#harry potter wandlore

[darkwing-ramblings]

@iamnmbr3 Hello! You've reliably proved the approachable sort and as such I thought expansion on this post would likely be tolerated, if not welcomed, and I had enough thoughts to offer I figured I may as well. Also, since it's my first use of Harry Potter as a tag it feels worth mentioning I have no problems with people being transgender, a sadly somewhat necessary disclaimer even when interacting with almost exclusively fandom content as here is. (also to give context for myself, I am @darkwinganimus by another name, since this is a side blog and I just remembered it may be worth informing you as we have some previous adjacency)

To not lose your tags in the reblog: #Alphard Black#Tho I like beech as well esp bc I think they grow near yew trees. And my Tom/Alphie shipper brain likes that#And also likes unicorn hair bc the Irony

Now to properly begin! The most in depth expansion on wandlore we have is on Pottermore, and it interestingly has no note under C of Cyprus just Cypress, is your mention above just a mistake in spelling or a significant deviation from this? To start off with establishing the reasons you chose it.

Cypress, at least, is granted lore of: Cypress wands are associated with nobility. The great medieval wandmaker, Geraint Ollivander, wrote that he was always honoured to match a cypress wand, for he knew he was meeting a witch or wizard who would die a heroic death. Fortunately, in these less blood-thirsty times, the possessors of cypress wands are rarely called upon to lay down their lives, though doubtless many of them would do so if required. Wands of cypress find their soul mates among the brave, the bold and the self-sacrificing: those who are unafraid to confront the shadows in their own and others’ natures.

Now while the nobility aspect is technically true of Alphard lineage wise, I’d be more inclined to read it as a mark of character in the above passage and as such less undeniably applicable. There’s the unwillingness to abandon family drawn from Alphard leaving inheritance to Sirius, whatever his political opinions are aside, that shows a willingness to throw away good opinion of him after his death per Alphard’s beliefs/care for family/lineage which could be seen that way but again, it’s a view that needs to be actively adopted.

Now, interestingly, Alphard is dead per canon- which this lore would support for a character possessing this wand wood in times of strife is normal- but there’s little indication of it being for any reasons related to particular heroism/grand action for any faction we see.

As per @therealvinelle and @thecarnivorousmuffinmeta’s written Alphard (links included to direct credit where it's deserved) he consistently has his romance with Tom of course, who would certainly fall into “brave” and “bold” as categories, Voldemort is hardly shy or prone to indecision that we see and plenty confrontational if not self-sacrificing alongside it. “Unafraid to confront the shadows in their own and others’ nature” also fits Tom, as in no way does that imply a rejection of such traits.

In any case that’s my attempt at trying to work out your thought process there, which I’d be interested in hearing what you have to say in return.

Phoenix feathers, core wise, we have, also from Pottermore: This is the rarest core type. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike.

Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won.

Now this says more of the wand’s potential than the witch/wizard and much of the phoenix they’re taken from- I would preface that “rarest core type” should be consistently kept true but obviously someone must have some of them. Fawkes only providing two feathers despite Dumbledore’s vested interest in Hogwarts students having good wands as headmaster etc does speak to what I think should be a much more emphasised rarity to them, however, as an additional point. But alright, in relation to Alphard the core would translate to allowing a wide breadth of magic/using magical knowledge and also some time slowly winning over his hand/a stand out incident in which he went from struggling to fully paired with his wand in its hypothetical variation.

Now, combining the above two materials would result in a wand of, essentially, no limitations once paired up to the wizard- which is of note that as a Black he’d not have problems with the wand rejecting dark magic/esoteric spells so I can see it being desirable but am curious what specifics of wandlore landed you where you’re at? (also, give me a few minutes please to reblog this with further notes of the other listed materials)

Per your tags you also mention, Beech, which again Pottermore gives us: The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant. Such wizards and witches, having obtained a beech wand without having been suitably matched (yet coveting this most desirable, richly hued and highly prized wand wood), have often presented themselves at the homes of learned wandmakers such as myself, demanding to know the reason for their handsome wand’s lack of power. When properly matched, the beech wand is capable of a subtlety and artistry rarely seen in any other wood, hence its lustrous reputation.

