Hermione Granger's wand

Hermione Granger: " [...] where's my wand'?"

Harry Potter: "Protego! Hermione! Calm —"

Hermione Granger: "I will not calm down! Give me back my wand! Give it back to me!"

— Hermione demanding her wand back from Harry^[src]

Hermione Granger's wand was 10¾" long, made of vine wood, and possessed a dragon heartstring core.^[1] The wand was manufactured by Garrick Ollivander sometime before Hermione's education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

History

Purchase

Hermione presumably obtained her wand from Mr Ollivander when she was eleven years old, shortly before beginning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1991.

Use at Hogwarts

Hermione's Patronus — Hermione casting her Patronus during a Dumbledore's Army meeting

Hermione performed powerful magic with this wand during her time at Hogwarts. She was able to produce a corporeal Patronus, an otter, at the age of fifteen, a very advanced piece of magic and proof that she possessed superior magical ability.^[2] Due to Hermione's talent and hard work she was top of her class in every subject, except Defence Against the Dark Arts where she came second to Harry Potter.

Second Wizarding War

Hermione dueling — Hermione casting *Petrificus Totalus* on Antonin Dolohov

In 1996, during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Neville Longbottom temporarily used Hermione's wand after his wand was broken, and Hermione was incapacitated by Death Eater Antonin Dolohov. His nose was also broken, making it difficult for him to articulate spells. At one point in the battle, when Walden Macnair grabbed Harry Potter by the throat, Neville jabbed him in the eye through his mask with Hermione's wand, making him scream and release Harry. After the battle, Neville returned Hermione's wand to her and purchased a new wand for himself.^[3] Hermione used this wand during the Battle of the Seven Potters. She and Kingsley fended off several Death Eaters during the sky battle. When the trio infiltrated the Ministry to steal back Slytherin's locket, this wand was used.

In December 1997, Hermione had to share her wand with Harry Potter for a time after his wand was broken by the Blasting Curse she used to defend him from Nagini when the snake attacked them in Godric's Hollow. He was still holding it when Ron Weasley returned to them, fortunately for Ron, as Harry used it to place a Shield Charm between Ron and a furious Hermione. During his absence, Ron had taken a blackthorn wand from Snatchers that Harry was subsequently able to use.^[4] Hermione used this wand during the trio's visit to Lovegood house, whilst seeking information on the Deathly Hallows sign, during their visit they were ambushed by two Death Eaters and just managed to escape.

Confiscation

Hermione Granger: "I hate that thing. I really hate it. It feels all wrong, it doesn’t work properly for me… It’s like a bit of her."

Ron Weasley: "It’ll probably help you get in character, though. Think what that wand’s done!"

Hermione Granger: "But that’s my point! This is the wand that tortured Neville’s mum and dad, and who knows how many other people? This is the wand that killed Sirius! I miss my wand."

— Hermione on using Bellatrix Lestrange's wand^[src]

Snatchers1 — The trio are captured by Snatchers and Hermione's wand is confiscated

Hermione's wand was confiscated by Snatchers in the spring of 1998 when she, Harry, and Ron were caught after Harry accidentally broke the Taboo curse by saying Voldemort's name. Hermione subsequently used Bellatrix Lestrange's 12¾" walnut and dragon heartstring wand, which Harry grabbed during their escape from Malfoy Manor. Hermione disliked having to use Bellatrix's wand, partly because she did not win it herself, making it more difficult to use, and partly because it was the wand Bellatrix had used to torture Neville Longbottom's parents and to kill Sirius Black. However, she was forced to use it.

This caused a problem when she, Harry, and Ron later broke in to Gringotts Wizarding Bank with Hermione impersonating Bellatrix by consuming Polyjuice Potion. The goblins asked Hermione to see her wand as identification before she could enter the Lestrange family's vault, but Bellatrix had already warned them that her wand had been stolen. Harry was forced to use the Imperius Curse to ensure that Hermione was allowed in.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione duelled Bellatrix alongside Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood, holding her own in spite of being hampered by using the witch's own wand against her.^[4]

Behind the scenes

J. K. Rowling used a Celtic calendar to assign Hermione's wand wood based on her date of birth, as vine corresponds to those born between 2 September and 29 September. She did the same for Harry's wand and Ron's wand, as "a hidden connection" between the three friends.^[5]
In the Celtic tree calendar, the vine is a symbol of passionate emotions in each extreme — both happiness and wrath. It was connected to the autumn equinox, when there are equal hours of darkness and light, and thus to balance, as well as to the harvest, a time of growth and achieving goals.^[6]
In the Harry Potter films, Hermione's wand has a vine design from the third film onwards. In the first two films, Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, Hermione's wand is short with a black shaft and a light-coloured, chess piece-like handle. The reason for the change was that Alfonso Cuaron, the third film's director, wanted the wands to represent their owners more, and also to show that Hermione's wand was indeed made of vine.
Hermione's wand in the films is one of the few wands that does not have an obvious handle.
When Kate Middleton visited the Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, she simulated a fight with her husband, Prince William, and took Hermione's wand to do so.^[7]
It's unknown if, Hermione got his wand back after the Second Wizarding War, or if it was broken when confiscated.

Appearances

Notes and references

[PS-1] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

[2] Pottermore - New From J. K. Rowling - Patronus Charm

[OTP-3] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[DH-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[5] "Extra Stuff: Wands" at J. K. Rowling's official site

[6] About.com: The Celtic Tree Calender

[7] see this image

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