A Bite of Hogwarts - chapter 33

In any place that had an open market economy, attempting to create a local monopoly was an arduous task.

This was because as long as the commercial activity was reproducible, there would inevitably be competitors in the marketplace. A human’s innate ability to learn and imitate was on full display in this aspect.

Even in the rather small Diagon Alley, this law of competition still existed. For example, purely in clothes stores, there were Twilfitt and Tatting’s, Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, and Second-Hand Robes. And when a witch or wizard wanted to buy magical creatures or magical ingredients, or even newspapers or books, they would often have more than one choice.

If one considered the stores in the adjacent Knockturn Alley as well, the market competition would appear even more intense.

But there were two trades that were exceptions to this.

One of these was the global bank entirely under the control of the goblins, Gringotts.

The other was the wandmaker established in 382 BCE, the wand shop run by the Ollivander family.

The long family traditions of craftsmanship and the extensive praise had raised the Ollivander family to an extremely high status in the world of wandmakers.

This was particularly the case for the current successor, Garrick Ollivander. Influenced by the traditions of wand-making that had been passed down through the generations of his family, he had begun to display his talent very early on.

As a man who had the grand ambition to change the cores and woods used in the wands of his time, and as someone who had ardently pursued the ideal wand in his youth, he quickly became one of the three greatest wandmakers in all of Europe, and then as the best wandmaker of the present era.

Thus, many foreigners specifically came to London to buy one of Ollivander’s wands instead of buying local products. Naturally, the Ollivanders wand shop came to completely monopolize the wand business in London.

Now that she was finally in the Magic World, Alina was naturally brimming with anticipation for what her future wand would be. Her recalcitrance before had simply been words spoken out of anger.

“This is Ollivanders? Said to be the best wand store in the world?”

Alina uncertainly examined the small and shabby store in front of her. If not for the peeling golden letters on the sign declaring ‘Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.’, she would have suspected that Dumbledore had taken her to the wrong place.

“You can’t determine something’s value by how pretty it looks on the outside. Ollivander is a pure wandmaker. For him, each Galleon spent on anything besides wands is a shameful expense.”

Dumbledore gently chuckled as he led Alina into the small wand store.

The store was very small, and besides the single chair, there were only thousands of thin wand boxes stacked from floor to ceiling.

“Dumbledore? Albus Dumbledore! What a joy it is to see you again! Welcome! Welcome! I didn’t think you would be paying a visit.”

Before Alina could clearly make out all the wand boxes around her, an old man suddenly stepped in front of them, his pale silver eyes shining like moons in the gloomy confines of the shop.

Ollivander was clearly delighted by Dumbledore’s surprise visit. Rubbing his hands together, the old man spoke in an excited tone.

“Mister Dumbledore, you must have brought that wand with you, yes? Could you give it to me to research it a little? I will agree to any request you have.”

“Ollivander, we can discuss that matter when we’re alone.”

Dumbledore slightly raised a hand, using his eyes to stop Ollivander from saying any more. He pulled the silver-haired girl behind him up to the front. “The main character today is her.”

“Oh, of course, yes, yes.” Ollivander warily changed the topic and began to examine Alina.

“Strange, quite strange. I sense a particularly willful, abnormally powerful, free magic.”

Ollivander softly muttered, his silver eyes making Alina’s hairs stand on end. The old man’s shriveled hands likely stroked the silver hair on Alina’s shoulder, his face revealing a strange and profound smile.

“Mister Dumbledore, the Wand Law forbids magical creatures from owning a wand.”

“Thank you for the reminder. I am very clear on the contents of the Wand Law. Miss Alina Kaslana is an authentic human witch. She simply possesses a few different talents.”

Dumbledore sternly said. This was one of the other reasons he needed to accompany Alina to get her wand. Alina had too much Veela in her blood.

An ordinary witch or wizard might have regarded her as a girl with extraordinary magic potential, but Ollivander, who had spent almost his entire life working with magical materials, could see right through Alina.

“I hear that Hogwarts is the only place in Britain that has been able to successfully domesticate Thestrals…”

Ollivander suddenly mentioned.

“I don’t think there will be much of a problem with that.” Dumbledore smiled.

“Oh, what a remarkable young witch.”

Ollivander’s brow relaxed as he scanned the silver-haired girl again, his finger moving away from her hair. “Alright, Miss Kaslana, come this way. Let me take a look.” Taking a silver tape measure from his pocket, he asked, “Which arm are you accustomed to using?”

Alina did not answer directly, her brow creasing as she asked back, “I’m just buying a wand. Why do I need to have my body measures?”

“Because each wand of the Ollivander family is unique. In order to pick the best wand for you, I first need to measure the length of your arm, forearm, height, and the size of your head. I can then use these measurements to help pick a wand for you.”

Having obtained Dumbledore’s promise, Ollivander was in a rather good mood, smiling as he patiently explained to Alina.

“But I’m only ten years old. I’m going to get bigger, no?”

Alina was even more confused by Ollivander’s explanation and shook her head. “The measurements you take now will be completely useless a year from now. Or am I going to get a new wand every year?”

“Mmm…”

Ollivander’s smile suddenly froze, and the corner of his mouth began to twitch. He didn’t know how to respond. After all these years, he had never once considered this question.

“According to your theory, a child 1.2 meters tall should use a twelve-inch wand, but once he grows into a two-meter-tall man, he can’t still use the same tiny wand, right? If we go by size ratio, then he should be using a wand that’s as thick as a wrist, more like a cudgel. You would also have to increase the amount of magical material used, right?”

Alina tilted her head and gestured with her fingers. Alina had always had these questions about wands, which could be considered a type of weapon. These were important tools for amplifying magic, so it was only right that weapons for adult wizards be larger and more powerful. Even if they couldn’t be dual-wielded, they should at least be the size of rolling pins, right?

“The strength of a wizard will increase with age and knowledge, so why aren’t wands upgraded and switched out as one’s strength grows?”

Boom!

The girl’s innocent questions made Ollivander feel like the gate that had always restricted his line of thought had suddenly blown apart, and a whole new world of wand-making lay before him.

He had always been attempting different combinations of core and wood for his wands, believing that this would transform the wand industry. But he had never once considered altering the shape of the wand itself.

“…What Miss says is very reasonable.”

Ollivander’s mouth opened with great difficulty, his face very grave as he dryly replied.