Welcome to my wand analysis series, where we look at each of the main character’s wands and analyze what this says about their character. The wand chooses the wizard, but why does it each wand choose the wizard they choose?

Our first character is Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age herself. Her wand is a vine wood with a dragon heartstring core

Vine Wood

My first source is the Wizarding World website itself. What does the most important source say about vine wands:

Immediately, we see multiple connections to Hermione as she is in the books. She seeks a greater purpose through S.P.E.W, she wants to make lasting societal change that helps an oppressed group. She also have a vision beyond the ordinary and astounds Harry and Ron with her intellect on multiple occasions, such as when she hexed the parchment the DA members signed so if any of them betrayed the DA, they’d get pimples that spell “sneak”, or when Xenophilous Lovegoode tried to hand them over to the Death Eaters, Hermione realized they need to see Harry and hide Ron to protect the Weasley’s and so that they wouldn’t kill Luna, who is a captive at that point. Hermione also has hidden depths, on the surface she’s a know it all who has to be at the top of the class, but is also a good friend who helps her friends with classes and genuinely wants to do well in her classes

Also, here we see the Wizarding World directly reference the druids and their worship of trees, so let’s look at what the druids had to say about vines

So here we see both things that apply to Hermione, and things that do not, such as being “gentle.” I love Hermione, but she kidnapped someone for writing articles about her and her friends, and sent birds after Ron for kissing another girl when they weren’t even dating. Not to mention permanently scarring another student, and then attacking Ron again when he returned after the horcrux hunt. Sure, you can make the argument she was justified in these actions, but it still doesn’t make her gentle. She also obviously is highly ambitious, wanting to be at the top of every class, and wanting to make lasting societal change

However, aside from that I think this is pretty spot on. Hermione is “discriminating” in having pretty good judgement, not perfect, but pretty good most of the time (I don’t think means she discriminates against other people, but obviously if it did, this would belong in the not applying to Hermione section). She is very authoritative, wanting people to listen to her and follow her rules constantly, and she does set high personal standards obviously, she was disappointed she didn’t get all O’s on her O.W.L’s. I also agree that she appears cool and detached, she appears to just be someone who wants to be the best at school, but she is also willing to help others at school and gets emotional rather easily, especially when insulted. I also agree she can have a dual personality, there are times she is fine one second and running out the room crying the next

Now that we’ve covered the symbolism and meaning of her having a vine wood, now let’s look at the core, which is a dragon heartstring

Dragon Core:

This is straight from the Wizarding World website. Again, we see some immediate connections to Hermione. She learns the fastest of the trio, and she definitely does the most morally questionable acts of the trio, as described above with her kidnapping and permanently scarring enemies, and even attacking her friends when she’s mad at them (easiest to turn to the Dark Arts)

Let’s see what else dragons tend to symbolize

unfortunately, though I enjoyed this for a long time, the hobby of writing faux-academic analyses of wands has long been soured for me bc I am, yknow, trans in the uk. I don't want to help sustain positive and neutral attention on jk rowling and contribute to the money she is using to fund and spearhead uk and us movements against trans people. It is truly wild to have reason to have beef with a famous children's author but here we are. Years later, these movements are still using that harry potter money and social cred to try to make questioning trans people's existence seem like a liberal free-speech common sense position that's unfairly targeted by radical, hysterical trans activists.

(Here is a tracker of the rise in current legislation restricting trans peoples' participation in public life in the us; the current uk prime minister made a jab against trans people this week in parliament, unknowingly in front of the mother of a trans teenager recently murdered in a hate-motivated attack, part of his customary appeal to right-wing culture war rhetoric. This is, as that first link points out, not his first public joke lampooning trans people, and as the stonewall link below mentions hate-motivated crimes against trans people have increased over 150% in the last few years, but only in the aftermath of a girl's murder has labour pushed back against our identities being part of a national debate.)

Interacting with people still into harry potter feels like a real toss-up. It feels depressingly likely, given what I see online and the beliefs of some of my coworkers, relatives and acquaintances, that I'm writing for someone who thinks nonbinary people are fine as long as they aren't too scarily masculine-looking, and trans women are fine as long as they're really nice and never say anything challenging and make themselves as small and cis-acceptable as possible and only react to people's cruelty with self-sacrificing grace, and trans men are fine as long as they are cute and don't look like neckbeards and are suitably disdainful of masculinity but also not too trender-y, and this whole thing about harry potter is kind of overblown but you can't say that because trans people looove to cancel people. I don't want to write stuff for people who hold these beliefs if I can avoid it! Writing non-harry potter related stuff is the best way to avoid it right now.

If some of these statements feel challenging to you - I was there once too, as a confused angry teenager who felt like gay people were trying to make me feel bad about myself. The social media landscape genuinely makes change more painful than it has to be. Personally, working to humanise and listen to people I was unthinkingly taught to disregard, ignore, disdain or pity has been one of the most rewarding projects of my life, even though by definition it will probably never be complete, and also it can be difficult and vulnerable. I hope you can find it rewarding too. If you're mostly like 'wow, I for real didn't hear about any of this', happy for you, there are links below so you know what's up and can identify some messages you might have absorbed without knowing it.

I won't be updating this blog with any more analyses. Thanks for reading, especially if you had to push through discomfort or fear to do so, and for liking my analyses enough to follow! If you have questions, here are some good resources to look at:

the basics of 'what does trans mean, like, practically?';

a great primer on what we actually know about trans people in britain (useful for outside-of-britain questions too);

a video introducing jk rowling's contribution to anti-trans movements and the discussion of whether to separate the art from the artist, and, if you're interested, a dry but short video about some of her direct links to conservative anti-trans and anti-gay groups in the us and uk

Ash wood with a Unicorn core 14 ½" and a Hard flexibility thanks!!

