#wand interpretation

Wood: Acacia

Acacia wands are picky and often take their time to be matched. Once they have decided on a wielder, however, they will absolutely refuse to work for anyone else. But even after they’ve been matched, they can be a bit fussy and difficult to work with. An acacia wand will only properly work for an owner who has proven their talent and skill. Acacia wants to be challenged, and it has a reputation of posing quite a challenge on its owner as well, pushing them to prove that they can control and master difficult circumstances. An ideal acacia owner is ambitious and driven, constantly seeking to further their personal growth. They usually have an interest in accomplishing something above the average, often something unusual or unconventional. However, they also usually have no interest in being loud, flashy, or showing off. Acacia prefers elegant, sophisticated magic over blowoffs and will likely choose an owner who has a sense of subtlety over blatancy.

Core: Dragon heartstring

There’s something interesting about the somewhat contradictory combination of the subtle, sophisticated acacia wood and the loud, flashy dragon core. It could very well mean that this wand’s owner is complex and somewhat contradictory as well. Dragon is the most energetic of the three cores, often amplifying the more forward characteristics of the wood. In this case I imagine it furthers the drive and the desire for accomplishment in its owner. Someone with a dragon / acacia wand might even be somewhat of a workaholic who has a lot of expectations in themselves and the world around them. There’s a lot of magical energy at your disposal with this wand, combined with an eagerness to use it. Since dragon cores are a bit more ‘fire-ready’ than phoenix or even unicorn, I imagine it might be a little easier to get the hang of the wand in the first place. However, since this is a fairly stubborn combination, there is some risk of becoming absorbed in things you might rather want to let go of. With this wand, it might be a good idea to take a step back from time to time, take a breather, and make sure you aren’t doing something just for the sake of it.

Length: 11 1/2 inches

With a wood and core as oppositional as acacia and dragon heartstring, it is probably a good idea to balance them out properly, which is why I am fully in support of an average-length wand like this. There’s no significant emphasis on either the core or the wood, which at least doesn’t bring additional conflict to the combination.

Flexibility: brittle

Wood: Chestnut

It has been said that chestnut wood has the least distinct characteristics; instead it tends to take over the character of its owner and the wand core. Most of the time, however, it will be inclined to choose an owner who is fair and honest, while also being somewhat adaptable to different circumstances. Neither the chestnut wand, nor its owner need to be stuck in one place. There lies a certain freedom in owning a chestnut wand, to be whoever you want to be and to possibly reinvent yourself tomorrow. A benefit of a chestnut wand is that it doesn’t take long to attune to it, you can pretty much take it and go. It doesn’t have specific requirements for its owner to unfold its full potential, and it won’t give you grief over changing your mind or not meeting a certain standard. However, a possible downside to a chestnut wand is that it might be passed on, taken over, or accidentally swapped. There are certain woods that bond very strongly to their owner and refuse to work for anyone else - chestnut is not one of them.

Core: Phoenix feather

A phoenix core, even with an open wood like chestnut, always adds a certain ambiguity and reservation to a wand. I would imagine that a chestnut-phoenix combination is the least likely to accidentally be mixed up or attune to a new owner. Phoenix often brings a certain introspection to a wand, and I imagine it makes this particular combination particularly trustworthy. It is said that chestnut wands favour people who have a knack for handling magical creatures, and I feel like this might be accentuated through a phoenix core.

Length: 12 3/4 inches

This wand is a bit longer than average which emphasizes the wood over the core. Since a long wand usually means more distinct characteristics, I imagine that this wand is even more adaptable and open-minded for you to do whatever the heck you want with it.

