Snape's Wand
We don't know anything about Snape's wand. What sort of wood? The core and length? For info on known wands for comparison, here is a link to the Lexicon wand page.
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I started researching the different kinds of wood and the supposed spiritual/magical properties they have, and the first one I looked at was that which aligned with his birthday, which was birch. I thought it fit surprisingly well: BETH (Birch) December 24 to January 20 - Born under this sign, you have unwavering inner strength and gladly lend support to those who rely on you. Purity of thought and a knack for realistic evaluation and quiet determination are also associated with this tree sign.
As for cores, when I first started trying to figure this out, I was not aware that Ollivander only used the three sources for his wand cores - unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, or phoenix feather. I initially wanted to have him use a thestral heartstring (which, incidentally, JKR has now said the Elder wand's core is) but when I was told that it wasn't an Ollivander core, I chose dragon heartstring. We don't know much about the properties of the cores, but I see the dragon as being the strongest in aggressive strength, and also more war-like than the others.
I thought unicorn hair was out of the question. Since the unicorn is a symbol of purity and innocence, I just couldn't see Severus as having that. Although Draco and Ron both have unicorn hair, I think that despite their less saint-like qualities, they still represent naivety & innocence. For instance, Ron is very untouched by loss - Arthur was originally to die by Nagini's attack but JKR changed that to protect Ron's childhood, so he did not experience personal loss until Fred's death.Obviously, Draco is protected by Severus, who prevents him from killing Dumbledore. He's also described as wanting to be involved in the DE but being horrified at what it actually takes to do so.
I could see Severus having a phoenix feather, because he does sort of have a rebirth partway through the first war when he returns to the 'good' that all children are presumably born into. But I think that overall, he is not meant to be a figure that represents rebirth, that is clearly Harry's function.
So... that's about all I can think to comment on. Like Krum, his wand is probably 'rigid' and I imagine it being fairly long, good for duelling.
I did once look to find the 'Snape's Wand' that is sold as a toy/prop to collectors, the one that's modeled after movie-Snape's wand. However, there is no information offered with it, so there's no help there. It's basically just a black wand, 15" in length. It also has intricate carvings/designs on the handle, which I think is an appropriate touch.
I also think there are a few other woods that could work.
FEARN (Alder) March 18 to April 14 - Born under this sign, you have tremendous courage and power to win in disputes. But be careful not to dissipate your strength in meaningless debate.
GORT (Ivy) September 30 to October 27 - Born under this sign your abilities further your personal goals and your personal causes. Be sure to use this talent productively.
NGETAL (Reed) October 28 to November 24 - Born under this sign you have secret strengths, as well as secret motivations. Use your detective abilities wisely.
Now I'm interested, and need to go poking through my lore collection to find appropriate woods. The Celtic tree-calendar system isn't the only one that might be relevant, although I assume that British-isles woods are by far the most common, and Snape with his attempts to align himself to British wizarding traditions (Slytherin, the house of xenophobia), would be using a wood native to the area, rather than an import like ebony, rosewood or mahogany.
I do like the sound of birch. Funny we often picture him with a dark color wood for a wand and birch is usually quite fair.
(And when Voldemort died and the magic of the Mark was collapsing, it happened, that it tried to destroy Severus' magic and to murder him, so he got rid of the Mark. Then the second wand, the ebony one, rejected him and he came back to the birch one. It was a little bit more difficult, but for this question it doesn't matter.)
-- ioannina --
I favour rowan or blackthorn. The rowan tree is quite similar to Snape, thin, bendy, easily overlooked in the forest among all the large trunks of oaks and beeches. The berries are bitter and said to be poisonous, but they are not. They are quite wholesome in fact. Birds of all sizes feed on the berries, because they dry on the tree and are still available late in winter. A full grown rowan is an impressive tree, but they rarely get that old. Like birches rowans grow almost everywhere, simply pop up where a bit of earth and sunlight can be found. The birch is a definitely female tree, the rowan though most fruit-bearing trees are female is often considered to be male. I can't help it, but underestimated, misjudged as poisonous, bitter and seen as a large weed by most people, while having healing powers, fits Snape. In some regions rowan branches are hung over doors or fireplaces to fend off witches, Defense against the Dark Arts. It was also refered to in the last Wombat; the wiggen or witchen tree is the main ingredient for Wiggenweld Potion which is the antidote to Draught of the Living Dead. This wood is good for defense and used in potions, both Snape's favourite magic subjects.
Blackthorn is the wand wood in folklore. Muggles tend to feel uneasy about blackthorn wands, thinking of Dark Wizards, but it's neutral, can be used for White and Black Magic and is extremely powerful for defense.
This site also has some interesting information on the blackthorn.
This just seems to fit so well, because (sorry, Sionna!), Severus is the only male in canon with a strongly expressed feminine side* - but he is definitely masculine. In his person, he joins so many paradoxes: Muggle and Wizard, killer and healer, masculine and feminine, spy and guardian of truth - and on it goes. And I saw, even after HBP, that he is basically a gentle soul - but also a warrior. I just think birch fits him. I do like the idea of rowan, as well, because it is the tree of healing in one of my favorite Irish fairy tales, and because of Quickbeam the ent- not so sure of the others.