This one I find a more interesting suggestion. Alphard, per Amulette d’amour’s characterisation which I’m assuming we’re mainly going off/accounting for, would fall into the category of more informed than your average wizard and canny in the ways of society and people’s motivations due to his upbringing but also his watchfulness. Hence, since wisdom can be paired with all manner of traits, which I feel matches well enough. But the note of performing weakly for “the narrow-minded and intolerant” is fascinating. It either allows for character development pairing with increasing power (a fun physical consequence shown) or else to a degree has some complexity of clash with Alphard’s character I’d argue. Now, by pureblood standards, Alphard is looking comparatively fine- he leaves his blood traitor nephew money because Sirius is family still darn it other issues aside as less important/could arguably not be that prejudiced over the whole muggles are inferior entrenched stance. Per Amulette he’s also uncommonly up to date on prejudices faced by halfbloods/muggleborns and of the nepotism in his society, polite even when he dislikes a person, somewhat sympathetic in his recognition the wizarding world isn’t liable to change and open to reading a wide range of literature from non magical authors too. But he’s still very much both classist and racist, unsurprisingly, so not someone I would without caveats place adjacent to not “intolerant”, even if the law itself seems to be of higher import than just blood supremacy and crimes overlooked because of status etc he’s not fond of.

Open minded, Alphard, per this story, I would say is easier to classify as, in that while he’s stubborn over his beliefs and won’t renounce his family for their association with them etc he is willing to hear out multiple sides to a debate- a rare skill in the wizarding world- and doesn’t draw lines in the sand of women whose blood stop them qualifying as being treated with basic decency when escorted etc. Beech when matched being capable of “subtlety and artistry” would suit with his characterisation as discussed at least as he’s never portrayed as being a particular powerhouse magically- just very particular and practised in the spells he does use which neatly work as expected.

Unicorn hair, Potermore says on: Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard.

Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may ‘die’ and need replacing.

I’m happier with it as apparently one of the main two wand cores used by Ollivander, perhaps Hogwarts and their somewhat friendly unicorn herd help out with supplying them humanely, who knows. Consistency as I mention above would fit, whilst difficulty turning them to dark arts would arguably be less fitted to the Black family library although he’s never shown pushing experimentally dark magic via Amulette and in canon is presumably not a death eater so it’s not contradicted per say if it’s most theoretical knowledge he’s little call to use (Regulus recognising a horcrux and trying to destroy it is not exactly a sign the Blacks knowledge of them equals endorsement).

Faithfulness regardless of a wizard’s strength and them not pushing magical potential in a bureaucrat with a set future and wealth is hardly a big deal, so paired with either suggested wood would turn out a wand with likely mediocre performance but hardly stand out: I think this would be fitting enough given how absolutely nothing Sirius had to say about him as a person despite benign left the money, Alphard as someone very quiet and not thoroughly memorable is a hilarious take after all I’ll happily stand by as a result.

The core being prone to melancholy is unlikely to be seriously relevant as older families with long traditions would presumably have reasonable wand care traditions, as much as there’s an irony in the potential mirroring the pining Amulette’s characterisation picks up with as a quality of Alphard’s own temperament.

But I’m assuming the irony you refer to is that of Draco having a unicorn hair wand as a relative of Alphard’s?

Also, built in disclaimers on cores and woods, per Pottermore exist too, see respectively:

-----Readers should bear in mind that each wand is the composite of its wood, its core and the experience and nature of its owner; that tendencies of each may counterbalance or outweigh the other; so this can only be a very general overview of an immensely complex subject.

-----Every single wand is unique and will depend for its character on the particular tree and magical creature from which it derives its materials. Moreover, each wand, from the moment it finds its ideal owner, will begin to learn from and teach its human partner. Therefore, the following must be seen as general notes on each of the wood types I like to work with best, and ought not to be taken to describe any individual wand.

I’ve put some thought into picking out options to suggest and discuss if you’re interested to further delve into wandlore as a topic, since I’ve obviously added some amount of doubts above in some areas and it’d feel only fair but since this is getting rather long thought to cut myself off at a reasonable place. There's no rush should you decided to respond in any capacity? Well, there's nothing for it but to put it out there now I've gotten this far through the drafting process, I suppose.

Random thought but I like the idea of Cyprus and Phoenix feather as a wand for Alphard.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

ive been rereading hp recently and one thing that confuses me is ron's first wand bcs its charlies but charlie gave it to ron after leaving hogwarts?? i dont understand why. did charlie not need a wand? did he get a new one? (if he did get a new one, why? and why could ron not have gotten a new one too?) it just seems so strange and goes against everything else we seem to learn about wands later.

i also suspect the reason ron struggled so much in early years is because of his second hand wand. ron is quite smart (the chess game) and even magically pretty decent (he learns a patronus fairly quickly in ootp and thats deemed hard magic, can hold his own in fights, etc).

im curious on ur opinions on this and about ron's wand situation. (sorry if uve discussed it before and ive just missed it!)

I didn't discuss this before, and it is interesting. I don't think we have a canon answer to why Chalrie replaced his wand, but we do know he still has a wand. He'd have to, considering wands are everything for European wizards and he'd need it as a dragon tamer.

