It was, Gervaise acknowledge, rather a safe bet (particularly for a long-term gambler), but he smiled at the young boy nonetheless. An entire foot in height separated the two of them, so the wandmaker crouched slightly as he moved to take measurements, voicing them aloud to the quill and parchment that hovered helpfully behind him—obnoxiously, he knew, it would also pick up what he said as he worked.

"You need only follow directions," the wandmaker replied distractedly. "The wand does choose its master in a sense, though anyone competent can have a passable relationship with most. What I strive to do is identify the best-suited pair—and rest assured, lad, I'll not let you leave empty-handed."