Flexibility: unyielding

Wood: Apple

I like apple wood because it usually makes for pleasantly well-rounded wands. Someone with an apple wand is often somewhat of a social butterfly: charming, positive, and respected in their peer group. There is always a moral aspect to an apple wood owner - they might show a strong interest in social justice and generally the ‘greater good’. Apple itself strongly despises the Dark Arts and will probably refuse to perform certain magic if there is a malicious intent behind it. There’s a general positivity linked with apple wood. The magic it produces is energetic and dynamic, well suited for someone with an active lifestyle and a somewhat optimistic view on the world. Apple wood is difficult to process, but once a wand is crafted for it, it’s remarkably resilient and long-lasting. This detail might also be true for the apple wood owner. When choosing its owner an apple wand might also seek out a person with a talent for language, be it the gift of the gab, or a knack for foreignt languages.

Core: Phoenix feather

A phoenix core is always versatile and enables a broad range of use for the apple wood, which will only really object to dark magic and strong curses. However, phoenix is also the most reserved of the cores, reigning in the open-minded apple wood. I feel like the owner of an apple-phoenix wand is most likely to listen first, talk second. There’s a certain implication of listening to both sides in an argument before choosing one, and I imagine that the wielder of this wand might act as a mediator or diplomat in certain situations. Phoenix being the most ‘head-heavy’ of the cores, this is certainly a wand for someone who likes to be informed, who educates themselves on different issues, and who shows interest in the world and people around them, while also not naively trusting everyone, but rather gathering all the information before making a decision.

Length: 11 3/4 inches

With typical wand length ranging between 9 and 14 inches, this is a very average-length wand which indicates a nice balance between wood and core. I feel like it furthers the idea of being open-minded and interested in the world around while also making a point of forming your own, informed opinion.

Flexibility: supple

Wood: Laurel

Laurel is a wood with very clear ideals. It highlyvalues honour and highly dislikes laziness. I can see these wands in the handsof certain types of Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs – laurel wands are hard workers,but they’ll be double motivated if they know they’re working positively ontheir image. Laurel owners love getting praise and glory, though they wouldnever resort to cheating or foul methods to achieve it.It may be that laurel wands and their owners areoccasionally quite harsh in their judgment, and they have very clear guidelinesabout whom they give their loyalty. A laurel wand will be very clear in itsrequirements – if they are met by its owner it will be loyal to the very end.If not, laurel wands are known to change owners, probably more easily thanother woods. I imagine a laurel owner would have a somewhat similar mindset.A loyal laurel wand, however, will absolutely refuseto get stolen – laurel wands are infamous for conjuring spontaneous strokes oflightning on potential thieves.

Core: Unicorn tail hair

I like unicorn cores particularly in stubborn woods or woods with very predefined characteristics because they often soften them a little, making them more approachableand easier to work with.A laurel wand with a unicorn core is probably moreabout morals and ‘doing the right thing’ than it is about a ruthless strive forhonour. The owner of such a wand can be held to their word at all times.Unicorn wands also connectquicker and stronger to their owner than other cores. This wand is probablymore faithful than a laurel wand with another core… and it also tolerates andexcuses lazy days better than, say, a dragon core.

Length: 10 ¾ inches

This wand is a little on the shorter side whichmakes it somewhat quicker (in general) and a little softer (in this particularcase) because it accentuates the unicorn core. I feel like the owner of thiswand is a pleasant opponent in any kind of competition because they deal verygraciously with both winning and losing.

Flexibility: Surprisingly swishy

Wood: Laurel

Laurel is one of these woods that have a couple ofvery strong characteristics they aren’t willing to deviate very far from.Although in general laurel wands are pretty loyal to their owner they are alsoknown to change affiliates under particular circumstances; namely if theiraforementioned characteristics aren’t met by the owner.For example, what a laurel wand absolutely despises isexcessive laziness. The ideal laurel owner is a ‘doer’: active, determined, andenergetic. Laurel owners often have some sort of quest, be it a quest ofexploring the world, getting recognition, finding a purpose… They like to movethings, and they also like being praised and appreciated for it.A big topic when dealing with laurel is honour. It iscommonly said that a laurel wand will never perform a dishonourable act;subsequently its owner has a strict code of honour that they hold on to. Thesecond scenario in which a laurel wand could consciously switch owners is whenthe original owner breaks their own code of honour.That’s not to say that a laurel wand cannot performdangerous or even lethal magic, though. After all, history is full of peoplewho have killed or died in the name of honour.