Charlie was born in December 1972, so he started Hogwarts in September of 1984 and graduated his seventh year in June of 1991, a few months before Ron started Hogwarts in September of 1991.

Why would he choose to get a new wand and give his old one to Ron at that point? I don't actually know, but I have a few possibilities, from least likely to most likely:

1. The wand stopped working for him. Charlie's personality or goals or something else changed drastically during his final year or graduation, and he needed to get a new wand because his old one didn't really work for him anymore.

2. There's a superstition that wizards who want to work with dragons should have a dragon heartstring wand. As Charlie knew he was going to work at a dragon reserve and his wand had a unicorn hair core, he might have chosen to replace it from the misguided belief a different core would be better for his profession. (I don't actually know if this superstition is a thing, I made it up as something that could get him to replace his wand and it seems reasonable with the kind of wand superstitions they have in the wizarding world).

3. It's possible that the wand wasn't even bought for Charlie, but used to belong to Grandpa Septimus or something and he used it while at school, then when he graduated, he saved up his own money to buy himself a wand of his own, since his wasn't actually made for him. So, then, Ron was using an even older family wand.

And yeah, I agree. We see it with Neville too, who is using his father's wand and it affects his magic negatively. However, I think Ron was much less affected than Neville since the core and wood of Charlie's wand did suit him. It wasn't the best fit, but it was a decent one, unlike Neville who had to fight his wand and feared it.

[stabby-apologist]

“The wand chooses the wizard.”

However, the designer chooses how it looks different from others when in Harry Potter books, they all relatively looked the same and Ollivander could tell them all apart.

[furowrites]

WAND WOODS, BRIEFLY

hello friends! today i thought i could bring you something that some might find a bit useful, since many in the hogwarts legacy fandom may be interested in defining the wandlore for either their original characters, or existing characters, but can't be bothered to read through all the wand woods, either because it would take too damn long, or you're for one reason or another not fond of using the Pottermore website

so here it is, from an (embarrassingly) long-time HP fan, all wand woods summarized, concisely, for you to easily reference whenever you like :)

Acacia

refuses to produce magic for the non-owner

unusual, compatible with the gifted

refined magic, peculiar temperament

Alder

helpful, considerate, likeable owner

best suited for non-verbal magic

Apple

suited to owners of high aims & ideals

well-loved, long-lived, charming owners

mixes poorly with Dark magic

associated with the ability to talk to magical beings

Ash

owners are stubborn & steadfast in their beliefs, but not crass or arrogant

loses power when passed down

Aspen

outstanding charmwork, often makes for good duellists

strong-minded & determined owners

for revolutionaries

Beech

for the wise beyond their years

not for the narrow-minded or intolerant

capable of subtlety & artistry in magic

Blackthorn

best suited for warriors

needs danger & hardship to bond with its owner

loyal servant, whether it’s used for good or evil

Black Walnut

owner of good instincts & powerful insight

loses power if owner is self-deceptive

flair in all kinds of charmwork

Cedar

calls for strength of character & loyalty

owners are not to be fooled or crossed should harm come to their loved ones

Cherry

possesses lethal power

if paired with dragon heartstring, must be used with self-control & strength of mind

Chestnut

attracted to those with gifts in Herbology, tamers of magical beasts & good fliers

