Wand Cores

[jodel at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 51589

Teri asks:
<<   I've read that Ollivander only uses three cores: Phoenix feather, Hair 
from Unicorn Tail, and Dragon Heartstring.  I have been trying to find out 
what properties these cores add to the wands. >>

This question comes up every few months, and it's an interesting subject for 
debate. 

One thing that appears to be settling out is that Unicorn hair wands seem to 
be particularly well-adapted to Charms work. Olivander states this directly 
in the case of Lily Evans's wand (willow and unicorn hair -- same as Ron's 
"own" wand in PoA.) Other people who have been identified as using unicorn 
hair wands are Charlie Weasley (Charlie's old wand) and Cedric Diggory -- who 
utilized the Bubblehead charm for task 2 (don't have my book with me and 
can't recall what method he used for task 1).  As to Charlie and Ron, all of 
the Weasleys we've seen seem to demonstrate a flair for charms work, either 
in the casting or the breaking. So I think that is enough supporting evidence 
to at least postulate that Charm magic is particularly in resonance with the 
properties of unicorn hair. GIven that Charms are one of the primary forms of 
magic in daily use, it is reasonable to suppose that unicorn hair (which can 
be harvested by maidens as a cottage industry as easily, and more safely, 
than going out and plucking it oneself, although some wizards still perfer to 
do so) is perhaps the core type in most widespread usage.

We only know of two people who have deffinitely been identified as using 
phoenix feather wands, so far.  Harry Potter and Tom Riddle. Given the rarity 
of phoenixes this may indicate that phoenix feather wands are not common, in 
any case. One thing that seems to be indicated so far is that this core type 
is capable of handling a great deal of power. My gut instinct on this wand 
core is that it would be particularly well adapted for channeling the sort of 
magic used in processes requiring true *change* to the subject, and so would 
be particularly favored by Master Alchemists, Master Transfigurators (& 
Animagi?) and Potions Masters. I very much suspect that Dumbledore also uses 
a Phoenix feather wand, so may McGonagall and even Snape. (No, I do not think 
that the Order of the Phoenix is specifically made up of witches and wizards 
who use phoenix feather wands.)

Dragon Heartstring we know nothing certain about either. The two characters 
who have been identified as using Dragon Heartstring wands are Hagrid and 
Krum. Dragon heartstring, unlike feather and hair, is probably not renewable. 
It requires the death of the dragon it is harvested from. However, dragons 
are effectively "ranched" in the Potterverse, as well as still being found in 
the wild. And one dragon heartstring may be large enough (depending on breed) 
to core several wands. So heartstring wands may be fairly widespread. (If one 
is convinced that Rowling goes in for symetry, Hermione would reasonably be 
expected to be using a heartstring wand. Probably of mahogany, like Harry's 
father's, given that Ron's wand matches his mother's.) Unfortunately Hagrid 
admits that he never really was much of a wizard, even before he was 
expelled, and Krum's methods on task 1 (the conjunctivitus curse) and task 2 
(deliberately incomplete transfiguration) do not really give us much of a 
handle to go by. 

I am going to go out on a limb here and postulate that Dragon Heartstring is 
a good all-purpose wand core particularly well-adapted for magics dealing 
with the natural world, and processes. Growth and nurturing spells, control 
spells and healing. Much favored by professional Beast controllers, 
Herbologists, and Mediwizards and witches, although other wand cores are also 
perfectly usable for these functions as well.

-JOdel