Chapter 18: Tricky Customer

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice from behind him as Harry jumped slightly.

'I didn't sense him.' Thought Harry as he whirled around looking at an old man his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Good day!" greeted Harry awkwardly after calming down.

"Ah, Harry Potter." Said the old man as he recognized the Boy, "I am happy to see that the Articles about your untimely passing were exaggerated. You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten

and a quarter inches long, swishy, and made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." Mr. Olivander remembered as he moved closer to Harry, watching him with unblinking silvery eyes, "Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and is excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it — it's the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

"Strange, wasn't there supposed to be a Scar with powerful residual dark magic? Oh there it is, but it's almost vanished." Muttered Mr. Ollivander as he was now very closely staring at Harry's forehead, "I am sorry to say that, I sold the Wand that did that." he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands ... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the

world to do. ..."

"Don't worry about that Mr. Ollivander. You couldn't have known what the wand would have been used for." Said Harry, getting his bearings again. "Well, I would like to purchase a Wand. How does one choose me?"

"Pretty simple. We try and see. The more Wand you try the better a feeling I get for which Wand is the right one for you. But I have the feeling you will be a tricky customer." Replied the Old Man, with a distant look, "Which one is your Wand's arm?"

"I am right-handed if that's what you mean Mr.Ollivander." Answered Harry as he stretched his right Arm out.

He measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."

"And what are the measurements for?" Harry asked curious to learn more.

"Ah, an inquisitive one. Keep that Mindset Mr. Potter. I am taking your Measurement to determine the best Wandlength for you, not only the current you but also once you are grown up. With these measurements I can predict how much you will grow, and choose a wand of appropriate length." Explained the Old Wandmaker as he began to walk between the boxes, "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."

The moment Harry grabbed the Wand with his Right Hand, an explosive spark flew out of the tip, hitting a wall and creating a big hole in the back side of the Store. Quickly dropping the Wand, Harry turned to Mr. Ollivander, "Eh, was that normal?"

"There is usually a rejection reaction at the first few tries since I have to determine a general direction from which kind of Wands I should pick, but such a strong one was a first." Replied the old Wandmaker absentmindedly watching the big hole revealing his Workshop.

"Oh, I see." Watching the old man putting the Wand away, 'Is it because I am a Devil? Can I even get a Wand? Not that I need one for magic, but I would fit better into Hogwarts. And a Foci is useful to have.'

"Don't worry Mr. Potter, there will be a Wand for you no matter what." Said the Old Man holding another Wand out, "Try this one, "Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy."

The moment Harry touched the Wand a Flame shot out putting some of the boxes on fire. After putting out the Fire, Mr. Ollivander continued his search for the perfect Wand for Harry. Wand for Wand, rejected the boy the moment he even touched them, the pile of tried Wands became bigger and bigger, but none of them wanted to fit.

"Tricky customer, eh? And every reaction is so violent." Said Mr. Ollivander who had an excited glint in his eyes, as if he had a lot of fun. Which he had in fact, finding Wands for tricky customers, was always such an exciting adventure for the Old Wandmaker, "We'll find the perfect match here somewhere — I wonder, now — yes, why not — unusual combination — holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers and suddenly the Wand itself exploded, splinters flying everywhere through the Store.

"Well, that was a first." Muttered the Old man, "How curious, this is the first time I watched a rejection so strong that the Wand exploded. And especially with that particular wand."

"Sorry, will I have to buy that Wand?" Harry said, before asking, "What was so special about that one."

"Don't worry Mr. Potter. You won't have to pay for that one, it's part of the Journey." Reassured the Old Wandmaker, "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter.

Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather — just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother — why, its brother gave you that scar."

"Oh… It seems I and him are fated to be enemies." Realized Harry, if even a wand related to Voldemort would react in such a way.

"It almost seems that way. Fate is a strange thing. I expected that Wand to choose you to be completely honest. It would be a show of your strange relationship." Added Mr. Ollivander as he was deep in his thought, "Well this is a first. I have no choice."

"What is a first? Do you have no wand for me?" asked Harry.

"None, of the Wands in the Store, will fit you. I will have for the first time have to craft you a custom one." Said the Wandmaker with an excited Smile, "Follow me Mr. Potter."

They headed to the back of the Store into the Workshop that was visible through the hole in the Wall.

"Let's first determine a fitting Wandcore." Said the Wandmaker as he guided the boy to a big shelve with many different glasses and containers, "Stretch your Hand out and close your eyes. I will place different Wand Cores in front of you, If you feel something tell me."

Harry did as requested and tried to feel as Mr. Ollivander searched through the Shelve, placing Core for Core in front of the boy. After a while, Harry had the strangest of feelings, a deep boundless warmth in front of his hand. "This one, it feels really Warm and comfy, but so deep and borderless at the same time. It's hard to explain."

"Interesting. This is a Dragon Heartstring, left behind by one of my Ancestors. We don't know which Dragon it belonged to, but it never aged or withered, and for Generations no Ollivander ever felt like using it. But now I have the feeling I will create a truly wonderful Wand." Explained Mr. Ollivander in excitement, "Now let's find you a fitting Wand Wood."

They stopped in front of a pile of different wood pieces. "These are just samples, I want you to touch them, one by one, and tell me which one feels right. So we can choose a fitting branch for your Wand later."

After feeling each of the different Wood pieces, none of them felt fitting. Even Mr. Ollivander was at a loss for Words of what to do. Suddenly Harry had a spark of an Idea, "Mr. Ollivander what qualities must a branch have to be good enough for a wand?"

Listening to Mr. Ollivander explaining a good Wand branch, understood what he needed. He closed his eyes and focused on the central area of his Sacred Gear, where the Green Tree of Innovation was standing. He carefully searched all the branches of that Tree, until he found one that fit the Qualities Mr. Ollivander was speaking off. A long and straight enough branch. "Let's hope this works and I can take it out. I really need it."

Soon he felt the texture of wood in his hand, as he showed it to Mr. Ollivander, "Will that one work?"

The old Man carefully inspected the branch, "Yes, it fits all requirements. I can't identify the Wood, but its magical conductivity is really out of this World. And it shares such a deep connection with you. Do you have more Branches like that, Mr. Potter?"

"Sorry, I don't it was a once in a lifetime chance." Replied Harry feeling that he couldn't take any more, "So is that all you need, Mr. Ollivander? How long will it take to create my Wand?"

"Too bad. I am very excited to work on this Wand, it may become my best one yet." Answered the Old Man, "It shouldn't take any longer than 2 hours. I will start immediately how about you return later."

"Okay, see you later Mr. Ollivander." Replied Harry, he had still a bit of time until he met with the rest. They could pick the Wand up afterward.

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AN: Sorry if the Chapter is a bit Slow, it just didn't feel right to rush through the whole wand choosing process and just describe the custom Wand creation process. Leave some Power Stones if you like the Story. Thank you for reading!

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