with dragon heartstring, owners are overfond of luxury & material things

with unicorn hair, owners show predilection for matters of justice

Cypress

for the brave, bold & self-sacrificing

owners are unafraid to confront the dark flaws in themselves & other people

Dogwood

quirky, mischievous, of playful nature

looks for owners who can provide excitement

performs well in difficult situations

Ebony

suited to combative magic & Transfiguration

for those brave enough to be themselves

owners not swayed lightly from their purpose

Elm

owners with presence, magical dexterity & dignity

produces fewest accidents & foolish errors

sophisticated & highly advanced

English Oak

for good times and bad; loyal

demands partner of strength, courage & fidelity

Fir

the survivor’s wand

demands staying power & strength of purpose

favors owners of strong-minded & intimidating demeanors

suited to Transfiguration

Hawthorn

complex & intriguing owners

adept at healing & curses

at home with conflict & inner turmoil

Hazel

reflects owner’s emotional state

wilts after its master’s death

outstanding in the hands of the skillful

Holly

considered protective

works best with those who need to overcome wrath

pairs well with those in dangerous  & spiritual quests

Hornbeam

talented owner with a single, pure passion

absorbs their owner’s code of honor

fine-tuned & sentient

Larch

hard to please & tricky to handle

exposes hidden & unexpected effects

Laurel

commonly paired with those who seek glory

does not tolerate laziness in its master

Maple

natural travelers & explorers

prefers ambition, not stay-at-home wands

shines with fresh challenges & changes of scene

Pear

best in the hands of the warm-hearted, popular

never in possession of Dark Wizards

quite resilient, appears new after years of use

Pine

users tend to live long lives

for the independent, individuals who are perceived as loners

enjoys being used creatively

will adapt easily to new methods & spells

Poplar

to be relied upon, consistent, and with integrous strength of power

chooses masters of clear moral vision

Red Oak

good duelling wand, for those with fast reflexes

light-of-touch, quick-witted & adaptable masters

often creators of trademark spells

Redwood

attracted to those with good luck

generally live exciting lives

Rowan

favors defensive magic

likes the clear-headed & pure-hearted

outstanding in duels

Silver Lime

performs best for Seers & those skilled in Legilimency

particularly handsome wood

Spruce

requires a firm hand

for bold spellcasters, with a sense of humor

loyal to their owners

produce flamboyant effects

Sycamore

eager for new experiences

ideal owner is curious, vital & adventurous

Vine

uncommon type

owners seek greater purpose & vision beyond the ordinary

Walnut

for the highly intelligent, inventors & innovators

may resist spells foreign to the nature of its master, unless they are sufficiently skilled

handsome wood, very versatile & adaptable

makes for a dangerous match with owners of little conscience

Willow

great healing power

often matched with owners with hidden insecurities

selects those with great potential, rather than those who believe they have little to learn

Yew

rare kind of wood

ideal match is unusual & notorious (whether as heroes or villains)

fearsome reputation in duelling & curses

owners tend to be fierce protectors

never chooses a timid nor mediocre mind

well, there you go! i hope it’s useful to you somehow :) i may end up reblogging to add a few notes on the wand cores too

also potential wand headcanons post soon for the HL characters? idk if anyone’s interested but i’m certainly thinking about it

[butternutt613]

I'm looking into wandlore and am looking at other characters wands and have a question

Do wand makers stain wands or use other means of altering the color?

For instance: McGonagall's wand is fir wood, a rather light wood color, according to the HP wiki but in the movies it's a dark wood.

Now this could totally be an oversight by She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, but I'm just curious what y'alls thoughts were on this?

[midnightstargazer]

Marauders Era wand headcanons, part 2

Sirius was in my first post - here's the rest of the Blacks

First, a note about the cores:

I hc that the Blacks all use wands with dragon heartstring cores. For some, it comes more naturally than others, but they go to Ollivander's refusing to try - or to let their children try - anything else. Dragon wands produce the most powerful magic, and they're the most easily turned toward the Dark Arts, so I think the Blacks would find dragon to be by far the most desirable, and indeed, the only thing worthy of them.

Regulus: blackthorn and dragon heartstring

Blackthorn is "best suited to a warrior" and will only fully bond with its owner after surviving some sort of dangerous situation together. I chose this mainly for the symbolism. Regulus is imo a character who dies just as he's beginning to unlock his true potential. I like the idea that, if he had lived, he would have found himself capable of more than he expected before, having perhaps never realized just how much his wand was holding back.

Also, it looks at first glance like kind of a generic "bad guy" wand - the only blackthorn wand in canon is the one Ron took from a Snatcher - which fits with Regulus's conformity to his family and peers. But the bush it comes from is described as having both "wicked thorns" and sweet berries, and blackthorn wands don't exclusively choose Dark Wizards - so it also fits with his eventual change of heart.

Narcissa: cherry and dragon heartstring

Cherry is often dismissed as "frivolous or merely ornamental" but is in fact very powerful and potentially dangerous, especially with a dragon heartstring core. The combination is best paired with someone who has "exceptional self-control and strength of mind" - which I think is a good description of Narcissa. I hc her as a skilled occlumens, and even aside from that, she manages to hold herself together through quite a bit in the last few books.

Andromeda: larch and dragon heartstring

Larch "creates wands of hidden talents and unexpected effects, which likewise describes the master who deserves it." I kind of think Andromeda shocked everyone when she ran off with Ted, so I like the idea of a wand that hints at that. Larch is also supposed to be associated with "courage and confidence" - qualities I suspect Andromeda has quite a bit of.

Bellatrix: walnut and dragon heartstring

This one is canon. Walnut chooses the most intelligent witches and wizards, which suggests that Bellatrix was highly intelligent. There are hints of that in canon, but I think it must have been even more obvious pre-Azkaban. Walnut is also notable in that it won't refuse to do any sort of magic, unlike others that are difficult to use for the Dark Arts or take on aspects of their owner's moral code.

wandlore sources:

wand cores

wand woods

[markowitzbrothers]

Modern Procedure of Wand Making

To create a wand, first you need the two components necessary: the wood and the core. Firstly, I will explain how to find a magical wandwood tree. Unless you are lucky enough to come across a branch of bowtruckles, it can be Difficult to determine whether or not the tree you come across is magical or mundane. If you wish, you can always fall back on the many great writings of Ollivander or Diviciacus, who will be happy to neatly lay out their preferred trees of magic. I, on the other hand, prefer to separate the magical from the mundane with my own intelligence and encourage my followers to do the same. Each and every magic channeling tree has a specific association within magical history. Ancient texts from a variety of distant societies claim a few select trees to be "the power of life and death" and "the protector of the weak." These echos of antiquity left by the wise witches and wizards of the past are the basis for discovering a diverse array of magical trees around the globe instead of a few trees in your country.

