The Weighing of the Wands Ceremony

• Type: Official Ministry of Magic Ceremony; Tournament Procedure
• Participants: Triwizard Tournament Champions, tournament judges, a designated wandmaker expert, and members of the press.
• Maker: The ceremony is an established tradition for formal magical competitions, most notably the Triwizard Tournament. Its exact origin is unknown.

The Weighing of the Wands is a formal ceremony held prior to the commencement of a major wizarding tournament. Its primary purpose is to have an impartial and expert wandmaker examine the wands of the competing champions to ensure they are in proper working order and are safe for the dangerous tasks ahead. The ceremony is a public event, often attended by the press. During the 1994 Triwizard Tournament, it was held in a small classroom at Hogwarts Castle. The champions—Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, and Viktor Krum—were called forward one by one to present their wands to the expert, Garrick Ollivander. Ollivander would state the wand's specifications (wood, core, and length) and then perform a simple spell to test its function before declaring it fit for the competition.

The “magic” of the ceremony lies not in a single spell, but in the expert magical assessment of the wands, which are the most crucial tools for a wizard. The inspection is a diagnostic process to confirm the wand's health and capabilities. A faulty or damaged wand would put a champion at a severe, potentially fatal, disadvantage. During the 1994 ceremony, Ollivander's examination revealed the following:

• Fleur Delacour's Wand: Nine and a half inches, inflexible, made of rosewood with a core of Veela hair from her grandmother. Ollivander noted that such wands are temperamental. He made it produce a bouquet of flowers.
• Cedric Diggory's Wand: Twelve and a quarter inches, pleasantly springy, made of ash with a core of a single hair from a male Unicorn. Ollivander noted it was a fine wand from a fine beast. He made it produce a series of silver smoke rings.
• Viktor Krum's Wand: Ten and a quarter inches, made of hornbeam with a Dragon heartstring core. Ollivander commented it was thicker than usual and quite rigid. It was one of the last wands made by Mykew Gregorovitch. Ollivander used it to conjure a flock of small birds.
• Harry Potter's Wand: Eleven inches, nice and supple, made of holly with a Phoenix feather core. Ollivander noted it was an unusual combination and confirmed its excellent condition. Most significantly, he commented on the fact that the phoenix who gave the feather for Harry's wand gave only one other: the one that resided in Lord Voldemort's wand. He made it produce a fountain of wine.

The only detailed account of a Weighing of the Wands ceremony in the novels occurs in October 1994, prior to the start of the restored Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts. The event was presided over by the tournament judges, including Albus Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman, with Garrick Ollivander serving as the expert wand adjudicator. The event was also used as a photo opportunity and press event for the Daily Prophet, led by the infamous journalist Rita Skeeter. She used the occasion to corner Harry Potter for a sensationalized and largely fictitious interview, which was later published under the headline “Harry Potter's Secret Heartache.”

The Weighing of the Wands ceremony serves several key narrative functions in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

• Exposition: It provides the reader with the specific details of each champion's wand, offering insight into their magical tools and, by extension, their characters.
• Foreshadowing: The most critical function of the scene is Ollivander's revelation about the “twin cores” of Harry's and Voldemort's wands. This piece of information becomes fundamentally important during the duel in the Little Hangleton graveyard, as it explains the rare magical phenomenon of Priori Incantatem that saves Harry's life.
• Character Development: The ceremony places Harry under the uncomfortable glare of the public spotlight, highlighting the pressure he faces as the unexpected fourth champion. It also establishes the antagonistic role of Rita Skeeter and the intrusive nature of the wizarding press.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Weighing of the Wands ceremony is depicted, but it is significantly altered and shortened. Garrick Ollivander is not present. Instead, Barty Crouch, Sr. performs a brief, non-magical inspection of the wands. This change removes the scene's crucial foreshadowing of the Priori Incantatem effect. (film)