Wand Selection

The wand is one of the most important tools a witch or a wizard would have in their entire lifetimes. Most require the wand to channel their inner magic powers. Of course, it is not a wizard that chooses the wand they will have, as it is often the case in where it is the wand that selects its wielder.

Flexibility

The flexibility of the wand determines how it adapts and degree of willingness to change when it is wield by a new owner. Its flexibility is dependent on the nature of the wand itself: its length, core, and wood, as well as its original owner's own experiences.

Surprisingly Swishy. A wand with this flexibility will either surprise its owner by being surprisingly loyal or surprisingly unloyal and is most often known for doing the unexpected. It is usually great for charm work. Owners that are matched with wands of this flexibility are usually the type of people who have a hard time coming out of their shell or opening up, but once they do, others will find themselves drawn to their charming, fun-loving personalities. The owner usually adapts well to unexpected changes but may find it difficult to make hard decisions.

Swishy. A wand with this flexibility may not be too loyal to its owner and may switch loyalties at a moment's notice. It is particularly good at charms. Owners that are matched with wands of this flexibility may be very sociable and fun-loving with a penchant for some mischief-making. They are usually very clever and prefer not to tie themselves down to any particular way of thinking until they've gathered all that they need to know.

Slightly Springy. A wand with this flexibility may not appear to be very loyal at all because they will initially take to new owners quite well, but the fact of the matter is that they will always have a special tie to their original owner. As time goes on, this wand will become increasingly more troublesome for any owner that isn't its original owner until finally it stops working altogether. This wand is good for crafting spells. Owners matched with this wand may be very cheerful and optimistic, but most of all, they have very big (and possibly overactive) imaginations. Their thought patterns tend to be outside of the box.

Fairly Bendy. A wand with this flexibility tends to be very loyal to its original owner; if it finds itself in a new owner's hands, it will make itself difficult to work with, but with time, it will eventually warm up to a new owner. This wand is not exceptional at any particular branch of magic but is well-rounded enough that it will do well or average in every area. Owners of a fairly bendy wand are well-liked but pride themselves on trying to stand out from the crowd. Unfortunately, some of them may be quite susceptible to peer pressure, usually brought on by being in a group considered "different" from others.

Very Flexible. A wand with this flexibility is happy in anyone's hands, but this disadvantage is somewhat off-set by the fact that this wand does exceptionally well in just about every area of magic. Owners of this wand flexibility come with a very wide variety of personalities, but they do share a very high level of adaptability to just about any situation and an easy-going nature.


Quite Flexible. A wand with this flexibility will pose little to no difficulty to whoever possesses it with the exception of owners it considers restrictive and/or boring. It is particularly good for transfiguration, spell crafting, healing magic, and curses. The owner of this wand is usually very likable as a result of being diplomatic and able to see all sides of a situation. They may be very indecisive, but they do have a few principles on which they believe very strongly in.

Supple. A wand with this flexibility needs a little time before it will warm up to its owner, but once it does, it will become very loyal. Once it has become loyal to an owner, it will have difficulty performing for a new owner unless that owner has a particularly dominating or forceful personality. It is particularly good for healing magic and any magic needed for potions or domestic activities like cooking. Supple wand owners are usually gentle, warm, humble, and kind-hearted. They may need to be careful about not burning themselves out in an attempt to please everyone.

Reasonably Supple. A wand with this flexibility will take even more time than a supple wand before warming up to its owner, but it also will become very loyal once it does. Unlike supple wands, however, it will have difficulty performing for any new owner unless they prove their worthiness. Reasonably supple wands are usually well-rounded and perform average or well in just about every area of magic except for curses and jinxes. Owners of wands with this flexibility are patient and kind, but they have limits to this patience and kindness. They are not as likely to burn themselves out in an attempt to please everyone, but it is still possible.

Pliant. A wand with this flexibility will warm up easily to just about anyone; although, its full potential will not be unlocked until its owner has reached his or her full potential as well. This wand's talents will depend solely upon the owner's own talents, and its weaknesses will depend solely upon its owner's weaknesses. Pliant wand owners are eager, enthusiastic, and tend to be very easily impressed and/or naive. They often have a zest for life that is rare and unrivaled in most populations.

Slightly Yielding. A wand with this flexibility will initially resist new owners, but if the owner is persistent, it will warm up eventually. It is particularly good for spells involving potion-making, animal-taming, and defensive magic, although, it may have a little bit of difficulty with nonverbal magic. Wand owners with slightly yielding wands are often very kind and compassionate, but they may have some reluctance in trusting others since they possess a strong sense of skepticism. It usually takes a lot of strong arguing before the owner of this wand will believe claims that don't make any sense to them.

Brittle. A wand with this flexibility tends to attach itself quickest to owners who have insecurities, and its level of loyalty is often dependent on how loyal the owner is to it. Should it become very loyal to its original owner, new owners often won't get the chance to earn the wand's loyalty before it breaks. Brittle wands are best suited to subtle and delicate magic, such as transfiguration and non-verbal spell-casting. Because they break easy, their owners should be careful to avoid magic that is unnecessarily flashy or explosive, especially if the wand also has a dragon heartstring core. Owners with this wand flexibility are usually contemplative, clever, and somewhat cynical; they tend to be an "underdog" type of person and perhaps even a little bit unlucky, which could lead them to becoming resentful of their more successful peers. If a brittle wand owner perseveres and manages to get over their insecurities, however, he or she will often become a "great success story" that never ceases to amaze and inspire others.

Hard. A wand of this flexibility is very difficult to work with and its loyalty is not won easily. Hard wands are great for complex and advanced levels of magic, so beginning wizards and witches may find extra difficulty with this wand when it doesn't perform well for simple magic. As such, this type of wand is best suited for wizards and witches who are gifted, stubborn, and never give up. Owners of this wand also have a tendency to view things in absolutes; black or white. Some people may find them intimidating or difficult to approach.

Solid. A wand of this flexibility will become extremely loyal to one owner and one owner only, usually people of great moral integrity. It is a wand that usually heavily specializes in only one area of magic of its owner's choosing. Owners of this wand are generally known for their reliability, their friendliness, and their character. They may find it difficult to understand views that differ from their own but are usually able to politely disagree.

Rigid. A wand of this flexibility will only give its complete loyalty to an owner who has faced great personal tragedy. It is particularly good for practical magic use, and thus usually doesn't perform well for magic that is frivolous or silly. Rigid wand owners are cautious and have difficulty trusting others, but they are not usually unkind people. Generally, they prefer to be left alone so that they can do what they want to do, regardless of what anyone else says.

Unyielding. A wand of this flexibility finely tunes itself to its original owner's preferences and doesn't stray from those preferences, even in the hands of a new owner; the new owner will just have to get used to it. It is particularly good for combative and healing magic. Unyielding wand owners tend to be very confident in themselves and/or in the things they believe in. They tend to be intelligent, somewhat cynical, and usually have well-defined principles that they will not stray from ever. Sometimes, this combination can lead to arrogance because of them insisting on how right they are without considering other points of view or whether or not they might be wrong.

Length

Most wands fall between the lengths of nine to fourteen inches, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any wands that are longer or shorter. A few wand makers tend to pair wizards and witches with wands based on the owner's height and the wand's length, but such a method might not always yield the best of results. Often, it is those who are lacking in personal character that gets much shorter wands while much longer wands attach themselves to those that have a physical peculiarity based on Ollivander's words.

