sadgaybitch

24 • biromantic ace • physically weak and easily lose concentration

[shuploc]

bbno$ and Big Moist cosplaying Sonic and Shadow

[pottergerms]

The Hawthorn mystery: why did Draco's wand work for Harry?

Hi, Anon! Hope you don’t mind me answering it in a text post! Just better formatting, I suppose. Looks better on my blog, anyways. Thanks! 💜

About the question: well, no one knows for sure, but we can talk about wandlore and maybe we can get some answers. Shall we?

(It’ll probably have a thousand typos, because it’s a shitload of text, so forgive me, my buddies. Love you.)

To be honest, this is a subject JKR failed to explore, even though the Elder Wand was so crucial to the story. We don’t really learn that much about how they work or why they are needed, besides the basic of the basic.

As we know, the wand chooses the wizard. That alone can explain a lot about why certain wands work for people and others don’t. But it’s way more complex than it sounds like.

For example: Harry was chosen by the Holly wand with Fawkes’s feather. And it makes sense, because he’s a horcrux, so he has a part of Voldemort within him. But I wouldn’t say that’s the reason, even though it seems obvious. Because the wand recognises the nature of the wizard, what they intend to do with it, who they are and will be.

No one knows how it does that, not even wand makers, but it’s more than identification, especially at such a young age. That’s why most wands stay with wizards for a long time, unless they are broken or stolen. Because even though they change as people, the core (quite literally) is almost always the same, to the wand. The signs were always there. It’s practically divination, to be honest.

‘The wand chooses the wizard. That much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wandlore… if you are any wizard at all you will be able to channel your magic through almost any instrument. The best results, however, must always come where there is the strongest affinity between wizard and wand. These connections are complex. An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand.’ - Mr. Ollivander

Now, if you take a look at each of the properties of the wands, you’ll be able to understand Draco’s wand, why it was so friendly to Harry and why it was able to help him kill Voldemort.

1. The wood

It’s chosen according to your birth tree in the Celtic tree calendar. Yes. This is something most people don’t even know, and it’s so important because it makes wandlore a bit easier to understand.

Why? Well, it obviously relates to Astronomy, Astrology, divination… So it’s easier to understand how it’s shaped to suit people’s personalities, their magic cores as wizards, etc. The wand is not the source of the power, it’s a channel to concentrate the power from within the wizard. So you could say the wood represents the nature of the wizard, what he’s already born with.

To understand how the wood alone can say a lot about a wizard’s nature, let’s take a look at what Ollivander has to say about Hawthorn, Draco’s wandwood:

The wandmaker Gregorovitch wrote that hawthorn ‘makes a strange, contradictory wand, as full of paradoxes as the tree that gave it birth, whose leaves and blossoms heal, and yet whose cut branches smell of death.’ While I disagree with many of Gregorovitch’s conclusions, we concur about hawthorn wands, which are complex and intriguing in their natures, just like the owners who best suit them. Hawthorn wands may be particularly suited to healing magic, but they are also adept at curses, and I have generally observed that the hawthorn wand seems most at home with a conflicted nature, or with a witch or wizard passing through a period of turmoil. Hawthorn is not easy to master, however, and I would only ever consider placing a hawthorn wand in the hands of a witch or wizard of proven talent, or the consequences might be dangerous. Hawthorn wands have a notable peculiarity: their spells can, when badly handled, backfire.

I think Draco’s whole storyline is in there. His conflicted nature (he’s a Gemini, for fuck’s sake!), his turmoils, how actually talented and powerful he is. 

(It’s also a sign Draco should become a Healer. Sorry, that’s my headcanon and I can’t shut up about it!)

Also, the reason Harry’s spell backfires is right there (because Harry was not evil nor wanted to kill Voldemort, he tried to save him until the end). And the fact Hawthorn is not easy to master. Keep that in mind.

2. The length and flexibility

Both aspects of wands are so underrated. 

