After leaving Gringotts, Hagrid took him to the next destination.
"Now we can buy your robes," Hagrid said, leading him to Madam Malkin's Robe Shop. However, Hagrid seemed reluctant to enter and suggested they stop by the Three Broomsticks for a drink.
What could Zhao Lun say? He readily agreed and entered the shop alone.
Madam Malkin was a short, plump, and kind-hearted witch, dressed in pale purple.
"My dear, are you from Hogwarts?" she asked warmly, not waiting for Zhao Lun to speak. "We have many beautiful robes here, I'm sure you'll find one you like."
At that moment, the shop was empty. Madam Malkin led him inside, showing him various robes: sequined styles, wrinkle-free versions, decorative robes, fitted ones, loose casual robes, extended-length robes, and temperature-regulating robes.
Zhao Lun selected the wrinkle-free, decorative, fitted, loose casual, and temperature-regulating robes. He also bought a set for Maria, as a gift for her.
When Zhao Lun emerged, Hagrid was already waiting, holding an ice cream cone. He handed one to Zhao Lun, a chocolate-filled one. The weather was a bit warm, so the ice cream was quite refreshing.
After finishing the ice cream, they continued their shopping.
This time, they went to buy parchment and quills, then headed to Flourish and Blotts.
The bookstore was a large, wizarding shop filled with towering shelves that reached the ceiling.
"Flourish and Blotts sells beginner's magical textbooks. They often supply Hogwarts students, although the books required for the Hogwarts curriculum exceed what they carry," Hagrid explained as they walked.
The shelves were filled with books of all sizes: some the size of cobblestones, decorated with feathers, others as small as postage stamps, bound in velvet. There were also books filled with strange symbols and some with nothing inside at all.
After leaving the bookstore, they went to the Apothecary to buy a cauldron, a folding telescope, and a brass set of scales. They also bought some extra cauldrons for backup. Next, they visited Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, a charming shop filled with all sorts of fascinating items.
The floor was lined with barrels of viscous substances, while various powders and herbs filled jars along the walls. Bundles of feathers, sharp fangs, and claws hung from the ceiling. The smell was awful, a mix of rotten eggs and decaying vegetables.
They followed the list, buying small glass vials and other ingredients.
Zhao Lun wasn't satisfied and bought more seeds to take back for planting in his magical realm.
Hagrid advised against buying unnecessary things, suggesting he might be better off buying an owl that could deliver messages. Zhao Lun ignored the advice and proceeded to buy a reddish-brown owl, naming it "Messenger," or "Xiao Bing" for short.
He also bought two Nimbus 2000 brooms, one for himself and one for Maria.
"Alan, first-years aren't allowed to bring brooms to school... why did you buy two?" Hagrid questioned in surprise.
"I plan to give the other one to my sister, Maria," Zhao Lun explained.
"Your sister? Is she a witch too?" Hagrid asked, puzzled. "How do you know?"
"I've noticed she has abilities similar to mine," Zhao Lun replied, paying for the brooms. They were, undeniably, very cool.
"If that's the case, you should have bought a Comet broom. It's not the fastest, but it's perfect for beginners," Hagrid suggested.
"Really?" Zhao Lun considered the advice and bought a Comet broom, then picked up a toy-sized broom designed for young wizards. The description said it was stable, with a protective charm to prevent injuries, though it wasn't fast.
"...You bought another one?" Hagrid asked, perplexed. "Didn't you already get two?"
"I've decided to give the small one to Maria for practice. The new one will be for collection," Zhao Lun said, enjoying the look of his brooms. One for use, one for display, and one for Maria.
Hagrid was speechless, momentarily stunned, and finally remarked, "You're quite the character."
Next, Zhao Lun needed a wand, so Hagrid took him to Ollivanders, though he didn't enter, as if he didn't want to be there.
Zhao Lun sensed something and didn't press him to come inside. He went in alone.
Ollivanders was a small, dusty shop, the only wand shop in Diagon Alley. The gold letters on the peeling door read: "Ollivanders - Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C." Inside, in a dusty window, lay a single wand resting on a faded purple cushion.
As soon as Zhao Lun stepped inside, a bell rang somewhere in the shop.
It was an extremely small space, with nothing but a single chair, and thousands of narrow boxes filled with wands nearly stacked to the ceiling.
