Valkyrie Riot visit's Ollivander's Wand Makers
"How very strange."
Although Mr. Ollivander had only muttered it under
his breath the young girl standing nervously in front
of him heard it as well as if it had been shouted.
"What's strange, sir?"
"I can only remember this happening a dozen times
to me, and I remember every witch or wizard who has
walked through these doors, and every wand I've ever
sold. And one of those dozen times was this morning.
Quite strange."
"What happened this morning?"
"One of your classmates came in. And he is
different from other wizards in the same way you are."
She simply looked up him, confused and slightly
scared.
"You, my dear, need a staff."
"A staff?"
"Yes. It is extremely rare, but sometimes, not
once in ten generations, there is a witch or wizard
who performs staff magic instead of wand magic. And
not only is there a witch and a wizard in your
generation, but you were both born in the same year.
If it had ever happened before I could tell you what
that means, but it never has. Or at least, not that
anyone knows of. I wonder..." He seemed to shake
himself out his thoughts. "Come, my dear, there is
another room for you."
As he lead her through the maze of boxes countless
questions came into her head.
"Who else has a staff in my year?"
"His name was Benjamin, I believe. Lassarot. Yes,
Benjamin Lassarot."
"What's the difference between staff magic and
wand magic?"
"Very little. It is difficult to explain, though.
Technicalities. Part of the reason that there are no
known cases of two such wizards in a generation is
that all wizards can actually do magic with either a
staff or a wand. There are simply many many more
wizards who are more powerful with wands. For a very
long time it was not dependent on skill but on where
the particular wizard, or witch, lived. Ollivander's
was actually the first wand or staff maker to carry
both, let alone produce both. Ah, here we are."
"You made all of those wands? And all of these
staffs?"
And indeed it seemed there were almost as many
staffs packed into the smal room he had lead them to
as there were wands stacked in their boxes in the huge
room outside.
"Yes. All of them. But it has taken quite awhile."
"Why so many staffs if so few witches or wizards
need them?"
"Because one never knows what staff that one witch
or wizard will need. And just imagine if I'd only made
one to keep around."
He smiled down at her and she had to laugh.
"I'm glad you made more than one."
"So am I. Now, try this one."
About ten staffs later they had found the one for
her. It was walnut with a dragon heartstring core,
forking at the top with a silvery star perched in
between the arms. It was also about half again as tall
as she was. She felt ridiculous, but he assured her
that she would grow into it in no time. And it was
very pretty.
"What is the star?"
"It is silver, containing a sapphire. It focuses
the power of the staff."
"It's beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Ollivander."
"My pleasure, dear. And look out for Mr. Lassarot,
mahogany, pheonix feather, about four inches longer
than yours."
"I will. Thank you."
