Walnut Wand Wood

• Type: Wand Wood
• Notable Owners: Bellatrix Lestrange, Harry Potter (briefly, by conquest)
• Associated Wandmakers: Garrick Ollivander (as an identifier of the wood)

(The detailed properties of walnut wood are primarily described in supplementary writings by J.K. Rowling.) Walnut is known to be a highly intelligent and versatile wand wood. It often seeks a new master who is a “highly intelligent witch or wizard” and is best suited for magical innovators and inventors. Once an allegiance is won, a walnut wand will adapt to its owner's magical style and perform any task the owner desires, provided they are of “sufficient brilliance” (Pottermore). This adaptability, however, makes walnut a potentially dangerous wood. When placed in the hands of a witch or wizard without a conscience, such as Bellatrix Lestrange, it can become a lethal weapon. A key characteristic of walnut is its bond with a brilliant owner; once subjugated, it will perform any magic its owner wishes and will resist being mastered by a new owner, even if won in a duel. This trait makes it “notoriously difficult to master if it is passed on” (Pottermore).

The most prominent walnut wand in the series belonged to the Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange. Her wand was identified by Garrick Ollivander after its capture at Malfoy Manor.

• Specifications: Twelve and three-quarter inches, walnut, and dragon heartstring core. Mr. Ollivander described it as “unyielding”.
• History and Role:
  1. This wand was used by Bellatrix Lestrange to perform countless acts of Dark Magic during the First Wizarding War and Second Wizarding War. Notably, she used it to torture Neville Longbottom's parents, murder her cousin Sirius Black, and torture Hermione Granger at Malfoy Manor.
  2. In the spring of 1998, during the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor, Ron Weasley disarmed Bellatrix, and Harry Potter picked up her wand.
  3. Harry Potter became the new master of the walnut wand through conquest. However, he found it “uncongenial” and difficult to use. It did not perform well for him, a fact explained by both Mr. Ollivander's insights into wandlore and the specific properties of walnut wood, which resists a new master after belonging to a powerful witch like Bellatrix.
  4. Harry used the wand during the break-in at Gringotts Wizarding Bank but ultimately set it aside upon taking possession of the Elder Wand.

• The vast majority of information regarding the specific properties of walnut as a wand wood comes from J.K. Rowling's supplementary writings on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website, rather than from the novels themselves.
• In the film adaptations, Bellatrix Lestrange's wand has a distinctive design, appearing bent and resembling a bird's talon. This physical description is unique to the films and is not mentioned in the books (film).