Woods

The wood of the wand gives it a certain trait or characteristic, often made unique when paired up with a core. Wood types may have an influence on how flexible a wand itself is as well.

Acacia. A very unusual wand wood, which I have found creates tricky wands that often refuse to produce magic for any but their owner, and also withhold their best effects from all but those most gifted. This sensitivity renders them difficult to place, and I keep only a small stock for those witches or wizards of sufficient subtlety, for acacia is not suited to what is commonly known as 'bangs-and-smells' magic. When well-matched, an acacia wand matches any for power, though it is often underrated due to the peculiarity of its temperament.

Alder. Alder is an unyielding wood, yet I have discovered that its ideal owner is not stubborn or obstinate, but often helpful, considerate and most likeable. Whereas most wand woods seek similarity in the characters of those they will best serve, alder is unusual in that it seems to desire a nature that is, if not precisely opposite to its own, then certainly of a markedly different type. When an alder wand is happily placed, it becomes a magnificent, loyal helpmate. Of all wand types, alder is best suited to non-verbal spell work, whence comes its reputation for being suitable only for the most advanced witches and wizards.

Apple. Applewood wands are not made in great numbers. They are powerful and best suited to an owner of high aims and ideals, as this wood mixes poorly with Dark magic. It is said that the possessor of an apple wand will be well-loved and long-lived, and I have often noticed that customers of great personal charm find their perfect match in an applewood wand. An unusual ability to converse with other magical beings in their native tongues is often found among apple wand owners, who include the celebrated author of Merpeople: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Language and Customs, Dylan Marwood.

Ash. The ash wand cleaves to its one true master and ought not to be passed on or gifted from the original owner, because it will lose power and skill. This tendency is extreme if the core is of unicorn. Old superstitions regarding wands rarely bear close examination, but I find that the old rhyme regarding rowan, chestnut, ash and hazel wands (rowan gossips, chestnut drones, ash is stubborn, hazel moans) contains a small nugget of truth. Those witches and wizards best suited to ash wands are not, in my experience, lightly swayed from their beliefs or purposes. However, the brash or over-confident witch or wizard, who often insists on trying wands of this prestigious wood, will be disappointed by its effects. The ideal owner may be stubborn, and will certainly be courageous, but never crass or arrogant.

Aspen. Wand-quality aspen wood is white and fine-grained, and highly prized by all wand-makers for its stylish resemblance to ivory and its usually outstanding charmwork. The proper owner of the aspen wand is often an accomplished duellist, or destined to be so, for the aspen wand is one of those particularly suited to martial magic. An infamous and secretive eighteenth-century duelling club, which called itself The Silver Spears, was reputed to admit only those who owned aspen wands. In my experience, aspen wand owners are generally strong-minded and determined, more likely than most to be attracted by quests and new orders; this is a wand for revolutionaries.

Beech. 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.

Blackthorn. Blackthorn, which is a very unusual wand wood, has the reputation, in my view well-merited, of being best suited to a warrior. This does not necessarily mean that its owner practises the Dark Arts (although it is undeniable that those who do so will enjoy the blackthorn wand’s prodigious power); one finds blackthorn wands among the Aurors as well as among the denizens of Azkaban. It is a curious feature of the blackthorn bush, which sports wicked thorns, that it produces its sweetest berries after the hardest frosts, and the wands made from this wood appear to need to pass through danger or hardship with their owners to become truly bonded. Given this condition, the blackthorn wand will become as loyal and faithful a servant as one could wish.

Black Walnut. Less common than the standard walnut wand, that of black walnut seeks a master of good instincts and powerful insight. Black walnut is a very handsome wood, but not the easiest to master. It has one pronounced quirk, which is that it is abnormally attuned to inner conflict, and loses power dramatically if its possessor practises any form of self-deception. If the witch or wizard is unable or unwilling to be honest with themselves or others, the wand often fails to perform adequately and must be matched with a new owner if it is to regain its former prowess. Paired with a sincere, self-aware owner, however, it becomes one of the most loyal and impressive wands of all, with a particular flair in all kinds of charmwork.

Cedar. Whenever I meet one who carries a cedar wand, I find strength of character and unusual loyalty. My father, Gervaise Ollivander, used always to say, ‘you will never fool the cedar carrier,’ and I agree: the cedar wand finds its perfect home where there is perspicacity and perception. I would go further than my father, however, in saying that I have never yet met the owner of a cedar wand whom I would care to cross, especially if harm is done to those of whom they are fond. The witch or wizard who is well-matched with cedar carries the potential to be a frightening adversary, which often comes as a shock to those who have thoughtlessly challenged them.

Cherry. This very rare wand wood creates a wand of strange power, most highly prized by the wizarding students of the school of Mahoutokoro in Japan, where those who own cherry wands have special prestige. The Western wand-purchaser should dispel from their minds any notion that the pink blossom of the living tree makes for a frivolous or merely ornamental wand, for cherry wood often makes a wand that possesses truly lethal power, whatever the core, but if teamed with dragon heartstring, the wand ought never to be teamed with a wizard without exceptional self-control and strength of mind.

Chestnut. This is a most curious, multi-faceted wood, which varies greatly in its character depending on the wand core, and takes a great deal of colour from the personality that possesses it. The wand of chestnut is attracted to witches and wizards who are skilled tamers of magical beasts, those who possess great gifts in Herbology, and those who are natural fliers. However, when paired with dragon heartstring, it may find its best match among those who are overfond of luxury and material things, and less scrupulous than they should be about how they are obtained. Conversely, three successive heads of the Wizengamot have possessed chestnut and unicorn wands, for this combination shows a predilection for those concerned with all manner of justice.

Cypress. 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.

Dogwood. Dogwood is one of my own personal favourites, and I have found that matching a dogwood wand with its ideal owner is always entertaining. Dogwood wands are quirky and mischievous; they have playful natures and insist upon partners who can provide them with scope for excitement and fun. It would be quite wrong, however, to deduce from this that dogwood wands are not capable of serious magic when called upon to do so; they have been known to perform outstanding spells under difficult conditions, and when paired with a suitably clever and ingenious witch or wizard, can produce dazzling enchantments. An interesting foible of many dogwood wands is that they refuse to perform non-verbal spells and they are often rather noisy.

Ebony. This jet-black wand wood has an impressive appearance and reputation, being highly suited to all manner of combative magic, and to Transfiguration. Ebony is happiest in the hand of those with the courage to be themselves. Frequently non-conformist, highly individual or comfortable with the status of outsider, ebony wand owners have been found both among the ranks of the Order of the Phoenix and among the Death Eaters. In my experience the ebony wand’s perfect match is one who will hold fast to his or her beliefs, no matter what the external pressure, and will not be swayed lightly from their purpose.

Elder. The rarest wand wood of all, and reputed to be deeply unlucky, the elder wand is trickier to master than any other. It contains powerful magic, but scorns to remain with any owner who is not the superior of his or her company; it takes a remarkable wizard to keep the elder wand for any length of time. The old superstition, ‘wand of elder, never prosper,’ has its basis in this fear of the wand, but in fact, the superstition is baseless, and those foolish wandmakers who refuse to work with elder do so more because they doubt they will be able to sell their products than from fear of working with this wood. The truth is that only a highly unusual person will find their perfect match in elder, and on the rare occasion when such a pairing occurs, I take it as certain that the witch or wizard in question is marked out for a special destiny. An additional fact that I have unearthed during my long years of study is that the owners of elder wands almost always feel a powerful affinity with those chosen by rowan.

