Dragon heartstring

**Dragon heartstring** was a material from a dragon that could be used in the core of a wand. It is unknown from which varieties of dragon the heartstrings were collected, and what effect this difference made on the attributes of the wand, if any. Since the heart was a vital organ in all creatures, it can be assumed that the material was taken after the dragon had either died of natural causes or been killed. It is also unknown what quantity of heartstrings could be collected from each dragon's heart.

## Wandlore

Dragon heartstrings produced wands with the most magical power, and which were capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tended to learn more quickly than other types. While they could change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bonded strongly with the current owner. The dragon wand tended to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it would not incline that way of its own accord. It was also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental.

Garrick Ollivander specifically denoted the effects of a dragon heartstring core when paired with cherry and chestnut.

## Arteria

In exceptionally rare cases, a piece of a dragon's heart, known as the arteria, was used as a wand core and produced magical power to a much higher degree than regular heartstrings. A dragon was known to possess one arteria only and was the core of its being, meaning that only a suitable witch or wizard had to be deemed as an acceptable master. The only case of arteria wand cores being used was with members of the House of Durand. They uniquely formed powerful attachments with their dragons from birth which led to a powerful love shared between each other. Once members of their dragon colonies died they would utilise their arteria and heartstrings as wand cores. One notable case, was with Alexandre Durand who possessed a wand core from the arteria of his companion, Amyntas. It is said that only witches and wizards who share a powerful love or bond to the dragon whose arteria serves as core can use the wand, and is why nobody else apart from the House of Durand has been able to use it.

This rare wand core is said to be the very pinnacle of all wand cores, possessing extremely powerful and having the ability to sense danger. This results in the wand firing curses and protective charms, pre-emptively when supernatural dangers are present, in order to protect their master. Due to the powerful bond and love shared between the dragon core and the user, it is capable of achieving magic of a range far greater than that of a phoenix feather and produces magical power far beyond that of a regular dragon heartstring.

## Usage by wandmakers

The wandmaker Garrick Ollivander was known to use dragon heartstrings as one of his three cores; the others being unicorn hairs and phoenix feathers. Gregorovitch also used dragon heartstring in his wands, such as the one he made for Viktor Krum.

## Known wands

The following wands had a known dragon heartstring core:

* Alexandre Durand's wand
* Hermione Granger's wand
* Viktor Krum's wand
* Bellatrix Lestrange's wand
* Gilderoy Lockhart's wand
* Minerva McGonagall's wand
* Garrick Ollivander's wand
* Peter Pettigrew's wand
* Dolores Umbridge's wand
* Horace Slughorn's wand
* Lucius Malfoy's wand
* Gormlaith Gaunt's second wand
* Mr Boot's wand
* Jacob's wand
* Penelope Fawley's wand
* An applewood wand made by Garrick Ollivander
* A beechwood wand made by Garrick Ollivander
* An applewood wand owned by a visitor of the British Ministry of Magic
* Peregrine's wand