"But I'm very fortunate to be serving an Eastern client."
"Well then, Mr. Wang, let's take a look," he said, pulling a long tape measure marked with shimmering silver notches from his coat pocket. "Which arm do you use to wield your wand?"
"My right, I suppose," Wang Yong replied.
"Raise your arm. Good." The man began to take measurements—from shoulder to fingertip, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to underarm, and finally around his head.
As he measured, he explained, "Every Ollivander wand contains a core of powerful magical substance—that's its essence, Mr. Wang. We use unicorn hair, phoenix feather, and dragon heartstring. No two Ollivander wands are alike, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are the same. Of course, using a wand meant for another wizard would never yield quite the same results."
Wang Yong soon realized the measuring tape was enchanted—it was moving on its own, even calculating the distance between his nostrils.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ollivander weaved between the shelves, selecting boxes.
"Alright," he said at last, as the tape measure dropped to the floor and coiled up like a snake.
"Now, sir, try this one. Maple and dragon heartstring. Ten inches. Nice and springy. Give it a wave."
Wang Yong gave the wand a wave. Nothing happened.
Mr. Ollivander immediately snatched it away.
"Holly and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite elastic. Give it—"
Wang Yong had barely raised it before the wand was taken back again.
"No, no—try this one. Ebony with unicorn hair. Fourteen inches. Very firm. Go on, try it."
The moment Wang Yong touched the wand, he felt something connect. A dim, glowing light radiated outward, as though it had swallowed all the light in the room.
The wand shop filled with a mysterious aura as that dark gleam shimmered in the air.
Susan clapped her hands beside him.
"Excellent," Ollivander murmured in awe. "A fine magical affinity. A fine wand. I haven't seen talent like this in many years."
He wrapped up the wand carefully. Wang Yong paid eight Galleons.
"Miss Susan, not buying a wand today?"
Susan shook her head, still petting the kitten in her arms.
By the time Wang Yong and Susan, loaded with shopping bags, arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Mr. Weasley was already waiting for them at the bar.
His face was flushed red as he argued with someone about Muggle inventions. "Muggle airplanes are fast, just like broomsticks!"
"But are they faster than Apparition? I heard their planes run on fire—kind of magical, isn't it?"
"No, I think they run on electricity."
Wang Yong rubbed his forehead. Their voices were so loud he was embarrassed for them. But the onlookers still watched with fascinated expressions, as if they were hearing some profound wisdom.
"Mr. Weasley."
"Ah, good, Wang Yong, Susan. Got everything? Then let's head back. You know how to use Floo Powder, right?"
"I think so," Wang Yong replied.
"Of course," Susan added.
"Excellent."
The goods Wang Yong had bought—and Susan's pet—were sent via magical delivery from the bar.
Mr. Weasley approached the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron. Though the fire had burned out, a small box sat beside it filled with emerald green powder.
He pointed to the fireplace. "Incendio!"
A roaring fire blazed up. Tossing in the green powder, the flames shifted into warm, flickering green.
Mr. Weasley stepped in first. "The Burrow!"
Susan followed.
Wang Yong took a breath and stepped in after her. "The Burrow!"
The world spun violently. Countless fireplaces flashed past his vision—and in the next moment, he was flung out of one, coughing and covered in soot.
"Oh! Yong, Susan!"
Wang Yong found himself swept up in a warm, plump embrace—it was Mrs. Weasley.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley."
"What a polite little one," she said with a bright laugh. "So skinny! Join Ron and Ginny for afternoon tea later—I'll make extra sweets."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged a quick kiss before Mr. Weasley turned on the spot and vanished with a crack.
Wang Yong felt a bit awkward, until he saw a red-haired boy peeking shyly from around a corner—Ron.
Wang Yong smiled. "Hello, Ron."
"Mmm… hi," Ron mumbled.
Though Wang Yong wasn't used to dealing with kids, Ron was clearly bored at home, and the two quickly warmed up to each other.
Ron was obsessed with Quidditch. Before long, he was chatting excitedly about the matches he'd seen with his older brothers.
"Come on, let's go play a bit!"
Wang Yong nodded and followed Ron to the Weasleys' broom shed.
Susan tagged along too, though she wasn't all that interested in Quidditch. Instead, she wandered through the Weasleys' home, curious—it was Wang Yong's first time in a wizarding household.
The three of them walked step by step through the garden. It was enormous, wild with overgrowth. Twisting roots hugged the walls, and strange plants spilled out of every flowerbed. A green pond teemed with frogs.
It had just rained. The air was damp, and mischievous gnomes darted between their feet.
Ron didn't hesitate to kick one away. "Blasted things—chew through all the flowers and veggies. Last time, one nearly went after our roast turkey."
Wang Yong watched the soggy, green creature with sharp teeth in fascination. "They're kind of fun, aren't they?"
That was before one bit his shoe.
"Oh, that gnome's probably limping now. You've got quite the kick, Yong."
The three of them climbed a rise overlooking a broad field—several square kilometers of lush, untamed grass. A small, broken-down shed sat in the distance.
From the hilltop, they could see red and white buildings in the far distance.
Ron followed Wang Yong's gaze. "That's a Muggle village—several miles off."
"What's it like living in London? Bet your house is huge. Ours is all crooked and creaky."
"I actually envy your big garden and open fields. Compared to this, my place is cramped and gloomy."
Ron gave an embarrassed grin.
No wonder wizards liked rural life—so much space to do whatever they wanted.
They arrived at the broom shed—only to hear something rustling inside.
Ron frowned. "Could it be the ghoul in our attic?"
He opened the door—and found a small, guilty-looking figure.
"Ginny? What are you doing here?"
Ginny looked a bit sheepish, but seeing that it was Ron, she straightened up. "Just wanted a turn on the broomstick, that's all."
"What if you fell? You're still just a kid."
"It's not like I'm flying a Nimbus 2000 or anything," she huffed.