Speaking of wands...

[slgazit]

No: HPFGUIDX 82809

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Iggy McSnurd" 
<coyoteschild at p...> wrote:
>  Everybody has been talking about how Sirius got his wand back in
> PoA... I think a more important question would be how did 
Voldemort get HIS
> wand back for GoF? 

I have a theory on wands, but it's pure speculation. I take 
Ollivander's words about wand and wizard matching. The wand consists 
of two components - the wood and the core. I think even wands made 
of the same type of wood and core (e.g. two holly wands with phoenix 
feather core) would be different. Which tree (not just which type of 
tree), when it was cut, which magical creasture gave the core, not 
just which type of creature, and when - all that combined makes each 
wand unique. In the case of a phoenix, I even wonder whether 
feathers from two different incarnations are as linked as feathers 
from the same incarnation. For example, the feathers in Harry's and 
Voldemort's wand were apparently given at about the same time - as 
indicated by DD saying that Ollivander wrote to tell him that Harry 
bought the "second wand". Of course we all know that these two wands 
are linked. But will wands made with the two new feathers shed in 
OoP (if any will be made) also work against them, or just against 
each other? The phoenix was reborn at least once (in CoS) between 
the two events.

Now if we assume that each wand is unique, and since new wands keep 
being made and old ones get back into circulation through passing 
them between generations - what then is the chance that when a 
random 11 year old walks in the shop, they'll find the perfect match 
for them? I think very low. I think that in most cases, the kids get 
*a* wand that matches them better than the others in the shop, but 
it is not necessarily the perfect fit. As they grow, they may go 
back and then find a better fitting wand. This is probably why Ron 
ended up with Bill's old wand  - Bill found a wand that fit him 
better.

I think that only in very rare situations there is a perfect match 
right off - perhaps it is rare for a wizard to get a perfect match 
at all. Both Harry's and Voldemort's are perfect matches though.

What is the significance of that? I think that when one has found 
the perfectly matching wand, that wand will not be destroyed or lost 
to them as long as they live (or exist in Voldemort's case :-)). The 
wand will somehow find its way back to its owner through 
circumstances that may seem accidental perhaps but pretty much pre-
ordained. Thus, when Crouch Jr. steals Harry's wand and creates the 
Dark Mark, he gets stunned and drops the wand - just where Harry 
happens to be! Accident? I think somehow the wand "made" him make 
the Dark Mark right where Harry was, sensing that its real owner is 
near (a bit like Sauron and his Ring in LOTR :-)).

Likewise, a set of seemingly random events ensure that Voldemort's 
wand gets returned to him, but really they had to happen, because 
like Harry's, Voldemort's wand is a perfect match for him and 
therefore has to return to him as soon as he is able to hold a wand.

I have no idea how common that "perfect match" is. Was Sirius' wand 
in OoP the same one he had when he was arrested and sent to Azkaban? 
We have no information to say either way. We know that James and 
Lily's school wands were not perfect matches and presumably were 
replaced later (Ollivander tells Harry how he remembers his parents 
buying their "first wand" - implying there was a second and maybe 
more). My guess is that perfect matches are extremely rare and maybe 
only very special wizards (Voldemort, DD, Harry) get them - that the 
fates that create such unique wizards somehow manage to have their 
perfect wand in store when they are ready.

All pure speculation of course, but it seems plausible to me...

Salit