Where Have the Wands Gone????

[yolandacarroll]

No: HPFGUIDX 86465

meriaugust wrote:
> Was just perusing a few older posts, and I am pretty sure that 
> this has been discussed before but I can't keep myself from 
> wondering: where do wands go when their wizard owners have been 
> incapacitated? 

I'd thought about this a few times too.  Here are my 
theories on the subject.

> Neville's father's wand belonged to Neville up to the end of OotP, 
> but that's just a natural inheritance. So how did Voldemort get 
> his wand back after that fateful night in Godric's Hollow? 

I'd always assumed that one of his loyal deatheaters 
took his wand and kept it safe for him.  That's truly 
the only explanation I can come up with.

> How did Wormtail get his wand back after being in hiding as a rat 
> for twelve years? 

He may have had it all along.  Animagus keep their 
clothes and other possessions when they transform 
back and forth.

Also, since someone else mentioned that Scabbers 
was lying next to *Ron's* wand, he may not have 
had access to his own wand during the twelve years 
that he was hiding as a rat, however he did have 
access to *a* wand.  

Not to mention, he could always get a new wand.  
He may not be able to walk in to Ollivander's as 
himself, but he could either wear a disguise to 
buy one (if that's allowed) or he could simply 
steal wands from other wizards.  Using other 
wizards' wands would work just not as well.

> And how did Sirius get his wand back after a prison term in 
> Azkaban? 

I don't think he got his wand back.  He probably 
had to get a new one or if not a new one a 
replacement.  He could have found one at Grimmauld 
Place.  An old wizarding family like the Blacks 
ought to have at least one old wand stored away.  
I think Sirius would get a real kick out of dragging 
around some family heirloom that he probably wasn't 
even allowed to touch as a child *smile*.

Another idea I had was perhaps we didn't see all 
of the members of the OOtP, who's to say there 
aren't other, less active members and/or 
sympathizers.  Ollivander could be one of them.  
Besides, I think there are other places besides 
Ollivander's to get a wand.  See below about 
"recylcled" wands.

> Does Lockhart, now recovering his memory in St. Mungo's, 
> still have access to a wand? 

I don't think so.  He's not "all there", so I 
doubt anyone would allow him to have a wand 
right now.

> What happens to wands when wizards die? 

Like Neville's wand, I assume they are treated 
like other possessions of course for practical 
reasons, they might be handled a special way.  
For example, Neville may have inherited his 
father's wand, however his Gran wouldn't have 
given it to him until after he received his 
Hogwarts letter.

> Are they destroyed or recycled? Just some questions that keep 
> bothering me. 
> Meri
> (who now hopes the JKR will dedicate an entire chapter of book 6 
to 
> thorny wand problems)

I imagine that unusable wands are either destroyed 
or for sentimental reasons shelved.  Ron's wand 
after CoS would fall into the "unusable" category.

I don't know if the wood and core of a wand that 
has been damaged *can* be recycled.

However, since used wands will work for other wizards, 
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a used wand shop 
in Diagon Alley or Hogsmead.  Since Charlie's old 
wand was available for Ron to use, we may not have 
heard about such a shop yet.

A market for used wands will exist.  Sure if you 
had a choice, you'd want a new one that is properly 
suited to you, but not everone will have that choice.

Knockturn Alley could also have a used wand shop 
that isn't too discriminating about whom they sell 
to.  Sirius or Wormtail could wear a disguise 
while they shopped there.

Yolanda