The Quibbler
The Wizarding World's Alternative Voice
Issue No.
83
The Houses and the Wand Cores
by Reem
With the end of Year 61 dawning on us, and all the students and staff yearning for a summer filled with rest, relaxation, and some hijinks for the more mischievous of us, I sincerely hope we will look back on all we have learned to better prepare ourselves for the people we will become once we introduce new knowledge to our minds. What is interesting is that our knowledge comes from learning more about how our wands work. Casting spells, defending ourselves, and transforming objects are just a few of the many things that we are capable of doing with our wands, but as the consulting magizoologist, I do not care about what we can do. I care about why.
More specifically, I care about what is inside our wands, how it influences our strengths and weaknesses in casting spells, and if there is a correlation between the Hogwarts houses and certain wand cores. As each Hogwarts house prides itself in certain characteristics of its students, and certain wand cores allow its caster to be more skilled in a certain field of magic, then surely there is a correlation to be researched. As your consulting magizoologist, it is my job to bring to you the products of my research, because, after all, what are wand cores made of if not the very creatures I study!
Gryffindor. House of bravery, courage, and chivalry. People belonging to this noble house are known to be the ones who put themselves on the front lines. They are always eager to help others, and if the situation requires it, then they are more than willing to sacrifice themselves for other people. This is interesting considering that Gryffindors leaned more towards Runespoor Fang and Unicorn Hair for their wand cores. Runespoor Fang is known to be a venomous material, so Gryffindors being the most to wield it suggests that they are unafraid of dangers, no matter the size. On the other hand, Unicorn Hair is known to be very loyal to its owner, which is intriguing as it is a trait most commonly associated with Hufflepuffs.
Hufflepuff. House of loyalty, patience, and hard work. People belonging to this kind house are known to be the ones who treat others kindly. They are fiercely loyal to those who are considered friends, and will always lend a helping hand to anyone who requires it, friend or otherwise. Therefore, it comes as a bit of a surprise that Hufflepuffs seem to lean towards Hippogriff Talon for their wand core. Hippogriff Talon possesses a lot of the same characteristics of Dragon Heartstring, which includes ferocity and power. Therefore, one might conclude that Hufflepuffs do possess the tenacity required to wield such a powerful core regardless of whatever stereotype is placed upon them.
by ThanyaJK
Ravenclaw. House of knowledge, intelligence, and wit. People belonging to this wise house are known to be the ones who always think deeply about matters of interest. They are always ten steps ahead of others, and will use their intelligence and knowledge to assist those in matters of need. For Ravenclaws, it appears that Ashwinder Ash is the most common core as people who own wands with this core overwhelm those with other cores, me included. Ashwinder Ash is characterized as being capable of casting great protection charms. Furthermore, those who own a wand with that core are said to be prideful and possessing great willpower, which does fit the description for Ravenclaws as we are quite proud of the knowledge we have gained.
Slytherin. House of resourcefulness, cunning, and ambition. People belonging to this crafty house are known to be the ones who assess a situation critically before taking action. They know how to play things to their advantage, which is a useful skill to implement in the assistance of others. Uniquely for Slytherin, there is a relative eveness between the wand cores, but Dragon Heartstring stands as the winner. This core has a strong bond to whoever its owner is, but it does have a proclivity for changing its allegiance if won by another person. The same could be said for Slytherins, whose cunning and ambition make those who belong to this great house the perfect owners of such a wand core.
In summation, it seems that all houses have an affinity for all wand cores. As each wand cores provides a different edge, it seemed more than likely that people of different houses would fit with the wand core whose edge best suited their personality traits. While there were not an overwhelming amount of same wand cores per house, I did notice that all houses leaned to one wand core more than others. Some cores fit the house, while others caught me by surprise. However, what is irrefutable is that whatever wand core you possess, it is perfectly made for you, regardless of whether or not it fits your house’s stereotype.
by Isabella
New Students, New Life
Just like every other year in the history of myHogwarts, Year 61 could not possibly be off to a great start without an assortment of excited and eager first-years awaiting the start of their Sorting Ceremony with bated breath. Every year, students and Alumni alike await the Sorting Ceremony with much enthusiasm, wondering and pondering which House will be blessed with the more mischievous students, the more diligent students, the more lively students...
There is always much discussion revolving around the matter, and those who fancy themselves brave and insightful enough can even attempt to rival the Sorting Hat's wise judgement by participating in the Sorting Hat Apprentice event running every year... Even though I never took much joy in gambling with chance, I must admit that particular event is quite intriguing. Having said that, I certainly encourage you to get your guesses in too next year, there is one beautiful badge available for the best Apprentice. 😉.
Random advertising aside, the Sorting Ceremony has always been a significant event in the site's history. Nothing can rival standing amid a sea of restless first-years, awaiting the Sorting Hat's song (I must admit that, for a Hat, he is quite the songwriter!) and judgement. One by one, the students climb up the stairs and stand before the whole school, facing their future housemates and classmates with a nervous energy that only a first-year can truly feel and understand. And one by one, they are sorted into their most fitting Houses while cheers and claps erupt and shake the Great Hall to its foundation. However, the question still remains... Which students graced the school with their presence for the first time this year and which Houses were they sorted into following the Sorting Hat's thorough evaluation? Let's meet them all below, shall we?
