11

Aaron had been pondering this idea for a while now.

Even though he knew that the more wands you possessed, the more your magical power would be dispersed rather than concentrated, he couldn't help but want to give it a try.

At the same time, he silently addressed a certain entity in his heart:

See that?

"When you're practicing spells with chopsticks..."

"I'm almost at the point of getting a real wand!"

"Child, raise your arms." Ollivander hurried over from the shelves once more, his light-colored eyes gleaming with enthusiasm as he regarded Aaron like a piece of art.

In the past, he had relied on a magical measuring tape, but today he took matters into his own hands.

From shoulder to fingertip, from wrist to elbow, from shoulder to floor, from knee to armpit, and finally measuring the circumference of the head.

Aaron could feel the excited breath of Ollivander brushing against his hair.

It had to be said that Ollivander's obsession with the laws of wands surpassed even notions of good and evil.

He was passionate about matching powerful wizards with the right wands.

He was also the first to suggest embedding cores of extremely powerful magic into selected wand woods.

Thus were crafted the highest quality wands in the wizarding world.

Eclipsing those of the other two prominent wand-making families.

"Don't worry, kid. Ollivander has all the wands you could want."

He murmured and began scouring the shelves. "Look, this one is made of ash, lime, shell, and bone, with a mother-of-pearl core."

Ollivander opened a box and withdrew a wand to display to Aaron. "You'll never guess who the other one was made for."

He waved the wand in front of Aaron, who reached out to take it, thinking it was meant for him.

Unexpectedly, Ollivander withdrew the wand with a feint and returned it to the box. "You didn't guess? It's Newt Scamander's. He's quite famous. It's fine if you don't know him; you'll find out eventually."

Aaron: "..."

As if sensing Aaron's frustration, Ollivander smiled and said, "This one isn't suitable for you."

He then procured another. "Chestnut, dragon heartstring, nine and a quarter inches. Try this one."

Aaron took the wand eagerly, but under the expectant gazes of Dumbledore and Ollivander, nothing happened...

"This shouldn't be happening!"

Aaron waved the wand, attempting to channel magic and cast a cleansing spell.

But the wand quivered faintly in his hand, displaying no reaction whatsoever, like a delicate figurine.

No way, Ollivander, your shop doesn't sell duds!

Aaron glanced at Dumbledore, who in turn looked at Ollivander.

Ollivander spread his hands, indicating this was a first for him.

Normally, even if there was great incompatibility between wizard and wand, there would still be some effect.

Using an incompatible wand might result in unstable spellcasting power.

But like Aaron, no reaction at all was exceedingly rare.

No! Unheard of!

"Don't look at me like that! Ollivander never peddles substandard goods!" Ollivander was a bit irked by their questioning gazes.

He snatched the wand back from Aaron and began searching the shelves once more, saying, "Child, focus. It's the wand that chooses the wizard, not the other way around."

Soon, he retrieved a long dusty box from a shelf, opened it, and handed it to Aaron.

"Maple, seven inches, phoenix feather, quite flexible."

"Give this a try."

Aaron eyed the wand suspiciously, his heart pounding. There shouldn't be any issue, right?

"What's with that look in your eyes?" Ollivander intoned deeply.

Aaron smiled awkwardly and took the wand.

Still no reaction; he felt nothing, not even harmony or repulsion, as legend spoke.

It was as if he held a piece of finely crafted wood.

"Could it be because I'm a time traveler?"

"Is that why my magic doesn't sync with this world?"

"This can't be right. Other time travelers manage it just fine!"

Aaron questioned his life choices. Just moments ago, he had mocked children in another world who could only wave chopsticks. Was this karma coming back so swiftly?

He was reluctant to give up. Pouring magic into the wand, he tried to cast a cleansing spell.

Yet again, like before, the wand lay inert in his hand. When magic was channeled through, it responded sluggishly, displaying no reaction.

No, there was a slight tremor when magic coursed through it.

"Please respond a bit! At least show some interest!"

"I'd settle for just a slight movement!"

Aaron cried out helplessly.

It's confirmed!

It wasn't a dud; I'm just that unlucky. Two tries and both are duds.

Aaron glanced at Ollivander, whose large, bright eyes remained expectant. Clearing his throat, Aaron said, "How about you bring out some fresh ones for me to try?"

"You know, those old ones tend to go kaput after being stored too long."

Ollivander snorted and snatched back the wand. "Ollivander doesn't deal in defective merchandise!"

He proceeded to try many more wands.

So many that Aaron lost count. In the end, he felt like a scoundrel.

He switched wands so rapidly that he didn't even have time to pull up his pants.

"No, no use. Bring out another batch."

"No good. Get another batch."

"Next batch."

By the end, Aaron was numb, his arms sore from the attempts, and the stack of boxes beside him towering as high as Hagrid.

"Try this one: willow, dragon heartstring, ten and a quarter inches..."

"Cypress, unicorn hair, ten and a quarter inches..."

"Hawthorn, unicorn hair, ten inches..."

After trying them all, without exception, there was no response—no magical reaction whatsoever.

Ollivander surveyed the wands piled on the floor, hugged his knees, and fell into deep contemplation. Dumbledore frowned. This was indeed peculiar. It was inconceivable for a wizard to elicit no response after so many attempts. While he had considered Aaron might be the issue, Ollivander's Wand Shop had never had quality issues.

But just a short while ago, the lad had cast a spell without a wand.

Could there truly be a problem with the wand?

He glanced at Ollivander. "Ahem, perhaps there is indeed something wrong with the wands. Could it be due to the damp weather? Or perhaps the dust?"

Ollivander couldn't tolerate others suggesting his wands were flawed, not even Dumbledore.

"I'll say it again, Ollivander's wands have no defects!" Standing up, he made his way to the furthest shelf.

Returning shortly with an exquisite long box, different from the dusty ones before.

Surely, this was a... quality product!

"Give this a try." Mr. Ollivander's bright eyes brimmed with confidence as he opened the box and withdrew the wand. "Thirteen and a half inches, holly wood, phoenix feather."

Seeing this familiar wand, Aaron almost blurted out, "Seriously!"