Secondly, I will explain the separation of the wood from the tree and the joining of the wood and core. Once you have your magical tree, break a small branch off no longer than 4 inches. The branch needs to split in the middle as you break it off the tree; making a clean cut will only hinder the process. Once you have your small split branch, you can add the core. The core needs to be in the shape of a string or ribbon; otherwise, the wood cannot grow around it. Wedge one end of the core into the split you made into the wood and hold the wood so neither the core nor the wood is touching any other unliving solid. Drop a small amount of growth potion on the wood and allow the wood To grow, healing the split and enveloping the entirety of the core so it is no longer visible.

I will now explain how to carve a wand. From now on, there is no wood and core separate. There is a constant conversation happening within a single being known as the wand. The same way you have a conversation with two sides of yourself in your mind, the wand also comes to conclusions. These conclusions are manifested in reflections on the surface of the wood that can only be seen using sunlight. Those exceptionally versed in wandlore can hear whispers of the wands needs. In places where there is an unnatural reflection on the wood, the wand is begging you to reveal its form. Until the moment the reflection becomes mundane, the wand is essentially suffocating. If you listen to the desperate reflections signing the needs of the wood and core, then the wand will have truth. On the other hand, if you fall into a creative carving frenzy and follow your own shallow design, then the wand will die and be nothing more than a stick.

Classically, this will be where the process of wand creation ends, but as a result of the modern age, many witches and wizards attempt to add foreign materials to the already carefully crafted wood of the wand. Most of the time foreign materials on a wand are unforgivenly rejected at various levels of explosion, depending on the core. In rare moments, usually having to do with the true owner of the wand placing the foreign material, the wand will accept the material for its alchemical characteristics.

Goblin Silver: Allowed for a caster fascinated with power

Wizard Silver: Allowed for a caster who lets their darker feelings be known.

Gold: Allowed for a caster striving for perfection throughout life.

Copper: Allowed for a caster with a strong want for peace.

Iron: Allowed for a caster who has a identification with tenacity

Tin: Allowed for a caster who has an identification with the skill of perspicacity.

In conclusion, the wand-making process is done with the first step being ensuring the magicality of a tree, secondly fusing the wood with the core, and finally carving the wand wood so it can be physically expressed correctly.

[elephant-in-the-bloom]

Do you know why Dumbledore is the only wizard Voldermort ever feared? Because his phoenix’s feather is Voldy’s wand core! This explains Harry’s somewhat delusional loyalty to Dumbledore but also Voldermort’s fear of the man, after all his magic is always channelled through a creature that answers to the old headmaster who always saw through him.

[st-severus]

i wonder how they harvest dragon heartstrings for wand cores 🤔

do they wait for them to die or is there something they are not telling hagrid about norbert/norberta…

[wandloreinamerica]

Hello, but I was wondering if you had any thoughts on tulip populars?

Indeed I do. One of my first posts was comparing poplars. In brief, if you are an American and you walk into your local Lowe’s/Home Depot, this is what you will find labeled as poplar. It’s not a true poplar, but the wood is marked similar to true poplars.

Personally, I think it’s a bit underrated. It’s a nice lightweight wood that carves well, takes stains, dyes, and paints easily, and burns well too. The grain is subtle, but can be interesting. It is just so common and mostly thought of as a utility wood. And the colors you sometimes see are mineral stains so the do fade pretty quickly. Still a great wood.

[iamnmbr3]

What's you take on the whole wand situation?

It never ceases to amaze me how well Draco's wand worked for Harry when he had trouble with Hermione's wand and they've known each other for years.

Not only did the wand work, he also defeated Voldemort with each I find so funny for some reason.

And we need to remember that his wand was made of unicorn hair, which makes it extremely loyal to its owner so how the heck did it work well enough to defeat one of the greatest wizards of all time?

J.K.R can claim that Harry disarmed Draco all she wants, I call bullshit. To me it feels they share a deep connection which is why it worked

I KNOW!! It is insane that JKR, Queen of the Anti-Drarry Squad, wrote this in canon. So fitting that she should be cursed to accidentally canonize queer ships she hates lol.

