Since the fireplace at home connected directly to Diagon Alley, Snape didn't need to use the famous Leaky Cauldron as a transit point.
Ghostly blue flames flared up.
Snape stepped skillfully out of the fireplace, patiently waiting for Eileen, who had decided to accompany him today.
"Mum, I can handle this small matter myself. You really didn't need to follow me."
"The most important thing for every wizard is the wand in their hand. This is a very memorable day, and I don't want to miss it."
Eileen smiled brightly, looking at Snape with eyes full of doting affection.
So Snape sighed lightly.
He could only take Eileen's hand like a true nine-year-old child, letting his mother lead him through the bustling crowds of Diagon Alley.
He reached out casually.
Before leaving the *Golden Harp* sweet shop, Snape had quickly grabbed a Screaming Sweet from a jar and popped it into his mouth. The faint sweetness dispelled some of his discomfort.
"Didn't you say you wanted to correspond with that Ms. Lavinia? Let's go buy you an owl first, shall we?"
Eileen's words were filled with joy.
Because her husband Tobias was just a Muggle, and had once hated magic due to jealousy and unwillingness, the family hadn't kept an owl.
But seeing that Snape was about to possess something he had longed for but couldn't reach, Eileen showed only pure happiness.
"Okay, Mum."
Snape nodded, then changed the subject.
"We have money now, so why don't we buy two owls? When business at the *Golden Harp* picks up, I think you'll need one too."
"...Thank you, Severus."
Eileen clearly hadn't expected Snape to suddenly make this suggestion, or perhaps she had never considered herself.
Sweetness welled up in her heart.
Eileen sincerely felt that the happiest thing in her life was having a child like Severus. This must be a gift from Merlin!
Pushing open the door to *Eeylops Owl Emporium*, the hooting of numerous owls and the smell of droppings instantly hit them.
"Welcome! It's a lovely day, isn't it?"
Ms. Andreina walked over, beaming.
She wore a dusty gray apron covered in all sorts of feathers and down.
After hearing Snape's request clearly, the shopkeeper quickly recommended a reliable owl to the pair.
"This little fellow is just six months old, full of ambition and waiting to show what he can do. I guarantee he'll be a reliable partner!"
Ms. Andreina recommended a tawny owl.
It wasn't big, but one could tell it had been well cared for, staring brightly with large eyes at the three people surrounding it.
So, after some discussion, Snape successfully bought the little fellow for ten Galleons, with a deluxe birdcage and a box of owl nuts thrown in.
He handed it to the eager Eileen.
Watching his mother teasing the tawny owl with childlike delight, a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of Eric's mouth.
Looking around the shop, Ms. Andreina's gaze was a bit strange.
For some reason, she felt that this little wizard in front of her was the one truly in charge. The maturity revealed in his every word and action was completely different from his childish appearance!
"What is this?"
A calm inquiry interrupted Ms. Andreina's thoughts.
Looking closely, when the shopkeeper saw the raven Snape was pointing at, she smiled and said:
"That is a Violet Raven. Its endurance and speed are superior to ordinary owls, and it often bullies other birds.
If trained properly, it can even be taught to speak.
Of course, that depends on whether it wants to communicate with you. After all, such a proud messenger won't acknowledge a mediocre master."
The Violet Raven appearing before Snape was over half a meter in size.
A pair of amethyst-like eyes flickered with cunning light, currently staring unblinkingly at Eric as well.
Its feathers were sleek and shiny, faintly reflecting rainbow colors.
While looking excellent, whenever it spread its wings, the faint outline of its skeleton could be seen, clearly indicating extraordinary flying ability!
"I'll take it. Name your price."
Snape took a liking to this Violet Raven at first glance.
And after Ms. Andreina repeatedly reminded him to build a relationship with it to win its recognition, she readily sold it to Snape for the high price of 18 Galleons.
His remaining savings were running low.
However, when Snape lifted the birdcage and brought the lazy raven face-to-face with himself, he believed every Knut spent now was worth it!
The next destination was *Flourish and Blotts*, which had many textbooks Snape would need to buy sooner or later.
Another sum of Galleons flowed out like water.
His savings had dropped to single digits, which, under Snape's careful calculation, was just enough to buy a wand.
Actually, a few years later, the Ministry of Magic would introduce a regulation that only children aged 11 were eligible to own a wand.
However, lucky enough to benefit from the current rules, Snape was able to obtain a wand two years early. This would play a crucial role in laying a solid foundation before his enrollment!
