Wand with Fawkes' Tail Feather Choosing Voldemort (was: Voldemort's Wand)

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 47443

Trish in AZ <pschmiedl at e...> wrote:

> In PS/SS Mr. Olivander says, "the wand chooses the wizard" and the 
> tail feather from the same Phoenix was in Harry's and Voldemort's 
> wand. If in fact, if it is the Phoenix that belonged to Gryffindor 
> why would that wand chose Voldemort?

Now me:

Hopefully this hasn't already been said (as I confess I haven't read 
this entire thread yet), but I believe having Fawkes' tail feather in 
both Harry and Voldemort's wands signifies the role of "choice" in 
determining one's destiny.  The "wand chooses the wizard" at the 
point at which the wand is purchased (IMO).  I don't believe a wand 
has the ability to predict what the wizard it is choosing will make 
of his/her life in the future.  What the wand has to go on is the 
potential presented by the wizard at the time of purchase.  Both 
Harry and Voldemort (Tom Riddle at the time) present great promise 
when their wands are purchased, and both are equally worthy of 
possessing a wand containing Fawkes' tail feather (I believe a wand 
with Fawkes' tail feather is a worthy wand because I believe, as I've 
explained before, that there is a lot of evidence in canon that 
Fawkes was once Godric Gryffindor's phoenix).

So, subsequent to the purchase of his wand, Riddle went bad.  He went 
bad because he *chose* to go bad.  He could have *chosen* to be a 
good wizard, and a mighty good wizard he could have been if he had 
directed his talents appropriately.

~Phyllis
who finally saw CoS (the movie) today and is in raptures (they even 
got Petunia's salmon pink cocktail dress the right color!)