Ollivander wrote, about the length: “longer wands might suit taller wizards, but they tend to be drawn to bigger personalities, and those of a more spacious and dramatic style of magic”. 

So it’s no surprise Hagrid’s is 16" and Ron is 14", because they are both tall and quite dramatic in their demeanour. Meanwhile, Harry is 11" and Draco, although slightly taller than him, is 10", showing how his magic is more introspective and he is more guarded, closed off. 

(Lol wands are so phallic, impossible not to giggle while you discuss lengths)

He also wrote, about the flexibility: “denotes the degree of adaptability and willingness to change possessed by the wand-and-owner pair”.

It’s no surprise, then, that Bellatrix’s wand is rigid or that Harry’s is flexible. Her wand was always intended for evil and madness, because it’s in her nature; Harry’s, on the other hand, was flexible enough to adapt to his nature, even though he was part-horcrux and could end up being evil. The wand knew better.

Draco’s wand is reasonably flexible. Which could mean it’s consistent, but if forced, adaptable. So again, it’s not in its nature to just accept changing allegiances. It will fight until the end not to be mastered.

So both its wood and its flexibility are huge indicators of how hard it would be for his wand to be mastered and change loyalties. Again, keep that in mind.

3. The core

The core is an even more complex aspect of wands. While the wood represents the wizard’s nature as a person (their body and heart), the core represents the nature of their magic. It’s in the way they use it, the potency, what they’re good at, etc.

Now let’s take a look at Ollivander’s comments on Unicorn hair, Draco’s wand 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.

Wow. I mean, this is illuminating, isn’t it? First of all, even though Hawthorn is contradictory, it is balanced by the hair, making it a more consistent wand.

(Oh, and it’s a great property for healers, because the Unicorn is known to be pure and its blood can keep you alive. So, again, Healer! Draco, please.)

It’s also the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts, and that is a clear sign that Draco was never a dark wizard by nature, he didn’t want to be dark. He wasn’t dark, otherwise this wand wouldn’t have chosen him in the first place.

And last, but definitely not least, they are the most faithful, and tend to remain attached to their first owner. 

Well, there’s that then. All the aspects in Draco’s wand are adamant to it being difficult to master and even harder to change allegiances. It would fight until the end to work only for its master, and the hair could even die from it. 

So why did it change masters that easily, then? That’s the question, innit?

Here’s what JKR has said about the whole Hawthorn wand business:

‘So one would expect a certain amount of loyalty from one’s wand. So even if you were disarmed while carrying it, even if you lost a fight while carrying it, it has developed an affinity with you that it will not give up easily. If, however, a wand is won, properly won in an adult duel, then a wand may switch allegiance, and it will certainly work better even if it hasn’t fully switched allegiance for the person who won it. So that of course is what happens when Harry takes Draco’s wand from him…’

Not trying to correct JKR because she’s the fucking author, but doing it anyway: Draco and Harry didn’t duel, dear Joanne. He only took the wands in a hurry. He never disarmed him. Proof?

As Ron ran to pull Hermione out of the wreckage, Harry took his chance; he leapt over an armchair and wrested the three wands from Draco’s grip…

Well, well, well. No duel. How… interesting.

JKR’s argument here is that, even though they didn’t properly duel, Draco was disarmed the muggle way, with a good old shove. Well, again, not trying to diss her own understanding of her world, but this pathetic wrestle doesn’t count. If that was all it took, then wands would be pretty useless, hm? Their allegiance should survive a shove. They’re expensive, God’s sake!

Let’s read JKR’s own canon a bit more, shall we?

Harry looked down at the hawthorn wand that had once belonged to Draco Malfoy. He had been surprised, but pleased, to discover that it worked for him at least as well as Hermione’s had done.

Pleased. Heheh. So gay. Anyway.

It’s funny that she included this in the book, because it contradicts her own laws of wands. According to them, if you steal/borrow someone else’s wand, it won’t change allegiances, obtaining only “fair results”. The allegiance only changes if it’s won.

