Chapter 2: Ollivander's
Walking through the streets of Diagon Alley, Lynn pulled out his shopping list again.
"First, we need to go to Gringotts to get some money, and then to Ollivander's wand shop," Lynn thought as he retrieved a rusted metal key from his pocket.
Diagon Alley was bustling with magical shops, but the one that most intrigued him was undoubtedly Ollivander's Wand Shop, known for selling wands capable of channeling and performing magic.
Soon, Lynn spotted a snow-white building with a bronze door. Engraved on the door were the words "Gringotts Wizarding Bank."
Two goblins in crimson and gold uniforms flanked the entrance. Upon noticing Gale behind Lynn, the goblins quickly identified him as a young wizard from a pure-blood family and greeted him accordingly.
For goblins, wealth was everything, and pure-blood families with immense riches were treated as honored guests.
Straightening his collar, Lynn strode through the bronze door. As he approached the second set of silver doors, his eyes caught an inscription:
**"Enter, stranger, but take heed of greed,
For those who take but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there."**
Lynn chuckled softly at the warning.
"Greed," he thought, "is the perfect word to describe goblins." In Lynn's opinion, power alone could safeguard wealth. Without sufficient strength, one could only watch in despair as everything they valued was taken away.
Inside Gringotts, Lynn handed over the metal key and was promptly led by a goblin into a cart that traveled on tracks deep underground.
The cart rattled forward, the cold wind stinging Lynn's face, and suddenly, they passed beneath a cascade of water that drenched him completely. Lynn looked like a drowned rat.
The goblin, noticing Lynn's irritation, explained, "This is the Thief's Downfall. It washes away all enchantments and magical disguises."
Of course, the waterfall could not detect non-magical disguises like masks made of human skin.
The goblin snapped his fingers, casting a drying charm on both Lynn and Gale before the cart continued. Moments later, a massive dragon loomed ahead.
As the dragon prepared to spew fire, the goblin produced a small metal device from his coat and struck it sharply. A loud, resonant "ding-dong" echoed through the tunnel. At the sound, the dragon recoiled in fear, retreating to a safe distance.
"This is called the Clank. Over time, the dragon has been conditioned to associate this sound with pain, ensuring it stays at bay," the goblin explained smugly.
Lynn nodded in understanding.
Eventually, they arrived at the Rolle family vault. The goblin pressed a hand against the door, causing it to vanish and reveal the vault's contents.
The sight nearly blinded Lynn. Mountains of gold Galleons shimmered, interspersed with rare magical artifacts.
Reaching into his bag, which had been enchanted with an Extension Charm, Lynn gathered thousands of Galleons, yet the golden hill seemed untouched. The wealth of the Rolle family was truly staggering.
After securing the money, Lynn and Gale returned to the surface and exited Gringotts. Strolling past Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, Lynn bought two chocolate and walnut sundaes, one for himself and the other for Gale.
His next stop was Ollivander's Wand Shop.
From the outside, the shop looked small and rather shabby. The gold-lettered sign above the door read: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
A single wand rested on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window display.
When Lynn stepped inside, he was greeted by towering shelves crammed with thousands of narrow boxes that stretched to the ceiling.
"Hello, are you Mr. Ollivander, the wandmaker?" Lynn asked the elderly man with bright eyes who appeared before him.
"Ah, yes! Good afternoon, young wizard," Mr. Ollivander replied with a warm smile.
"Good afternoon, sir. My name is Lynn Rolle, and I'm here to purchase a wand," Lynn said politely.
Mr. Ollivander retrieved a silver tape measure from his pocket and began taking Lynn's measurements.
"Ah, of course! Every young wizard who comes to me hopes to find the wand that will best suit them," Ollivander began. "Now then, Mr. Rolle, which hand do you use for spellcasting?"
As the wandmaker measured him, he explained, "Every wand I craft contains a powerful magical core: unicorn hair, phoenix feather, or dragon heartstring. Each wand is unique, as no two magical creatures are exactly alike. Remember, Mr. Rolle: the wand chooses the wizard."
Once he finished, Mr. Ollivander scanned the shelves and retrieved several boxes.
"Let's try this one first—vine wood with a phoenix feather core, eleven inches, quite flexible. Give it a wave."
Lynn grasped the wand and flicked it forcefully. A beam of light shot out, struck a nearby shelf, and caused it to explode in a shower of splinters.
The surrounding shelves collapsed in the aftermath, leaving the shop in disarray.
"Definitely not!" Mr. Ollivander exclaimed, snatching the wand back.
He handed Lynn another wand. "How about this? Ebony with a unicorn hair core, eight inches and rigid."
As soon as Lynn touched it, the wand shot out of his hand, spinning several feet away.
"No, no, not this one either," Ollivander muttered, clearly puzzled.
Returning to the shelves, he selected a box wrapped in red silk. "Let's try this—mahogany, thirteen and a quarter inches, with dragon heartstring. Be careful; it's a bit delicate."
The moment Lynn grasped the wand, he felt an undeniable connection, a harmony deep in his soul. He gave it a tentative wave, and flames burst forth, engulfing the shop in a fiery glow.
The fire blazed high but caused no harm. Instead, it radiated warmth, enveloping Lynn, Gale, and Ollivander without scorching anything.
"Ah, yes! This is it!" Ollivander exclaimed with excitement.
As the flames subsided, faint crimson patterns appeared on the wand's surface. Ollivander examined it closely, his expression one of amazement.
"Wait a moment—this isn't ordinary mahogany. This wand is crafted from a hybrid of mahogany and Eastern magical sycamore wood. Sycamore, known for its affinity with fire, must have influenced the wand's reaction," he explained, visibly thrilled.
"The combination of mahogany, magical sycamore, and dragon heartstring suggests great potential, Mr. Rolle. I believe you will excel, especially in fire magic."
Ollivander's eyes sparkled with delight, while Lynn marveled at the newfound power resting in his hand.