Ash wood is a wise and intelligent wood. Helping the mind flow without any blockage; while Unicorn hair is the core that is least likely to have magical blockages in its spellcasting. 

My guess is that this wand is flowing with bountiful magic.

So I’m trying to start doing passport analyses for the wizarding world website so I’m gonna start with myself and would love for people to send me theirs so I can continue researching the world.

House

Slytherin

Of course Slytherins are Ambitious and Cunning. We will find any way to turn a situation to our advantage. We are very proud people and when something does offend us, we will not retaliate outright (Like a Gryffindor) and would rather store that information until 1. We can either get our revenge and not get caught, or 2. Use it to our advantage. Very few things will get us to start a fight in the light when we haven’t anticipated the outcomes. We are very ambitious and determined, and once we have a goal in mind, we will stop at nothing to reach that goal (unless the tides change and we change that goal). We also very charming and can make many friends. Whether they be true friends or acquaintances that we can connect with to get closer to our goal, is to be determined.

Patronus

Rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes will not attack until it is absolutely necessary. While fierce, they would rather wait for an opening to attack rather than charge right in. When they do attack, they are fast and deadly. They will use that opening to their advantage, and as soon as it is gone, they will retreat to prevent further harm to themselves. They will ensure they have control of the situation, and once they lose that control, they will know when to flee rather than fight.

Another symbol that can be seen within the snake is transformation. Shedding their skin and becoming new. In us, this can be seen as knowing when we need to let go of a past version of ourselves and not being afraid to move forward to a newer better version.

Wand

Holly and Phoenix Feather Core, 12 1/2 inches, Unbending Flexibility

Holly

Holly is a rare type of wood used in wands due to its volatility. It is considered a protective wood, and works well with people who need help overcoming a tendency towards anger. It varies drastically depending on the core, and is hard to team with a Phoenix feather due to the detached nature of the creature. If done improperly, it can tend to explode. If they do match, nothing and no one will stand in their way. It is extremely loyal, and very temperamental. But those who are chosen by this kind of wand are said to be on some kind of spiritual quest. There are also wizards tales of those with Holly wants being romantically incompatible with those with Oak wands, notably “When his wand’s oak and her’s is holly, then to marry would be folly.” Also, according to European tradition, the “holy” tree is known to repel evil. This type of wand is for those seeking to be a major player in the history books, someone who would loathe being forgotten with time. They seek to contribute to society and would not be happy with a 9-5 job.

Phoenix Feather Core

The rarest core type. A very detached core and hard to earn the loyalty of. Extremely picky with who they choose. This can be transferred to the owners in slipping in and out of friend groups. This core is capable of the greatest range of magic but will not show its true capabilities until is trust is won. Once it is won, the wand will not waver in its loyalty to its owner. Even after it’s owners death, the wand will not act for another easily. Also the most initiative of the wand cores, and will act on its own accord in stressful situations. The owners tend to be very intuitive and will trust their gut more so than other people sometimes.

12 1/2 inches, Unbending

Longer wands, 11-14 inches, tend to be drawn towards those with large personalities and dramatic styles. Or those who, frankly, are tall. Longer wands tend to have more power, but less control. These wands work well for those who are selfless. The wands flexibility goes towards adaptability and a willingness for change. Once a wand of this flexibility adapts to its owner’s preferences, it will not change. Owners tend to be very confident in themselves and the things they believe in. The owners can be seen as arrogant for their insistence that they are right and will rarely admit when they are wrong. These wand owners are determined and set in their ways.

Wanda: Oh like 69 cents

Natasha: hehe you know what that mean...

Wanda: i-

Over yonder (@pleasantprefects​), I take my wand lore far more seriously than most people ever should. To the point that I’m carefully analyzing wands for my characters like Ollivander.

Read on for extra background info on my Harry Potter OCs, and join Pleasant Prefects for a good time (and a Kit-Certified Wand Analysis, I guess). 

Excuse mylanguage, but your stats are cool as fuck. 

You are animmovable force. When you have your mind set on something, someone is going tohave to go through hell to try to stop you, and even then, they still mighthave trouble deterring you. This is not to say that you do not value others’opinions- as an INTJ, you probably welcome different perspectives. However, asa Slytherin, Wampus, and Taurus, you just value your own opinion more. This canbe a good or bad trait that can be found in both heroic visionaries andmisguided villains. Whichever one you are, I’m intrigued. If I were forced toguess, my bet would be on heroic visionary. Vine wood typically choosesambitious wizards with moral and just causes (although to be fair, morality israther subjective so for all we know you could end up taking over the world andjustifying it through some warped sense of saving it- if that’s the case,please spare me). Regardless of what path you take, you have a powerful wand toaccomplish whatever you set your mind to.

Additionally,I believe you are adaptable. Your wand’s flexibility leads me to believe thatyou either like change, or you dislike it but are skilled at dealing with it. Iam leaning toward the first scenario, as receivers of bird patronuses typicallylike change and the freedom that comes with it, although the latter is stillcompletely plausible.

I also believe that you are intimidating to other people. Your stats give offthe impression that there is a particular aura surrounding you. I am notnecessarily saying that others are scared of you, but I believe that thoseclose to you perceive you with respect and a touch of admiration. They alsomight just see you as cool af. I mean your patronus is a RAVEN. Need I saymore?