Confused--help???

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "dzny72" <dzny72 at ...> wrote:
>
> Okay--I am basically putting this out there and hoping someone can 
> explain better than what I have seen so far.  I just reread DH and am 
> still not getting how Draco ended up being the "rightful master" of 
> the Elder Wand, and how it recognized that Harry had taken Draco's 
> original wand.  I have tried to read posts (only of OTC) and I am 
> still confused.  Can someone either explain by pointing out specific 
> parts in canon or direct me to a post that does so??
> Thanks!!
> 
> Dzny
>

Geoff:
Harry explains why Draco became the new master...

'"You still don't get it, Riddle. do you? Possessing the wand isn't 
enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. Didn't you 
listen to Ollivander? The wand chooses the wizard... the Elder Wand 
recognised  a new master before Dumbledore died, some one who 
never even laid a hand on it. The new master removed the wand 
from Dumbledore against his will, never realising exactly what he 
had done or that the world's most dangerous wand had given him 
its allegiance..."

Voldemort's chest rose and fell rapidly and Harry could feel the 
curse coming, feel it building in the wand pointed at his face.

"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy."'
(DH "The Flaw in the Plan" pp.594/95 UK edition)

The reference to never laying a hand on it points back to:

'The door burst open and somebody erupted through it and 
shouted: "Expelliarmus".

Harry's body became instantly rigid and immobile...

...He could not understand how it had happened - 
Expelliarmus was not a Freezing Charm -

Then, by the light of the Mark, he saw Dumbledore's wand 
flying in an arc over the edge of the ramparts and understood... 
Dumbledore had wordlessly immobilised Harry and the second 
he had taken to perform the spell had cost him the chance of 
defending himself.

Standing against the ramparts,very white in the face, Dumbledore 
still showed no sign of panic or distress. He merely looked across 
at his disarmer and siad "Good evening, Draco."'
(HBP "The LIghtning-Struck Tower" pp.545/46 UK edition)

That covers how Draco became the master; I can't recall any 
reference being made to who recovered the wand but we know that 
it was in Dumbledore's tomb until Voldemort breaks in and takes it:

'Had the old fool imagined that marble or death would protect the 
wand? Had he thought that the Dark Lord would be scared to violate 
his tomb? The spider-like hand swooped and pulled the wand from 
Dumbledore's grasp...'
(DH "The Wandmaker" p.405 UK edition)

I'm not sure how the elder wand recognised a change of allegiance 
to Harry. Ollivander explains that Draco's own wand would now obey 
Harry:

'"Hawthorn and unicorn hair. Ten inches precisely. Reasonably springy. 
This was the wand of Draco Malfoy."
"Was?" repeated Harry. "Isn't it still his?"
"Perhaps not. If you took it -"
"- I did -"
"- then it may be yours. Of course, the manner of taking matters. 
Much also depends on the wand itself. in general, however, where a 
wand has been won, its allegiance will change."....

...." I took this wand from Draco Malfoy by force,": said Harry."can I 
use it safely?"
"I tihkn so. Subtle laws govern wand ownership but the conquered 
wand will usually bend its will to its new master."'
(DH "The Wandmaker" from p.399 UK edition)

It seems that the change of allegiance by Draco's wand also affects 
the Elder Wand. It is on this fact that Harry risks the final 
confrontation with Voldemort:

'"...and after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy..."
"But you're too late," said Harry."You've missed your chance. I got 
there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took this wand from 
him."

Harry twitched the hawthorn wand and he felt the eyes of everyone 
in the Hall upon it.

"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" whispered Harry. "Does 
the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because 
if it does... I am the true master of the Elder Wand."....

....Harry heard the high voice shriek as he, too, yelled his best hope 
to the heavens, pointing Draco's wand:

"Avada Kedavra"
"Expelliarmus"'

(DH "The Flaw in the Plan" pp.595 UK edition)

The rest is history.

Hope this helps.