Read Online The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter by Tere Stouffer - Free Book Online Page B

“oak-wise.” Folktales from Wales also feature oak trees, which are considered extremely magical.
    • Rosewood: Rosewood (from the genus Dalbergia ) is a tropical hardwood that sometimes smells just like a rose; its dark reddish-black wood can be almost purple. Pianos are often made of rosewood, which has a feminine quality that’s often associated with beauty.
    • Vine wood: Hermione Granger’s wand is made of vine wood, which is listed in old Celtic tree calendars as the wood associated with either August or September (Hermione’s birthday month). However, vine wood does not exist in today’s world, at least not any longer, so it was never placed in a particular genus.
    TOURIST TIP
    To experience an outstanding variety of tree species (including several of the best wand trees) in one place, visit the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens in Vancouver. This spectacular tourist attraction—a must-see if you’re ever in British Columbia, Canada—is organized into separate gardens and forests that specialize in plants from around the world, most of which thrive in Vancouver’s mild climate. Information is available at .
    • Willow: Willow trees are from the genus Salix and generally have narrow leaves and flexible branches. One variety, the weeping willow, has branches so flexible that they bend all the way back down to the ground. Biblically, the willow is a symbol of sorrow associated with the Jews’ exile in Babylon. Such trees have long been thought of as enchanted—when one ventures under the canopy of a weeping willow, interesting events are sure to happen. Northern European peoples associated willow rods with magical powers, and it is likely that the words “witch” and “wicked” are derived from “willow.” Willow, like cherry, is known to be an excellent wood to use for divination. Harry’s mother, Lily, had a wand made from willow, as does Harry’s best friend, Ron.
    • Yew: An evergreen from the genus Taxus with red cones, yew is commonly used to make archer’s bows because of its elasticity. Yew trees may live to be several thousand years old; thus, it makes sense that Lord Voldemort’s wand is made of yew.
A Wand’s Special Ingredients
    Although the hair or feather of nearly any magical creature can act as the core of a wand, the three used most commonly by expert wand-maker Mr. Ollivander (see Chapter 7) are unicorn hair, phoenix feather, and dragon heartstring.
    • Unicorn hair: A unicorn is a one-horned animal (the Latin unicornus literally means “one horn”) that otherwise resembles a horse. The horn of the unicorn was thought by the Greeks and Romans to have the power to heal deadly poisons; the hairs of this animal often go into the wands of wizards.
    • Phoenix tail feather: The phoenix is a large, magnificent, long-lived bird that, as it is dying, bursts into flames and is reborn from the ashes. For this reason, Egyptians (and many subsequent peoples) associated the phoenix with immortality. Fawkes, a phoenix kept by Hogwarts’ Headmaster Dumbledore, donated two tail feathers to two wands—one went into the wand of Lord Voldemort, who believed he could achieve immortality, and the other to Harry Potter. For this reason, their two wands—and, therefore, their two persons—are inextricably linked.
    • Dragon heartstring: Dragons, large serpents whose name is derived from the Latin for snake ( draco ), are well represented throughout both mythology and literature. Chinese mythology (and later, Japanese culture) recognized dragons as gods of nature; the Greeks and Romans saw both potential for evil and potential for good. Early Christians saw dragons as inherently evil, however, and their reputation has remained as such today. Dragons also figure prominently in fairy tales and folk tales (with young men fighting them to save the subjugated princess) and more recent literature, particularly fantasy literature. Perhaps the two best known stories are Tolkien’s The