Ollivanders, Sorcerers Stone

“A wand? Well, you’ll want Ollivanders. T’ain’t no place better!” 

With thousands of wands packed, stuffed, and stacked on every inch of the shop, Ollivander always has the right wand for the right witch or wizard. The wand always chooses its owner, but Ollivander has an impeccable instinct for picking the right combination of wood, core, and length to present to each of his customers.

MY wand is: Beech wood, with a unicorn core, 11" and solid flexibility.

Wood:  The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience.  Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant.  Such wizards and witches, having obtained a beech wand without having been suitably marched (yet coveting this most desirable, richly hued and highly prized wand wood), have often presented themselves at the homes of learned wandmakers such as myself, demanding to know the reason for their handsome wand's lack of power.  When properly matched, the beech wand is capable of subtlety and artistry rarely seen any other wood, hence its lustrous reputation. 

Core:  Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages.  Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts.  They are the most faithful of all wands and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard. 

Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may 'die' and need replacing.

"The wand chooses the wizard, remember."

- Mr. Ollivander