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As everyHarry Potterfan knows , there are several elements of the wand that affect spellcasting and reflect the crone or wizard that expend it - and one of the most crucial is the wand core . This is a magical item that ranges from Phoenix feathers and unicorn hairsbreadth to rarer cores like a jackalope antler . One of the rarest , however , is the Thestral Tail Hair .
Thestrals are skeletal winged horses that are inconspicuous to anyone who has n’t seen death - and as such , are recognise as something of a big omen in the wizarding humanity . In the series , they first seem in one of Hagrid ’s Care of Magical Creatures classes , and are later used by Harry and his friends to move around undetected . These creatures may have a dark repute , but what does that mean for the wands with their whisker at the core ?
The Elder Wand Has A Thestral Core
There is one important baton in the serial publication that has a Thestral Tail Hair Congress of Racial Equality - the Elder Wand itself . J K Rowling confirmed that this is what the Elder Wand is made of , although it ’s not mentioned in the same kind of detail as the baton of many of the other major characters ( usually key out by Ollivander ) . This is also the only substantiate canon example of a Thestral Tail Hair wand .
The Connection To Death May Be Why It Is In The Elder Wand
Like many things in the series , the Elder Wand ’s core is n’t random , but carefully thought out for symbolism and nuance . The Elder Wand was created by Death - and is part of the Deathly Hallows , which are combined to make the person who possess them the sea captain of death . have a core that is taken from a magical creature so tight associated with Death is distinctly emblematic .
Only Those Who Have Seen Death Can Collect Hairs…
The practicality of actually collect Thestral Tail Hairs to make wands are somewhat complicated - as onlythose who have experienced deathwould be capable to in reality see the hairs they were collecting !
Hogwarts has a tame herd of Thestrals , of course , and it would seem likely that Hagrid would be able to collect hair’s-breadth moderately easily , but one of the reasons that this is such a rare burden fabric may be because it is only incredibly difficult to get !
…But It Is Unclear If They Remain Invisible To Wandmakers
One thing that is not clear in the serial publication is how the invisibleness of the Thestral Hair would process - if they become visible once cut from the tail of the Thestral , or if they remain unseeable to anyone who has not seen destruction . If it is the former , then this would pose no problems for verge - qualification , but if it is the latter , that would mean that only wandmakers who have themselves seen destruction would be capable to work with this fabric . give how few wandmakers there are in the wizarding world , this would also account for how rare these wands are .
It Is Unstable, And Difficult To Use…
On the original ( and now removed ) Pottermore , Rowling described Thestral Tail Hair wands as unstable , which make water them unmanageable to use . This is not surprising , as Thestrals themselves are ' unsound ' in term of visibility , which has to make for some interesting magical attribute . Thestrals are also temperamental - and the tame Hogwarts herd should n’t fool anyone into recall that these fanged brute are just like horses with wings .
…But May Have Special Properties
One singular property of the Elder Wand is its ability to fix other wands - something that is unremarkably described as an impossibility in the wizarding humanity . It ’s not clear if this is an additional holding that the scepter has because of its history and take demise as a wandmaker , or if it is the inwardness that impact this .
Useful For Invisibility Spells
Unsurprisingly , a Thestral Hair wand would presumably be particularlygood for spells surround invisibilityand screen . In general , verge substance lean to impart a little of the tool ’s exponent to the wand , so a Thestral Tail Hair wand would make it easy for the substance abuser to upchuck invisibleness piece , as well as ( potentially ) flight - tie in spellwork . This is n’t explicitly stated , however , connections between magical creatures and specific types of verge magic trick is well - documented .
The Wands Are Specific To British Witches & Wizards
As the Harry Potter franchise has expanded , fans have memorise of wizarding community all over the world - and the difference between them and the Wizarding World in the UK . This prolong to plebeian sceptre stuff , depending on what is topically and readily available .
Thestrals , being native fundamentally only to the British Isles ( although occasionally found in France and the Iberian Peninsula ) , would only have their hair used in wands made in these areas . While magical materials can be channel , the takings of transporting invisible material would make this super unlikely .
Only A Witch Or Wizard Capable of Facing Death Can Use These Wands
As every fan know , the sceptre chooses the whizz - and a hag or wizard assay to use a wand that does n’t resonate with them is going to shin to produce even basic charm aright . In the case of Thestral Hair baton , awitch or wizard needs to be able to " face death"in social club to truly get to the potential . This is clear in the serial publication , too - Dumbledore ( who was able to plan his own death and give in to it in pacification ) was capable to expend the wand fully , whereas Voldemort ( who was so afraid of decease that he tore himself apart to become immortal ) could never utilize it decent .
The Thestrals In The Films Are Missing Tail Hairs
at last , buff of the films may be forgiven for being slenderly jumble at the construct of the Elder Wand get a Thestral Tail Hair core … because the thestrals in the films do not have tail hair ! As a plan choice , these film creature were entirely skin and os - and their tails were long and bony . In the books , they are described more like thin sawhorse with leathery wing , and with horse - like manes and shadower , which would allow for the hairs to be used in wandmaking .
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