Harry Potter's World of Magical Items

Wands and Cores

Ever wonder What is a Wand in Harry's World do you know the Cores are?

ost magic is done using a wand. It is possible to cast spells without using a wand, but for most wizards results are unfocused (CR). Wands are created from wood with some magical substance at its heart. Wands are classified by means of four characteristics: length, type of wood, quality of motion when waved, and type of magical ingredient. In Britain, the most well-known wand maker is Mr. Ollivander (PS5, GF18). His shop, Ollivander's (Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.) is located in Diagon Alley. Another European wand maker is Gregorovich (GF18). When a wand is damaged or broken, its effects can be unpredictable, even if patched together with Spellotape (CS, esp. CS16).

Although there is no specific rule about which kind of wood a person's wand should be, some wands are particularly well suited to their owners. Notes about specific wands are giving below.

some famous wands and their characteristics

Delacour, Fleur: rosewood, 9 1/2 ", inflexible, veela hair (GF18)
The hair in Fleur's wand was from her grandmother, who was a Veela.

Diggory, Cedric: pleasantly springy, 12 1/4", single unicorn hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn
See note below on Cedric's wand core. Cedric, who is friendly and unassuming, carries a wand which is described as "pleasant."

Granger, Hermione's wand: vine wood, dragon heartstring
Rowling chose vine wood (JKR) for Hermione because it is the wood associated with her birthday in Celtic lore.

Hagrid, Rubeus: oak, 16", rather bendy
The oak tree is considered to be the "king of the forest," according to British lore. It is known for its strength. (JKR)

Krum, Viktor: hornbeam, 10 1/4", quite rigid, dragon's heartstring
Krum's wand was made by Gregorovich, not Ollivander. Krum's stiff, gruff manner is reflected in his wand being "quite rigid."

Longbottom, Neville's wands:
first one (obtained prior to September 1991 [Y11], broken June 1996 [Y16])
new one (July 1996 [Y16]) cherry, unicorn hair
Neville's original wand was his father's old wand and meant a great deal to his grandmother Augusta (his father's mother). This wand was broken by Antonin Dolohov during the battle of the Department of Mysteries in June 1996 [Y16].

Potter, Harry: holly, 11", supple, single phoenix tail feather (from Fawkes)
According to European tradition, the holly tree repels evil. The name "holly" is derived from the word "holy." (JKR)

Potter, James: mahoghany, 11", pliable (excellent for transfiguration)
It makes sense that a wand good for transfiguration would be "pliable," which means that it can be molded and shaped.

Potter, Lily Evans: willow, 10 1/4", swishy (nice wand for charm work, according to Ollivander) (PS5)

Riddle, Tom Marvolo (Voldemort): yew, 13 1/2", single phoenix tail feather (also from Fawkes)
Harry's and Voldemort's wands are "brothers" because they have cores of not only the same substance but from exactly the same source. When they are forced to fight each other, the Priori Incantatem effect is produced. Yew trees are known for their long lives. They symbolize death, but also resurrection. (JKR)

Umbridge, Dolores' wand
While not identified specifically, Umbridge's wand was described as "unusually short." Umbridge herself is unusually short, and perhaps her wand's characterisitcs suggest that her magical ability comes up wanting as well. We never do see her perform any particularly effective magic spells, after all.

Weasley, Ron's wands:
first one (obtained August 1991 [Y11], broken 1st September 1992 [Y12]): ash
new one (31st August, 1993 [Y13]): willow, 14", unicorn tail hair (PA3)
Ron's original wand was a hand-me-down from his older brother Charlie. It was made of ash (see note). This wand broke when the flying Anglia crashed into the Whomping Willow on the 1st of September, 1996 [Y12].

Wands known to have been purchased here include:

Harry Potter: holly, 11", supple, single phoenix tail feather (from Fawkes)

Ron Weasley: First wand: (Used by Ron from August 1991 to June 1993; it exploded when a spell backfired). Originally a hand-me-down from Charlie Weasley) Ash, unicorn tail hair

Second Wand: (31st August 1993 and onwards) Willow, 14", unicorn tail hair

Hermione Granger: Vine, dragon heartstring

James Potter: Mahogany, 11". Mr Ollivander comments that it was pliable and excellent for transfiguration

Lily Evans: Willow, 10 1/4". Mr Ollivander comments that it was swishy and nice wand for charm work

Rubeus Hagrid: Oak, 16". Mr Ollivander comments that it was rather bendy

Tom Riddle: Yew, 13 1/2", single phoenix tail feather (from Fawkes)

Cedric Diggory: 12 1/4", single unicorn hair from the tail of what Mr Ollivander considers a particularly fine male unicorn

Neville Longbottom: First Wand: (Used by Neville from September 1991 to June 1996, when it broke in battle - it was his father's old wand)

Second Wand: (From July 1996) Cherry, unicorn hair

Wand Cores and Magical Properties

• Phoenix Feather – Very Magical.
• Dragon Heartstring – Hexes are a specialty of this core.
• Unicorn Tail – Best for the pure of heart.
• Leprechaun Hair – Somewhat temperamental to Non-Irish.
• Demiguise Hair – Only the best for Transfiguration.
• Hippogriff Talon – Excellent for Charm Work.
• Runespoor Fang – Best for those who deal with Dark Magic.
• Hair from the Mane of a Kelpie – Superb for all spells.
• Chimaera Scale – Very rare, yet very powerful.
• Ashwinder Ash – Casts the best protection charms.

Wand Wood

• Holly
• Ash
• Willow
• Maple
• Walnut
• Mahogany
• Birch
• Yew
• Rosewood