A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

Aaron's heart skipped a beat. "Harry, I hope your jinx doesn't come true this time!"

"What do you mean?"

"It means you should pray to Merlin for protection right now, and that the Daily Prophet will absolutely not interview you," Aaron said in a deep voice. "Rita Skeeter is the most unethical reporter ever; Arthur Weasley and Alastor Moody both suffered at her hands."

Being targeted by her would be more than just embarrassing; unfortunately, you, the wizard who defeated the mysterious man, are more interviewable than anyone else.

Upon hearing this, Harry's face paled slightly, and he felt inexplicably uneasy.

"I hope I'm not that unlucky!"

“I hope not,” Aaron shrugged.

"We're here." Colin led them to the outside of a room. "Good luck."

The two exchanged a glance, knocked on the door, and then went inside.

This is a classroom of moderate size. Most of the desks and chairs have been cleared out, leaving only five chairs in the middle, a long table and empty chairs in front of the podium. At first glance, it looks like an interview room.

Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour arrived before the two. Viktor had a gloomy face and exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, while Cedric and Fleur were chatting happily.

Besides the three, there was also Ludo Bagman, a portly photographer, and a witch in a red robe.

"Harry, did you pray just now?" Aaron asked, half-jokingly.

"Did not have time."

“That’s it.” Aaron sighed. “She is Rita Skeeter.”

"what?"

Harry looked at the witch, who was wearing jeweled glasses and dressed extravagantly, and felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

At this moment, he just wanted to minimize his presence. Being framed and forced to participate in the extremely dangerous Three Kingdoms Tournament was already tragic enough, but he didn't want to experience a social death before the competition.

“They’re here,” Bagman said to Rita Skeeter. “The fourth and fifth warriors.”

“Mr. Bagman,” Aaron said directly, “I have some things to take care of, so…”

"I understand, it won't waste much of your time."

It's just the wand testing ceremony; the other judges will arrive soon.

"Just testing the wand?" Aaron looked at the photographer and Rita Skeeter, expressing serious skepticism about Bagman's words.

"Uh...we still need you five warriors to take a few photos."

This is Rita Skeeter, who is writing an article for the Daily Prophet about the championship.

Rita Skeeter smiled as she looked at the five men, her gaze sweeping over Cedric, Krum, and Fleur, lingering for several seconds between Aaron and Harry before finally settling on the scar on Harry Potter's head.

"Ludo, before we begin testing the wands, may I speak with Harry for a few minutes?"

As you know, his identity can add a lot of color to the article.

“No problem,” Bagman said loudly, “but…I don’t know if Harry will object?”

“I object,” Aaron said immediately. “Mr. Bagman and Ms. Skeeter, Harry isn’t feeling particularly well today, so…”

“Yes.” Harry realized and replied, “I have a cold. Madam Pomfrey told me to rest this morning.”

"Is that so?" Rita Skeeter's eyes flashed with displeasure, then she turned her gaze to Aaron. "Then, I wonder if Mr. Gaius is available?"

"Uh...it should be..."

“Great.” Rita Skeeter didn’t give Aaron a chance to object. She grabbed Aaron’s arm and her two-inch-long red nails gripped him tightly like claws.

But then something embarrassing happened: no matter how hard she pulled, Aaron wouldn't budge.

“You’re quite strong, Mr. Gaius.” Rita Skeeter released her grip, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Barely!" Aaron revealed an innocent smile. His physical abilities were already at the peak of human potential, and Rita Skeeter's strength was no match for him.

"Haha! If it's alright, could you come outside with me and we can talk?"

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid that won't work."

"Dumbledore warned me never to give any interviews," Aaron said seriously. "You know he's the headmaster; it's worth listening to what he has to say."

Rita Skeeter gritted her teeth, then reluctantly turned her gaze to Diggory. "The oldest and most competitive warrior at Hogwarts, you should..."

Before the words were finished, the door opened again, and Albus Dumbledore was the first to walk in, followed by Barty Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madam Maxim, and Adrian Klein, and finally Garrick Ollivander.

After the six arrived, they spontaneously sat in the judges' seats in front of the podium, and Ludo Bagman naturally joined them.

“You guys go ahead with your work,” Rita Skeeter said tactfully, then led the photographer aside.

“Please allow me to introduce Mr. Ollivander,” Dumbledore said after he sat down. “He is the renowned wandmaker, and he will inspect your wands to ensure they are in good condition before the competition.”

"Aaron, you go first!" Ollivander said with a kind smile.

"Yes, Uncle."

"Uncle, is this your uncle?" Fleur looked at Aaron in astonishment. Cedric and Kurum also looked a little uneasy, and even Maxim and Karkaroff's eyes twitched slightly.

It's one thing for the older sister to be a referee, but the fact that the uncle is also an inspector makes this relationship seem rather absurd.