Elm. The unfounded belief that only pure-bloods can produce magic from elm wands was undoubtedly started by some elm wand owner seeking to prove his own blood credentials, for I have known perfect matches of elm wands who are Muggle-borns. The truth is that elm wands prefer owners with presence, magical dexterity and a certain native dignity. Of all wand woods, elm, in my experience, produces the fewest accidents, the least foolish errors, and the most elegant charms and spells; these are sophisticated wands, capable of highly advanced magic in the right hands (which, again, makes it highly desirable to those who espouse the pure-blood philosophy).

English Oak. A wand for good times and bad, this is a friend as loyal as the wizard who deserves it. Wands of English oak demand partners of strength, courage and fidelity. Less well-known is the propensity for owners of English oak wands to have powerful intuition, and, often, an affinity with the magic of the natural world, with the creatures and plants that are necessary to wizardkind for both magic and pleasure. The oak tree is called King of the Forest from the winter solstice up until the summer solstice, and its wood should only be collected during that time (holly becomes King as the days begin to shorten again, and so holly should only be gathered as the year wanes. This divide is believed to be the origin of the old superstition, “when his wand’s oak and hers is holly, then to marry would be folly,” a superstition that I have found baseless). It is said that Merlin’s wand was of English oak (though his grave has never been found, so this cannot be proven).

Fir. My august grandfather, Gerbold Octavius Ollivander, always called wands of this wood ‘the survivor’s wand,’ because he had sold it to three wizards who subsequently passed through mortal peril unscathed. There is no doubt that this wood, coming as it does from the most resilient of trees, produces wands that demand staying power and strength of purpose in their true owners, and that they are poor tools in the hands of the changeable and indecisive. Fir wands are particularly suited to Transfiguration, and favour owners of focused, strong-minded and, occasionally, intimidating demeanour.

Hawthorn. The wandmaker Gregorovitch wrote that hawthorn ‘makes a strange, contradictory wand, as full of paradoxes as the tree that gave it birth, whose leaves and blossoms heal, and yet whose cut branches smell of death.’ While I disagree with many of Gregorovitch’s conclusions, we concur about hawthorn wands, which are complex and intriguing in their natures, just like the owners who best suit them. Hawthorn wands may be particularly suited to healing magic, but they are also adept at curses, and I have generally observed that the hawthorn wand seems most at home with a conflicted nature, or with a witch or wizard passing through a period of turmoil. Hawthorn is not easy to master, however, and I would only ever consider placing a hawthorn wand in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent, or the consequences might be dangerous. Hawthorn wands have a notable peculiarity: their spells can, when badly handled, backfire.

Hazel. A sensitive wand, hazel often reflects its owner’s emotional state, and works best for a master who understands and can manage their own feelings. Others should be very careful handling a hazel wand if its owner has recently lost their temper, or suffered a serious disappointment, because the wand will absorb such energy and discharge it unpredictably. The positive aspect of a hazel wand more than makes up for such minor discomforts, however, for it is capable of outstanding magic in the hands of the skillful, and is so devoted to its owner that it often ‘wilts’ (which is to say, it expels all its magic and refuses to perform, often necessitating the extraction of the core and its insertion into another casing, if the wand is still required) at the end of its master’s life (if the core is unicorn hair, however, there is no hope; the wand will almost certainly have ‘died’). Hazel wands also have the unique ability to detect water underground, and will emit silvery, tear-shaped puffs of smoke if passing over concealed springs and wells.

Holly. Holly is one of the rarer kinds of wand woods; traditionally considered protective, it works most happily for those who may need help overcoming a tendency to anger and impetuosity. At the same time, holly wands often choose owners who are engaged in some dangerous and often spiritual quest. Holly is one of those woods that varies most dramatically in performance depending on the wand core, and it is a notoriously difficult wood to team with phoenix feather, as the wood's volatility conflicts strangely with the phoenix's detachment. In the unusual event of such a pairing finding its ideal match, however, nothing and nobody should stand in their way.

Hornbeam. My own wand is made of hornbeam, and so it is with all due modesty that I state that hornbeam selects for its life mate the talented witch or wizard with a single, pure passion, which some might call obsession (though I prefer the term ‘vision’), which will almost always be realised. Hornbeam wands adapt more quickly than almost any other to their owner’s style of magic, and will become so personalised, so quickly, that other people will find them extremely difficult to use even for the most simple of spells. Hornbeam wands likewise absorb their owner’s code of honour, whatever that might be, and will refuse to perform acts - whether for good or ill - that do not tally with their master’s principles. A particularly fine-tuned and sentient wand.

Larch. Strong, durable and warm in colour, larch has long been valued as an attractive and powerful wand wood. Its reputation for instilling courage and confidence in the user has ensured that demand has always outstripped supply. This much sought-after wand is, however, hard to please in the matter of ideal owners, and trickier to handle than many imagine. I find that it always creates wands of hidden talents and unexpected effects, which likewise describes the master who deserves it. It is often the case that the witch or wizard who belongs to the larch wand may never realise the full extent of their considerable talents until paired with it, but that they will then make an exceptional match.

Laurel. It is said that a laurel wand cannot perform a dishonourable act, although in the quest for glory (a not uncommon goal for those best suited to these wands), I have known laurel wands perform powerful and sometimes lethal magic. Laurel wands are sometimes called fickle, but this is unfair. The laurel wand seems unable to tolerate laziness in a possessor, and it is in such conditions that it is most easily and willingly won away. Otherwise, it will cleave happily to its first match forever, and indeed has the unusual and engaging attribute of issuing a spontaneous lightning strike if another witch or wizard attempts to steal it.

Maple. I have often found that those chosen by maple wands are by nature travellers and explorers; they are not stay-at-home wands, and prefer ambition in their witch or wizard, otherwise their magic grows heavy and lacklustre. Fresh challenges and regular changes of scene cause this wand to literally shine, burnishing itself as it grows, with its partner, in ability and status. This is a beautiful and desirable wood, and wand quality maple has been among the most costly for centuries. Possession of a maple wand has long been a mark of status, because of its reputation as the wand of high achievers.

Pear. This golden-toned wood produces wands of splendid magical powers, which give of their best in the hands of the warm-hearted, the generous and the wise. Possessors of pear wands are, in my experience, usually popular and well-respected. I do not know of a single instance where a pear wand has been discovered in the possession of a Dark witch or wizard. Pear wands are among the most resilient, and I have often observed that they may still present a remarkable appearance of newness, even after many years of hard use.

Pine. The straight-grained pine wand always chooses an independent, individual master who may be perceived as a loner, intriguing and perhaps mysterious. Pine wands enjoy being used creatively, and unlike some others, will adapt unprotestingly to new methods and spells. Many wandmakers insist that pine wands are able to detect, and perform best for, owners who are destined for long lives, and I can confirm this in as much as I have never personally known the master of a pine wand to die young. The pine wand is one of those that is most sensitive to non-verbal magic.

Poplar. “If you seek integrity, search first among the poplars,” was a great maxim of my grandfather, Gerbold Ollivander, and my own experience of poplar wands and their owners tallies exactly with his. Here is a wand to rely upon, of consistency, strength and uniform power, always happiest when working with a witch or wizard of clear moral vision. There is a tired old joke among lesser wandmakers that no poplar wand has ever chosen a politician, but here they show their lamentable ignorance: two of the Ministry’s most accomplished Ministers for Magic, Eldritch Diggory and Evangeline Orpington, were the possessors of fine, Ollivander-made poplar wands.

