Potter Post No. 1 1/8--Wands

It's Saturday! Which means it's time for another Potter Post!  Today is all about wands.

Disclaimer: All background information comes from JK Rowling. 

The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why. But I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you.-Mr. Ollivander

Mr. Ollivander was always a peculiar character to me (by the way his wand was Hornbeam and dragon heartstring, twelve and three-quarter inches, slightly bendy).  The wandmaker is clearly talented-no question about it.  But he always seemed in awe of power and strength--but hey maybe that's just me.  But here is a bit of fun background info for you on our slightly sketch wandmaker:


The profession of wandcraft was one that was a family business and Mr. Ollivander spent his entire life learning the craft and dedicating himself to improve the art of wandcraft as well.  A common custom was to present a wandmaker with something the witch or wizard held valuable and then a wand would be crafted around that material out of their favorite wood (think of Fleur Delacour's wand, the core was a veela hair from her grandmother).  Mr Ollivander however does not practice this.  Mr. Ollivander studied cores and woods and determined which were the best.  This was revolutionary at the time.  And eventually it became clear that Mr. Ollivander had his the nail on the head--the wand chooses the wizard. 

I'm a beta tester for the soon to be publicly released site Pottermore:a unique online experience from JK Rowling and I recently went through the process of being chosen by a wand.  My wand? Hazel with a phoenix feather core, 12 1/2 inches, slightly springy

So for today we're going to take a look into wand cores.  There is tons of info on wood types but for today's purposes we won't get into that.  There are only three that Mr. Ollivander uses: unicorn hair, dragon heartstring, and phoenix feather.  So what does the core mean in regard to the user and the magic?

Both of Ron's wands were Unicorn Hair

Unicorn Hair-- produces consistent magic and is the least likely to turn to the Dark Arts.  They are not known to make the most powerful wands and if mishandled the unicorn hair will die and need to be replaced.  However, they are extremely faithful to their owner.

Draco was also unicorn hair

Hermione is Dragon Heartstring

Dragon Heartstring--typically produce the most powerful wands and they learn quickly.  They also are the most susceptible to turning to the Dark Arts but will not turn that way of it's own accord (that is up to the witch/wizard).  They are prone to accidents and bond with their current owner and therefore won't perform poorly if transferred to another owner.








Phoenix Feather--the rarest of all cores they perform the greatest range of magic, however it takes time for this to show.  Considering they come from a fiercely independent creature they can cause the wand to act of it's own accord (think of when Harry's wand saved Harry at the beginning of the seventh book against Voldemort on it's own accord).  This core also produces wands that are extremely picky as to which wizard it chooses but once it has chosen it becomes fiercely loyal.  They are hard to tame and earn allegiance, therefore it most likely will never work for a witch/wizard other than it's original .

Of course.  Voldemort and Harry both have Phoenix Feather cores...from the same Phoenix. 

 What about the all powerful Elder Wand?

The Elder wand's (which will eventually have it's own Potter Post) core is the tail hair of thestral.  What? not one of the three listed above?  Mr Ollivander did not make the Elder wand, there are other wand makers...and the Elder wands origins are mysterious and impossible to say with certainty who made the wand. 


I hope you enjoyed this small insight into wands!!!

-Jenna Out. 

Happy Friday!

Enjoy this bit of nostalgia.   (Why don't people carry parasols and walking sticks anymore?)

Owl Obsessed

I love owl accessories.   I adore them.  No, my favorite animal is not an owl--it's an orca.  But when it comes to accessories--I just can't get enough owls.

I must own these:

Potter Post No. 3/4

My first ever Potter Post :)  Potter Posts will come out every Saturday and it will always be somehow related to Harry Potter.  Excited?  (If you said no...you are a sad, sad creature.)

So what is Potter Post all about?  Anything and everything Harry Potter.  I plan to have posts discussing themes in the books (like love), interesting questions raised (like what does Voldemort eat?), character profiles and in-depth looks (who is Susan Bones?), movie news (what is Emma Watson doing now?), fun you-tube videos (Pigfarts is real.), Pottermore stuff (my wand is Hazel with Phoenix Feather, 12 1/2), or interesting pictures and Potter facts (did you know that Lily was not invited to Petunia and Vernon's wedding?--I do.  And I can tell you all about it).

The first Potter Post will be a Starkid post (Starkid? What is that? Read about it here)

This is a part of the very funny Harry Potter Parody, A Very Potter Musical.  The musical can be found in it's entirety on youtube.  It is an absolute must watch for any Harry Potter fan.

If you have time watch this whole video, if not watch the video posted at the bottom.

Great quotes:
"I don't know man Cedric Diggory is pretty awesome.  NOT! He sucks! I'm totally gonna win! It's in the bag!"-Harry

"Oh my God Hermione! Shut up!" -Ron

"Snape is one of the kindest, bravest, gentlest, sexiest men I ever known" -Dumbledore

"Rumbleroar is the headmaster at Pigfarts.  He's a lion.  Who can talk." -Draco

"Not all of us inherited enough money to buy out Nasa when our parent's died.  Look at this! Look at this! Rocketship Potter!"-Draco

"I can believe I couldn't figure out the counter curse was just unjellify!" -Goyle

 A Very Potter Musical Act I: Part 4

For those who are time constrained:

-Jenna out.

