One of the two, Charity Burbage, was known to Ollivander as a teacher at Hogwarts. Also known, in Ollivander's personal opinion, for being able to make a strawberry-rhubarb pie that was just this side of Heaven's Gate. Oh, and she was a Muggles Studies teacher.
The boy was a bit old for a first time wand-buyer, but staring with unabashed curiosity around him and dressed in unfamiliar clothing. He also looked somewhat oriental despite the blue eyes and yellow-gold hair.
Therefore, Garrick Ollivander deduced - first time wand buyer. Probably muggle-born and lately discovered as a wizard. Not entirely unheard of though the boy was a bit old to have just recently manifested some magic.
"We need to get Mister Uzumaki here outfitted with a wand," said Charity. "I'll need a receipt, by the by. I'm to be eventually reimbursed when his mentor's finances are a bit more settled."
"Oh yes, I quite understand," said Ollivander with a nod. "Very well, let me take a couple of measurements."
Naruto endured a few minutes of having some tape measure being brought out and some odd commands being given him. He didn't see the point of any of it, but was taking his cues from Professor Burbage who seemed to think everything going on was perfectly normal.
"All right," said Garrick Ollivander, looking over his notes then regarding the ceiling thoughtfully. "Let's see. Perhaps?"
Going to a shelf at apparently random, the aged man checked a few boxes before pulling one out and opening it up. "Let's see here. Yew wood and dragon heartstring, six inches, very supple."
Naruto took the proferred wand and stared at it.
"Go ahead and give it a flick," suggested Professor Burbage.
Naruto flicked the wand. Sparks erupted from the lamps, a jet of flame roared out from the inkpot on the desk, and a fly buzzing around the stairwell screamed and left a trail of smoke in the air as it crashed to the ground.
"My word," said Charity Burbage.
"That was rather extreme," noted Garrick Ollivander. "I think that was a 'no' as far as a match."
"A 'match'?" asked Naruto.
"The wand chooses the wizard, Mister Uzumaki," said Garrick Ollivander before getting thoughtful again. "Maybe..."
The wandmaker went to a different shelf, where he brought out an old dusty box and a different wand. "Eight inches, cherry wood with a unicorn hair core."
Naruto grasped it, only for the wand to go shooting off across the room and bury itself in a wall.
"That was most definitely a 'no'," indicated Ollivander. "In fact, I think it safe to say that that was the most clear indication of 'no' that I have yet seen."
"Well, that's a bit of an accomplishment at least," indicated Professor Burbage.
"Quite," admitted Ollivander as he saw a challenge here before him. "Let's try this one." Another rummaging around and pulling forth a wand was followed by Naruto holding onto it.
"Uhm, it felt like it squirmed," said Naruto, staring at the length of wood.
"Try anyway," said Ollivander.
A ten inch long wooly rhinoceros stood there on the countertop after Naruto had finished.
"Another first," proclaimed Ollivander.
"Cool!" proclaimed Naruto.
"It is rather cute," said Professor Burbage.
"I'll use it to knock down your bill a bit," said Ollivander, using his own wand to summon a birdcage to put the creature into. "I know someone who is very much into exotic type mammals and I do believe this qualifies."
Another frantic sorting went on, with Ollivander chosing and discarding several wands without bringing one to Naruto. Finally he muttered a "perhaps" and then went to a cabinet which he then unlocked, pulling a single box from the interior.
"I acquired this one back in 1939," stated Ollivander, unwinding the chains holding this wand case closed. "A foreign wizard handed it off for me to research. A most curious thing. He paid in advance, went off to deal with something related to the war, then never returned."
"It certainly looks unusual," noted Professor Burbage.
"Oh, it certainly is that," said Ollivander. "Elder god spleen fiber and runewood."
"Dear me, that sounds terribly expensive," said Charity Burbage. "Isn't runewood extinct?"
"To the point of being mythic," said Garrick Ollivander, using a pair of pliers to lift the wand from the case. "The same with the core. Until I examined it and determined the components, I had thought either material unlikely to exist in the first place. In any case, Mister Uzumaki, if you would?"
"Those are metal pliers," noted Naruto.
"Indeed," said Ollivander, still using the pliers to hold up the wand in question.
"The metal is smoking," noted Naruto.
"Not unexpected either," said Ollivander.
Naruto nervously gulped and reached out to touch the shaft of wood.
It seemed as if the entire world went silent for a moment, even the crowds outside the shop having paused for a moment.
Then the wand in question settled itself into Naruto's hand with a purring sound.
"Ah," said Garrick Ollivander. "This seems ominous somehow."
"How expensive is that?" asked Professor Burbage.
"Quite cheap actually," said Ollivander. "I've been wanting to get rid of it. It makes the other wands nervous."
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:00)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.