Core: Phoenix feather

You know, my first thought was that a laurel/phoenixwand would be judging everyone so hard. :D I mean, the combination of laurelwood with its clear idea of honour and probably taking the high road, and aphoenix core which is generally sort of mistrusting and reserved towards peopleat first…I feel like this wandrequires some trust building over the first time, but once the owner and thewand are on one page (especially concerning the previously mentioned code ofhonour) you’ll get an amazingly loyal and devoted wand that will gladly do allthe work you require from it, and then some more.

Length: 12 ½ inches

This wand is a little bit on the longer sidewhich gives the wood a little more emphasis. I think this would come in handywhen you’re working a lot with the wand – the laurel wants to work, so let it work. :) Just make sure you don’t sit backand relax too much, because the wand willremind you how much it dislikes lazy beans.

Flexibility: bendy

Wood: Sycamore

Ah, yes, one of my personal favourites. Sycamore is a quirky little wood that definitely prefers adventurers over couch potatoes. A sycamore wand hates routine and deals poorly with boredom – reactions, depending on core and circumstances, range from the spells getting bland and weak to the wand spontaneously combusting. Sycamore looks for an owner who is curious and spontaneous, leading a fast-paced life. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a notorious traveler. A lot of sycamore owners have a gift of finding new adventures and challenges even in their everyday life. Sycamore adapts quickly to new situations and loves to learn. If you like to experiment and try new things with your magic, your sycamore wand will be right there with you.

Core: Dragon heart string

You know, I do love harmonious wands where the components perfectly balance each other out – but I also love these feisty little wands that have rough edges and clash with most people, that have their quirks and flaws and character spikes. Combining sycamore and dragon heart string is combining a highly explosive wand with a highly explosive core – handle with care, I’d say. This wand needs to be kept busy and won’t allow you to slouch about. The number of spontaneous combustions due to boredom is probably higher than with another core; dragon is prone to rash actions, and also sometimes to overreacting. I think what this wand might have issues with is your average everyday magic. You’ll have to make sure that you keep control even in tasks you don’t find particularly exciting. Because this wand will definitely sense if you do something half-heartedly. One advantage I feel the wand has is speed. If you’re an intuitive person and/or a quick thinker I’m fairly sure that you’ll be able to cast some of the quickest spells with that combination, if you’re well-connected to it. You and your wand will have the potential to learn and progress incredibly fast and experiment with basically any magic you set your mind to.

Length: 12 ½ inches

A shorter wand would add even more speed, but a longer wand like yours will add some stability and precision which I think you can profit from. It also slightly lessens the influence of the core on the wood – I feel like that makes it a little easier to work with the wand, since you can reason better with the sycamore wood than with the dragon core.

Flexibility: unbending

Basically the same as the length – a rigid wand is more stable than a flexible one, and I feel like stabilizing the wood and especially the kind of pig-headed core makes it easier to do routine work with the wand.

Wood: Red Oak

From what I gather, red oak does seem to have some temper to it. It makes for a good duelling wand and favours owners with quick reactions and some ability to adapt to circumstances. That seems to tie in quite nicely with you being a Gryffindor and fighting other people’s fights for them. I can very well imagine a red oak owner stepping up and taking charge, maybe sometimes a little bit prematurely even?I find it interesting that Ollivander dismisses the ‘hot temper’ argument, but then makes one for quick wit and fast reactions. Are those two contradictory? I feel like a wood who favours quick thinkers and skilled duelists likewise might also indicate an owner with somewhat of a sharp tongue? (These are the thoughts that are coming to me as I go, so excuse the rambling. XD) Like, if someone maybe has a slight tendency to… well, not filter what they say or do as much as other people, it might be seen as a ‘hot temper’ by some, and as just ‘quick wit’ by others, if you know what I mean. :DAll of that aside, I feel like red oak is a really fun, energetic wood for fun, energetic people who like to power through life rather than lay back and take things slow. I feel like red oak owners look for challenges around every corner, take interest in many different things, and constantly move themselves forward.