"Good afternoon," a soft voice said, and the old man appeared before him. His large, bluish-green eyes glowed faintly in the dim light of the shop, giving him a slightly unsettling appearance.
"Hello," Zhao Lun replied, feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of those piercing eyes. "My name is Alan, I'm a new student at Hogwarts."
"Good to meet you, Mr. Alan."
"Do you not have a wand?" Ollivander asked, approaching him.
He pulled out a measuring tape from his pocket and began measuring Zhao Lun's arm, from shoulder to fingertip, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and even his head.
"Each Ollivander wand contains a core made from a magical substance of immense power."
"Mr. Alan, unicorn hair, phoenix tail feathers, and dragon heartstrings—no two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, phoenixes, or dragons are exactly alike. Of course, using another wizard's wand won't end well."
"That's enough," Ollivander said after finishing his measurements. The tape rolled itself up and fell to the ground. "Try this one, Mr. Alan. Beech wood, dragon heartstring, nine inches, sturdy and flexible. Give it a wave."
Zhao Lun took the wand but found it a bit heavy and awkward.
Ollivander took it back and handed him another.
"Not quite right? Try this one—birch wood, unicorn hair, nine inches, highly flexible."
Zhao Lun barely touched it when it was snatched away.
"Not good? What about this one—oak with dragon heartstring, eleven inches, strong and firm. Try it out."
One wand after another was tested, each one piling up on the chair, but none of them felt right.
The more wands Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the more excited he seemed. Zhao Lun started to worry that he wouldn't find a wand that suited him.
"Don't worry, we'll find the right one," Ollivander said reassuringly. "Let's try these. They're unique combinations."
Zhao Lun tried a few more, but still nothing felt quite right, until he picked up a golden-red wand. As soon as he held it, a warm current of energy flowed through him, followed by golden-red flames that burst forth, vibrant and strong. The flames hit a nearby shelf, making it explode and sending dust into the air.
Ollivander clapped his hands in delight. "Fantastic! Truly perfect! This is the most wonderful sight I've seen all year!"
"Ah, sorry, I made a mess," Zhao Lun coughed, apologizing for the chaos.
Ollivander's sharp eyes locked onto Zhao Lun as if trying to peer into his soul.
"This wand is made from ancient paulownia wood, with a phoenix feather core. It's fifteen inches long. The materials were sourced from China..." he seemed to drift into a memory. "Ah, it's been so long, I almost forgot."
Zhao Lun listened silently as Ollivander shared the wand's origin.
During World War II, when the Japanese invaded China, Ollivander came across a legendary creature—a phoenix, perched in a tree, preening its feathers and singing. Its song was so beautiful it drew all the birds to it. The phoenix then flew toward the rising sun. Ollivander gathered the wood from the tree where the phoenix rested, along with its feathers, and crafted a wand with a distinct Chinese heritage.
The wand's golden-red body featured a design of a hundred birds flying toward the phoenix, with the phoenix facing the sunrise. According to Ollivander, the design wasn't carved by him; it was naturally part of the wood.
The image was lifelike, simple yet profound.
It had taken Ollivander eight years to craft this wand, and it was his most cherished creation. Unfortunately, no one had ever been worthy of it—until Zhao Lun came along.
"Mr. Alan, this is the most precious wand in the world. I hope you will cherish it," Ollivander said solemnly, handing Zhao Lun a box containing the wand.
"I will," Zhao Lun promised, deeply moved by the story. This wand, so magical, had already captured his heart, and his respect for Ollivander's dedication grew. Perhaps it was this very persistence that made him a master of his craft.
Zhao Lun paid 12 Galleons for the wand, then bowed and left. Hagrid was waiting for him at a distance.
The weather wasn't ideal, and by now, the afternoon was mostly gone. The sky was overcast, and it looked like rain was imminent.
They made their way back to the train station, and as they departed, Zhao Lun invited Hagrid to dinner at his place. Hagrid declined, explaining that he had another student to pick up the next day. He handed Zhao Lun a ticket.
"Don't forget, September 1st—I'm sure you'll have an unforgettable time at Hogwarts."
Hagrid saw him off, watching him board the train. As Zhao Lun waved goodbye, the train slowly pulled away, disappearing from sight.
"See you on September 1st!" Zhao Lun whispered to himself.