The bit about Hermione's wand is super interesting for several reasons. Harry never wins the wand from her, but because they are very close and compatible and because she loves Harry and wants the wand to work for him, it does. Not perfectly. But way better than the Blackthorn Wand, which he didn't win AND which came from a stranger who had no compatibility with him and felt no allegiance or emotional connection to him. So we see that the compatibility of the wand's owner with someone and, crucially, the emotional bond they have with you, also influences how their wand responds to you.

This has huge implications when it comes to Draco's wand. Draco's wand is made of unicorn hair, which, as you correctly point out is known for its loyalty and affinity for its original master. This is not a fickle wandcore that is easy to just win in a quick duel. Not only that, but hawthorn wands are particularly tricky to master.

Plus, if wands could switch allegiance too easily then it would've come up earlier. If just disarming someone is usually enough to do it then any class where such things are practiced would have huge repercussions. Not to mentions fights between enemies. It would be a huge problem for Death Eaters or Aurors. Snape would've lost mastery pf his wand to the Marauders pretty early on in his school career. (Harry also would've lost mastery of HIS wand to Snape in the end of book 6.) This would make wizards extremely cautious about dueling each other. Thus, the character and desires of the wizards and of the wands and the specific circumstances must play a much bigger role. Some wands must be more loyal than others too. For example I can imagine the Elder Wand being relatively fickle. Or the kind of wand that would choose Peter for example. But a unicorn hair wand?

Furthermore, Harry doesn't even really fight Draco. He pulls the wand right out of Draco's hand. And Draco...lets him. He has fast reflexes. He's a Seeker who is nearly equal to Harry in ability. And we see how quick he is at spells and how well he holds his own against Harry during their duel in book 6. Yes Harry - who is a deadly dueler - beats him in the end, but they go several rounds. Draco, in fact, holds his own against Harry for longer than anyone except for Snape. Much longer than Voldemort ever does for example. So if Draco had wanted to get off a spell to blast Harry away from him when Harry was totally unarmed and literally just trying to pull the wand out of his hand - he could have. But he doesn't. He lets Harry take the wand.

And the wand's loyalty transfers seamlessly to Harry. Not only does it work for him. It works PERFECTLY. It feels "friendly" in his hand. In a way even Hermione's didn't. He is deeply compatible with the wand and the wand obviously is actively friendly to him. This clearly reflects Harry's fundamental core compatibility with Draco (they're soulmates your honor!) and also Draco's true loyalty and affection towards Harry.

The Hawthorn Wand isn't betraying its former master. It's honoring his wishes by protecting the man he loves.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Do you think Harry and Tom would be able to use each other's wands?

1000% yes, I believe they could.

I think I mentioned here, that Harry's wand sees Voldy (especially post-resurrection) as an extension of Harry, and Voldy's wand is considered kin. Like, the wands recognize each other and the owners.

So, I think Harry's and Voldemort's wands would, like, barely recognize it's a different person. Like, post-resurrection, Harry and Voldemort share blood and soul and their wands were already magically kin, so basically, it's like almost the same person.

If Harry picked up Voldy's wand, the yaw wand would be like: "Hmm, Tommy's a bit different today, oh well," and just roll with it. Same goes for Harry's wand.

I think a lot of magic is just going to consider Voldemort and Harry extensions of each other, and so would their wands.

However, I think it isn't true for all wands who accept them, just their interwind wands that share a core. Like, the Elder Wand chose Harry, and wouldn't accept Tom, because it's sentient in a different way than other wands. Draco's wand, which also accepted Harry, wouldn't accept Tom probably, because there the acceptance was based on Draco's feelings. But, their wands, which are just as bound together as Harry and Voldemort, yeah, they would barely notice if they were switched up.

Like, the wands won't notice, but Harry and Voldemort would.

On the Pottermore page about wand woods, it's said wands adapt to their user and their spellcasting style. So, I headcanon their wands have adapted to them over time. Harry would notice the Yaw wand is more sensitive to nonverbal magic since Tom probably casts nonverbally more often than not and the wand got used to it. The Yaw wand would probably be proud like its owner and won't allow a subpar wizard to use it (luckily for Harry, he'd be fine on that front) Similarly, Tom would find the Holly wand more volatile and prone to overcharge spells and be more protective of its user. Both wands would be chill with being used creatively though, considering Harry sometimes uses spells intuitively different than how they are meant to be used and Tom probably invents magic whenever he encounters a problem that doesn't have a magical solution yet.

[delumineight]

ron and hermione wandlore

we talk a lot about ron and hermione’s patronuses but i fear we never talk about their wandlore… and since this is like the only magical thing i know about i am going make a thread about it.

