Chapters 151–160
Vine to Yew, Yew to Birch
There are different kinds of sphinxes in mythology (just look “sphinx” up at Wikipedia). The one that Hermione’s and Severus’ wand-cores come from has a lion’s body, a falcon’s head and a falcon’s wings.
Sempiternal Solution
“What hath he in his hand? Ligh in leath wand. What hath he in his other hand? Heaven’s doore key” is a part of an English charm quoted in the documents of the Pendle witch trials. “Leath” may mean “lithe” and the whole sentence is assumed to refer to a wand with which to prop open a door. But I’ve not been able to discover what “ligh in” may mean.
Sources: “Narratives of Sorcery and Magic: From the Most Authentic Sources”, By Thomas Wright, 1851; “English Folk Rhymes”, By G. F. Northall, 1892.
I wanted to tell you … Or: Horn of a Hornless Unicorn
“The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter” is a most reverent textual allusion to the wonderful book “Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. A wonderful book with one of the most wonderful endings I have ever read.
I can’t help thinking that Pratchett and Gaiman must have read about the Pendle witch trials same as I did, researching the history of magic and witches. So when I decided to use poor Jennet Device for my story, I thought it would only be appropriate to include a reference to the most famous incarnation of the names Device and Nutter in modern popular culture.