Dragon Heartstring

• Type: Wand Core
• Source: Dragons
• Maker/Supplier: Wandmakers such as Garrick Ollivander and Gregorovitch are known to use this core.

Dragon heartstring is a powerful magical substance obtained from the heart of a dragon and used as a core component in the crafting of wands. The physical appearance of the raw heartstring is not described in the novels, as it is sealed within the wood of a wand. Garrick Ollivander, a master wandmaker, considers dragon heartstring to be one of the three “Supreme Cores” suitable for his finest wands, alongside unicorn hair and phoenix feather. He notes that obtaining heartstrings is a difficult process, as they can only be sourced from a deceased dragon.

Wands with a dragon heartstring core have a distinct set of characteristics that define their performance and temperament. These properties are highly valued, though they come with certain drawbacks.

• Power: Dragon heartstring cores produce wands with the most raw power and are capable of casting the most flamboyant and impressive spells.
• Learning Rate: Wands of this type tend to learn new magic more quickly than those with other cores.
• Temperament: They are known to be the most temperamental of the Supreme Cores, making them more prone to accidents if not handled by a skilled or compatible witch or wizard.
• Allegiance: While they can change allegiance if won from their original master in a duel, dragon heartstring wands bond very strongly with their current owner.
• Affinity for the Dark Arts: Of the three Supreme Cores, a wand with a dragon heartstring is the easiest to turn to the Dark Arts. However, the wand itself does not possess an innate inclination towards darkness; it is simply more adaptable to the user's intent, whether for good or ill.

Dragon heartstring has been a popular and powerful wand core for centuries, used by many notable witches and wizards. The following individuals are known to possess or have possessed a wand with this core:

• Hermione Granger: Her wand was made of vine wood, ten and three-quarter inches long. It was confiscated by Snatchers at Malfoy Manor.
• Bellatrix Lestrange: Her wand was made of walnut, twelve and three-quarter inches, and described by Garrick Ollivander as “unyielding”. Harry Potter took it from her during the skirmish at Malfoy Manor.
• Lucius Malfoy: His wand was made of elm and was housed within a silver-headed walking stick. Lord Voldemort commandeered it and subsequently broke it while dueling Harry Potter during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
• Viktor Krum: His wand was made of hornbeam, ten and a quarter inches, “thicker than one would expect,” and quite rigid. It was created by the wandmaker Gregorovitch.
• Peter Pettigrew: His second wand, crafted by Garrick Ollivander to replace the one he lost, was made of chestnut, nine and a quarter inches, and brittle.
• Minerva McGonagall: Her wand is made of fir, nine and a half inches, stiff. (Pottermore)
• Horace Slughorn: His wand is made of cedarwood, ten and a quarter inches, and is fairly flexible. (Pottermore)
• Gilderoy Lockhart: His wand is made of cherry, nine inches, and is slightly bendy. (Pottermore)
• Celestina Warbeck: Her wand is made of larch, ten and a half inches, and is flexible. (Pottermore)

The dragon heartstring core is introduced early in the series when Harry Potter visits Ollivanders in Diagon Alley, establishing the fundamental principles of wandlore. It serves as a key example of how a wand's components influence its personality and power. The core's properties are demonstrated through several key wands. Hermione Granger's wand is a reliable and powerful tool, reflecting her own formidable magical ability. After Harry's own holly wand is broken, he uses Hermione's and later Bellatrix Lestrange's dragon heartstring wands. He finds them powerful but notes they do not feel truly his, illustrating the concept of wand allegiance. Using Bellatrix's wand is particularly difficult for him, as it was won from a dark witch and its “unyielding” nature resisted him. The association of this core with powerful Dark Magic users like Bellatrix, Lucius Malfoy, and Peter Pettigrew highlights its adaptability for the Dark Arts. However, its use by exceptionally skilled and good-natured figures like Hermione Granger and Minerva McGonagall proves that the wand's core does not determine the moral path of its owner.

In J.K. Rowling's writings on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website, she expanded on the nature of dragon heartstring cores, reinforcing the information given by Garrick Ollivander in the novels. She confirms that these wands produce the “most flamboyant spells” and are the quickest to learn, but are also the “most prone of the three cores to accidents.” (Pottermore)