Wand cores

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 44320

I've been doing some speculating on possible wand cores.  First, the wand cores we know of (please add if I've forgotten anything):

Unicorn hair (Ron and Cedric)
Veela hair (Fleur Delacour)
Dragon heartstring (Viktor Krum)
Phoenix feather (Harry and Tom Riddle/Voldemort)

All references in this post are from Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them.  I think this counts as canon.  If not, consider this an apology in advance. :)

Now, first of all, I don't expect that phoenixes are that easy to find, as they nest on mountain tops in Egypt, India, and China.  I doubt there are that many pet phoenixes either.  Unicorns are described as fleet of foot and hard to capture.  While you wouldn't need to capture one to get hairs, you still need to get close.  Very close.  Witches would probably have better luck than wizards.  Anyway, the unicorns are in forests in Northern Europe, how many can there be?  Don't know.  On to the dragon heartstring.  Assuming a dragon must die for this, how many dragons are killed?  Are all types of dragon heartstring used?  And last, I doubt that many people end up with veela hair.  Fleur, of course, was part veela, and it came from her grandmother.

So my general assumption is that there must be other wand cores besides those four.  But what to put in them?  I've made a list of sorts, after going through FB&WTFT, of many possible sources of wand cores.  None of the entries in FB&WTFT state that they are used in wands, which leads me to believe there are more than those four.  Sorry if this has been done already, which I'm sure someone somewhere has. :)  But anyway, here we go, with some characteristics of each beast:

Augurey (Irish Phoenix) feather--FB&WTFT notes that the feathers repel ink so they aren't useful as quills.  But in a wand?  The augurey is intensly shy and sings at the approach of rain.

Billywig sting (dried)--it's used in potions, doesn't say what kind, and believed to be a component of Fizzing Whizbees.  After one is stung by a Billywig they suffer giddiness followed by levitation.

Chimaera hair?  Not sure if anyone could get close enough, it has a M.O.M. XXXXX rating.  But has a lion's head, so may have a mane to get hair from.  It is vicious and blood thirsty.

Demiguise hair--long, fine, silvery hair used for weaving invisibility cloaks.   Peaceful and herbivorous.

Diriclaw (known to muggle as dodo) feathers--shares the Phoenix's ability to disappear and reappear at will.  

Fwooper feathers--an African bird with vivid plumage, its song can drive the 
listener insane. (Wonder if this was in Lockhart's wand? ;)  Sorry, couldn't resist)

Griffin feathers (assuming they do have feathers, with the front legs and head of an eagle, they should have some, even if not that long)--Fierce, but can be befriended.

Hippogriff feathers--Must be cautious, maintain eye contact and bow, wait for approval before approaching.  

Jobberknoll feathers--these are used in truth serums and memory potions.  It makes no sound until the moment of its death, at which point it emits a scream consisting of every sound it's ever heard--backwards.  That's gotta mean something.  No idea what, but something.

Occamy feather--a serpentine body, aggressive to all who approach it, particularly in defense of its eggs. 

(Golden) Snidget feather--rare and extremely protected bird, fast flier that can change direction with uncanny speed and skill.  It's feathers and eyes are highly prized.  Snidget sanctuaries exist worldwide, wouldn't hurt to donate a feather or two.  Originally used in the game of Quidditch, was replaced by the Golden Snitch.

Winged Horse hair--four types are listed.  Abraxan--palamino; Aethonan--chestnut; Granian--grey, very fast; Thestral--black, has the power of invisibility and considered unlucky by many wizards.  

So, what do you make of it?  I, for one, want to see some more wand cores!

Richelle

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"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out."
---- Lady Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring
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