Ollivander snapped out of his thoughts, looked at Luke, and then followed Luke's gaze to the wand box he had indicated.
Upon seeing it, Ollivander furrowed his brow again.
However, he took out his own wand from his sleeve and, with a gentle wave, levitated the box down from the shelf and into his hand.
Returning to Luke, he opened the box and presented a wand that looked elegantly rustic and gave off an understated charm.
"Try it out," he said, handing the wand to Luke without any introduction.
Professor McGonagall noticed something unusual in Ollivander's demeanor, so when Luke accepted the wand, she instinctively tightened her grip on her own wand, ready to intervene.
After all, if a wand were to lose control, it could cause serious harm, and the backlash often fell on the wielder. She kept a close eye on Luke, prepared for any mishap, which also left Harry momentarily out of her focus. Luke, on the other hand, had captured her full attention.
The moment Luke held the wand, he felt a deep sense of connection.
He could almost hear something faintly calling to him.
It felt like this wand was an extension of his own body. With a slight flick, the vase that Harry had accidentally broken earlier instantly pieced itself back together, good as new.
Feeling the wand's joyful resonance, Luke couldn't help but smile.
"I didn't expect such a high degree of compatibility between you and this wand"
Ollivander remarked, clearly surprised. It had been a long time since he'd seen a wizard and wand with such a perfect bond.
"What's different about this wand, Mr. Ollivander?"
Professor McGonagall asked. If there were any safety concerns, no matter how compatible it was with Luke, she couldn't allow him to use it as his primary wand.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall," Ollivander replied. "This wand is a recent creation of mine. What makes it unique is that I used a wand core material I had never worked with before—something only one other wizard in history has used."
Then, he looked at Luke and said, "It's ten and a half inches, made of Grapevine wood, known for its keen and proactive nature, favoring wizards with high aspirations. The core…is a White River Monster spine. It enhances spell power and lends an elegant form to spellcasting."
(T/N: it's real lore from the harry potter verse)
The first effect was similar to the power boost from a dragon heartstring, but the latter effect—producing spells with greater elegance—seemed a bit frivolous. Would it just make spells glow a brighter green or something?
"The White River Monster's spine...Thiago Quintana's signature material. The creature lives in Arkansas in North America, and apparently, no one besides him has a way to capture it,"
Hagrid muttered, after searching his memory.
Ollivander gave Hagrid a look of surprised admiration. "As expected of Hogwarts' Keeper of Keys and Grounds. Quite knowledgeable."
Harry was impressed, too. While he wasn't sure how obscure the information was, McGonagall's surprised expression told him it was indeed rare knowledge.
Hagrid scratched his head, a little embarrassed, before asking, "Did you figure out how to capture the White River Monster, Mr. Ollivander?"
Ollivander shook his head. "No, I simply bought a leftover piece from one of Quintana's descendants. They don't know how to capture it either."
Hagrid looked both regretful and relieved.
Luke could understand. There was disappointment at not being able to encounter or capture such a rare creature, but relief in knowing the species was safe from mass capture.
Ollivander turned his attention back to Luke and cautioned him, "Mr. Gaunt, I originally hadn't intended to sell this wand, which is why I placed it in the highest, unused section. However, I didn't anticipate how well it would suit you. So, I'm leaving the choice to you. I cannot guarantee what unique effects this wand may have, as even Thiago never attempted a combination of Grapevine wood and white river monster spine."
"If you're willing to accept the risks, I can sell it to you," he said earnestly.
Selling an unpredictable wand was against his principles; who knew if it might contain some issues he was unaware of?
But considering both the high compatibility and the boy's background, Ollivander was willing to make an exception. If anything went wrong, he and the professors at Hogwarts could help prevent any harm. And if it had unique benefits, he would treat it as a welcoming gift to the Gaunt family's new heir.
Luke didn't hesitate and replied without a second thought, "Of course, I'm willing."
A highly compatible wand was a rare find; it was worth a small risk.
Ollivander wasn't surprised by this answer.
"Then, if you notice anything unusual, good or bad, please let me know so I can observe the effects of such a combination."
"Certainly, Mr. Ollivander, thank you," Luke replied.
Wands didn't come with warranties, so Ollivander was being unusually considerate.
"And, sir, what's the price?" Luke asked.
"Seven Galleons, my boy, no tricks here," Ollivander said with a playful wink.
This price was typical for the simpler wands in his shop, while any of the three wands Luke tried could have sold for ten times that amount.
Even beyond his natural affinity for the boy, Ollivander knew the reappearance of a Gaunt family heir was a significant event among the wizarding nobility. Giving a wand as a token of respect didn't feel too extravagant.
Luke, aware of the significance, took seven gold galleons from his pocket and handed them to Ollivander.
"Thank you for your generosity," he said.
"Welcome back to the world, Gaunt," Ollivander replied.
After today, word of the Gaunt family's return would undoubtedly spread quickly through the wizarding nobility.