My own wand theory

[Eric Oppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 54831

I've always thought that a wand is analogous to an antenna for a radio
transmitter/receiver.  A radio can receive or transmit without one, but the
transmission is much easier with an antenna of some sort.

Beginning wizards and witches, such as the ones at Ollivander's shop, aren't
as magically powerful as they will be later on, so they need a wand that's
as closely attuned to their particular magical "frequency" as possible.  A
full-fledged Hogwarts Old Boy or Old Girl, OTOH, would be able to get pretty
good results with about any wand.  As they age and learn magic, wizards and
witches become more magically powerful, rather analogously to muscles
gaining strength the more they're exercised.  Fake-Moody is not known to
have ever lied outright, and he said that the Killing Curse was one that
"took a powerful lot of magic behind it---you could all get out your wands,
point them at me, and say the words, and I doubt I'd get as much as a
nosebleed."  (Hmmm...interesting thought.  He _didn't_ say he'd survive the
experience, either.  Could this be another example of him lying through his
teeth by telling the exact truth?  AK leaves its victims _unmarked,_ after
all---but I digress.  Another post.  Back to wands!!)

Now, to take the radio/magic analogy a bit farther, one can postulate that
"frequencies" of magic are like blood types---some are much more common than
others.  Hence, Ron was able to use Charlie's old second-hand wand because,
as Charlie's brother, they had similar enough "frequency types" to make this
possible---ISTR he never asked to borrow Harry or Hermione's wands when his
own wand was on the fritz.  His "frequency type" might be the magical
equivalent of blood type A-positive, while Harry (and Tom Riddle/Voldemort)
may be the equivalent of AB-negative in terms of rarity.

Comments?

--Eric, who gave blood today and would like to encourage fellow HP4GUers to
follow his example.