From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1) Quotes

“As Hagrid says, ‘people can be a bit stupid abou’ their pets.’ And Hagrid would know.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Never forget, though, that one of the most famous Patronuses of all time was a lowly mouse, which belonged to a legendary young wizard called Illyius, who used it to hold off an attack from an army of Dementors single-handedly.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“The majority of witches and wizards are unable to produce Patronuses and to do so is generally considered a mark of superior magical ability.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Manifesting as black, skeletal, bat-winged horses, but invisible to all who have never been truly touched by death, Thestrals have a somewhat macabre reputation. In centuries past the sight of them was regarded as unlucky; they have been hunted and ill-treated for many years, their true nature (which is kindly and gentle) being widely misunderstood. Thestrals are not marks of ill omen, nor (their spooky appearance notwithstanding) are they in any way threatening to humans, always allowing for the fright that the first sight of them tends to give the observer. Being able to see Thestrals is a sign that the beholder has witnessed death, and gained an emotional understanding of what death means.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Extinct Patronuses are very rare but not unknown. Strangely, given their long connection with wizardkind, owl Patronuses are unusual. Most uncommon of all possible Patronuses are magical creatures such as dragons, Thestrals and phoenixes. Never forget, though, that one of the most famous Patronuses of all time was a lowly mouse, which belonged to a legendary young wizard called Illyius, who used it to hold off an attack from an army of Dementors single-handedly. While a rare and magical Patronus undoubtedly reflects an unusual personality, it does not follow that it is more powerful, or will enjoy greater success at defending its caster.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Although believed to be situated in the far north of Europe, Durmstrang is one of the most secretive of all schools about its whereabouts, so nobody can be quite certain. Visitors, who must comply with memory charms to erase their knowledge of how they got there, speak of vast, sprawling grounds with many stunning views, not least of the great, dark, spectral ship that is moored on a mountain lake behind the school, from which students dive in summertime.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Thought to be situated somewhere in the Pyrenees, visitors speak of the breathtaking beauty of a chateau surrounded by formal gardens and lawns created out of the mountainous landscape by magic. Beauxbatons Academy has a preponderance of French students, though Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Luxembourgians and Belgians also attend in large numbers (both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have a larger studentship than Hogwarts). It is said that the stunning castle and grounds of this prestigious school were part-funded by alchemist gold, for Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel met at Beauxbatons in their youth, and a magnificent fountain in the middle of the school’s park, believed to have healing and beautifying properties, is named for them.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Colours also played their part in the naming of Hagrid and Dumbledore, whose first names are Rubeus (red) and Albus (white) respectively. The choice was a nod to alchemy, which is so important in the first Harry Potter book, where ‘the red’ and ‘the white’ are essential mystical components of the process. The symbolism of the colours in this context has mystic meaning, representing different stages of the alchemic process (which many people associate with a spiritual transformation). Where my two characters were concerned, I named them for the alchemical colours to convey their opposing but complementary natures: red meaning passion (or emotion); white for asceticism; Hagrid being the earthy, warm and physical man, lord of the forest; Dumbledore the spiritual theoretician, brilliant, idealised and somewhat detached. Each is a necessary counterpoint to the other as Harry seeks father figures in his new world.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“The four Hogwarts houses have a loose association with the four elements, and their colours were chosen accordingly. Gryffindor (red and gold) is connected to fire; Slytherin (green and silver) to water; Hufflepuff (yellow and black, representing wheat and soil) to earth; and Ravenclaw (blue and bronze; sky and eagle feathers) to air.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“This unusual and highly attractive wand wood was greatly in vogue in the nineteenth century. Demand outstripped supply, and unscrupulous wandmakers dyed substandard woods in an effort to fool purchasers into believing that they had purchased silver lime. The reasons for these wands’ desirability lay not only in their unusually handsome appearance, but also because they had a reputation for performing best for Seers and those skilled in Legilimency, mysterious arts both, which consequently gave the possessor of a silver lime wand considerable status.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“The straight-grained pine wand always chooses an independent, individual master who may be perceived as a loner, intriguing and perhaps mysterious.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“A wand for good times and bad, this is a friend as loyal as the wizard who deserves it. Wands of English oak demand partners of strength, courage and fidelity. Less well-known is the propensity for owners of English oak wands to have powerful intuition, and, often, an affinity with the magic of the natural world, with the creatures and plants that are necessary to wizardkind for both magic and pleasure.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“The rarest wand wood of all, and reputed to be deeply unlucky, the elder wand is trickier to master than any other. It contains powerful magic, but scorns to remain with any owner who is not the superior of his or her company; it takes a remarkable wizard to keep the elder wand for any length of time.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Cypress wands are associated with nobility. The great medieval wandmaker, Geraint Ollivander, wrote that he was always honoured to match a cypress wand, for he knew he was meeting a witch or wizard who would die a heroic death.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“This very rare wand wood creates a wand of strange power, most highly prized by the wizarding students of the school of Mahoutokoro in Japan, where those who own cherry wands have special prestige.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Wand-quality aspen wood is white and fine-grained, and highly prized by all wand-makers for its stylish resemblance to ivory and its usually outstanding charmwork. The proper owner of the aspen wand is often an accomplished duellist, or destined to be so, for the aspen wand is one of those particularly suited to martial magic. An infamous and secretive eighteenth-century duelling club, which called itself The Silver Spears, was reputed to admit only those who owned aspen wands.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter

“Applewood wands are not made in great numbers. They are powerful and best suited to an owner of high aims and ideals, as this wood mixes poorly with Dark magic. It is said that the possessor of an apple wand will be well-loved and long-lived, and I have often noticed that customers of great personal charm find their perfect match in an applewood wand.”
― J.K. Rowling, From the Wizarding Archive (Volume 1): Curated Writing from the World of Harry Potter