As Sagres pushed open the heavy wooden door of the staff room, the conversation inside abruptly ceased.
The room was filled with people and had clearly been temporarily enlarged with an Undetectable Extension Charm.
The Headmasters sat around a velvet-covered table, while the Champions from the different schools stood or sat nearby, speaking quietly among themselves.
The first things to catch the eye were Ludo Bagman's hearty smile and Barty Crouch's habitually stern expression. Standing in the centre of the room was an elderly man with large, silvery eyes: the wandmaker Garrick Ollivander.
"Ah! Our Hogwarts Champion and... Professor Greengrass?"
Bagman greeted them enthusiastically, though he looked slightly puzzled by Sagres's presence.
"Merely passing by," Sagres replied briefly before walking over to a sofa at the side of the room and sitting down.
Hermione and Ron lingered awkwardly in the doorway. They knew they ought to leave, but they were curious about the wand inspection.
In the end, Sagres came to their rescue.
"Mr Weasley, Miss Granger," he said, indicating the two empty sofas nearby. "Come and sit down."
Relieved, the pair quickly and quietly crossed the room and took their seats.
About a minute later, Dumbledore rose and clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Very well, everyone. All the Champions are now present."
With a gentle smile, he gestured towards Mr Ollivander.
"Allow me to introduce Mr Ollivander."
He addressed the Champions.
"He is one of Europe's most renowned wandmakers, and he will now examine your wands to ensure that they are in proper condition before the Tournament."
Mr Ollivander wasted no time on pleasantries. His withered fingers eagerly reached towards the first Champion.
"Let us begin. Time is precious."
The inspection that followed was like a miniature tour of wandmaking traditions from around the world.
Ollivander's eyes immediately lit up with excitement at the sight of the foreign wands.
He began with the two Durmstrang Champions.
Taking Krum's roughly crafted wand, he murmured, "Hornbeam with a dragon heartstring core, correct?"
Krum nodded.
"Undoubtedly Gregorovitch's work," Ollivander continued. "An uncompromising pursuit of power, but lacking refinement. Always just slightly imprecise."
He ran a finger over a tiny scratch on the handle.
"It appears to have endured several intense magical duels, but the core is undamaged and its performance remains excellent."
Everyone detected a trace of professional rivalry in his remarks.
When it was Fleur Delacour's turn, she presented her wand elegantly.
"Hmm?"
Ollivander raised an eyebrow.
"This contains a Veela hair."
"Yes. It came from my grandmother," Fleur replied with a smile and a nod.
"Ah, a very... emotional core. Well suited to deceptive magic and exceptionally charming, though sometimes rather temperamental."
He examined the wand from every angle before handing it back to Fleur.
"Extremely well maintained. No physical damage whatsoever. The shaft is as good as new."
Next came the Ilvermorny Champion, who presented a wand carved with Thunderbird feather patterns.
"A North American piece, made by the Wolf family, I presume. Representatives of the Blended tradition."
Ollivander examined it closely.
"A bold use of Thunderbird tail feather, favouring extreme casting speed and power. Very daring, but also rather... unstable."
He gave the wand a gentle wave, feeling its vibrations.
"There are slight scorch marks from magical energy at the tip. It seems you often practise powerful spells. It does not impair the wand's function, but I advise you to pay greater attention to control. Frequent overloading is not good for it."
Next, the Kunlun Champion stepped forward and presented a wand inlaid with tiny bones and gemstones.
"From the Eastern alchemical tradition."
"Magical creature components fused with the essence of wood, pursuing perfect unity between man and nature. An ancient and profound art."
He ran his fingers over the shaft almost reverently, lightly touching the inlays.
"The structure is intact, and the flow of magic is exceptionally smooth. There are no signs of impact or damage. Very good. Such intricate alchemical creations are extremely difficult to repair once damaged."
Then came the Castelobruxo Champion, who handed Ollivander a vivid green wand.
"The South American natural tradition. I recognise the craftsmanship."
Ollivander studied it thoughtfully.
"They believe a wand should be a living extension of its owner, and the wood is often carved while still attached to the tree."
He carefully examined the grain, admiration evident in his voice.
"Full of vitality. The naturally formed patterns in the wood are clear and strong, with no signs of cracking or decay. It is in excellent condition."
Finally, it was the Uagadou Champion's turn. His wand was made from the most unusual material of all, resembling polished bone from some deep-sea creature.
"The African tradition. Always so... distinctive."
Ollivander examined it with interest.
"They explore magical paths that are difficult for us to understand, and their wand cores often consist of mysterious substances found only on that ancient continent."
He seemed to know the history, characteristics, and potential tendencies of nearly every wand by heart. His precise assessments astonished the Champions and judges alike.
At last, it was the turn of the two Hogwarts Champions.
Cedric stepped forward, and Ollivander examined his ash wand from end to end.
"Ash with a unicorn hair core. Very well maintained. Stable condition, and an excellent match for you."
Then came Harry.
When Ollivander saw Harry's holly wand, an almost benevolent smile appeared on his face.
"Ah, this one... a wand destined for greatness."
With practised ease, he made the wand emit a trail of silvery-white sparks before nodding.
"Perfect condition, Mr Potter, though it would be even better if you wiped away those fingerprints."
Blushing, Harry took the wand back and instinctively reached for the hem of his robes to polish it. The slightly awkward action drew several snickers, and he could only abandon the attempt.
At one side of the room, Ilvermorny's Champion, Cuthbert Kowalski, was speaking quietly with a tall girl with dark, curly hair.
"Cuthbert," the girl whispered, tilting her head towards Ollivander, "why isn't the Headmaster examining the wands? He's from the Wolf family, after all, and he's also one of the judges."
Cuthbert glanced towards Ollivander, who was packing away his tools, and replied quietly,
"Precisely because he's one of the judges. To preserve the fairness of the Tournament, he can't be the one inspecting the wands. And Mr Ollivander..."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"He appears to be Europe's recognised authority. Having him examine the Champions' wands avoids any suspicion of favouritism."
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