Gerbold Octavius Ollivander
Origin: Harry Potter
Hair:
Eyes:
Species: Human
Birthday:
Child: Gervaise
Grandchild: Garrick
Residence: Pratchett Street 20 (12-74)
Occupation: Wandmaker; Supplies Ollivander's in Main Street 22 (15/6)
Affiliation:
Talent: Magic
Medical notes:
Sports/Instruments:
Languages:
Import Date: 5 (+)
Pets:
Gerbold Octavius Ollivander (fl. 19th century) was a pure-blood[1] wizard and famously accomplished wandmaker. He was the father of Gervaise Ollivander, and, through him, the paternal grandfather of Garrick Ollivander.[2]
Biography
Early life
Gerbold Octavius was born into the wizarding Ollivander family in or prior to the 19th century. He reaped the benefits of growing up in the family's wandmaking business. Having taken up the family business in London, Gerbold studied further into wandlore and became highly regarded as an excellent wandmaker. At some point, he also fathered a son, Gervaise, who went on to provide his father with a grandson, Garrick, both of whom continued the family tradition of wandmaking.[2]
Career as a wandmaker
Gerbold believed that fir produced "the survivor's wand", as he had sold wands of this wood to three different wizards, each of whom found himself in mortal danger and came out unharmed. He was also fond of saying, "If you seek integrity, search first among the poplars," which his grandson Garrick found correct based on his own experience with poplar wands and their owners. During the nineteenth century, at a time when wands made of silver lime were in vogue, the wandmaker Arturo Cephalopos claimed that the wood's reputed connection with powers of Divination was "a falsehood circulated by merchants like Gerbold Ollivander, who have overstocked their workshops with silver lime and hope to shift their surplus". According to Gerbold's grandson Garrick, however, Cephalopos was "an ignoramus" who predictably went out of business.[2]
1890–1891 school year
By the time of the 1890–1891 school year, Gerbold had been maintaining the branch in the village of Hogsmeade in Scotland.[3] There, he continued to make and sell high-quality wands to his customers. This included a Hogwarts student that curiously enough started their schooling five years late.[4]
Gerbold was determined to recover the Ollivander family's heirloom wand, an apple and fairy wing wand that had been in the possession of his family until the 1790s, when it had been stolen and hidden by Richard Jackdaw. It was never recovered because it was later destroyed.[5]
Making the Keepers' wand
Gerbold was notified by Professor Eleazar Fig of an upcoming visit from the new fifth-year student that involved the making of a special wand. He suspected that it could only serve a unique purpose and would not be of much use otherwise. When the student visited, they provided him with the materials they had gotten from the Keepers, and Gerbold successfully crafted a wand using them.[6]
Magical abilities and skills
Wandmaking: Gerbold was an accomplished wandmaker like other members of his family.[4] He was able to craft the special Keepers' wand.[6]
Charms: Gerbold was able to use the Summoning Charm to summon wands from top shelves for his customers.[4]
Nonverbal spell: Gerbold was able to use the Summoning Charm nonverbally.[4]