Red Oak. You will often hear the ignorant say that red oak is an infallible sign of its owner’s hot temper. In fact, the true match for a red oak wand is possessed of unusually fast reactions, making it a perfect duelling wand. Less common than English oak, I have found that its ideal master is light of touch, quick-witted and adaptable, often the creator of distinctive, trademark spells, and a good man or woman to have beside one in a fight. Red oak wands are, in my opinion, among the most handsome.

Redwood. Wand-quality redwood is in short supply, yet constant demand, due to its reputation for bringing good fortune to its owner. As is usually the case with wandlore, the general populace have the truth back to front: redwood wands are not themselves lucky, but are strongly attracted to witches and wizards who already possess the admirable ability to fall on their feet, to make the right choice, to snatch advantage from catastrophe. The combination of such a witch or wizard with a redwood wand is always intriguing, and I generally expect to hear of exciting exploits when I send this special pairing out from my workshop.

Rowan. Rowan wood has always been much-favoured for wands, because it is reputed to be more protective than any other, and in my experience renders all manner of defensive charms especially strong and difficult to break. It is commonly stated that no dark witch or wizard ever owned a rowan wand, and I cannot recall a single instance where one of my own rowan wands has gone on to do evil in the world. Rowan is most happily placed with the clear-headed and the pure-hearted, but this reputation for virtue ought not to fool anyone - these wands are the equal of any, often the better, and frequently out-perform others in duels.

Silver Lime. This unusual and highly attractive wand wood was greatly in vogue in the nineteenth century. Demand outstripped supply, and unscrupulous wandmakers dyed substandard woods in an effort to fool purchasers into believing that they had purchased silver lime. The reasons for these wands’ desirability lay not only in their unusually handsome appearance, but also because they had a reputation for performing best for Seers and those skilled in Legilimency, mysterious arts both, which consequently gave the possessor of a silver lime wand considerable status. When demand was at its height, wandmaker Arturo Cephalopos claimed that the association between silver lime and clairvoyance was ‘a falsehood circulated by merchants like Gerbold Ollivander (my own grandfather), who have overstocked their workshops with silver lime and hope to shift their surplus’. But Cephalopos was a slipshod wandmaker and an ignoramus, and nobody, Seer or not, was surprised when he went out of business.

Spruce. Unskilled wandmakers call spruce a difficult wood, but in doing so they reveal their own ineptitude. It is quite true that it requires particular deftness to work with spruce, which produces wands that are ill-matched with cautious or nervous natures, and become positively dangerous in fumbling fingers. The spruce wand requires a firm hand, because it often appears to have its own ideas about what magic it ought to be called upon to produce. However, when a spruce wand meets its match - which, in my experience, is a bold spell-caster with a good sense of humour - it becomes a superb helper, intensely loyal to their owners and capable of producing particularly flamboyant and dramatic effects.

Sycamore. The sycamore makes a questing wand, eager for new experience and losing brilliance if engaged in mundane activities. It is a quirk of these handsome wands that they may combust if allowed to become ‘bored,’ and many witches and wizards, settling down into middle age, are disconcerted to find their trusty wand bursting into flame in their hand as they ask it, one more time, to fetch their slippers. As may be deduced, the sycamore’s ideal owner is curious, vital and adventurous, and when paired with such an owner, it demonstrates a capacity to learn and adapt that earns it a rightful place among the world's most highly-prized wand woods.

Vine. The druids considered anything with a woody stem as a tree, and vine makes wands of such a special nature that I have been happy to continue their ancient tradition. Vine wands are among the less common types, and I have been intrigued to notice that their owners are nearly always those witches or wizards who seek a greater purpose, who have a vision beyond the ordinary and who frequently astound those who think they know them best. Vine wands seem strongly attracted by personalities with hidden depths, and I have found them more sensitive than any other when it comes to instantly detecting a prospective match. Reliable sources claim that these wands can emit magical effects upon the mere entrance into their room of a suitable owner, and I have twice observed the phenomenon in my own shop.

Walnut. Highly intelligent witches and wizards ought to be offered a walnut wand for trial first, because in nine cases out of ten, the two will find in each other their ideal mate. Walnut wands are often found in the hands of magical innovators and inventors; this is a handsome wood possessed of unusual versatility and adaptability. A note of caution, however: while some woods are difficult to dominate, and may resist the performance of spells that are foreign to their natures, the walnut wand will, once subjugated, perform any task its owner desires, provided that the user is of sufficient brilliance. This makes for a truly lethal weapon in the hands of a witch or wizard of no conscience, for the wand and the wizard may feed from each other in a particularly unhealthy manner.

Willow. Willow is an uncommon wand wood with healing power, and I have noted that the ideal owner for a willow wand often has some (usually unwarranted) insecurity, however well they may try and hide it. While many confident customers insist on trying a willow wand (attracted by their handsome appearance and well-founded reputation for enabling advanced, non-verbal magic) my willow wands have consistently selected those of greatest potential, rather than those who feel they have little to learn. It has always been a proverb in my family that he who has furthest to travel will go fastest with willow.

Yew. Yew wands are among the rarer kinds, and their ideal matches are likewise unusual, and occasionally notorious. The wand of yew is reputed to endow its possessor with the power of life and death, which might, of course, be said of all wands; and yet yew retains a particularly dark and fearsome reputation in the spheres of duelling and all curses. However, it is untrue to say (as those unlearned in wandlore often do) that those who use yew wands are more likely to be attracted to the Dark Arts than another. The witch or wizard best suited to a yew wand might equally prove a fierce protector of others. Wands hewn from these most long-lived trees have been found in the possession of heroes quite as often as of villains. Where wizards have been buried with wands of yew, the wand generally sprouts into a tree guarding the dead owner’s grave. What is certain, in my experience, is that the yew wand never chooses either a mediocre or a timid owner.

Cores

Cores that makes each wand a unique tool than just another branch, influence a witch or wizard's ability in magic and carry their own quirks as well. So far, there are three main cores that the majority of the wizarding population wold have.

Unicorn Hair. Symbolizes Innocence and Purity. Those who are full of spirit, sweet, gentle, cheerful, value family and friendship, are dependable, laid back, humble, independent, caring, loyal and/or duel-natured (being of both good and bad) would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are optimistic and free spirited but also loving and kind-hearted, with strong family values. Unicorn Hair cores are an incredibly love-centric wand core and often instill encouragement and confidence into their owners. This is the best core to have for Healing Magic, Healing spells and Elemental Magic, particularly Water spells and Earth spells. Unicorn Hair cores generally produce the most consistent magic, and are least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn hair cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts (with the exception of those with Unicorn Heartstring) and are the most faithful of all wands. They 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 cores are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although depending on the wand type, the wand wood can and may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may 'die’ and thus will need replacing. In a combination core, it is not recommended that a unicorn hair core be paired up with a Dark core as the Dark core will likely 'kill’ the other. Unicorn Heartstring cores however will pair nicely with another Dark core. However it should be noted that not all Dark cores can pair nicely with Unicorn Heartstring, despite both being Dark. Unicorn Hair cores are a more subtle wand core, but are quite compatible with Charms and Transfiguration. This wand core is also hands-down the best core for Healing, as they pick up some of the healing capabilities of Unicorn Blood, which is found in Potion Making. Uncommon, but not unheard of, Unicorn Hair cores can and will pick an owner that is less gentle and cerebral, depending on the wand type they are bonded to.