— wand overview

ron’s wand: willow wood, unicorn hair core, fourteen inches, no given flexibility

hermione’s wand: vine wood, dragon heartstring core, ten inches and three quarters, no given flexibility

finish reading below cut!

WOOD

RON: willow wooded wands are described by olivander to take a liking to wizard’s with an inclination to healing. in addition, it is also known for enhancing already advanced magic and being particularly powerful for use of non-verbal spells. the users of this wood often have some type of unwarranted insecurity despite them trying hard to hide whatever it may be. a quote from olivander is “it has always been a proverb in my family that he who has furthest to travel will go fastest with willow.”

a few times throughout the series ron is seen taking care of his friends while they’re in the infirmary; hermione in second year, harry in second + third year, hermione at shell cottage. ron doesn’t cast a lot of “advanced” magic in the books but multiple times he does use nonverbal spells that are described as powerful. his insecurities are also shown multiple times with his family’s financial status, his quidditch abilities, and even his love life. with the final comment of olivander cannot be limited to physical travel, but also emotional and mental travel, as in ron’s character development and what he went through under the affect of salazar slytherin’s locket.

HERMIONE: vine is not commonly used for wand due to its roughness, it is a wood given to a sense of wizards who feel as if they may have a greater purpose in life than what they are currently doing, but with personalities hid deeper within. even without being in a user’s hand these wands have been known to create sparks if their user enters the room it has been left in.

in the deathly hallows hermione outright says “i’m hoping to do some good in the world!” when asked by scrimegour about her career plans. throughout the novels she shows some sense of being stuck up, believing that she is a smarter than those around her. she is more reserved with herself than her counterparts (harry and ron) in her personality as she puts things that she deems crucial to her success before rest or having any time to relax. though she most definitely does have a personality, it is one of the most muted in the series.

2. CORE

RON: unicorn hair cored wands are the most consistent producers of magic out of the main three cores. it has the least chance of blockages and random fluctuations in its alliance if stolen or taken. it is also the most difficult to be turned to dark arts, as unicorns are creatures of purity. they are very faithful to their owners and do not obey well if separated. the only disadvantages with unicorn cores is that they are the weakest of the cores, but the wood of the wand can often make up for that. if mishandled they also known to “die” or halt greatly in the degree of which they produce successful spells.

as mentioned previously under the wood section, willow wands can be used for great magical things and would in fact make up for the weakness caused by a unicorn hair core. not turning alliances quickly or being unwilling to do so also represents ron’s loyalty to harry and hermione despite the fact of being given multiple chances to leave them for good and work against them because of his blood purity. ron does have his wand taken by snatchers in harry potter and the deathly hallows, but there is never an update on it and how well it obeyed its stealers.

HERMIONE: contrary to unicorn hair core, dragon heartstring is the most powerful of the main three cores. they also tend to adapt and learn their owner fast than any other type of core. they are much easier to change alliance to, but they will not ever have a bond with someone in the way that they had with their original owner. the biggest downside, especially at the time of the novels, is their susceptibility to turn to the dark arts. it will not do this of it’s own accord, but if the user (not the owner) wants it badly enough, it will turn at command and be willing to obey its handler.

ron says it himself in harry potter and the deathly hallows that hermione is the best at magic, which is reflected in the explanation of the dragon heartstring core. it is also interesting the difference between ron and hermione’s wand cores, unicorn being the weakest while dragon heartstring is the strongest, unicorn being the least susceptible to turning to the dark arts or changing loyalty while dragon heartstring is the the quickest to do both.

3. LENGTH

RON: most wands in the wizarding world range from 9 to 14 inches and often reflect the height of the wizard and the “size” of their personality. with ron’s being fourteen inches we can assume that it really took both factors into account, as he is very tall and has a rather strong personality, being quite emotional and with a strong sense of self.

HERMIONE: once again being related to the height and size of personality to their owner, hermione’s is only 10.75 inches, showing part of her physical appearance and the bit of reluctance she has to open up to others.

4. LENGTH

though not having canonical information on it, i’m going to give my personal headcanons and thought here. what we do know about wand flexibility or lack therefore is that it is based around a wizard’s ability to adapt to change. below is a list from most bendable to the stiffest of the levels for reference. if anyone has any other suggestions or comments about my selections on these please let me know! i am always open to other ideas because i am a very forgetful person so i may have missed something that indicated it should be different.

