Chapter 18: The Wand Destined for Tom

Tom stood motionless, numb, as the measuring sticks automatically gauged his dimensions. Meanwhile, the still youthful Mr. Ollivander carefully recorded the data in a notebook. Once the measurements were complete, Ollivander dove straight into the pile of wands. After a while, he emerged with some difficulty, his hands full of several long, slender boxes.

Tom’s eyes burned with excitement as he looked at the boxes containing wands.

“All right, let’s test them one by one... If all goes well, the wand suited to you is among these!” Ollivander arranged the boxes on the counter.

Tom glanced at the long boxes on the table, then around the room filled with wands.

“Mr. Ollivander... how did you know these might suit me? What about the others?”

Ollivander smiled warmly. “That’s a trade secret... Just kidding. It’s not that mysterious. These wands were selected based on the measurements I just took.”

“More than that, it’s not just that they might suit you — in fact, all these wands here are suitable for you!”

Tom frowned in confusion. “All of them? So I just pick one from these?”

“No, no, no. Let me emphasize again: the wand chooses the wizard, my boy... So you stand here, try them out, and let them choose you. In the end, they decide whether to follow you.” Ollivander opened one of the wand boxes on the table.

Tom was somewhat dissatisfied with this notion. He came to buy a wand, yet in the end, it was the wands choosing him?

“Come on, don’t just stand there...” Ollivander handed Tom a black wand. “Try waving it.”

“Ebony wood with a core of dragon heartstring, fourteen and a quarter inches long — a truly fine wand! Powerful!”

Tom took the wand, his earlier discontent overshadowed by excitement. Powerful? That was exactly the kind of wand he wanted!

With a vigorous swing, Tom waved the wand... but nothing happened. It was as if he had just waved an ordinary dead branch.

“Ah... it seems this wand has not chosen you. Let’s try the next one...” Ollivander returned the ebony wand to its box.

Tom couldn’t help but frown. Not being ‘chosen’ annoyed him.

“Come, let’s try this one...”

One after another, Tom tried many wands, but none suited him. Meanwhile, Ollivander’s shop suffered quite a beating from the magical explosions triggered during the trials.

However, Ollivander was used to this and casually repaired the shattered tables, chairs, and windows.

Soon, the counter was piled high with wands.

“Hmm, a rather picky customer... Though not unheard of... Ah, perhaps I shouldn’t have limited you to wands with dragon heartstring cores. Maybe...”

Ollivander spoke as he once again plunged into the heap of wands.

When he reappeared, he held several more wand boxes.

Opening one, he took out a black wand.

“This is one of my masterpieces: holly wood, phoenix feather core, eleven inches, supple and flexible...”

Levid, standing behind, glanced at the wand. It resembled the wand of Harry Potter, who would one day become Tom’s nemesis.

Tom took the wand and lightly waved it.

Boom!

A fierce explosion shattered the freshly repaired glass window once more.

“Oh no! This wand is completely unsuitable!” Ollivander snatched the holly wand from Tom’s hand as if it were a prize.

This was not what he had anticipated; the wand not only failed to bond with Tom but reacted with violent repulsion.

After putting the holly wand away, Ollivander fell into deep thought.

Tom stared at the broken shards of glass scattered everywhere, feeling helpless.

Doubt began to creep into his mind...

Could it be that his talent was so poor that even being chosen by a wand was so difficult?

Actually, if it weren’t for the heavy burden of Levid constantly weighing on him, Tom might never have entertained such thoughts.

But now, Tom’s confidence in his own abilities had temporarily vanished, and he was trapped in self-doubt.

Suddenly, Levid’s voice came from behind him.

“Don’t be anxious, Tom. I think it’s because you possess very unique talents. That’s why choosing a wand is so difficult.”

Hearing this, Tom’s tense mood eased a bit.

He turned, about to speak, and saw Levid sitting on a bench, happily enjoying a cup of ice cream.

Tom’s mood soured again.

“Where did you get that ice cream?”

Levid shrugged. “I just went out to get it. You were so focused on choosing your wand, you didn’t notice.”

Tom frowned. “What about mine?”

Levid blinked. “I didn’t buy one for you. I figured you’re too busy now... You know, ice cream melts...”

“Hmph! I don’t care about it anyway!” Tom turned away once more.

At that moment, Ollivander’s voice came through.

“Occasionally, I encounter customers who are difficult to match with a wand. Without exception, they all possess extraordinary talents. Yet in the end, they all find the wand that suits them best!”

“So, don’t worry, your perfect wand is still waiting for you... Good things take time, dear.”

Ollivander opened another box and pulled out a white wand.

“After careful consideration, since the holly wand rejected you so strongly, why not try this one... purpleheart wood with a phoenix feather core, thirteen and a fifth inches, extremely powerful. Give it a try...”

Tom took the purpleheart wand expressionlessly. He had grown numb after the previous trials, as Ollivander had said similar things before.

A faint hum sounded...

The moment Tom gripped the wand tightly, a ghostly green light suddenly glowed at its tip, casting eerie shadows throughout the dim shop.

“Wow!” Levid watched in astonishment.

If he didn’t know that Tom still barely knew any magic, he might have thought Tom had just cast the Avada Kedavra curse.

“Haha! This is the one! The purpleheart wand and the holly wand both have phoenix feather cores — you could say they are brothers among wands!”

“I was thinking, since the holly wand rejected you so strongly, the purpleheart wand might suit you remarkably well. And indeed, it does!”

“Oh... purpleheart wood! I’m certain you will accomplish extraordinary things with this wand!”

Ollivander was visibly excited; such rare scenes were seldom seen even by him.

Tom gazed blankly at the purpleheart wand in his hand, feeling a deep, intrinsic connection — as if his arm had been extended by the wand itself.

This realization boosted Tom’s confidence greatly.

“Hmph, once I’ve mastered magic, I’ll give that Levid a good beating!”

Suddenly, Tom felt a chill in his left hand, the one not holding the wand. To his surprise, a cup of ice cream appeared there.

“Congratulations, Tom, you’ve finally found your perfect wand...” Levid said cheerfully.

“But you said you didn’t buy any.”

“Huh? You believe whatever I say? Since when did you trust me so much?”

“You bastard...”

“Never mind, not eating it then.”

“Since it’s your money, why shouldn’t I eat it? Hand it over!”