“He is my grand-nephew,” Ollivander explained, “but Ollivander’s rules do not change because of a person’s status.”

My job is only to check if the wand is working properly; the rest is none of my concern.

Everyone:......

Chapter 363 Wand Testing, Don't Want to Be in the Newspapers

“Twelve inches, yew wood and dragon nerves,” Ollivander remarked, then waved his wand, releasing a flame that transformed into a dazzling firework in mid-air.

"Hmm...it looks like it fell from a great height."

"There was such a time, but it was really an accident," Aaron said awkwardly. During his first trip to another world last year, he was forced into a freefall, an event he couldn't control.

“Is that so?” Ollivander frowned slightly, his silver eyes fixed on Aaron. “Perhaps I shouldn’t ask, but your wand seems to have been through a lot of trials and tribulations.”

"Uh...that was an accident, I can't tell you that."

Ollivander smiled knowingly and wisely didn't ask any further questions, simply returning the wand to him. "The wand is fine; it looks a bit worn, but it's in good condition."

"What about the other wand? I remember giving you a wand made of grapevine wood and unicorn feathers?"

"Ah..." Aaron was in a bit of a dilemma. He had left the wand with the Thought Entity, and he couldn't very well ask him to go back to the Temple of Divine Sound to get it now!

"Ahem!" Adrian coughed. "This wand is fine as long as it works; he can only bring one wand to the competition anyway."

“Alright!” Ollivander nodded slightly, then looked at Fleur. “Miss Delacour, it’s your turn.”

Fleur paused for a moment, then gracefully walked to the front of the stage and handed over her wand.

"Nine and a half inches, made of maple, and inside... oh my god!"

“There’s a Veela hair that belongs to my grandmother,” Fleur explained.

"That's right, Veela's hair."

Although I have never used Veela hair myself, it's too sensitive and capricious.

However, everyone has their own preferences, and it's clearly a good fit for you.

Ollivander ran his thumb along the wand to make sure it was undamaged, then whispered, "Orchids in bloom."

A flower bloomed at the tip of the wand, and he handed it back with satisfaction. "Very good, in excellent condition."

Next up is Cedric Diggory, whose wand was purchased from Ollivander Wand Shop.

Made of ash wood, with a core of unicorn tail hair, it is twelve and a quarter inches long.

"In excellent condition, must be due to regular care." Ollivander didn't hold back his praise, greatly admiring the wizard who treated his wand so well.

“I just wiped it down last night,” Cedric grinned.

Ollivander conjured a string of silvery-white smoke rings with his wand, briefly tested its performance, and then returned the wand to Cedric.

“Mr. Krum, it’s your turn.”

Viktor, still with a stoic expression, listlessly placed his wand in front of Ollivander.

"Carpinus wood, the heart tendon of the fire dragon, ten and a quarter inches."

This is a Grigorovich product. Although his style is a bit different from mine,... I can tell you're using it very well, and it suits you perfectly.

Krum nodded, without denying it.

"Flocks of birds".

A flock of birds flew out of the tip of the wand and out the window.

“Very good.” Ollivander returned the wand to Krum. “There’s one last one, Mr. Potter.”

Harry stood up, brushed past Krum, and nervously handed over his wand.

Ollivander spent more time examining this wand than the previous four combined because it was special; the phoenix feather in the wand's core came from the same phoenix as Voldemort's wand, making them essentially from the same source.

He shot a stream of wine with his wand, confirmed it was working properly, returned it to Harry, and announced that it was in excellent condition.

"Alright, you can go back to class now," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Of course, it's fine to go straight to dinner, since get out of class will be over soon anyway."

“Dumbledore, don’t forget to take the picture,” Skeeter reminded him.

“Yes, a group photo of the referees and the Warriors,” Bagman said excitedly. “What do you think, Rita?”

“I don’t want to be in the newspapers,” Adrian said dismissively, then pulled Ollivander away.

“This referee… has a truly unique personality.” Rita Skeeter watched Adrian’s departing figure, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. “I personally think that with Miss Klein’s age and stunning looks, she’ll definitely be a hot topic in the newspapers.”

“You’d better put away your unrealistic ideas,” Aaron said half-jokingly. “The Magic Council and the International Federation of Magical Societies should give Klein some face.”

If the Daily Prophet publishes any news that shouldn't be in its publication, then the newspaper is probably not far from bankruptcy.

“Don’t scare me, Mr. Gaius.”

Aaron shrugged. "You can try it if you don't believe me."

Upon hearing this, Rita Skeeter pursed her lips in resentment.

She has insulted many people in the newspapers, including Dumbledore and Fudge.

Because she knew that these people's personalities, abilities, and social status wouldn't take a small reporter like her seriously; at most, they would mutter a few curses or grumbles in private.