Well, JKR, Hermione’s wand works perfectly for Harry even though he never disarmed her. Just like Draco’s, who he also never disarmed. So why do they change loyalties, or at least share loyalties? Harry sees both wands as friendly, and he naturally uses both with no problems.

So here’s my personal theory, from everything I’ve read and all the time I’ve spent overthinking the issue without being paid a single pound: 

Harry had their complete, absolute trust.

(Ok, it sounds stupid, but bear with me.)

People were part of the war for many reasons, right? For their families, their friends, themselves, for justice and all that. They keep their reasons until the end, hopefully. Right? Even those fighting for Harry, they had their own reasons.

Now, what was the main reason Hermione ended up in the middle of this war? It’s not in her nature to fight, she’s not a warrior. But she knew she had to help Harry. It was only Harry. She didn’t have family fighting alongside her. She didn’t have any other allegiance.

Why she never, not even once, mistrusted Harry? Ron did and they were so close. That’s because his primary reason for being there was his family, not Harry (that doesn’t mean he didn’t love or trust Harry, but he would choose his family, if he had to).

This absolute trust Hermione had for Harry has the same origin as everything good in Harry Potter: sacrifice. She gave up her own parents, her own story. She made a huge sacrifice for Harry. She gave up her doubts and any other loyalty she had to follow him.

What about Draco, you ask?

He had his family as his only loyalty throughout his whole life. But that went to shit, to be honest. His whole world stopped making sense. Everything he believe was a lie. He didn’t trust his parents anymore, even though he loved them immensely. He was so confused (“I love a good turmoil”, his wand said, happily).

And I think sacrifice is exactly what happened to Draco at Malfoy Manor. He made it by not identifying Harry, by betraying his own family and Voldemort and risking his own life (and he does that again in the Room of Requirement).

At that moment, his only hope, his only trust in the world was Harry. Because if Voldemort won, he was fucked. Not only because he didn’t want to live in that world he once thought perfect, but because he was a shitty Death Eater, he didn’t want to kill or torture. He didn’t believe in Voldemort anymore. He didn’t have anything else to believe, at that exact moment.

When he “lost” his wand to Harry, his allegiance had already changed in such a visceral way that it was easy for them to share his wand (and the Elder Wand, by proxy). Because he trusted Harry with his heart and soul. 

If that isn’t love, I don’t want to know what is, because it’s not good enough. 

I don’t even care if you believe in Drarry or not, if you think this love I’m talking about is romantic or platonic. Regardless, it was there. You can’t deny it. I won’t let you. Because otherwise, everything we know about wands IS A LIE. And the Wizarding World doesn’t live like that. Magic makes at least a little bit of sense.

(Even though what we’re discussing is fictional. Sorry, I’m that insane.)

And remember how Narcissa’s wand didn’t “understand” Draco? 

Her wand is unknown, but it’s said to resemble Lucius’s, so it was probably Elmwood, a wand considered desirable for purebloods. Imagine that. The nature of her wand was not the same as his at all. She was selfish and didn’t have any allegiances but her own family. Even when she makes that final sacrifice, lying to Voldemort, it’s for Draco. She couldn’t care less about Harry’s life. 

So her wand not adapting to him is a huge indicator that his loyalty wasn’t with his family at all anymore. They were with Harry now (the whole “DON’T KILL HIM! DON’T KILL HIM!” shebang is like a neon sign, innit?).

And loyalty means much more than just wands in Harry Potter. The two Death Eaters who betrayed Voldemort, Snape and Regulus, sacrificed their lives, reputation, love (doesn’t matter which kind). They were something so foreign to Voldemort he never once thought they betrayed him. 

Because loyalty free of ulterior motives is love in its most visceral sense.

And the same fucking thing happened to Draco, right? Voldemort never, not even once, was able to see what happened with his wand. Because pure loyalty was involved and he never understood it.