Let us start our trek down memory lane with... GRYFFINDOR! The House of the brave, the daring and the chivalrous, the House decked in maroon and gold, welcomed two new students into its embrace this year: Adora Bolton and Ginerva Weasley. Adora was sorted alongside the main batch of first-year students, right as the new year began, and the Hat concluded that her "strong nerve and bold mind" could only find their rightful place in Gryffindor. From the very beginning, Adora's enthusiasm was evident as she purchased her supplies around Diagon Alley, making sure to grab her books for all the subjects she would be studying during her first year: Charms, Transfiguration, Divination and History of Magic were only some of them, and it seemed that the ambitious streak the Hat detected was beginning to materialize. With her owl, Selene, at her shoulder, Adora will be sure to take Hogwarts by storm in the years to come! On the other hand, Ginerva was sorted later on, during the second week of the first term, and the Hat was quick to determine that her outstanding courage would serve her very well in Gryffindor. Ginerva decided to take her first year at a more moderate pace, focusing on a smaller amount of classes such as Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms. With a pair of adorable Pygmy Puffs, Eve and Dawn, and her owl, Rain, it seems like Ginerva has everything she needs to tackle her studies at Hogwarts.
Continuing down this path, we have... HUFFLEPUFF! The House of the fair, the hardworking and the patient, the House decked in yellow and black, welcomed two more students this year: Flora Mayberry and Ren Lovegood. Flora joined the new first-years for the first official Sorting Ceremony of the year, joining Hufflepuff after the Hat detected her loving kindness and "strong sense of justice". From the very beginning, Flora showed much diligence and excitement for her classes, seeking to complete both practical and regular assignments to appease the natural curiosity the Hat praised her for during their first encounter. From Defence Against the Dark Arts to Charms to even the more scientific magical branch of Transfiguration, Flora was determined to learn as much as her books and Professors could teach her. With her first job application pending, it is certain that we still have much to learn about this multitalented Hufflepuff. On the other hand, Ren was sorted a few days later, right in the middle of the bustling first week of the first term, and the Hat wasted no time deciding that his heart's true destination was none other than Hufflepuff. It became apparent that Ren's preferences revolved mostly around the more practical subjects of the curriculum, with Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures holding the top spots. He even took it upon himself to join the most famous sport around Hogwarts, Quidditch, and play for his team, the mighty Ravenpuffs! While this is only the beginning, one can only wonder what Ren will be choosing to do in the future.
The next one on the list of Houses is... RAVENCLAW! The House of the wise, the witty and the creative, the House decked in blue and bronze, was the third House in a row to welcome two new students into its midst: Rhiannon and Zalia Rivera. Rhiannon was the first out of the two to be sorted in the first official Sorting Ceremony of the year, with the Hat quickly deciding that her "logical nature and commitment to learning" would be perfectly suited for Ravenclaw. From then on, she was met with the beginning of her incredible journey, her first target in the sea of subjects she could pursue being Astronomy. Her natural curiosity, as per the Hat's verdict, had already propelled her to start accumulating the books she would need, even if just to acquire a first taste of what she would be learning in future years. In any case, Rhiannon's years at Hogwarts have only just begun and there is no telling what she will choose to tackle next. Much in a similar fashion, Zalia was sorted in the first Sorting Ceremony of the year, alongside many of her future classmates, and the Hat had little trouble determining that her penchant for "structuring the world using logic" could only grow to its full potential in Ravenclaw. Zalia didn't take long to find her passion for Care of Magical Creatures and Magical Healing, seeking to advance her skills through both practical and theoretical assignments. She did not hesitate to also join the thrilling sport known as Quidditch, starting her debut as a Chaser for her new team, the Ravenpuffs. With two student jobs already under her belt, Zalia has clearly managed to find her way around the school... We can only wonder how she will choose to use that knowledge.
And finally, we shall wrap up our reminiscence with... SLYTHERIN! Unlike the rest of the Hogwarts Houses, the House of the cunning, the resourceful and the ambitious, the House decked in green and silver, only welcomed one new student this year: mel. Like most of her fellow first-years, mel was sorted during the first Sorting Ceremony of Year 61, and the Hat had little trouble deciding that her decisiveness and persuasiveness would fit perfectly in Slytherin. From the very beginning, mel gravitated toward some of the more practical subjects offered at Hogwarts, such as Care of Magical Creatures and Charms. Her natural sense of humour, clearly detected by the Hat during her sorting, could only shine through as she made her way through the Hogwarts scene. Beyond her academic career, mel was quick to try out for Quidditch, soon joining her own team, the Slytherdors, first as a Chaser and later on, as a rather successful Seeker. With one student job already under her belt, mel is certainly enjoying her student life to the fullest.
Overall, all four of our esteemed Hogwarts Houses had the chance to welcome many new and different students, each of them bringing new life to the school with their unique personalities and charms. While they are only just starting their academic careers and it is far too early to evaluate their paths, one can only imagine what they will grow to be and what they will manage to accomplish over the coming years. We can only welcome them to our beloved school with open arms and wish them all the best as they pave their own paths with enthusiasm and determination.