Chapter 324: The Wand Shop
Due to the start of the school season, besides most of the wizards dressed in their robes, there were also some glowing elven couples accompanied by tiny elves buying their enrollment supplies.
Humans are visual creatures, and these beautiful, elegant elves always aroused enthusiasm and kindness among the wizards.
Especially the adorable little elves—they were greatly loved by the wizards.
Mrs. Ross, the owner of the robe shop, almost wanted to hold the small elves who came to have robes custom-made in her arms and kiss them. When she learned that the little elves had also received acceptance letters from Hogwarts, her face showed pride and warmth as she said:
"I'm so glad you're going to study at Hogwarts, my children. Believe me, it's absolutely the right choice! I also studied at Hogwarts once, but unfortunately, I wasn't as lucky as you and only managed to study there for one year. But that was the most unforgettable time of my life, and it still feels as clear as if it happened just yesterday."
"Oh, by the way, my son William is also a freshman this year. It's a pity he's not here now; otherwise, I would surely introduce you." Mrs. Ross spoke with a hint of regret.
Faced with the lively and talkative Mrs. Ross, the reserved elf couple found it a bit overwhelming.
However, listening to Mrs. Ross's words, they became even more curious about Hogwarts.
Especially the little elf who received the acceptance letter; their eyes sparkled with longing.
Although Mrs. Ross kept calling the little elves her "children," the elves were actually older than Mrs. Ross.
Due to the slow growth rate of elves, their ages are not calculated by solar years but by a more complex system known as "Elven Years."
During an elf's growth phase, one Elven Year equals twelve solar years, and elves reach adulthood at 24 Elven Years.
The age eligibility for Hogwarts admissions for elves is based on Elven Years, not solar years.
Otherwise, an 11-year-old elf would still look like a three or four-year-old child outwardly, and Hogwarts is not a daycare, so naturally, it would not admit elves that young.
The doorbell of the robe shop rang.
Aragorn brought little Anlomire into the robe shop, while Anlomire's parents went to buy other enrollment supplies.
"Welcome!" Mrs. Ross warmly greeted, her gaze falling on little Anlomire. "Child, you must be one of this year's new students, right? Please wait a moment. I'll measure this little elf first, then you."
Following Mrs. Ross's gaze, Anlomire saw the little elf standing on the platform, being playfully measured by a magical tape. His eyes instantly filled with amazement.
It was his first time seeing a legendary elf in person, who was even more beautiful than the stories described, and it was hard to tell the gender of this androgynous little elf.
Feeling Anlomire's gaze, the little elf smiled politely and shyly nodded, and was also curious about this future classmate.
However, when the little elf saw Aragorn standing beside Anlomire, his eyes brightened. He joyfully shouted in Elvish, "Estel!"
Aragorn showed surprise and greeted the elf in Elvish, "Aranil, I didn't expect to see you here!"
Then his eyes fell on the elven couple nearby. Like meeting old friends, he happily spoke in Elvish, "Long time no see, Aranta, Yafenil. So glad to meet here."
The elf couple was delighted to see Aragorn as well. "Estel, long time no see. Since you left Rivendell, where have you been?"
Their gaze then landed on the little boy following Aragorn, "And who is this?"
"This is the child of my people, and he has also received a letter from Hogwarts. Today we came to buy school supplies." Aragorn smiled, patting Anlomire's head as he explained to the two.
The elf family came from Imladris and knew Aragorn well, especially the little elf Aranil, who was Aragorn's playmate.
However, elves and humans grow at different rates. Aragorn is now an adult, but Aranil still looks like an eight or nine-year-old.
When familiar faces meet, naturally, they choose to travel together.
So little elf Aranil and Dúnedain Anlomire recognized each other.
After being measured by Mrs. Ross in the robe shop and paying, the two left together to return in the afternoon to collect their orders.
Then both families headed straight to the wand shop.
The wand shop was located in the middle part of Diagon Alley. It was not large nor ornate, with only golden letters above the door that read "Ollivanders Wand Shop."
Also, the window display featured a single wand with an antique design.
From the outside, the wand shop seemed small, barely able to accommodate both Aragorn's party and the elves.
But when the door was opened and they stepped inside, the space suddenly expanded. It was roomy enough for five people, and even twice that would not feel cramped.
There was a long wooden bench by the wall near the entrance for customers to rest.
On the other side, rows of tall wooden shelves were stacked with layers of long boxes.
The wand shop was very quiet, as if inside and outside were two different worlds, separated by a door and window that blocked out all noise.
Though quiet, the elf couple, with their innate heightened senses, felt countless subtle magical fluctuations emanating from the shelves, sounding like soft breaths or humming, as if countless living creatures dwelled within.
"Is anyone here?" Aragorn called from the counter.
The next moment, a figure suddenly appeared from deep within the shelves, standing on a wooden ladder.
His striking red hair was like burning flames, somewhat messy and unkempt.
Aragorn was startled by the sudden movement and instinctively drew his wand.
"Oh, sorry for startling you," the wand shop owner apologized without much sincerity, then explained. "I was just organizing wand boxes. Earlier, a rather troublesome young wizard came, and it took me quite some time to help him find a suitable wand."
"I am Bill Ollivander, welcome to Ollivanders Wand Shop!"
Bill, the wand shop owner, was the one who originally taught Kael the wand-making craft.
As the son of an ordinary carpenter, Bill had no surname, so Kael gave him the surname Ollivander to serve as his family name.
Bill felt honored and proud of this surname.
Now Bill had his own family, and his descendants also carried the Ollivander surname.
Bill immediately recognized little elf Aranil and Anlomire and exclaimed, "Are you new students this year? And a friend from the Elf race, welcome! You're the second batch of elves I've received today. I must say, your kind are truly special—each one beautiful and possessing enviable magical talent."
"I remember the last little elf came from the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood, with holly wood and giant spider nerves, eleven inches long—a powerful and wondrous combination."
Perhaps because of the Ollivander name bestowed upon him, Bill now leaned toward mystical ramblings.
Everyone present exchanged glances, not quite sure how to respond.
Bill seemed to finally snap out of his own thoughts and quickly ended his musing, focusing his green eyes on the two children.
"Well, who will come to choose their wand first?"