Garrick Ollivander was a half-blood wizard and the proprietor of Ollivanders in Diagon Alley, widely regarded as the finest wandmaker in Great Britain. His philosophy that “the wand chooses the wizard” was a cornerstone of his craft. Mr. Ollivander sold Harry Potter his holly and phoenix feather wand, which was the “brother” to Lord Voldemort's yew and phoenix feather wand. This connection made him a key figure in the Second Wizarding War, as his knowledge of wandlore was desperately sought by Lord Voldemort, leading to his capture and imprisonment.
The Ollivander family has been associated with fine wandmaking since 382 B.C. (Pottermore). Garrick Ollivander was born to a Muggle mother and a wizard father, Gervaise Ollivander. He showed immense talent from a young age and eventually took over the family business. He revolutionized the craft by moving away from the practice of having customers provide their own magical core, instead insisting on using only his three preferred Supreme Cores—unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, and phoenix feather—and expertly matching the resulting wand to the wizard.
During the First Wizarding War, Ollivander sold wands to many of the conflict's key participants, including James Potter, Lily Potter, and Peter Pettigrew. Most notably, he sold a thirteen-and-a-half-inch yew wand with a phoenix feather core to a young Tom Marvolo Riddle. After Voldemort's first fall, Ollivander was one of many who believed he was gone for good.
On 31 July 1991, Ollivander met Harry Potter for the first time. He measured Harry for a wand and, after several failed attempts, sold him an eleven-inch holly wand with a phoenix feather core. Ollivander was deeply intrigued, as the phoenix, Fawkes, had given only one other feather—the one inside Lord Voldemort's wand. He informed Harry of this connection, stating that he expected “great things” from him.
In the summer of 1996, Garrick Ollivander vanished from his shop, which was found in disarray. He had been kidnapped by Death Eaters on Lord Voldemort's orders. He was taken to Malfoy Manor and imprisoned in the cellar, where he was repeatedly tortured for information about the connection between Harry's and Voldemort's wands. He explained the phenomenon of Priori Incantatem that occurred when the brother wands were forced to battle each other. Under duress, he later provided Voldemort with information about the Elder Wand, one of the three Deathly Hallows, though his knowledge was incomplete. In the cellar, he was joined by fellow prisoner Luna Lovegood, whose presence he later described as a great comfort. In the spring of 1998, Ollivander was rescued from Malfoy Manor by the house-elf Dobby, along with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, and Griphook. He was taken to Shell Cottage, the home of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, to recover from his long ordeal. In gratitude, he crafted a new wand for Luna. He also provided Harry with crucial information about wandlore, confirming that wands can switch their allegiance if won from their master, which helped Harry understand his mastery over Draco Malfoy's wand. His fate after the Second Wizarding War is not documented in the novels, but it is presumed he returned to his shop in Diagon Alley.
Ollivander is described as an old man with a frail appearance. He has large, pale, silvery eyes that are often described as unsettling or moon-like. His fingers are long and white. He is a profoundly dedicated and knowledgeable craftsman, possessing an eidetic memory for every single wand he has ever sold. His passion for wandlore makes him seem eccentric and mysterious. While he appears unnerving, he is ultimately a kind and gentle man who holds a deep respect for both the magic of wands and their owners. He demonstrated great resilience and courage while enduring torture at the hands of Lord Voldemort.