Dragon Heartstring. Symbolizes Power and Wisdom. Those who are strong, wise, compassionate, dedicated, relentless, resilient, bold, strong-minded, head-strong, powerful, ambitious, highly determined and driven (to obsessive), have strong desire and/or stubborn would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you can be bossy at times, but also have a fiery disposition and have firm convictions, which will lead you down the road to leadership, as well as being devoted and selfless. This is the best core to have for Hexes, The Dark Arts and all manner of Elemental Magic. As a rule, Dragon Heartstring cores produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. wands with Dragon Heartstring cores tend to learn more quickly than other types. In Elemental Magic, Dragon Heartstring cores are the most flexible of all the common cores, being that they work well with all manner of Elemental spells, but no doubt that Fire spells are among the most potent with this core type. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. Such wands also tend to be easiest to turn to The Dark Arts, though they will not incline that way of their own accord. Such wands are also the most prone to the ‘three cores to accidents’, being somewhat temperamental. Dragon Heartstring cores are a powerful wand core with a lot of magical “heft”. They are not the wand core you want for subtlety, but for sheer power, they are definitely the best. Although they are the most common core among Dark Wizards and Dark Witches, they are most certainly not their most common users.

Phoenix Feather. Symbolizes Resurrection and Renewal. Those who are very kind, brave, courageous, noble, wise, willing, self-sacrificing, bright, strong-willed, out-going, friendly and/or loyal would have this wand core. Like Dragon Heartstring cores, such cores bond well with those wizards and witches that are exceptionally powerful. Having such a wand core suggests that your loyalty and courageous nature is much admired amongst your friends. This is the best core to have for Evil Repealing spells and DADA (Defense Against The Dark Arts). It is also among the best for Elemental Magic involving Fire spells, Air spells and Metal spells. This is the rarest of all the labeled 'common core types’. Phoenix Tail Feather cores are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either Unicorn Hair cores or Dragon Heartstring cores to reveal this. Phoenix Tail Feather cores show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike. In Elemental Magic, Phoenix Tail Feather cores associate best and most powerfully with Fire spells, Air spells and Metal spells, though depending on the wand type it is paired to, it can work (though not as effectively) with other types of Elemental spells. Wands with Phoenix Tail Feather cores 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. Wands with Phoenix Tail Feather cores are also the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiances are usually hard won. Despite their rarity, Phoenix Tail Feather cores are a popular wand core due to its versatility and power. Their main strength lies in Defense Against the Dark Arts, although their adaptability can wrench them to Hexes and Jinxes if need be. As with the Dragon Heartstring core, Phoenix Tail Feather cores are common amongst Light Wizards and Light Witches, but their users are not necessarily always Light Wizards and Light Witches.


However, there are rarer and more exotic cores that are used within the wizarding world. However, do keep in mind that the core of a wand is extremely important and must be picked wisely and selectively. Fancy or rare does not always mean better.

Acromantula Web. Those who are determined, stubborn, cold (cool-natured), fearless, and with a mischievous and/or dark disposition would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you have firm convictions and have a deeply rooted vindictive nature, but this does not at all mean that you are not capable of caring or loving someone or something in your own way. However, your vindictive nature can often lead you into vengelust (a lust for revenge) when something wrong or unjust is done to you. This makes you less likely to forge strong bonds and/or forgive someone easily. This is one of the best cores to use in the darkest of Dark Magic, particularly with The Unforgivable Curses. It is a wand core predominantly found among those of House Slytherin. If one is thinking about having a wand made with an Acromantula Web core, their probably a fan of having their wand confiscated by the authorities. Using a wand with this wand core has been illegal in Britain since 1782, after they were discovered that the wielder of a wand with this wand core has particular ability with Dark Magics, especially the Imperius Curse. There are certain diplomatic exceptions, as it is a traditional wand core for Asian wands, but even those are temporary, and many wizard diplomats on long-term assignments find themselves compelled to procure replacement wands during their stay. This was once a common wand core among Dark Healers.

Ashwidner Ash. Those who are calm, assertive, powerful and duel natured (being of both good and bad) would have this core. Having such a core suggests that you are capable of great good but also of great evil and have strong leadership abilities. However, one with such a wand core tends to lean more towards Dark Magic and dark influences. Sometimes however, your assertive nature can make you controlling and over-bearing sometimes, which can often lead to mistrust and a loss of love or friendship. This is one of the best cores to use in Dark Magic, particularly Jinxes. They also work particularly well in the wand of an owner that is skilled in Potions. Ashwinder Ash cores are often found in the wands of those skilled in the Potion-making arts, and lend strength to the trade. They are not, however, well suited for more subtle forms of magic. Ashwinder Eggs are a common Potion ingredient when used in Love Potions.

Auguerey Feather. Those who are often misunderstood, wise, ready-minded, free spirited, reclusive, pure of heart and courageous would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that your motives and intentions are often a mystery or are often misunderstood or wrongfully misrepresented as being someone of an untrusting or evil nature. Despite your reclusive nature, you are ready, willing and able to learn things, be it on your own or with the help of some loyal and trustworthy companion. Loyalty is often a rather strong trait found among this type of wand core, just as is the case of a regular Phoenix Tail Feather cores. This is one of the best cores to use in Divination and Spells of Prophecy. Augureys, or Irish Phoenixes, were once associated with the Dark powers and the wands of Dark Wizards and Dark Witches, as their cries were thought to signify an upcoming death. However, they were in reality never a strong Dark core, and were more accurately a powerful wand core for Divination. Misunderstood students may find themselves bonded to an Augurey Tail Feather, although these wand cores are altogether quite rare. In the case of certain wand combinations, this wand core will allow the wand type it is paired with to wield Fire spells sometimes or on occasion.

Basilisk Skin. Those who are strong-willed, driven, relentless, resilient, powerful, stubborn, steadfast and unyielding would have this wand core. Those who are potent Parselmouths tend to have this wand core. Some of the strongest Dark Wizards and Dark Witches also have a wand with this core. Having such a wand core suggests that you often find yourself up against seemingly impossible odds and are able to overcome them, as well as being very unwilling to back down without a fight. Such wand cores are extremely rare, as the creature from which it comes from tends to be hard to kill, as it is likely that you yourself would be hard to kill. It is for this reason that such cores tend to be found in heirloom wands, which are passed down from generation to generation. This wand core tends to be among the best when it comes to sheer blunt force magic. This is also one of the best cores to use in Dark Metal-Charming, The Dark Arts and Elemental Magic, particularly spells involving Metal or Fire. It is a wand core predominantly found among those of House Slytherin. Wands with Basilisk Skin cores are incredibly rare, as the beasts are rare to begin with and are hard to kill. Due to the rarity, they often are passed down from generation to generation, so Basilisk-core wands are either the heirloom of Slytherin-type Pureblood families or reforged wands from family cores. The occasional new Basilisk wand will almost always bond to a Dark Metal-Charmer, a Parselmouth or budding Dark Wizard. Very little good comes out of wielders of wand with Basilisk Skin cores. This is a popular wand core among Dark Metal-Charmers.

Billywig Stinger. Those who are mischievous, capricious, fun-loving, friendly and out-going would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are a light-hearted prankster who delights in showing off your magical skills to your friends and family. Though sometimes you crave attention and your occasional careless facetiousness can get you into a lot of trouble, you are generally harmless, cheerful and innocent by nature. This is one of the best cores to use in Transfiguration and Apparition. Billywig Stinger cores are not overly common in Britain, but are fairly often imported from Australia, the native habitat of the Billywig. Billywig cores bond almost exclusively to light-hearted pranksters, and are extremely capricious. At one moment it will produce the strongest Cheering Charm in the school, but another time it will object to being used as a potion stirrer and siphon up hours of work without so much as a by-your-leave. Their pranking nature lends itself to the user’s Jinxes. Billwig Stingers are also a known potion ingredient, used in various potions and drafts.

