#4 - Chapter 4: Wand

"Uniform, textbooks, cauldron, telescope, brass balance, and a set of small medicine bottles. Professor, is the wand the only thing left to buy?" Tom asked Dumbledore, looking at the first-year admission list.

"Yes, the wand is the most important thing for a young wizard. Look, we're here."

A small and dilapidated storefront, the mottled golden sign faintly visible:

[Ollivander's Wand Shop: Crafting fine wands since 382 B.C.]

One of Europe's top three arms dealers, specializing in professional idiocy for 2000 years. Although Tom felt this was definitely boasting, Ollivander's was indeed the best wand shop in Britain.

Following Dumbledore, he pushed the door open and entered. There were no customers inside at this time, and Ollivander was dozing on the old counter.

"What's wrong, sir?" Tom's words rang out in a timely manner, and Dumbledore gently shook his head at Ollivander.

Seeing Dumbledore's action, Ollivander breathed a sigh of relief, changed his expression, and said kindly to Tom:

"No, child, it's nothing. It's just that you look very much like one of my previous customers."

"Oh, what kind of person was that customer?" Tom knew who he was talking about, but couldn't help but ask.

"Very scary, but indeed very remarkable." Ollivander obviously didn't want to say more, "Alright, sir, let's choose a wand first. Which is your dominant hand?"

"Right hand, sir."

"Good, relax a little, please raise your arm." As he spoke, the tape measure automatically jumped out of his pocket and began to measure Tom's body.

"Oh right, I'm very sorry, I forgot to ask your name just now. Little wizards who buy wands here need to be registered with the Ministry of Magic." Ollivander, who was taking measurements, finally remembered to ask the little wizard's name.

"Tom, Tom Riddle."

"Pa-嗒..." Hearing this name, the tape measure lost control in fright and fell to the ground.

After a long silence, he couldn't help but whisper to Dumbledore: "Are you sure he's not the Dark Lord?"

"Probably not..." To be honest, even now, Dumbledore couldn't be 100% sure.

"..." Ollivander looked at Dumbledore speechlessly until Tom's impatient voice broke the silence.

"I say, Mr. Ollivander, are we going to continue or not?"

"Sorry, let's continue." Ollivander picked up the tape measure tremblingly and carefully completed the subsequent measurements for Tom.

Before Tom could say anything, Ollivander scurried into the shelves like he was escaping.

After waiting for a while, he took out a wand and handed it to Tom tremblingly: "Yew, phoenix feather, 13.5 inches, a very powerful wand."

Hearing this, even Dumbledore couldn't help but look sideways.

And Tom was roaring in his heart.

'Seriously? Isn't this exactly the same as Voldemort's wand? I'm not that bald, noseless freak, if this thing is compatible, I'll change my last name to Voldemort!'

Taking the wand from Ollivander's hand, Tom only felt a warm current surge through his fingertips, and the wand seemed to become a part of his body, a red light shining from the tip of the wand, illuminating the small shop.

"… …"

"… …"

"… …"

Silence was the theme of the day.

After a while, Ollivander explained dryly: "It is very suitable for Mr. Riddle. Although it is very similar to the Dark Lord's, at least the core does not come from the same phoenix."

"I believe Mr. Riddle will achieve great things just like the Dark Lord."

'Is that the point? In the end, it's still the same as old Voldy's! And what does the last sentence mean, trying to turn Dumbledore against me?'

Tom was speechless.

"Heh heh…"

"Heh heh…"

In the end, Tom couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere and asked: "Um, Mr. Ollivander, how much is it?"

"A pleasure to serve you, 7 Galleons."

Tom quickly counted out 7 Galleons and stuffed them into Ollivander's hand, then quickly pulled Dumbledore out of the wand shop.

Once outside the shop, Tom looked at Dumbledore somewhat embarrassedly: "Professor, I'm really sorry for what happened just now. I think we've bought everything we need, are we going back now?"

"It's alright, Ollivander's shop is too stuffy for an old man like me, it's good to get out and get some fresh air."

Dumbledore first found a way to ease the awkwardness, then said mysteriously to Tom: "But now is not the time to go back yet. It's rare to come to Diagon Alley, I want to give you a gift, wait here for me for a while."

Dumbledore was quick to go and quick to return. Before long, Tom received that mysterious gift - a snowy owl, the same model as Hedwig, from Eeylops Owl Emporium.

Tom thanked Dumbledore happily after receiving the gift: "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, have you thought about what to name this beautiful lady?"

Tom thought for a moment and asked an irrelevant question: "Professor, what's the name of the Dark Lord you often talk about?"

Dumbledore was stunned for a moment, but still answered Tom: "He calls himself Voldemort."

"Then okay, let's call it Voldemort then." Tom made the decision happily.

Hearing Tom's naming, Dumbledore was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Good name, what a good name!"

The day's trip to Diagon Alley ended happily like this, and Dumbledore Apparated Tom back to the orphanage.

Just as Dumbledore was about to say goodbye, Tom called out to him, wanting to ask about his views on Voldemort:

"Professor, I want to ask..."

Hearing this, Dumbledore stopped his departing footsteps and looked like he was all ears.

But in the end, Tom didn't ask anything: "It's nothing, Professor, good night, have a good dream."

"Good night, Tom, have a good dream. If you have any questions, you can always come to my office after school starts."

After speaking, Dumbledore winked playfully at Tom.

Watching Dumbledore Apparate away, Tom turned and walked into the orphanage gate.

The door to the magical world has been opened, tomorrow will be another good day.