25th Birthday

For my birthday this year I ventured up to the Gardens after more than six years since my last visit.

Actually, I can barely remember my last visit there.  I've only gone twice in my life before last weekend.  The first was in middle school with Amanda...the only thing I remember about that is my dad sitting behind the two of us on the Loch Ness Monster, taunting us saying that the ride sounded broken.  A second later we were down the first drop and Amanda was screaming and laughing while I was adamantly professing how much I hated her for making me ride.  The second visit was in high school...I think...all I remember about that visit was crying in the line for the park's newest coaster: Apollo's Chariot.  As you might have noticed--I was not a fan of roller coasters.  It wasn't until I encountered The Hulk at Universal Studios that I made the switch to roller coaster enthusiast (and thus began the slow climb to adrenaline junkie).

That being said, it was great to be able to return to the theme park that held memories of salty tears and frozen lemonade with a fresh new out look on roller coasters...and fell in love.  Who needs a man to put butterflies in my stomach when a roller coaster can do the same?  

It was slightly rainy and cold which lends itself to perfect theme park conditions: NO LINES!!  We walked right onto to every ride (with the exception of The Curse of DarKastle which is an indoor ride) and several times we got right back on without a moment to blink.





Sadly, the Big Bad Wolf is no more: (It's being replaced by a new ride set to open next year)

 

Then

Now

But there is this:

The Griffon.












and yes.  That is a 90 degree drop

Best part?  They hold you over the edge facing straight down for six agonizing seconds before you dive to the ground.

The Griffon is fantastic.  And not nearly as rough as it looks.  Definitely a thrill though.  We got on, loved it, and rode it again immediately, only this time we clambered into the front row.  When they drag you over the side and you're in the front row, all you see is the sky.  No coaster beneath you, nothing.  You can spread out your arms and legs (if you dare) and it's as if your suspended in mid air.  Absolutely fantastic.


It was the best birthday I've had in a long time.  I was nervous about turning 25...it used to sound so old.  But I realized something.  I'm young and have no real commitments which opens me up to a world of endless adventures.  So Happy 25th to me!
 

The Magical Box

Do you remember when you were little and a large box contained an unexplored world of wonder?

You could get inside a box and be anywhere in the world.
You could be an astronaut in a rocket ship on your way to Mars to start a new life.
You could be a princess locked away in a castle while dragons wage war outside your walls.
You could be a warrior hiding out in a treehouse, with your bows and arows
You could be Harry Potter hiding underneath your invisibility cloak (oh wait.  that was when I was 12. <insert awkwardness>)

It's such a simple thing.  A box.  And it's amazing to think of how much fun and creativity it contained when we were young and let our imaginations run wild.

But as we grow older, so many of us loose that gift of uninhibited imagination.  Personally, I love moments when I can get swept away in imagination (most likely why I enjoy reading so much) and it was a fun surprise to find a large box in my living room the other night.  Ashley and I immediately became children again, jumping in the box to relive a moment from childhood.

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." Roald Dahl

The Homeless Helper

Yesterday I inadvertently let my car run out of gas.  Now, if that had been Batmen-my old car-I wouldn't be so upset about it.  But we're talking about my baby, Phoenix--my pride and joy.  (Seriously, if I could get away with carrying pictures of him in my wallet I would. I freaking love this car.  My dream mustang.)

So, there I was in downtown, in my church clothes, stranded and stuck in the middle of the road.  Of course as soon as the numerous people standing around noticed I was in need of help they all rushed to my side.

False.

Instead the numerous people sitting on their porches and walking the streets watched me as I preceded to push my car, by myself, to the side of the road. In fact one of them even came up afterwards and commented on the fact that my car was crooked.  For an excruciatingly long ten minutes I waited for Ashley as person after person walked by.

Once she got there a homeless man walked up and immediately offered his help.

How many times have I heard people complain about homeless people? At least once a day.  Growing up in a small town, I never saw homeless people...it wasn't until I moved here that I saw homeless people on a daily basis.  They are everywhere, and for every homeless person I see, there are ten other people complaining about how awful they are.  But who helped me when I needed it?  The people sitting on the porches of their houses?  Or the man with no porch to sit on?

I wish dresses grew on trees...

MIA

Hey!!!!  My apologies for being MIA for awhile.  I've been in the process of moving and ::gasp!:: we dont have internet yet, and won't until next month....Oh the agony!! Oh the suffering!!! :)
I've been writing with those ancient artifacts we call pen and paper in the meantime-so prepare for a blog filled September!

MIA

Hey!!!!  My apologies for being MIA for awhile.  I've been in the process of moving and ::gasp!:: we dont have internet yet, and won't until next month....Oh the agony!! Oh the suffering!!! :)
I've been writing with those ancient artifacts we call pen and paper in the meantime-so prepare for a blog filled September!