Boomslang Venom. Those who are witty, facetious, cunning, relentless, resilient, observant, spirited, flexible and conniving would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are a smooth talker and have a tendency to go with the flow, as well as having a tendency to cause trouble for equally troublesome people (may it be harmless or otherwise) and not be easily trusted, due to your cunning and conniving nature. But being cunning and conniving has its advantages, as it also makes you very persuasive and convincing, quite able to pull people to your side in order to prevent bad and unjust things from happening to innocent people. This is one of the best cores to use in Transfiguration and will often give one a small boost when it comes to Jinxes and Hexes. Boomslang Venom, whether crystallized or in a rarer liquid core, provides a small boost to Jinxes and Hexes thanks to its Venomous qualities. However, when a wandmaker undertakes the dangerous task of working with the raw Venom, it is generally with the aim of creating a powerful Transfiguration wand. Whether or not the advantages outweigh the risks is not generally agreed upon in wand-making circles.

Chimera Scale. Those who are stubborn, cautious, lust for revenge (when wronged), compassionate, headstrong, loyal, driven, cold (cool-natured), fiery and selfish would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are more likely to care about yourself and your own needs before anybody else, though this doesn’t at all mean that you are not capable of caring for or loving another. People often have a hard time gaining your trust, but once they do, you make for a powerful and loyal friend. This wand core is almost never on its own in a modern wand due to its rarity and volatile nature, and thus is often accompanied with another wand core, usually Dragon Heartstring or with some other exotic wand core that works well with it (as not all wand cores work well with Chimaera Scale core). Just like a core of Basilisk Skin, such cores are often found in heirloom wands – again, usually in the company of another wand core. This is one of the most powerful wand cores known and is one of the best cores to use in The Dark Arts and in The Logical Arts Of Magic. Although Chiamera Scale cores are magically powerful, they are extremely rare in modern wandcraft. This is not out of any concern for safety, as they are generally considered no more stubborn than Hippogriff Feathers, and are more stable than Erumpent Hide. The fact of the matter is that there are more recorded Basilisk slayings in the past fifty years than there are Chimera slayings in all of recorded history. This one slaying occurred in Greece over two millennia ago, so what Scales were harvested at that time have been degraded, broken, and dispersed. Today, they are normally only found on their own as the cores of very old heirloom wands. In this day and age however, such wand cores are known to be bonded with a more common core (often Dragon Heartstring) in a combination core, with a tiny fragment of scale embedded within the Dragon Heartstring core. Wands with this as a wand core are most common in Greece and the Balkans, although as they were circulated through the Mediterranean and former Roman Empire they are found throughout Europe. These wand cores are prized for their raw power, although they are difficult to control.

Demiguise Hair. Those who are shy, level-headed, down to earth, humble, quiet, dependable, good-natured and detached would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you steer away from the limelight, often being reclusive and hidden away from the eyes of other fellow wizards and witches. Though your quiet and reclusive nature may suggest that you are weak-willed and fearful, in truth, you are quite capable of defending yourself relentlessly and ruthlessly when need be. Due to the fact that such a wand core is often difficult and somewhat weak when on its own, it is often paired up with another stronger wand core, usually Unicorn Hair, which together, makes for a very powerful wand indeed. This wand core works best with those skilled in Transfiguration. Demiguise Hair cores were long considered to not have enough oomph to make a proper wand, but with the advent of multiple cores they have gained favor for their strength in Transfiguration and the subtle arts. When combined with a stronger wand core they make potent wand cores, however, on their own they can be rather one-dimensional and difficult to use for anything but Transfiguration.

Doxy Wing. Those who are stubborn, uncontrollable, arrogant, mischievous, mean-spirited, loyal and easily bored would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you don’t at all like being pinned down and made to do you something that you don’t want to do. You are often quick to action as well as words before thinking first, which can often lead you down a road to self-destruction. You don’t often make many friends, but within your small inner circle, you make for a ruthlessly loyal friend. This is considered, by many, to be one of the most powerful Dark exotic wand cores known, seconded only by Basilisk Skin cores. This is one of the best cores to use in The Dark Arts, Curses and particularly in Jinxes. Doxy Wing cores are also known for being one of the most flexible wand cores known when used in multiple wand cores, often working well with even certain elementally opposing wand cores, due to sharing similarities and similar favored traits with them. This is a trait that is not shared by Basilisk Skin cores. It is a wand core predominantly found among those of House Slytherin. Doxy Wing cores, like the creatures they come from, can be unmanageable and mean-spirited. They are second only to Basilisk wands in their abilities with The Dark Arts, and as such these rare wand cores are most often found in the hands of stubborn Slytherins without the familial connection to obtain a Basilisk core.

Dragon Tears. Though often used as a potion ingredient, it is occasionally used as an exotic wand core, though very few wand makers use it. Dragon Tears are usually used as wand cores only when Dragon Heartstrings or Dragon Scales are not available, essentially a wand core of desperation when a wand core is needed quickly. See Dragon Heartstring for details.

Erumpent Hide. Those who are unpredictable, nervous, short-tempered, cautious, charismatic, sly, dependent, fearful and caring would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you have a hard time making friends due to your lack of trust in others and have a hard time in social and/or public gatherings, often stuttering or at a loss for words when trying to speak in front of a crowd. However, your sly and charismatic nature often makes up for your vices and faults. Such a wand core doesn’t take well to high levels of magic or sharp impacts, thus, using a wand with such a core in wand dueling is out of the question, and often dangerous. This wand core is often seen as a poor excuse for a Dark core in the eyes of most Dark wizards and Dark witches, due to their nervous and dependent nature. When used for high impact magic and high levels of magic, such wand cores are usually paired up with another, stronger wand core, usually Unicorn Heartstring (since it could never work well with Unicorn Hair) or with another Dark exotic type wand core, usually giving the weaker wand core an extra boost, due to its dangerous and volatile nature. This wand core works best with those skilled in The Dark Arts and The Logical Arts Of Magic. It is a wand core that can be found among anyone of any House.

Fairy Wing. Those who are light-hearted, free-spirited, caring, kind, out-going, social, happy and cheerful would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you respond well in social and public gatherings, as well as sharing a kinship with animals and nature in general. You often light up a room with your kind and caring nature, which makes you a central focus at any party or social hub. You often loath unjust violence and injustice for the same reasons that anyone else does, but are still quite capable of using force to teach someone a lesson or to get your point across when need be. This is the best core to use in Charms and Elemental Magic involving Air spells, and sometimes Divination. This wand core makes for a light and airy core, and is the absolute best for Charms. They also signify a connection to the mystic, so these wand cores, despite their relative rarity, are used by nearly half of known witches and wizards with the Sight. Despite their astounding strength in Charms, they are merely average in Defense Against The Dark Arts (DADA) and Transfiguration, and will often fail at Hexes altogether.

