"This wand isn't mine, it's from my grandfather, a great attempt."
Ollivander smiled mysteriously and took out a simple wand from inside. It also appeared to be made of yew wood, but intricate patterns adorned its surface, lending it an air of mystery.
"This is a special yew tree. It absorbs the blood and toxins of the basilisk. The normal core can't even get close to it, so my grandfather made a bold attempt."
Ollivander gently stroked the wand and began to speak slowly:
"Yew wood, Dementor's nerves..."
Before Ollivander could finish his sentence, Professor McGonagall interrupted him.
"What? Ollivander, I don't agree with giving such a dangerous wand to a young wizard."
"Minerva, relax. It's not the wizard who chooses the wand; it's the wand that chooses the wizard. This wand has remained silent for hundreds of years, waiting for this moment, I believe."
Ollivander handed the wand over to Artel. Artel looked at the wand in front of him, a mixture of surprise and curiosity evident on his face.
A wand made of dementor nerves, Ollivander's grandfather must have been quite daring. By the way, do dementors even have nerves? Artel reached out and took the wand in his hand.
A mysterious throbbing sensation coursed through his body, and strands of white mist materialized out of thin air, accompanied by a chilling cold that swept through Ollivander's Wand Shop. Within the blink of an eye, the shop was covered in frost.
"A perfect combination! Truly a perfect combination!"
"Yew, Dementor's nerve, eleven inches. Boy, this wand is yours."
Ollivander clapped his hands in satisfaction. Then, as if remembering something, he continued:
"But there's one thing you should know. This wand can't cast the Patronus Charm. Don't worry too much though. The Patronus Charm's main purpose is to ward off Dementors. With this wand, you won't need it, as it will protect you from Dementor attacks."
"Ollivander."
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and asked solemnly:
"I wonder if this wand possesses Dementor-like properties, perhaps absorbing people's positive emotions and plunging them into darkness."
"No, Minerva, our Ollivander's wouldn't create such a malevolent wand. On the contrary, with Dementor nerves, this wand not only shields him from Dementors but also imbues him with an increased sensitivity and yearning for happiness and beauty."
"Don't those in darkness long for the light?"
McGonagall's relief was palpable after hearing Ollivander's explanation. If Ollivander's assessment was accurate, the wand would bring a lot of positivity to Artel's life.
"I hope so. Regardless, thank you, Ollivander."
Professor McGonagall expressed her gratitude before preparing to lead everyone away. Hermione and Artel each paid seven Galleons for their purchases. Artel's wand was surely worth more than seven Galleons, but Ollivander didn't raise the price.
After leaving the wand shop, Professor McGonagall took them to Mrs. Malkin's robe shop for wizard robes, then to Flourish and Blotts bookstore for textbooks needed for the new semester. Next, they went to the adjacent cauldron shop to purchase alchemy robes, a crucible, and a brass balance for weighing.
Hermione went beyond the required textbooks for her grade, leading her to have insufficient funds for buying a pet. Artel, on the other hand, decided to forgo purchasing a pet due to the potential hassle. In short, after acquiring everything they needed, it was already past four o'clock in the afternoon.
"Alright, that should do it. Artel, Ms. Granger, the school term starts on September 1st. You need to be at King's Cross Station before eleven o'clock that day to catch the Hogwarts Express. Remember to bring your tickets."
After Professor McGonagall's instructions, she sent them to the Leaky Cauldron. She still had matters to attend to, as something seemed to have occurred at Gringotts during their shopping trip. Professor McGonagall intended to investigate.
Once Professor McGonagall departed, the Grangers turned to Artel, who was laden with a cauldron and a pile of belongings.
"Artel, where does your family reside? Why not leave your things in our car for the moment? We can drop you off first."
"Thank you, Mr. Granger, but no. My family should be waiting for me outside the pub."
Artel expressed his appreciation for Mr. Granger's kindness. Moreover, Hermione's parents were genuinely amiable individuals, far more pleasant than Harry's aunt and uncle.
"That's alright. We live in Manchester. I'm a dentist with a private practice there. If you have the chance, feel free to visit us."
Mr. Granger smiled, handed Artel a business card, and tucked it into the pocket of Artel's suit.
"I certainly will."
Artel nodded. Manchester wasn't too far from London and Birmingham, located in the northwest. It was merely a two- or three-hour journey by car or train.
The quartet exited the Leaky Cauldron, and Artel scanned the surroundings. Jimmy and a group of Razor gang members were waiting around the street corner.
"Jimmy! Hey! Over here!"
Artel called out, catching Jimmy's attention. Jimmy, who had been smoking, extinguished his cigarette and hurried over.
"Hmm, didn't expect you to buy so much stuff."
Jimmy's lackadaisical demeanor took on a more serious tone. The bodyguards accompanying Jimmy took the cauldron and books and left with a nod. Jimmy muttered to himself before turning his attention to the Grangers.
Artel introduced them.
"They're the Grangers, and this is my classmate, Hermione Granger. She's also heading to Hogwarts."
"Oh! Oh! She's... I mean, she's a young witch, right?"
Jimmy's casual expression shifted to one of seriousness.
"Yes one that can be easily controlled if I play my it right," Artel affirmed in a low voice only audible to Jimmy.
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