𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Rookwood

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Once Matty was sure Professor Fig had sent word to Gerbold Ollivander, she headed over to Hogsmeade to speak with him. It was of the utmost importance that they got this wand finished quickly. She was hoping she would get to the repository before Ranrok did.

She entered Ollivanders and he was already there waiting for her. "Hello Mr. Ollivander. I wonder if you might be able to help me with something." She said upon entering.

"Yes! Professor Fig sent an owl informing me that you'd be coming." Gerbold replied. "He was a bit cryptic. Said you need to have a special wand crafted and that you were bringing the materials to do so."

Matty nodded her head. "Yes sir, I have them here."

She pulled the artifacts from the pensive's out and what she had been given and gave it to him. After a moment's inspection, he seemed quite surprised.

"How extraordinary. Remarkable design." He murmured. "I'll be honest, I have never crafted a wand of this fashion. Repaired broken wands, of course. But this is something else entirely. Keeping me on my toes, aren't you? But I'm sure I can work with what you've brought me. Let me see what I can do."

Matty nodded her head and then Gerbold took the materials to the back. She didn't know how long it would take for him to craft the wand, but she would wait until it was finished.

***

It took about an hour, Matty just pacing back and forth in the shop as Gerbold worked on crafting the wand. She walked over to the window and looked out of it for a bit. The streets were oddly clear, almost as if nobody was around. Hogsmeade was never this empty.

When she turned around, Gerbold came out holding a wand box. "It is done" He announced.

Matty walked up to him and he opened the wand box, presenting the wand before handing the wand box to her. "I should warn you that I've never seen a wand like this before. My suspicion—as Professor Fig implied in his letter—is that it serves a unique purpose.

I doubt you shall find much use for it otherwise."

"I understand. Thank you, sir." Matty said with a curt nod before leaving the shop.

When she walked out, the streets of Hogsmeade were completely empty, it was almost an eerie feeling. Then suddenly, Victor Rookwood himself came walking up to her, wand in hand. Matty immediately drew her wand, giving Rookwood a nasty glare. What was he doing here?

"I'm afraid you're on your own. I've ensured that we have a moment to ourselves." Rookwood said with a smug tone. Matty held her wand at him, not moving it down. "Come, come. No need for such theatrics. In light of what Ranrok now knows, you must agree that our interests are aligned."

What in Merlin's name was he talking about? "Our interests will never be aligned." Matty hissed angrily.

Rookwood almost looked confused at what Matty had said, raising a brow. "You would let goblins take over what's rightfully ours?" He asked in disbelief. "The final repository belongs to Wizardkind. We would be fools not to work together."

When Matty stayed silent and kept her wand pointed at him, Rookwood soon realized that she wouldn't give in to any of his words. There was no single thought that was telling her it was reasonable to join Rookwood's side. He was almost as cruel as Ranrok was and he had honestly expected her to want to work with him?

Just because she was young, doesn't mean she was dumb and gullible.

He realized she was holding something—a wand box. "What's that you've got there?" He asked, pointing to the box.