Cherry (Wand Wood)

• Type: Wand Wood
• Known Makers: Garrick Ollivander
• Known Owners: Neville Longbottom, Mary Cattermole

Cherry is a type of wood used in the crafting of wands. According to supplemental materials, it is a very rare wand wood capable of imparting strange and sometimes lethal power to the wand it creates, regardless of the core with which it is paired. (Pottermore) This wood is most highly prized by students of the Japanese wizarding school, Mahoutokoro, where owning a cherry wand confers special prestige. The pinkish blossom of the living tree should not mislead one into thinking the wand is merely ornamental. (Pottermore) When combined with a dragon heartstring core, a cherry wand becomes exceptionally powerful and requires a wizard of remarkable self-control and strength of mind to master. (Pottermore)

Two wands made of cherry wood are specifically identified in the original novels.

1. Neville Longbottom's Second Wand:
   • Wood: Cherry
   • Core: Unicorn hair
   • History: This wand was purchased by Neville Longbottom from Garrick Ollivander in the summer of 1996. It replaced his first wand (which had belonged to his father, Frank Longbottom) after it was broken by Antonin Dolokhov during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Neville mentioned it was one of the last wands Ollivander sold before being abducted by Death Eaters. Upon acquiring it, Neville commented that the wand “feels a lot better” than his previous one, signifying a proper allegiance between wand and wizard.
2. Mary Cattermole's Wand:
   • Wood: Cherry
   • Core: Unicorn hair
   • Length: Ten and a quarter inches
   • History: This wand belonged to the Muggle-born witch Mary Cattermole. It was confiscated by Dolores Umbridge at the Ministry of Magic during Mrs. Cattermole's interrogation by the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. Harry Potter stole the wand from Umbridge's office and later gave it to Ron Weasley after Ron's own wand was broken during their escape from the Ministry of Magic. Ron used this wand successfully until he won Peter Pettigrew's wand at Malfoy Manor.

Much of the detailed lore surrounding the properties of cherry wood comes from supplemental writings by J.K. Rowling on Pottermore (now the Wizarding World website). These writings expand significantly on what is mentioned in the seven novels.

• Rarity and Prestige: The association of cherry wood with the Japanese