Chapter 81: Luna and the Crumple-Horned Snorkack Sticker

"Hot recommendation! Only five Sickles to make your wand truly unique!!"

At the corner of Diagon Alley, a girl with pale golden hair stared at the vibrant sign before her, her silver-gray eyes flickering with curiosity before she tugged on the sleeve of the man beside her.

"Dad, I want to go take a look." Her voice was light as air.

"Of course, dear," Xenophilius Lovegood smiled. "We’re going to buy a wand anyway."

As the two turned into the side alley, Xenophilius froze in place.

Before him stretched a long line, winding from the shop’s entrance nearly all the way back to the main street.

"Dear, have we wandered into Flourish and Blotts?" He took off his glasses, wiped them vigorously with his robe, and put them back on.

Because a famous wizard was holding a book signing in Diagon Alley, Flourish and Blotts had been packed with queues since yesterday—just like this.

"No, Dad, look—it says Ollivander’s Wand Shop over there," Luna Lovegood pointed to a small sign above the distant shop door.

"Ah, I see…," Mr. Lovegood said blankly. "But when did a wand shop need a queue?"

Though confused, Luna wanted to go inside; waiting a little longer didn’t matter.

People kept exiting the wand shop, and the line slowly advanced.

At this point, Mr. Lovegood also noticed that those leaving the shop weren’t all first-years—most were third-years or older, with only a few adult wizards among them.

More strikingly, each person immediately pulled out their wand upon exiting, held it up to the light, and examined it closely, their faces glowing with unmistakable delight—as if seeing a wand for the first time.

But wizards of that age surely weren’t buying their first wand—had they simply switched to a new one?

One person switching wands was understandable, but not so many—had wands become consumables now?

With full confusion, the two finally reached the front and pushed open the door to the cramped shop.

"Ding ding…"

The bell above the door chimed clearly.

The shop’s counter was divided into two sections: on the left stood Garrick Ollivander, whom he recognized; on the right stood an unfamiliar young wizard, slightly older than Luna.

"Oh, finally a new student!" Garrick Ollivander’s face lit up with excitement upon seeing them.

So overcome with excitement, he forgot to give Mr. Lovegood his wand specifications until measuring Luna’s arm, then hastily added them.

"Mr. Ollivander, has something big happened recently?"

"What do you mean by big?"

"Like… causing many people to buy new wands," Mr. Lovegood said.

"Certainly not—the magical world has remained peaceful," Garrick said. "But I think I understand what you mean."

"Silven, explain it to them."

"Of course." Silven looked at the father and daughter, then calmly pulled out several items.

"We’ve just launched new wand decorations—stickers and dye sprays, affordable and very popular."

Mr. Lovegood glanced at the stickers and bottles on the table. "So all those people waiting in line were just to buy these?"

"Exactly," Silven nodded. "First-time buyers get a fifty percent discount—would you like to pick one?"

"How much?"

"Stickers are one Sickle after discount; dye sprays are five Galleons."

"One Sickle isn’t expensive at all," Mr. Lovegood nodded thoughtfully.

"And the dye sprays are five Galleons," Silven reminded him, but received no reply.

"Do you have stickers of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" Luna asked.

"What?" Silven turned, looking at the new student for the first time with real attention.

Pale golden hair, slightly bulging gray eyes, an exaggerated carrot earring dangling from her ear.

"The Crumple-Horned Snorkack," she repeated. "I saw it on the sign outside—it says you can customize stickers of any magical creature."

"You’d need to provide a photo," Silven thought for a moment. "I’ve never seen a Crumple-Horned Snorkack—I can’t make one from imagination."

"I haven’t seen one either," Luna said. "My dad and I have been searching for it."

"That’s true," Mr. Lovegood smiled. "Unfortunately, Luna will soon be attending Hogwarts, or I might have taken her to the forests of Sweden to look for clues."

"Then I wish you luck in finding the Crumple-Horned Snorkack soon," Silven smiled.

"You’ve seen the Crumple-Horned Snorkack too, haven’t you?" Luna interrupted the shoulder measurement, stepping up to Silven. "You’re the third person besides my dad and me who’s seen it…"

"No, I haven’t seen the Crumple-Horned Snorkack—I already said that," Silven shook his head.

"Then why didn’t you contradict us?" Luna pressed. "Everyone else who hasn’t seen it denies it exists."

"Because someone once said: magic holds all possibilities," Silven replied. "I suggest you write a letter to Mr. Newt Scamander—he’s the greatest expert on magical creatures and surely has been to the forests of Sweden."

"That’s a good idea," Luna said. "But I don’t know Mr. Scamander’s address. Do you?"

"I don’t either," Silven said. "But it doesn’t matter—perhaps the owl will find him anyway."

Luna thought carefully for a moment, then nodded firmly.

"Alright."

"Dad, I want to buy an owl."

…

In the end, Mr. Lovegood paid seven Galleons and one Sickle and left the wand shop… Luna bought a unicorn sticker.

As the shop door was about to close, he couldn’t help glancing back at the two behind the counter, especially Silven.

He thought the boy was odd, with a mind unlike any normal person’s.

Sending an owl to an address you don’t know? How could that possibly work?

Only Luna’s kindness had kept her from openly calling him out.

Still, an owl might be worth buying—convenient for communicating with his daughter, even though Hogwarts had its own messengers, none would be as reliable as their own.

…

Inside the wand shop, after the two left, Garrick couldn’t help asking: "Silven, what was that Crumple-Horned thing they were talking about?"

The old wandmaker had dealt with magical creatures for decades, yet had understood not a word of their conversation.

"Who knows? Maybe a cousin of the Horned Serpent," Silven shrugged.

"Oh, I thought you knew."

"To give customers a pleasant shopping experience," Silven picked up the silver coin on the table.

Making money isn’t easy—you have to play along with little girls.

…

(End of Chapter)