was silence in the shop.

Then, as if drawn by a powerful magnet, all the lights in the store shot towards the wand in Max's hand, enveloping it in a dazzling display of brightness. Max shielded his eyes, not wanting to be blinded by the sudden burst of light.

After a few seconds of intense brightness, the wand started lighting up with a soft blue glow. The blue light began to take the form of a ball, hovering in mid-air for a moment before expanding outwards, filling the room with an ethereal blue light. He felt a warm and peaceful sensation as the light bathed him in its glow.

As the blue light continued to shine. He watched in amazement as small blue plants appeared out of nowhere, floating in the air, their leaves fluttering in the breeze. The plants were unlike anything he had ever seen before, with a delicate beauty that was both mesmerizing and enchanting. Their vibrant blue color was soothing to the eyes and filled the room with a serene ambiance.

He reached out to touch one of the floating plants, but as soon as his hand brushed against it, the plant evaporated into a puff of blue mist. He watched as the other plants followed suit, disappearing into the air like a dream. The shop was now filled with the lingering scent of fresh flowers.

As the last of the blue plants faded away, the wand started to emit a low humming sound. The blue light began to gather up again, swirling around the wand in a mesmerizing dance, before shooting out and wrapping around his wand arm like a vine. It was warm and comforting, enveloping him like a gentle embrace. He felt a surge of power coursing through his body, as if the wand was empowering him with its own energy.

As the lights flickered back on, Max looked at Ollivander, who was still staring at him in amazement. The shopkeeper's eyes were wide with wonder and admiration as he gazed at the young wizard. Max was slightly confused about what had just happened but felt a sense of pride in the wand he held.

"Remarkable," Ollivander repeated, his voice filled with awe. "Absolutely remarkable. I have never seen a reaction quite like that one. You, my dear boy, have found yourself a truly unique wand."

Max couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as he looked at the wand in his hand. He felt a strong connection to it as if it was meant to be his all along.

~4th wall break - Author. "Precious, my precious." ... Sorry! Back to the story.~

Ollivander moved closer and examined the wand carefully. "This is truly a remarkable wand," he said. "15 inches long, Rigid in flexibility, made of vine wood, and has a dragon heartstring core." He said. Looking up from the wand and staring into Max's eyes.

"Ah, yes," said Ollivander, his eyes glinting with excitement. "A wand made of vine wood, a most curious and fascinating wood. Vine wands are among the less common types, and they seem strongly attracted to those witches and wizards with hidden depths and a vision beyond the ordinary. They are also said to possess a special connection to the natural world, and are well-suited to magic related to growth, renewal, and the cycles of nature. I have been intrigued to notice that their owners are frequently those who astound those who think they know them best. And, judging by the way the wand chose you, I'd say it's a perfect fit.

He held the wand up to the light, examining it with great care. "The wand is rigid in flexibility, which means that it is not easily bent or swayed. This suggests that it is well-suited to producing powerful, forceful magic - the kind of magic that requires a steady hand and unwavering focus."

He paused for a moment, his eyes fixed intently on Max. "And the length, my dear boy. It's a long one, that's for sure. Fifteen inches, to be exact. This is one of the longer wands we have ever made, and it suggests that the wizard who wields it is confident and has a strong sense of their own abilities. It takes a skilled wizard to handle a wand of this length."

Ollivander's gaze shifted to the core of the wand. "And finally, the core. Dragon heartstring, my boy. A rare and highly coveted core material known for producing wands with great power and agility. It is a core that requires respect and discipline, for it can be both a powerful ally and a dangerous adversary."

He handed the wand back to Max with a sense of reverence. "You have found yourself a truly remarkable wand, my dear boy. With the right intentions and discipline, you can accomplish great things."

Max felt a sense of pride and accomplishment as Ollivander spoke about the wand. He had never felt so connected to an object before, and he knew that this wand was going to be a powerful tool in his wizarding journey.

Ollivander paused for a moment, his gaze fixed intently on Max. "However," he said, "I must impress upon you the gravity of the situation. A wand such as this one must be treated with the utmost respect and care, for the wand chooses the wizard just as much as the wizard chooses the wand. It is a symbiotic relationship, and if the wand senses that it is not being treated with the respect it deserves, it may choose to turn against you."

He felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of his new wand turning on him. He knew that this was not an object to be taken lightly, and that he would need to work hard to earn its trust and respect.

"I understand," Max said, his voice filled with determination. "I will do everything in my power to treat this wand with the respect and care it deserves. I will use it wisely and to the best of my abilities, and I will never take it for granted."

Ollivander smiled warmly, "I have no doubt."

Saying his thanks and handing over the money, Max walked out of Ollivander's shop with his new wand in hand, feeling excited. As he made his way towards the pet shop entrance, he noticed a woman waiting for him. It was Professor Sprout, she had a brown owl in a cage with her.

"Hello, Max, I see you have gotten your wand" Professor Sprout greeted him warmly. "I have your owl, as requested. It's a beautiful specimen, strong and agile, with feathers that shine like bronze."

"Thank you, Professor Sprout," Max said, taking the cage from her. "I can't wait to take it with me to Hogwarts."

"That's great, Max," Professor Sprout said, smiling. "Speaking of which, it's time for us to go. We'll be using apparition to get there."

Max's heart sank as Professor Sprout broached the topic of apparition. Though he had read about it in the Harry Potter books, the notion of instantly transporting from one location to another filled him with a sense of unease. Despite acknowledging the convenience it offered, the possible dangers involved made him apprehensive. He tried his best to conceal his understanding of apparition from Professor Sprout, as he did not wish to reveal that he was transported from the modern world.

"What's apparition?" Max asked, trying to sound curious.

Professor Sprout's face lit up, and she began to explain in detail what apparition was. She described how it was a magical method of transportation, allowing wizards and witches to instantly move from one place to another. She also warned him about the dangers of improper use of apparition and the importance of focusing on the destination.

He nodded, taking in all the information.

"We can't apparate directly to Hogwarts," Professor Sprout said. "There's a powerful enchantment in place that prevents anyone from doing so. Instead, we'll apparate to a village nearby called Hogsmeade."

As she instructed him to grab her arm, he couldn't shake the feeling of trepidation that gripped him.

As they apparated, Max felt a strange sensation wash over him. It was like he was being pulled apart and put back together again at the same time. His body felt weightless and his stomach dropped as if he was on a rollercoaster. The world around him twisted and distorted, colors blending and shapes warping in a way that made his head spin. He felt like he was being hurled through space and time, his senses overwhelmed by the sensation of movement. Just as he felt like he couldn't take it anymore, there was a loud pop, and suddenly he was standing in the middle of a village.