A Magical Analysis of Wands in the Harry Potter Universe

By Taylor Whittemore

As students of Tri-City are aware, TCP celebrated Harry Potter Day on December 18, 2013. There were various activities, but one of the highlights was the ability to purchase wands with various cores and woods. This article will include an elaboration on the symbolism of each wood and core.

Woods

Holly: Holly oftentimes is viewed as a protective wood, and the owners oftentimes embark on a dangerous or possibly spiritual quest. Rumors within the Wizarding World suggest that a person with a Holly wand should not marry with a person who ones a wand of Oak. Holly corresponds to the Celtic calendar, and it represents the eighth of July to the fourth of August. Holly was used in Harry Potter’s wand.

Vine: Wands composed of this wood are thought to have a special nature, and they choose owners who oftentimes gaze upon the larger picture rather than themselves. Vine also relates to the Celtic calendar, though the dates are the second of September to the twenty-ninth of September. Hermione Granger’s wand is comprised of vine.

Hornbeam: Hornbeam was used in the wands of both Viktor Krum and Garrick Olivander.

Hawthorn: These wands often contain paradoxes within themselves, for hawthorn blossoms have healing abilities, whereas the tree reeks of death when branches are cut. They are also very difficult to master. Hawthorn can be compared to the thirteenth of May to the ninth of June on the Celtic calendar, and Draco Malfoy possesses a wand with this particular wood. In Great Britain and Ireland of the Harry Potter universe, there is a myth that the uprooting of hawthorns was followed by ill-luck.

Yew: Yew wands are considered rather rare, and oftentimes are assigned to those who will achieve great things and vast power. However, they are oftentimes associated with dark deeds. Yew was used to create Lord Voldemort’s wand.

Ash: Ash chooses a singular master, and the quality degenerates as it is passed to another. Those gifted with an ash wand are frequently very stubborn, but they are never arrogant or brash. Charlie Weasley, Ronald Weasley, and Cedric Diggory all possessed wands composed of Ash wood.

Cypress: Wands of cypress origins choose wizards who display great valor, especially those who will die a heroic death. Those people associate with the bold, brave, and self-sacrificing, implying those from Hogwarts will either be placed in Gryffindor or frequently hang around those who are, and that is where they will find their soul mates. Remus Lupin has this peculiar type of wand wood.

Cores

Dragon Heartstring: Wands with dragon heartstring cores are considered to be the most powerful, therefore aiding the wizard in extravagant displays of spellwork. If a dragon heartstring wand is passed down to another owner, it most likely will not retain all its power, because it can shift loyalties. It is common with wizards who practice the Dark Arts, and wands with this core may have temperamental outbursts. Owners with dragon heartstring wands are Hermione Granger, Viktor Krum, Bellatrix Lestrange, Gilderoy Lockhart, Lucius Malfoy, Minerva McGonagall, Garrick Ollivander, and Peter Pettigrew.

Phoenix Feather: This is a rarer core, and wands composed with a phoenix feather core offers a great range in displays of magic. They can act upon their own accord, and the wands are extremely picky about the owners. Allegiance from a phoenix feather wand is rather difficult to earn. Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort both have one of these wands.

Unicorn Tail Hair: Unicorn tail hair, when used in the core of a wand, is consistent, providing a steady reliability despite lacking copious amounts of power. They remain devoted to their first owner, and the hair may need to be replaced if it is mishandled. Several wizards have wands of this core, and among them are Cedric Diggory, Neville Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Draco Malfoy, Charlie Weasley, and Ronald Weasley.

Veela Hair: Wands composed of Veela hair are extremely erratic, and Ollivander refuses to work with this peculiar core. They are typically used more in continental Europe than Britain for this reason. Fleur Delacour possesses a Veela hair wand.

Thestral Tail Hair: This core is particularly unstable, such as the wands with cores of Veela hair, and is most notably used in the Elder Wand. The majority of its properties remain unknown.

Troll Whisker: Troll whiskers are not used as wand cores by Ollivander, for they are considered inferior to cores of dragon heartstring, phoenix feather, and unicorn tail hair. Though it is not confirmed, it is assumed that Sir Cadogan’s wand was powered by a troll whisker.

All information originates from Harry Potter Wiki.

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