Pushing a small cart filled with bags big and small, with the two birdcages on top looking particularly conspicuous, he moved on.
Under Eileen's strong recommendation, Snape arrived at *Ollivanders*, a famous, long-established shop in Diagon Alley.
The wooden sign with the shop's name was covered in wrinkles caused by the passage of time, leaving no doubt about the shop's long history and increasing trust in the owner's craftsmanship.
His gaze swept over the small letters on the wooden sign: *Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.*
Pushing the door open and entering, Eileen followed Snape pushing the cart.
The inside of the shop looked very crowded, yet gave a sense of bustling, vibrant disorder.
Countless wands were safely stored in wooden boxes, which had long since occupied most of the space.
Stacked into walls, rows stood quietly, requiring a ladder to reach even the topmost wands.
Snape didn't have to wait long.
Accompanying the crisp bell sound of the opening door, Ollivander soon poked his head out from behind a wall and said with an "Aha":
"Long time no see, Ms. Prince. When you came to me back then, you were just a little girl who loved to have a runny nose!
I remember I matched you with a wand made of cherry wood and unicorn hair.
Twelve and a quarter inches, emotional and full of self-sacrificing spirit. How has it felt to use over these years?"
"It couldn't be better. It brought me great help during a very difficult time."
Eileen's voice held emotions of nostalgia and joy.
After making Ollivander laugh heartily with a string of praises, she stroked Eric's hair with her free right hand.
"Mr. Ollivander, as you can see, it's time for my dear Severus to need a wand. Can you choose a suitable wand for him just like you helped me back then?"
"Of course, no problem. It's my honor."
Ollivander studied Eric for a moment.
As if through those misty pupils, he saw certain unknown characteristics in Snape.
A tape measure that seemed alive flew over automatically and began nimbly measuring Eric's arm length and height, committing them to the memory of this experienced wandmaker.
Snape cooperated consciously with all this, curious about what surprise the other party would bring him!
"Hmm... a brilliant new star is about to rise. Young and promising. Perhaps willow is a good choice?"
After rummaging for a while, Ollivander took a wooden box from a wall. Inside, on purple satin, lay a wand perfectly. He looked expectantly at Snape.
Reaching out to take the wand, but before Snape could wave it casually, Ollivander snatched it back as if discovering some mistake.
"No, no. It seems loyalty between friends doesn't suit you. Perhaps... this one?"
Another wand was taken out.
It was covered in elaborate carvings. When Snape took it, wisps of sparks involuntarily emerged from it!
"Aha, it seems we've found the right direction, but this isn't enough!"
One wand after another came into Snape's hands.
However, after the good news at the beginning, trying over a dozen wands in succession all ended in failure!
The most intense resistance occurred when Snape waved casually, and unexpectedly blasted the entire wall not far away, causing it to collapse and frightening the tawny owl, which had been about to fall asleep, into chirping wildly!
Ollivander looked slightly frustrated, but more than that, he showed the excitement and enthusiasm that erupts when encountering a rare and difficult problem.
Muttering to himself.
For a top wandmaker like him, encountering such a picky customer was undoubtedly a challenge.
But if he could successfully overcome it, it would undoubtedly be a wonderful commendation proving the high value of his own standards!
After encountering several failures in a row, and pacing back and forth for a moment, Ollivander seemed to suddenly remember something. He hurriedly climbed the ladder and took out another wooden box.
He brushed off the dust on the surface.
The moment that wand, full of mystery, appeared in sight, an invisible throb suddenly emerged from his heart, instantly attracting all of Snape's attention!
"The wood is birch. Apart from elder, this is the oldest tree in the forest, representing life and death."
As if sensing something, Ollivander showed a gratified smile, witnessing with his own eyes as Snape picked up the wand.
The moment the wand touched his palm, never-before-seen dazzling sparks burst out brilliantly, like a raging burning giant tree, illuminating the entire shop in one stroke!
"Thirteen and a half inches. The core is snake heartstring. Cold and efficient. Only the truly strong can win its allegiance."
Snape admired the wand, unable to put it down.
Its handle was carved with mysterious and magnificent patterns, while the shaft was entirely smooth, presenting a matte luster.
Like an extension of his arm.
This was the only feeling Snape had after getting this wand. Like an extension of his own sense of touch, there was no unfamiliar blockage.
As if to engrave this historic scene in the river of time forever, the fiery tree illuminated the shop, adding a thick legendary color to this moment!
Only the future third Dark Lord said softly:
"Thank you. I am very satisfied."