Core: Phoenix feather

This is a really good core for read oak in my opinion, because it holds back where the wood is at risk to overshoot the target. Phoenix is the most reserved of the cores, and it is placed well wherever there’s a need to somehow connect head and heart. With read oak, both head and heart are active, but both seem to have a tendency to fire independently, and neither holds back the other. This is where the phoenix core comes in nicely because it doesn’t like rash actions and will help you to ‘look before you leap’, while never really toning down the energy, but rather encouraging a conscious use of it.

Length: 13 ½ inches

Your wand is definitely on the longer side, which usually means that the wood’s characteristics can be found very distinctly in the owner as well. It also often means that the wood has the upper hand over the core so that in this case you won’t be at risk of the phoenix core making the wand too hesitant.More length provides precision at the expense of speed. Since red oak already strikes me as a very fast wood, I feel like you wouldn’t need to make the wand even quicker, but would rather benefit from that extra length for precision.

Flexibility: slightly yielding

A nice, not too rigid, but not too bendy wand of this combination seems to support the flexible character of the wood while not making it too erratic. To have some flexibility in your wand does make the handling more comfortable in duel situations. Since red oak is particularly noted as suitable for duelling, I guess I would personally not make it too rigid. Then again, a very flexible wand is always at risk of getting inaccurate and firing all over the place. Therefore ‘slightly yielding’ feels like a very intuitive choice and probably makes your wand very pleasant to handle.

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Wood: Apple

To me personally, apple is a very charming wood, since it’s very well-rounded and doesn’t really have a lot of quirks or issues. An apple owner is often quite charming as well, knowing their way around other people and being generally well-liked. Usually apple tends to pick optimists over pessimists and doesn’t really care for an owner who is overly tentative. Since apple wood has a lot of energy to give, it will look for an equally energetic and somewhat determined, goal-oriented person to choose.One thing apple definitely does not like is Black Magic. They might be hesitant to perform hexes or jinxes, and they will probably draw the line at curses not meant for self-defense. In general, apple wands tend to have quite a clear moral code which often coincides with some sort of ‘greater good’. An apple owner might have a strong interest in making the world a better place, although there’s always a certain range of interpretation of what is ‘morally right’.The person who wields an apple wand is usually good with words and likes talking to and interacting with other people; that’s quite a sociable wood for a sociable person.

Core: Dragon heartstring

Ohh, I like that combination, it’s a little feisty. :D Apple is an energetic wood that will get extra spice from its energetic dragon core. I would guess that the owner of this wand has a pretty clear idea of what they think is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, and they will go through quite some lengths to convince others of their ‘right’. I also feel like this person is fun, charming, and positive; someone to steal horses with. (Is that a proverb that exists in English? :D) The one thing you might want to watch with this combination is that your gut feeling doesn’t overpower your head. With the very intuitive core and the energetic wood it might pay off to step back from time to time and sort of ‘look before you leap’.

Length: 12 1/2 inches

This is slightly longer than average, which I feel really suits this wand. It doesn’t allow the dragon core to have too much of an influence on the apple wand, so it might be easier to keep any arising rashness in check. A longer wand also usually means that its characteristics are more distinct in its owner. This might be the wand of a true diplomat.

Flexibility: rigid

A rigid wand in this case probably means a more distinct moral code with less willingness to deviate from it. Another interesting point is that apple wood, though quite hard to process, is said to produce very long-lasting, stable wands. I feel like a rigid apple wand will pretty much last forever.