— very flexible, quite flexible, surprisingly swishy,

swishy, quite bendy, fairly bendy, whippy, pliant,

supple, reasonably supple, slightly springy,

slightly yielding, solid, stiff, hard, rigid,

unbending, unyielding, brittle

RON: rigid. ron is strong in his beliefs, but slightly waver for nothing other than love and admiration for those around him. this is mostly pointed toward his opinion of s.p.e.w. (which still isn’t really his favorite thing) and how it grew on him slightly as hermione grew on him much more. i didn’t want to put him anything higher because of the rest of his ideas that really don’t ever change, including his view on blood purity and how it doesn’t really matter, his hatred for blood purists, his worries during the horcrux hunt, his opinion on krum (the change when he attends the yule ball contributes to the yield of it being more! but then how he keeps the grudge forever kind of cancels that out, i think), and much more. he’s a very opinionated person.

HERMIONE: unyielding. ron and hermione are both very stubborn, but i do believe hermione is more so. throughout the series people try to convince her of things and she doesn’t agree with them and even shames them for opinions are that are different from hers (ex. s.p.e.w.). many arguments between her and ron are actually because of their stubbornness that they share (god be with anyone who argues with either of their children) but she is always able to back her opinions up with facts and evidence to ensure that she is right, while her opponent, usually ron, only has some knowledge of whatever is going on and doesn’t have academical words to back them up. this even carries over to harry potter and the deathly hallows when she argues with xenophillius lovegood over the erumpment horn in his house.

sources:

— wand information: ron - hermione

— wood information: ron 1, 2 - hermione 1, 2

— core information: both

— length information: both

— flexibility information: both

[violetthistle1]

“She said ‘many times the last ally standing will be holding a Fir.’” Remus gathered his thoughts before continuing. “For the longest time, I thought I was the last one. The last faithful marauder, the last of our friends, the last good werewolf left. But I wasn’t the last marauder, you’re here with me, and I found Sarah and Ian and the pack, so it’s not like I’m the last of anything.” 

“But that’s good though isn’t it?” Sirius asked.

“I just can’t help but worry that means there will still be a moment in the future when it all goes away again, for real.” His voice cracked. “And if it wasn’t real the last time—I barely got through it, there’s no way I'll survive being the last one standing—for—for real.” Tears were rolling down his face, and he curled in tighter to hide it in Sirius’s hair. 

****

Dignity be Damned, Chapter 18: Daily Life excerpt (8)

Completed fic available on Ao3 now!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/50555698/chapters/129743329

[midnightstargazer]

Marauders Era wand headcanons, part 3

I've done the Marauders and the Black family, now let's talk about a few more members of the original Order of the Phoenix!

Lily Evans Potter: willow and phoenix feather

The wood is mentioned in Sorcerer's Stone. Willow is supposed to be good for healing and chooses those with "the greatest potential" but who often have hidden insecurities. I like phoenix feather for the core to emphasize her connection with Harry, and also because it's the most versatile and independent core, and the hardest to master - Lily had a surprising amount of control over her magic even before getting her first wand, so I feel like that would suit her.

Marlene McKinnon: rowan

So little is known about Marlene in canon, basically just that she and her family were killed by Death Eaters. I hc her as being very close to her family and very protective of them, so I like rowan for her wand because it's said to be "more protective than any other" and good for casting defensive spells. I don't have a strong opinion about the core.

Dorcas Meadowes: aspen and dragon heartstring

Aspen wands choose those who excel in dueling, as well as the "strong-minded and determined" - seems fitting for the woman who had to be killed by Voldemort personally. I chose dragon heartstring partially because it's supposed to make the most powerful wands, but also because it's the most easily turned toward the Dark Arts. In my hc, Dorcas is someone you're really glad is on your side, who is willing to cross lines the others aren't if it's for a cause she believes in.

Frank Longbottom: ash

Ash wands are very loyal and "ought not to be passed on or gifted from the original owner." Neville visibly struggles with his hand-me-down wand throughout the first five books, and improves greatly after getting a new one that chose him. I think ash would suit what we know of Frank Longbottom, too: "The ideal owner may be stubborn, and will certainly be courageous, but never crass or arrogant." I don't have a strong opinion about the core.

Alice Longbottom: English oak and unicorn hair

Those chosen by English oak wands often have "an affinity with the magic of the natural world." I hc that Neville got his talent for Herbology from his mother, so I like this for her wand. They also look for "strength, courage and fidelity," which seems fitting for an Auror and Order of the Phoenix member. I chose unicorn for the core because I imagine her being a bit underestimated and having to prove herself, much like some of the characters with unicorn hair wands in canon.

Emmeline Vance: maple

We know almost nothing about Emmeline in canon, but in my hc she's a heroic Slytherin, so a wand that chooses the ambitious and usually belongs to "high achievers" would fit her well. Also, the wand does best with "fresh challenges and regular changes of scene" - I've written Emmeline as a journalist, a career that has her traveling all around the country for the latest news (and for intelligence to pass on to the Order). I don't have a strong opinion about the core.

wandlore sources:

wand cores

wand woods

[loganparker]