mintnorth24: "The reason your wand length does not seem to describe you is because it doesn't really describe you yourself; but rather, your future."

Aphrodite: "Yes, that is usually the case. Unicorn hair, dragon heartstring and phoenix feather are all fairly universal. But other wand cores, such as veela hair, usually mean that the wand owner has a closer relationship with the origins or meanings of the core. For example, with veela hair, there is usually some veela blood running in the family. It would be pretty impossible to list all the personality traits etc. of all wand cores in the world, because there are thousands of them - if not millions.

Unicorn, dragon and phoenix cores are the most common, as I believe I have repeated too much, and most used in Britain, Central Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Other parts of the world, like Africa and Scandinavia, don't really have popular wand cores. This might be because the said animals are scarcer there. In Africa it is normal to use things like Erumpetent horn or Sphinx tail hairs. Scandinavians have access to dragon heartstring, but phoenixes don't really enjoy the cold environment. In Scandinavia, South America and some Mediterranean countries it is common for a family to make their own wands. The cores used are often of magical herbs and spices treated with special rituals and finally dried inside the wand.

Infact..." Madame Noire digs out her own wand now. "My wand also has a herb core. I'm from Finland, which is in Scandinavia."

She twirls the wand between her fingers. It is perfectly ordinary-looking, light in colour with a few black streaks here and there, and slightly battered.

"In my family, it's been tradition for everyone to make their wand before they go to school. My father is a Frenchman, so his family have always bought wands from shops: but my mother's side is very traditional, and they insist on making all wands from scratch. Which is good, in my opinion, as you get a closer feel to the wand that way.

Birch. It's a common tree in Finland. The wood is white with darker streaks, which explains why my wand's colouring. 9 and a half inches. The core is of blueberry, raspberry, vanilla, nettle, pine and a bit of black pepper. There might be something else as well, I just don't remember it right now. But I'd rather not waste your time by going into details about how herb cores are made, so if someone is interested they can pop by my office some time."

Madame Noire casts a quick glance at the large clock on the wall.

"Hmm. We have about five minutes left. Time for those last few questions! Of course, if you have questions you'd rather not discuss in front of the class, as always, my office door is open.

Riiya: Yes, that's right.

Backslash: As the Chimaera is one-third dragon, it posesses some dragonish qualities. For example, possible exaggeration in speech sometimes: the Chimaera, after all, is a very rare creature. It's endurance is high and it is very unique, so one might expect the same from a wizard with a Chimaera wand core. Actually, Arkee Maldemer just listed some very basic points of Chimaeran traits - five points to you, Arkee.

Pookah: No, it doesn't. It is your choices which make you Dark. A core's definition may seem negative, but think of Slytherins, for example: cunning, yes, sly, yes, ambitious, yes; but would that always mean every Slytherin will become a Dark wizard? No, it doesn't. It's pretty much the same with wand cores. Everyone has a possibility to become a Dark wizard, regardless of their wand. Oh, their wand could be pink with faerie fluff and flower petals and they could still become Death Eaters! In the long run, the wand doesn't say that much about your personality. It is here," Madame Noire says, tapping her head.

"So... final questions before I give you your homework task?"