Love is always the answer in this series. Lily’s, Narcissa’s, Snape’s, Harry’s. And Draco’s, I would say, is just as meaningful. It matters just as much in the final battle. It was the reason Harry won in the first place. 

So again, that’s LOVE LOVE LOVE and not even JKR will change my opinion (sorry, boss).

I will never accept the Hawthorn wand changed allegiances, because we have proof it didn’t have any reason to, and it’s not in its nature to just do it. Furthermore, in Cursed Child Draco even uses this old wand again. 

He never lost the wand’s loyalty completely, he just shared it with Harry.

Game, set and match again. Drarry is real™ as fuck.

[runyouoverwithmykarma-deactivat]

Not to diminish this answer. But I thought it worked for Harry because he won the wand in a duel with Draco when he was trying to steal his own wand back. The book mentions that because Harry won the wand fair and square it’s loyalty changed hands. But I may be wrong.

[pottergerms]

Not to dismiss your response, but they didn’t duel at all. Did you read my entire post? Because I mention it in there somewhere. 😊💜

[pottergerms]

Ok, got some more interesting inputs!

I thought it would be more productive to respond to all of them in here, especially since they all discuss the same stuff, so you can reblog them at once, because they matter!

1. Why did the Elder wand change allegiances, then?

@theburrowginny​ said:

if we follow this logic, Harry would never have been the real owner of the Elder wand, but Draco still is since he didn’t get disarmed and that just doesn’t seem right, after all Harry felt the alliance of that wand there too unless we can assume the wand knew of the loyalty Draco felt for Harry like his own wand did

You know what? I forgot to mention the Elder Wand. Like, completely. But that’s because it’s the theory we know the best, so I thought people would jump to the same conclusions I did. Rookie mistake.

It’s said that when the allegiance of a wizard’s wand is won, all their wands change allegiances. According to my theory, they were sharing Draco’s wand. So why does the Elder wand change allegiance completely to Harry, making him the true master of the Deathly Hallows?

JKR has the answer for that as well:

The Elder Wand is simply the most dispassionate and ruthless of wands in that it will only take into consideration strength. (…) the Elder Wand knows no loyalty except to strength. So it’s completely unsentimental. It will only go where the power is. So if you win, then you’ve won the wand. So you don’t need to kill with it.

The point of the Elder wand is that it doesn’t have any real allegiance to wizards, it changes hand when they win it from each other, and it’s primarily attracted to power. So I can imagine the wand simply chose one of them as masters, and Harry being Harry (and a horcrux), it’s not hard to figure out whom.

2. Which wand actually changed allegiances, the Elder or the Hawthorn?

@zlatnaribica​

No actually, when Harry grabbed the 3 wands from Dracos hand, it was the Elder wand that switched loyalty from Draco to Harry, not Draco’s wand. Draco was at that time the owner of the Elder wand, not his own wand.. although he didn’t even know it, and although it was Voldemort that paraded it around thinking he was it’s real master, just because he stole it from Dumbledore’s grave.

Draco was the owner of both wands at that time. Wizards can have more than one wand, especially if one of them is the Elder wand. The only reason Harry has the Elder wand is exactly because he won Draco’s wand in the first place, and then all his wands would follow that wand in changing (or sharing) allegiances.

3. Ollivander says it changed allegiances because it was taken, right?

@petewentzdickpick​

I mean I don’t wanna rain on anyone’s pride parade (because drarry is fucking real as fuck) but in the seventh book it never says that the wand absolutely must choose the wizard. Ollivander says right after the squad talks to Griphook that if a wand is taken from a wizard (I.e. disarmed or in Harry’s case literally just taken out of the others hand) it will usually align itself with the wizard or witch you “won” the wand. The rest of the books makes it seem like that’s only true for the Elder…

First of all, Ollivander does say it in Deathly Hallows in that same conversation. He’s talking precisely about Draco’s wand and why it might have changed allegiances.

‘The wand chooses the wizard,’ said Ollivander. ‘That much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wandlore.’

