The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 15: The New Wand

Early in the morning, as the sun was just rising and Diagon Alley was still in a brief moment of tranquility, Ollivander's Wand Shop had already welcomed two guests for the day.

"Miss Hamilton, here is your new wand." Ollivander said, presenting the wand case with both hands, looking quite pleased with himself: "Ebony shaft, Veela hair core, nine and a third inches."

"An ebony staff?" Lupin glanced at Loila with some surprise.

It is said that ebony wands choose courageous wizards who are not easily swayed by external influences as their masters...

Miss Hamilton seemed quite different from the description… Lupin was puzzled when Ollivander, standing nearby, smiled and explained, “It was made based on the material of Miss Hamilton’s first wand.”

"I specifically contacted my old friend Grigovich and asked him to send me the ebony used for that wand before." Ollivander watched with great satisfaction as Loira took the wand box.

"This is my masterpiece."

As he spoke, Loila pursed her lips and carefully opened the wand box.

A dark silver wand lay quietly inside, and as the morning sunlight shone on it, specks of silver light reflected in Loila's eyes.

Is this wand really made of ebony?

Loira subconsciously looked up at Ollivander. She clearly remembered that her first wand was dark purple...

"I had the wand blade specially polished," Ollivander said with a smile. "Grigovich is indeed a master wand maker."

"But it's a bit too inconsiderate of the user." He said, looking at Loila's face under the hood: "As a wand to be used by a wizard with Veela blood."

"Natural things should be even more beautiful, shouldn't they?" he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Besides, this is my first time trying to make a wand with Veela hair cores."

Loila pursed her lips, her face slightly flushed, and stammered, "Th-thank you."

"Alright, why don't you give it a try?" Ollivander shrugged and leaned against the shop counter. "It's not just wizards who choose wands, wands choose wizards too."

"Okay...okay..." Loila nervously reached for her wand, her ears under her hood perking up slightly.

If this wand doesn't like her... that would be terrible... she thought with some worry.

After all, she didn't consider herself to be any outstanding wizard.

But as she held the cold staff in her hand, all her tension vanished.

Mr. Ollivander truly lived up to his reputation as a master wand maker; this wand felt exactly the same as her previous wand, even more comfortable... Moreover, Loira could clearly feel her magic flowing smoothly within it.

This is an exceptional magic wand...

Loila flicked her wand gently and silently chanted, "Flash!"

A smooth flow of magic emanated from the tip of the staff, emitting a ray of light.

"Perfect!" Ollivander nodded excitedly, circled Loila once, and said, "It recognizes you as its master."

He didn't seem to notice that Loila had used a silent spell.

"Thank you... thank you... Mr. Ollivander," Loila whispered, gripping her wand tightly.

She hadn't held a wand for over a week, and now that she had one again, she was overjoyed.

Moreover, Mr. Ollivander clearly put a lot of effort into this wand... I wonder how much such a wand costs?

As Lupin slowly pulled fifty Galleons from his pocket, Loila subconsciously pursed her lips...

This is all my future salary... Come to think of it, I didn't even ask Dumbledore how much I would get in a month... Could it be that this money has already taken up a month's salary?

Loila suddenly realized that she hadn't paid any money during the week or so she had been staying at the tavern...

She couldn't help but feel a little panicked... It was all her fault for not trying to save some money back then.

Loila never saved much money during her school days. She either gave her money to classmates who liked to play pranks on her or used it to buy books and materials related to magic arrays.

As for serving Lord Grindelwald... Loila ate and drank for free for three years and really didn't have the nerve to ask Lord Grindelwald for money.

My savings in Gringotts probably aren't even as much as this wand.

Loila gripped her wand tightly... Just you wait, Dumbledore... Once I've paid you back... I'll begin plotting for Lord Grindelwald's great cause!

Find your weakness... then deliver the final blow with your wand! Save Lord Grindelwald and revive the Vigilantes!

For something greater...

"Clatter".

The door to the wand shop was suddenly pushed open, followed by a sound that made Loila's heart stop beating.

"Remus, Miss Hamilton... you really are here."

"Dumbledore..." Lupin hadn't finished speaking when Loila cried out in surprise, then stumbled back a few steps and bumped into the wand shop counter.

"Deng Deng Deng Deng Deng Broodoo?!"

"I'm not called Dumbledore," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Headmaster Dumbledore." Ollivander nodded respectfully at Dumbledore.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Ollivander," Dumbledore said politely. "Although I'd like to talk to you about wands."

"But I'm here today to see Miss Hamilton."

"Me?!" Loila was startled. "I...I didn't do anything!" She subconsciously thought that Dumbledore had come to cause her trouble...after all, he never brought good news every time he appeared.

"Have you done something?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.

"No...no!" Royla shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"Alright... let's talk about it outside." Dumbledore said, nodding to Ollivander, "Excuse me."

As the three walked out of the shop, Dumbledore asked softly, "Miss Hamilton, do you remember what I asked you to do before?"

"Ah..." Loila paused for a moment, then remembered what Dumbledore had told her a week ago about becoming an advisor to the Ministry of Magic.

"I...I remember," she whispered. She had fallen for Dumbledore's trick because she was looking forward to the magic circle item...yes, a trick!

I'm clearly one of Lord Grindelwald's men, yet I have to serve Dumbledore... and the Ministry of Magic at that!

I hate... I hate the Ministry of Magic... I hate Dumbledore...

Loila pursed her lips and muttered to herself, as if that would make her feel a little better.

"That's good." Dumbledore, mostly joking, said, unaware of the situation. "Actually, I thought you'd hide away like a squirrel..."

"No...no...and...I am...human..." Loila whispered, then pulled her hood tighter to cover her pointed ears.

Lupin, who was following behind, raised an eyebrow: "Headmaster Dumbledore...you mean Miss Hamilton wants to...?"

"That's right." Dumbledore turned slightly to look at the two of them. "Otherwise, why would we be here?"

As he spoke, he looked up and pointed to the building in front of the three of them.

The large sign above, "Ministry of Magic Office in Diagon Alley," made Loira feel dizzy. If Lupin hadn't reacted quickly and caught her, she might have fallen to the ground.

"Magic... Magic... Ministry of Magic!"

"Don't worry, Miss Hamilton," Dumbledore said gently. "Even back then, the British Ministry of Magic did not yield to Grindelwald."

That's exactly why I'm scared!