Fire Acromantula Web. As this is a rare species of Acromantula, it shares some traits with the more common Acromantula Web. However, like Dragon Tears, Fyremantula Web is usually used as a wand core only when the common Acromantula Web is not available, and like Dragons Tears, is essentially a wand core of desperation when a wand core is needed quickly. Unlike Dragon Tears however, Fyremantula Web, when available, was once used in the making of seemingly mythological Aurianas scarfs rather than as a wand core. Aurianas scarfs were said to have been enchanted silk scarfs, between 7 and 11 feet long, often endowed and full of ancient, mysterious magic, likely Aeyuel in nature, since they were said to have been once used and worn among the early Death Eaters in order to focus their powers and enhance their powers, making any spell, incantation, etc. a hundred times more powerful. It is thus for this reason that such a core would likely be found among Slytherin students and House Slytherin overall. This core is likely to work best with those skilled in Curses, Jinxes, The Dark Arts, Elemental Fire Spells and Metal Spells and Metal-Charming, as Fyremantulas often live in fire and in the mouth of volcanoes. From what is known about Aurianas scarfs in the ancient wizard legends, they were only known to come in 7 colors, solid black, very dark gray, very dark brown, dark emerald green, dark violet-indigo/purple, very dark blue and in very dark blood red. However, they often are endowed with shimmering single color iridescence and usually had an elegant and elaborate pattern of some sort running down the center of them, usually of an iridescent blue, iridescent violet-indigo or iridescent blood red color. They were also said to glow in the dark when the powers within them were activated, acting like a light to guide its wearer through the dark. In the hands of an already powerful wizard or witch, wearing an Aurianas scarf can make them virtually unstoppable, but can be worn by a wizard or witch having trouble focusing their energies/powers or are unable to use a spell, etc. to its full potential. However, the last true Aurianas scarfs ever to be in existence were said to have been destroyed around 700 years ago. But since things made out of Fyremantula Web are not only fire proof, but also virtually indestructible, it is likely that they were lost rather than destroyed. However, due to the extremes needed to go through in order to harvest Fyremantula Web, very few Aurianas scarfs were ever made, thus makes such scarfs extremely rare and hard to find. The first of these such scarfs were said to have been worn and owned by the first Auror, Auradinthia, during the First War of Wyvern’s One.

Fwooper Feather. Those who are troublesome, relentless, resilient, short-tempered, shy, witty, sly, forgiving, caring, steadfast and driven would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you often attract bad luck and bad karma and are sometimes with a lack of stability, but despite this, you are able to fight it and weather against it admirably. When anything wrong or unjust happens to you, you are found to be more forgiving then others often would be and for good reason. You are driven and relentless, determined to meet your goals in life and in love, despite your shy nature. However, with having a knack for trouble and with a short-temper, it often costs you dearly, mainly emotionally. Having such a wand core has long since been given the poor reputation of being an ill omen and is rumored to slowly drive their owner mad, though sometimes in a wand alone, it is a wand core that is commonly paired up with another feather wand core, such as Phoenix Tail Feather (for health) or Hippogriff Feather (for stability). This is one of the best cores to use in Charms and Care Of Magical Creatures (particularly with the smaller magical creatures). Fwooper Feather cores are said to be a mark of ill omen for the wizards they bond to, as, like the birds they come from, they are rumored to slowly drive their wielder mad. Despite their poor reputation, they do well with Charms and Care of Magical Creatures. However, they have a near inability to cast the Quietus spell. They are commonly combined with another Feather core, such as the Phoenix for health or the Hippogriff for stability.

Griffin Feather. Those who are true, skillful, stubborn, protective, strong-willed, logical, observant, perceptive and witty would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you have a strong will as well as a strong heart. You are clever and witty, as well as observant, able to observe and perceive things that others would otherwise overlook or would not comprehend or see the connection to. Having such a strong will makes this wand core one of the best to use in high impact and blunt force magic, such as Dueling Magic. But this wand core also works well with those who are skilled in DADA, Elemental Magic (particularly Air Spells and Fire Spells), Occlumency, Legilimency and magic that involves allot of strategy, mind over matter, thinking and planning. The owners of such wand cores tend to be skillful in all magic, including The Dark Arts. However, due to the stubborn, volatile nature of this wand core, few wizards and witches are able to control it by itself, which is why it is normally paired up with a softer, gentler wand core such as Unicorn Hair, which often tames the more volatile core. But for the few that can control this core by itself, it makes for a very powerful core indeed. But it should be noted that Griffin Feather cores by themselves do not work well with all types of wands, which is why only certain wand types will have Griffin Feather cores.

Hippogriff Feather. Those who are noble, respectful, protective, short-tempered, stable, fiery, adaptable, versatile, graceful and courageous will have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you can adapt to any situation, no matter how impossible they might be. Like the creature from which the core comes from, you demand constant respect or those who have disrespected you will face your fiery and short-tempered disposition. You make for a protective and loyal friend to those who respect you. You are easily angered by those around you when they have disrespected you, which makes playing tricks on you (friendly or otherwise) simply out of the question. This core works best in Transfiguration, Care Of Magical Creatures, Apparition, Divination and Dueling Magic, as well as in Healing spells and Hexes. Hippogriffs are noble animals with a reputation for not taking a slight. These wand cores require constant respect and if the wielder does not give it, they can watch its formerly stable and versatile magic backfire on them. It is not the strongest wand core, but it is one of the most adaptable. These once rare wand cores are now more common then other exotic wand cores, unlike in the case of Hippogriff Talons, which are less common.

Hippogriff Talon. Those who are stubborn, fiery, friendly, generous, proud, arrogant, dependable, loyal and serious will have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are a proud, 'no games’ sort of person, someone who is almost always focused and serious when it comes to your work and public life. However, your seriousness tends to fall away when it comes to your family and private life. Your strong stubborn and arrogant streak makes you hard to pin down and hard to kill. You are proud of your appearance as well as proud of who you are. But you don’t like to follow the rules much unless they are your own rules. People and friends who work and live around you must give you constant respect and frequently prove their loyalty and trust to you. However such a thing is often dismissed and overlooked when it comes to your family and closest friends. Like in the case of a Hippogriff Feather core, you are a protective and loyal friend to those that respect you. Like in the case of a Hippogriff Feather core, this core works best in Transfiguration, Apparition, Divination and Dueling Magic, as well as in Healing spells and Hexes.

Hydra/Wyvern Skin. Those who are stubborn, proud, arrogant, short-tempered, strong-willed, fiery, mischievous, quick-witted, conniving and cunning will have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you have a stubborn, volatile energy, unable to yield or to be controlled by most. However, once you have been put in your place (usually through a physical approach), you make for a powerful and loyal friend. In some cases, this core makes for a powerful and superior core to use in wand dueling when compared to other exotic type cores, due to its fiery and stubborn nature. You will defend your friends and family to the bitter end, even to the point where you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the greater good. This core works particularly well in The Dark Arts, but also works well in Potions, Transfiguration, Jinxes, Curses and Dueling Magic.

Kelpie Hair. Those who are independent, proud, cynical, stubborn, wise, true and loyal will have this wand core. Native to Scotland, Kelpie hairs are incredibly temperamental cores, explaining their rarity. Having such a wand core suggests that you have a stubborn, volatile energy, unable to yield or to be controlled by most. Your naturally cynical and not easily convinced when you are proven wrong. However, Kelpie hair cores can often carry an entirely different set of favored traits depending on the wand type it is paired to. Kelpie Hair cores are also known for favoring the level-headed, down to earth, humble, quiet, dependable, good-natured and detached. When a Phoenix Tail Feather core is placed in a wand type that largely wields the water element, this wand core is often matched with the Phoenix Tail Feather core in a combination core, as this wand core imposes balance and peaceful co-existence between the two elements, much like Peacock Feather cores impose balance between all the elements (SEE Peacock Feather for details). Usually, when a water-based wand type is paired with a fire-based wand core, a Kelpie Hair core is almost always paired up with the fire-based core. However, like most exotic wand cores, Kelpie Hair cores can be used in a wand by itself, paired almost always to a wand type that is in tuned with the water element. Kelpie Hair cores were once common in Celtic wand making, however, the import of Demiguise hairs has resulted in them falling out of favor. They have similar qualities to Demiguise Hair, and are powerful Transfiguration cores when they don’t backfire spectacularly. These wands cores are most powerful in Transfiguration.