*To those who say, "But Dumbledore's gay! and what about Sirius, etc - " Yes, precisely. Sirius is hypermasculine, like a lot of the Gryffindors, and Dumbledore, too, is not open about who and what he is. You can have a strongly expressed feminine side and be a straight man (Severus); you can be hypermasculine and (probably) gay (Sirius).
And now I think I've said too much!
Fun reading!
And I think when he repented of being a Death Eater he had emotional issues with using his first wand (innocence lost--and especially if it had associations with Lily. Maybe the two magical neighbors had gone together to Diagon Alley?) and got a new one. Dragons are fiercely protective, so I think his third wand had dragon heartstring core. I could see birch or rowan (weed tree yay!), but we're told Jo supervised the movie wands, so ebony might be canon.
Re: Fun reading!
Re: Fun reading!
OTOH a wand will turn black from use, especially in a potions lab or died black to look better.
Re: Fun reading!
I thought of that idea too and used it in a drabble ("He would begin again with a wand that had never done a Death Eater's work").
Disclaimer: The characters in this fanfiction are not mine. I’m making no money from this foray into the imagination.
Bonfire Night
By Alison Venugoban
The blinds were drawn against the flashing lights in the sky, since Da was upstairs sleeping off a drunk.
Eileen handed Severus her wand. “Take it,” she said quietly. “And wave it. Show me you’re a wizard!”
Unspoken, the words, “We can’t afford a new wand for you. But if you can make this work, you’ll get into Hogwarts.”
His whole future depended on the next moment. Unsure, nervous, fearful that he might turn out to be just a Muggle after all, he gulped and waved the wand.
The shower of answering sparks made the fireworks outside pale into insignificance.
Thanks for sharing
(Right, because I say so. Urm. Maybe that came out a little wrong. Okay, I hope you keep writing?)
Lily's wand
But in more recent English symbolism, willow stands for a lover forsaking one or dead, for desolation and sorrow. The weeping willow. An old way of saying that someone can't get over a lover's desertion or death is that s/he "is wearing the willow." Anyone in the Harry Potter canon associated with Lily Evans fit that description? Nah, I couldn't come up with anyone either. Headdesk!
Re: Lily's wand
This:
I found the three cores Ollivander used too limiting. There are so many magical creatures, so many more possibilities. I had Ollivander contemplating the wand's suitability to the owner's based on their physical qualities and what he could determine of their souls. Severus' concern for his soul - which I interpret as his 'being,' his self respect, his essence - was very telling to me. "That boy's soul is not yet so damaged... I would not have it ripped apart on my account" "And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?" So I have taken this to be a key to him. I'll admit it: I sift everything. So the wood was mahagony, like James' as James looked like Sev in the traincar the first day, but well-cared for while Sev looked neglected. Dark rich complex wood. And for me it represents old expensive furniture - what Severus envied and desired, what he valued, the heritage he deserved but had not been given. There it was in his precious wand, an embodiment. Part of him! Magic means everything to him. And at his core, at the wand's core is unicorn hair. This is Christ, as has been pointed out - sacrifice, the scapegoat. But it is also virginity. Poor Severus. Hence Ollivander's look of pity. And his wand is longer than James'. ha!
Initially Ollivander tried thestral mane, thinking perhaps Severus' soul matched his appearance, but he was wrong. And dragon heartstring was not correct either.
The girl's wand was walnut, a lower grade hardwood used for floors and furniture of less quality. It is often trying to be something it is not. And the core was Augurey feather because, as the story pointed out, the bird like the girl moans plaintively and loudly moaning at, well, nothing.
Length: 14 inches (on the taller end of the scale for Ollivander wands, as he can have a bit of a flamboyant streak sometimes, because he simply has a very noticeable presence in a room, and he is physically tall)
Flexibility: brittle (as his personality is mostly unyielding on the outside, but he inwardly goes through many changes in his life.)
Core: Dragon heart string (These wands are the easiest to turn towards Dark Magic, which is precisely what Severus did, starting from a young age according to Sirius Black. Severus is intelligent, and witches and wizards with these wand cores tend to be fast learners, which Severus would have to be as a double agent later in life. These wands usually change allegiances easily, which I believe goes along with Severus's future change of allegiance. Dragon heart string cores tend to be temperamental, as Severus himself can sometimes be.)
Wood: Pine (This wood is good for witches and wizards who are creative, and pine wands enjoy being used for new or nonverbal spells. Tend to be attracted towards mysterious, independant, and long lived owners.
Severus snape's wand
And its core might be phoenix feather because its the rarest core type and snape is a rare kind of person.
But it might be dragon hearthstring because its strong and it is the easiest to turn to dark arts(i still think the core is phoenix feather)
I think(and hope) a wand with this features match snape-he has dexterity and dignity(elm wood),he is a rare type of person and he is the right person for a phoenix feather cored wand
Re:Severus snape's wand
Snape's Wand
Re: Snape's Wand
-Same person as above