I think what Ollivander says only confirms my theory, but it’s such an interesting talk on wandlore (and one of the few), so why not paste it here so we can discuss it further? 💜

‘Hawthorn and unicorn hair. Ten inches precisely. Reasonably springy. This was the wand of Draco Malfoy.’

‘Was?’ repeated Harry. ‘Isn’t it still his?’

‘Perhaps not. If you took it –’

‘– I did –’

‘– then it may be yours. Of course, the manner of taking matters. Much also depends upon the wand itself. In general, however, where a wand has been won, its allegiance will change.’

So he starts by saying it was the wand of Draco Malfoy. Why? Because he definitely senses an allegiance to Harry. 

But at the same time, he never confirms it changed allegiances completely. He says it may be Harry’s, but it depends on the wand. And knowing Draco’s wand was never won and still changed (or shared) allegiances with Harry, it makes sense that it was more of a choice for the wand than properly disarming.

‘A person can still use a wand that hasn’t chosen them, though?’ asked Harry.

‘Oh yes, if you are any wizard at all you will be able to channel your magic through almost any instrument. The best results, however, must always come where there is the strongest affinity between wizard and wand. These connections are complex. An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand.’

The sea gushed forwards and backwards; it was a mournful sound.

‘I took this wand from Draco Malfoy by force,’ said Harry. ‘Can I use it safely?’

‘I think so. Subtle laws govern wand ownership, but the conquered wand will usually bend its will to its new master.’

After he says the wand chooses the wizard again, he also says that the best results come from a strong affinity between wizard and wand, even if it was not won. It explains Hermione a little bit, right? Because her wand wanted to adapt to him, because of her absolute trust in him. So my theory is at least possible.

Also, Harry says he took it from Draco by force, and Ollivander says he thinks so, because of the laws of wands. So you could understand that by taking a wand by force, you can change its allegiance. But none of that makes sense. It’s not that easy to conquer another wand, just by shoving or shouting an expelliarmus. It needs INTENT.

Harry launched himself across the floor and grabbed the Death Eater around the knees, causing him to topple and his aim to go awry. Neville overturned a desk in his anxiety to help; and pointing his wand wildly at the struggling pair, he cried:

‘EXPELLIARMUS!’

Both Harry’s and the Death Eater’s wands flew out of their hands and soared back towards the entrance to the Hall of Prophecy; both scrambled to their feet and charged after them, the Death Eater in front, Harry hot on his heels, and Neville bringing up the rear, plainly horrorstruck by what he had done.

Did Harry’s wand change allegiance to Neville here, then? No, because that would be stupid. Wands are made to be faithful (the Hawthorn being the most faithful of all), so it takes a real duel, with people shouting deadly curses to each other, with the desire to kill and conquer, to make that happen.

And let me tell you, Harry didn’t want to kill Draco. He didn’t want to cause him harm. He just wanted to get the damn wands and flee. He didn’t even intend on getting Draco’s wand in particular, he had no idea which wands he was getting. So it makes no sense, because it was not planned, it was not intended, just like with Neville.

But Ollivander didn’t know that, did he? He thought there was intent behind Harry’s taking the wands, proper will to kill and conquer. But we know there wasn’t.

To me, it sounds impossible that the most faithful of wands just mistook a pathetic wrestle for a real duel with intent. It makes no sense at all.

Anyway, I hope I was able to answer some of your questions. And please, keep hitting me with theories and headcanons, because I just love writing these.

