Wands

[adatole]

No: HPFGUIDX 36571

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Susanne <siskiou at e...> wrote:
> Maybe they "outgrow" their wands?
> 
> I've been wondering if first years are given "beginners"
> wands, because I could certainly see them use it, accidently
> or on purpose, for destructive purposes if they were "full
> power".
*************
Then why would Harry have the "brother" of Voldemort's wand? The one 
that Voldy uses against him in GoF? 

No, the wand chooses the wizard, and it's for life. However, like any 
tool, the wand could suffer from wear and tear. And from the 
description it has. Charlie, perhaps upon graduation or when he saved 
up enough on his new job, went and bought himself a new wand. And 
that meant his old one was OK.

Now the really interesting question is that such emphasis was placed 
on Harry's wand (no other wand will work as well for you). Which 
makes you wonder how much better Ron would have been at his lessons 
if he had a wand that was his. 
> 
> But on the other hand, how important *is* the wand really
> for wizarding purposes?
> Is it just like a crutch or really needed?
> 
> If you lose your wand, are your powers gone?
***************
It's a focus, a tool. You still have the abilities (in SS/PS Harry is 
able to leap short buildings, regrow hair, shrink sweaters, etc all 
without training or a wand. In PoA he blows up Aunt Marge, and then 
the cupboard where all his stuff is locked blows open on it's own.) 
but it is harder to get the specific desired result.

> 
> Dumbledore manages just fine without a wand, but is this a
> rare thing, or something you learn with experience?
*************
Personally I think building itself has massive numbers of 
enchantments that are specifically tuned to people with certain 
roles. I believe the headmaster of Hogwarts has the equivalent of the 
Maurauder's Map but with even MORE information. I think he is able to 
manipulate certain elements (the accoutrements of the great hall, 
etc) at will.

But that aside, I do believe Dumbledore would do fine without a wand. 
At his age he is so practiced at focusing the magical energies that a 
wand would be redundant for all but very complex magic.

Leon