11 Exploring the Secret of the Wand

After leaving the Li Trace Bookstore, Hagrid took them non-stop to other stores. In those small stores full of fantasy colors, they carefully selected all kinds of fine supplies.

While Hagrid was picking them out, he also didn't forget to explain to the two children the uses of these supplies in magical learning. After a lot of hustle and bustle, they finally acquired almost everything they needed.

"Aiyaa, I'm finally done, just the pets and wands left to take care of." Hagrid said with a long, relieved breath, sweat running down his forehead as he raised his hand and wiped it off carelessly with his sleeve.

Harry anticipated Hagrid with eyes full of excitement and couldn't wait to get on with the purchasing trip.

Arriving at the door of the Ee-ra Owl Shop, Hagrid said to Harry with a gentle smile on his face, "I haven't gotten you a present for your birthday yet! I'm going to give you an owl that can deliver letters and packages for you."

"You don't have to do that." Harry's refusal was interrupted before he could finish his sentence by Hagrid's big wave of his hand.

"No, this isn't an ordinary gift, it's a gift that adds up to eleven years of debt to you, so please make sure I deliver this!" Hagrid's face was serious and his eyes were firm, as if he was declaring that there was no room for negotiation.

Hearing Hagrid's words, Harry's heart was warmed, and he could not refuse any longer, turning his head to Michael, he said, "Before you refused my offer, Hagrid and I went to see the property that my relatives had left me, and it's really a huge and amazing inheritance ah!"

Only then did Harry say his next words with extreme seriousness, his eyes full of earnest anticipation.

"As a friend, I suspect that this time you won't be able to refuse the small gift I'm offering, a gift that symbolizes friendship."

"That certainly won't be the case, and I accept it with joy." Michael smiled gracefully and courteously expressed his thanks to Harry, the corners of his mouth turned up and his eyes filled with gratitude.

Thirty minutes later, they left the Ella Owl Shop, each carrying a large birdcage with a snowy owl hatchling that was sleeping sweetly and soundly.

"Let's go, it's the last store left, you'll be able to get a good wand there, it's a wizard's second life!"

Hagrid's tired but still enthusiastic voice echoed in the ears of the two young wizards who were tirelessly excited about their first foray into the magical world.

The last wand store looked small and shabby, the gold lettering on the door peeling away from the sign that read: making fine wands since 382 BC. A wand lay alone on a faded purple cushion in the dusty cabinet window.

As they entered the store, a ding-dong bell rang from somewhere at the back of the store, signaling that the owner had a visitor.

Hagrid was so tired that he headed straight for the only bench in the store and sat down, letting out a long sigh.

The store was not big, except for the bench Hagrid was sitting on, there were only a few thousand neatly arranged narrow boxes left, which looked mysterious and ancient under the dim light.

"Good afternoon." A soft voice rang out coldly, and all three were startled.

An old man appeared in their midst without warning, his large, light colored eyes resembling two shining moons in the dimly lit store.

Harry looked at the mysterious wand store and the wand selection process that was about to begin with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

He remembered Michael's stoic behavior in various matters earlier and suddenly felt that he could observe and learn from the sidelines by letting Michael do the wand selection first, so he tugged on Michael's sleeve and lowered his voice and said, "Michael, why don't you buy it first, and I'll look at it."

When Michael heard Harry's words, he took a step forward and said respectfully:

"Greetings, esteemed Mr. Ollivander! Harry and I are freshmen at Hogwarts, and we have taken the liberty of coming here today to acquire a suitable wand."

"You are the finest wand maker in all of England, I think we should be able to get your assistance."

"What a resemblance to that man! I was almost taken aback just now, with dark hair, dark eyes, a pale face, handsome features, and a slender figure."

Ollivander repeatedly looked at Michael, with doubts and memories in his gaze, before saying, "If Hagrid wasn't here as well, I'm afraid I would have thought I was old and confused and accidentally used the time converter."

Ollivander looked at the gracious Michael, turned his gaze to the slightly more formal Harry, and spoke, "I recognize you, Harry Potter, those eyes of yours are as bright and emerald green as your mother's. Both husband and wife took their wands from me."

Ollivander came up to Harry and gently stroked the lightning shaped scar on Harry's forehead with long pale fingers, a hint of guilt and emotion in his expression.

"I'm so sorry, it was caused by a wand I sold." He said softly, remorse in his voice, "Thirteen and a half inches long. Of purple shirt wood. Powerful, strong, and it fell into the wrong hands ... If only I had known that this wand would do such a thing when it was made ..."

Shaking his head, he proceeded to talk to Hagrid a bit about his wand.

After a short period of reminiscing, Ollivander refocused his attention on the two young wizards in front of him, and was especially intrigued by Michael, who couldn't wait to start picking out wands for them, and asked "Which hand is your usual hand?"

"Either, preferably the left." Michael replied curtly, his voice calm and confident.

Ollivander had Michael raise his arm and began to take careful measurements all over his body.

As he did so he said "Remember it is the wand that chooses its wizard. Every Ollivander's wand possesses a transcendent magical substance that is the essence of it."

Michael inquired of Ollivander, "So what key role does a wand play for a wizard? And what kind of special being is it?"

Hagrid and Harry looked at each other and Harry read clearly in Hagrid's eyes, "I don't know! Stop asking questions! Just shut up!" The meaning of the words.

Hagrid immediately felt as if he had returned to his student days, his head immediately became drowsy, and an intense drowsiness came on like a tidal wave, "Geez, I want to get some sleep!" His eyes closed slowly and involuntarily.

Harry did think at first that it was unlikely that Michael from the Muggle world like them would be able to give any reliable answers, after all, their knowledge of magic was still very limited.

However, when he saw Michael's look of seriousness and desire to explore, Harry couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart.

He recalled Michael's unique thinking and ability to calmly respond to various situations that he had shown earlier, which made Harry begin to doubt his initial judgment.

Perhaps Michael could actually give some unique insights? Thus, Harry couldn't help but lock his gaze firmly on Michael, anticipation growing in his eyes.

"Wow, that's an amazingly wise little wizard! I've literally never had anyone ask me a question like that in all my long years."

Ollivander couldn't help but freeze for a moment in the face of Michael's question.

He did know the answer, but it was also true that he had never been asked such a question. Most people left in a hurry after acquiring their wands, who would think deeply and understand how it worked?

Instead of answering directly, Ollivander turned to Michael and asked rhetorically, "While I know the answer, and you will find it in 'wandology' in the future, I am more interested in hearing what the answer is in your mind right now."

At this point, although Hagrid appeared to have fallen asleep, his large pair of ears quietly perked up.

Harry's sense of anticipation grew stronger as he eagerly wondered how Michael would answer this depth-filled question.