Thank you so much! 💜

[adhd-vibes]

[akiisfckntired]

@sgshaja​ @youssefgbb​ @maria-celo​ @roronoanolovah​ @minervamcgee-archive​ @ticakikeru2698-blog​ @boshbesho​ @fadingtrusts​ @yorkworld12​ @jailenecxo​ @blue-skies-from-south​ @whatisthiswebsiteanyways​ @anonymousstoriess-blog​ @rosiemcbud​ @myavenuedaze​ @auhsxii​ @olivia-brown1601​ @shjrtsleeves​ @ashthedrummet94-blog​ @lyricksrcool-blog​ @goldheartscth-blog​ @hohoe88​ @lamlamchanx2-blog​ @sakuradiablo-blog​ @iiiodiiine​ @miiiiiilktea​ @ii-luffy-ii​ @ichijou2​ @aiai18​ @cuddlyspider​ @pablodefinit​ @robert-redfox​ @whosalex96​ @akirashindou​ @minhavidatatiposeila​ @sippingonsomemakebelieve​ @danielg1592​ @hanashawol​ @kiraayanami​ @goomy-blorg​ @pcstickcomputing-blog​ @lilundomiel​ @bokuthighs​ @bvbmonsterlo​ @darkkoopa​ @roya720​ @veeh27​ @darth-tyrannosaurus​ @nxtmostdays​ @sin-the-bad​ @samueljbernal​ @leirei​ @hyakutifikk​ @strykerseguin91​ @motionlesss-sleep​ @thecastlesintheair​ @lovelysillydeer​ @hogu-family-blog-blog​ @brunahp-blog​ @mini-eggs1​ @savant8000​ @shot-by-a-blueberry​ @lysscosplay​ @elliecupcakes​ @grandexwishes​ @stillnotyourgirlfriend​ @onekuu​ @bungoushikkaku​ @kagecrack-daze​

[hachimachiart]

right in the kokoro 🔪💕

[akiisfckntired]

Yes im inlove

[cozioldwa]

“YURI KUN DAYO~!”

[aqukana]

revive the old, make it new

[sikolohija]

kathang isip // ben&ben

[gr8writingtips]

writing tip #1409:

how to write amazing stories in two easy steps:

1. open your favorite writing program

2. hit your head against the keyboard. just hit your head on it. take the keyboard. and just. hit your forehead against it. do this until the keyboard breaks. congratulations

[akiisfckntired]

i did this and now finished a chapter thank you very much

[lukekilledme30x-deactivated2018]

REBLOG if you like anything written below. (I want to make friends)

•5SOS

•All Time Low

•One Direction

•Ed Sheeran

•Fall Out Boy

•Green Day

•Halsey

•Nirvana

•Twenty One Pilots

Panic! At The Disco Shawn Mendes Follow me and I will follow you back.

[lukekilledme30x-deactivated2018]

REBLOG if you like anything written below. (I want to make friends)

•5SOS

•All Time Low

•One Direction

•Ed Sheeran

•Fall Out Boy

•Green Day

•Halsey

•Nirvana

•Twenty One Pilots

Panic! At The Disco Shawn Mendes Follow me and I will follow you back.

[andflowersandflowers]

☾Just me and the moon ☾

[wildfirelockscreen]

Requested: Moon and Sun.

[doona-baes]

Fight back.

[bitchinlyras]

look, i don’t watch riverdale, but veronica is definitely gay

[hgwrts]

Okay so was I watching Order of the Phoenix again last night and idk why but I started paying a lot of attention to Draco, especially on the scene on Umbridge’s office after Fred and George explode the fireworks

Here he is all happy like “hehe Harry’s getting screwed”, as usual,but THEN

Umbridge slaps Harry and he’s like WHAT THE FUCK-

And then he has this look on his face like “wow I was just in for some light bullying but what the hell is this you old frog” (while the other slytherins in the room don’t even flinch or give a fuck about anything really)

And then right after that, they are interrupted by Snape and Draco goes back to smiling like “oh…yeah…I’m supposed to be finding this super fun” 

Now, leaving all my drarry shipping aside, it’s just really freaking brilliant the way Tom Felton portrayed Draco, and I feel like he understands the character so deeply. He portrays all of these mixed, confused emotions Draco feels, and how his image in front of others is important for him, how despite looking confident and cool inside he’s just utterly scared. Even when the scene isn’t about him he’s giving all this out. I love Tom and this saga so much.

[emilyscartoons]

Saaaaasssss