Hermione sat there, puzzled, wondering why Xilun cared so much about that address.
But seeing Xilun's solemn expression, she didn't say anything, just nodded and said, “Okay, no problem.”
She was just a bit stubborn and self-righteous, not completely devoid of emotional intelligence… though not much, she still had some.
Since the other person didn't like it, then she wouldn't say it; besides, it was just changing an address, not complicated at all, very simple.
“So, you are also a Wandmaker?” Hermione asked again.
Xilun thought for a moment, “Right now, I can only be considered half of one.”
As one of the future trio members, Xilun didn't mind chatting with her a bit longer, also because the train was too shaky, making it very uncomfortable to read a book with all the bumps.
Even Tom, who usually wasn't picky about his environment, couldn't stand it and crawled out from between the two suitcases, dizzily sprawling on the table.
Xilun picked him up, helped smooth his fur, and continued, “Strictly speaking, I'm currently an apprentice; I can only change my title to Wandmaker after officially selling ten wands.”
“Then how many have you sold now?” Hermione asked, but her eyes kept glancing at the cat in Xilun’s arms.
No wonder he used a cat as an example just now.
And she hadn't expected Xilun’s pet to be just an ordinary tabby cat.
So ordinary that it wouldn't be a problem to call it a stray wildcat.
Hermione rarely saw anyone keeping such wildcats; most people she knew preferred prettier purebred cats.
Like short-haired cats or Persian cats.
Xilun's family makes wands, so they must be quite wealthy.
So, is this a personal preference?
Of course, she couldn't ask these questions; otherwise, it would be too impolite.
“For official sales, one, I suppose.” Xilun didn't know what she was thinking, he scratched Tom’s chin and said casually.
“Oh, that’s certainly not many.” Hermione blurted out.
“Hmm?” Xilun stared at the person in front of him, for a moment suspecting whether she was smart or foolish. “Have you ever considered that I’m only eleven years old?”
Eleven years old, not even in a magic school yet, and already able to successfully craft and sell a complete wand—did she not realize how significant that was?
…Well, she really didn't seem to know.
Looking at Hermione’s bewildered eyes, Xilun rubbed his forehead.
He almost forgot, Hermione’s parents are Muggles, and she had never been exposed to the magic world before, so it was normal for her not to understand.
As for Neville next to them… he doesn't count, just skip him.
Truly… Merlin’s trousers, he tried to show off for once, and it didn't even work.
Xilun no longer wanted to chat with them, but Hermione clearly didn't want to let Xilun off so easily.
It was rare to meet a Wizard willing to talk to her, and she had many questions to ask.
What, Neville?
He knows nothing, he doesn't count.
Neville: …
To add to the conversation, Hermione even took out her wand.
That beautiful vine wood wand.
Although Neville hadn't quite grasped what was happening, seeing Hermione suddenly mention wands, he also took his out.
Xilun glanced at it.
【Cherry wood, Unicorn tail hair, eleven inches】
【Status: Damaged】
【Properties: Resistant: Spell effect -50%, Spell success rate -50%, high probability of backfiring.】
Xilun raised his eyes, and asked carefully, “This wand of yours… Ollivander didn’t sell it to you, did he?”
Although he thought it unlikely, Xilun still felt it necessary to confirm; if Ollivander was truly blinded by greed and sold such a thing to Neville, he would be able to remedy it in time.
“No, it’s not.”
Seeing Xilun talk to him, Neville immediately became nervous.
“This… this is my… my father’s wand,” he mumbled, looking down.
His voice was very small, and his face was flushed crimson.
Both Xilun and Hermione could tell that he was resisting the topic in his heart.
So Xilun didn't bring it up again.
As long as it wasn't sold by their family, it was fine.
However, out of a Wandmaker’s sense of responsibility, he still reminded the other party.
“I suggest you better get a wand of your own; this wand doesn’t suit you at all, and it will be very difficult for you to use.”
Going to school with such a wand… Does he think the school curriculum is too easy and wants to challenge himself?
“But this is my father’s wand,” Neville said, looking up, this time without stuttering.
“Wands are not clothes or shoes, nor are they Galleons; they have nothing to do with who they belong to. They belong only to one person, at least most wands are like that.” Xilun shook his head, patiently explaining.
This was not him making things up.
Fred and George are similar enough, aren’t they? Their appearances and personalities are highly similar, even to the point of being identical twins; in some ways, their relationship is even closer than that of father and son.
But their wands are not the same.
Fred's is dogwood, thirteen and three-quarters inches.
George's is beech, thirteen and a half.
Except for the core, which is standard Unicorn tail hair, everything else is different.
Neville lowered his head, wanting to refute Xilun’s words, but he didn’t know what to say.
His grandmother said he needed to be like his father and become the pride of the Longbottom family, so he had to start by using his father’s wand.
Besides that, he himself wanted to use this wand; only when holding this wand could he have that slight illusion, as if his parents were always by his side.
Neville’s head dropped lower and lower, his face, which others couldn’t see, flushing red and then pale.
“Don’t say that…” Hermione, overflowing with sympathy, couldn't bear it anymore and spoke up to defend Neville.
“It’s just a wand; I’ve never heard of any weapon that can’t be used by another person. I think the most important thing is learning spells.”
“I’ve read ‘Spell Analysis and Explanation’ and ‘Twentieth Century’s Most Popular Spells’,” Hermione said to Neville, looking up seriously, “The focus in them is on incantations and wand movements, there’s no mention of the wand itself.”
“That’s because the person who wrote the book never thought someone would use a wand that clearly wasn’t suitable for them…” Xilun muttered inwardly.
Choosing a wand that suits oneself is already common knowledge in the magic world; there’s no need to specifically mention it.
Just like Muggle books never tell you on the first page that a nearsighted person cannot wear reading glasses to read the content inside.
However… looking at the two of them, Xilun still held back from speaking.
One was a first-year from a Muggle family, and the other was driven more by emotion than reason; speaking wouldn't help and would only make him seem unkind.
Once they experienced magic firsthand at school, they would understand just how important a suitable wand is to a Wizard.