Peacock Tail Feather. Unicorn Hair and Phoenix Tail Feather for further details. Those who are courageous, noble, spirited, wise, humble, independent and loyal will have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that one will be independent and detached from the world, but will also come to the add of those in peril or danger, fighting with bravery, skill and courage. You are soft-spoken and humble by nature, and yet with a fiery and spirited disposition that often helps you in battle or in the face of danger. Your level of loyalty to friends, family and those you are loyal to is rarely matched by others, and you are often stepping and running into the fray courageously when in battle. You are noble in graces and thought, but also wise enough to be humble and generous in that nature. You also care more about your actions and motives rather then your beauty, though your beauty still has some importance. This wand core is by far the most flexible of all the exotic wand cores, as it makes use of a largely unseen ability among most wand cores, the ability to impose balance and peacefully co-existence between all the natural elements, even between those elements that oppose one another. This wand core even imposes balance and peaceful co-existence between the magical energies shared between the living world and the spirit world. When a wand is paired to an opposing wand core, a Peacock Feather core will always be paired with the opposing core to ensure balance and peaceful co-existence between the wand and the core. A useful ability when a Dark wand is paired with a largely Light wand core or visa versa. Peacock Feather cores can also be worn in a braid during transitional times, transitioning from one form of magic to another. For example, if a wizard or witch is transitioning from Dark Magic to Light Magic, wearing Peacock Feather cores will help them or rather ease them during the transition. Such a wand core works best in Metal-Charming (depending on the wand its in), DADA, Evil Repelling spells, Charms, Elemental Magic (All Element spells, particularly Fire spells and Water spells), Healing Magic, Healing spells and Dueling.

Pixie Heart. Those who are fun-loving, lively, cheerful, good-humored, conniving and mischievous will have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you delight in making trouble, but in a friendly, usually non-violent way. You enjoy winding people up and agitating those who get on your nerves, often getting a laugh at other people’s expense. Despite this, you are a friendly and caring person who is willing to do almost anything for those whom you are loyal to. You also delight in pleasures that are of both common and exotic types and enjoy social gatherings and being out with friends and family. Such a wand core works best in Jinxes, Hexes and Curses, but also in Transfiguration, Charms and Care Of Magical Creatures. However, wizards and witches who have this wand core are easily swayed towards Dark learnings and The Dark Arts due to this wand core’s mischievous nature, but with some effort, they can easily stay on the good side with repeated use in Light Magic. This wand core can be found among any people of any House, though it tends to favor those of House Slytherin overall. Pixie Heart cores have slight Light leanings, despite the Pixie’s mischievous nature. Pixie Heart cores are rather good at Charms, and are, ironically, the only wand core capable of successfully casting the spell Peskipiksi Pesternomi. The wielders of this wand core tend to be skilled in Care of Magical Creatures.

Punespoor Fang. Those who are strong-willed, resilient, duel-natured, stubborn, driven, judgmental, observant, intelligent, perceptive and persuasive will have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are able to see and speak your way through any problems and work out solutions for them. Your observant and perceptive nature allows you notice and comprehend things that most others would overlook. However, your judgemental tendencies often make you hypercritical of certain things, meddling and sticking your nose into things where it doesn’t really belong. However, your persuasive nature tends to counteract this on certain occasions, when your judgement tends to be for the greater good. Those who are Aurors or dark wizard catchers will often have this wand core, due to the fact that it makes for a powerful core when it comes to DADA (Defense Against The Dark Arts) and Evil Repelling spells. Due to the fact that is core has a duel-nature, it can be used to repel against Dark Magic or be used for Dark Magic, thus this core works best in those skilled in The Dark Arts, but also in DADA and The Logical Arts Of Magic and also Potions.

Thestral Tail Hair. A Thestral tail hair is a hair taken from the tail of a Thestral, and is used as a wand core. It is regarded as an unstable, if not difficult substance to use in wand making, though Veela Hair is also described as such, but has been successfully utilised. The most widely known wand to have used a Thestral Tail hair is the Elder Wand. Created either by Death or Antioch Peverell, was the strongest wand in the entire history of wizardkind, and by legend was made to render the user invincible in wizard duels. Whether this is a testament to the power of the Thestral tail hair remains ambiguous, as Elder Wand bearers have been shown to be defeatable in a duel (Gellert Grindelwald for example, but could have been to the fact that the wand didn’t truly accept him as the master since he stole the wand rather then disarming it). Nevertheless, the Elder Wand has shown additional powers that other wands are not capable of, such as being able to successfully repair other wands, which was thought to be by people who have studied wandlore to be impossible. It is assumed that one must be able to see Thestrals in order to utilise their hair, and since one must witness death first-hand to see a Thestral, anyone wishing to forge a wand with the hair must witness death, tying in with the story of being “Master of Death.” It is unknown if the tail hair would be invisible to a wandmaker who had not seen death, as a Thestral would be, or if it can be seen once its separated from the Thestral.

Unicorn Heartstring. Those who are stubborn, duel-natured, cold (cool-natured), vengeful, independent, ruthless, fiery, cunning, possessive, witty and mischievous will have this wand core. Having such a wand suggests that you have a cold and thoughtless nature, though not necessarily heartless or cruel. You have the ability to love and be loved in your own way, but you tend to be possessive and overly protective of those things or people you love. Whereas Unicorn Hair reflects the kinder, gentler, more innocent side of a unicorn, a Unicorn Heartstring core tends reflect the darker, more sinister, not so innocent side of a unicorn. This wand core works best in the Dark Arts and Potions. This makes for a powerful wand core when it comes to Jinxes and Curses and is most commonly found in wands made of Yew and/or Alder. Unicorn Heartstring cores are common in Dark Diviner and Dark Healer wands. It is among the most powerful and desired Dark cores in the world, giving an extra powerful boost to any wand or weak core.

Veela Hair. Those who are stubborn, temperamental, outdoorsy, driven, intelligent, have strong family values, loving, caring and/or loyal would have this wand core. Having such a wand core suggests that you are dependable and loyal to your family and friends, as well as being in touch with the wants and needs of others, even though you don’t often admit it. Like a Doxy Wing core, you don’t much like being pinned down to one spot for too long and you often bluntly and stubbornly refuse to be controlled by anyone or anything. Instead, you have the ability to take control of others rather than others controlling you, though you don’t often use that ability unless it is needed. This core works best in Charms, Divination, Potions and Herbology. Like some other wand cores, this core will often boost the potency of some potions. Veela Hair cores are temperamental like the creatures from which they come from, and are considered too volatile for a decent wand core in many circles. However, some wizards, particularly those with Veela blood, enjoy the boost it gives to outdoorsy magics, Divinations, and Charms. Though many non-Veela blood wizards and witches benefit from having this wand core, this wand core is most commonly found among those with Veela blood.