"The true match for a beech wand will be, if young, wise beyond his or her years, and if full-grown, rich in understanding and experience. Beech wands perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant."
-- Mr. Ollivander (Pm)
A wand wood (Pm).
- The first wand Harry tried at Ollivander's was beechwood with dragon heart-string, but the wand did not choose him (PS5).
- Harry flew into a beech tree while spying on Snape and Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest (PS13).
- According the Ollivander, "(w)hen properly matched, the beech wand is capable of a subtlety and artistry rarely seen in any other wood."
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James Potter and his friends were hanging out under a beech tree by the Lake after their O.W.L.s when James and Sirius decided to mess with Snape (OP28). Twice in their fifth year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent some downtime under the same tree (OP17, OP31).
Commentary
Etymology
Old English bēce, of Germanic origin; related to book
Notes
Beech trees often grow with their roots spreading into nearby water, which is why beech twigs are often used for divining rods. The broad smooth trunks of beech trees are also favorites for carving names and hearts. source: English Gardening
In the Middle Ages, beech was associated with pastoral poetry (source: Ferber, Michael. A Dictionary of Literary Symbols. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1999. Web.). This seems to agree with the idyllic feel of the scenes beneath the beech tree by the Lake. -BB