What happened to Voldemort's wand?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 168025

> Carol responds:
> I just lost a post on this topic, so I'll try again. First, I think
> JW's point that LV had his wand at the beginning of GoF is important.
> He didn't get it back at the graveyard; he used it to kill Frank
> Bryce. In fact, he had it before that since it was also used, either
> by LV or by Wormtail, to kill Bertha Jorkins. And that murder occurred
> soon after Wormtail abducted Bertha and took her to Voldemort. No
> other person--Snape, Lupin, Crouch Jr., or anyone else--was in contact
> with LV at that time. The person who returned LV's wand had to be
> Wormtail, the same person who resurrected him.

Pippin:
We don't know whether anyone else was in contact with Voldemort.
He says there wasn't, but he's a liar. It makes sense for Peter to have
been at Godric's Hollow, but it doesn't make sense for him to have
taken the wand.

Peter, we are told, never risks anything unless there's something in
it for him. Taking the wand was an awfully big risk--it was 
incriminating evidence. After all, he couldn't be sure that Sirius
would come after him alone and set himself up so beautifully.
Peter could have found himself facing twenty Aurors and 
Dumbledore, who would have had a very hard time doubting
Sirius's story of the SK switch if Voldemort's wand turned up
in Peter's pocket.

What reward  would Peter expect and from whom did he think he
was going to get it?

The wand would be an advantage only for someone who *knew*
that Voldemort would be coming back. But if Peter knew that,
then why didn't he seek out Voldemort at once? What possible
excuse could he have for hiding the wand, *proving* he 
expected Voldemort's return,   and then waiting twelve 
years to seek out his Master?

My guess would be that even if Peter was at Godric's Hollow 
someone else was there too, probably the same mysterious
individual who "sent" the Lestranges to deal with the 
Longbottoms, and maybe made sure they'd be caught.

It appears there was someone who wanted Voldemort to 
come back, but not immediately. What's gained by waiting 
twelve years? Well, Voldemort had time to become very 
very unhappy with his Inner Circle. 

Too bad, from a strategic point of view, since
with their help he was winning. But not so bad if you
wanted to replace the current Inner Circle with one
that was equally anti-Ministry, but much more friendly
to *your* interests.

At any rate, there is much about the graveyard scene that
is easier to understand if there was someone else involved.

How could Peter, burdened with Baby!Mort and hopeless
at duelling, draw his wand and kill a Tri-wizard Champion like
Cedric  when Cedric already had his wand in hand? 

Why do the ropes and the fire which Peter conjures
not re-appear as shadows from Voldemort's wand? 

Why do the shades of James, Lily, Bertha and Cedric take
no notice of Peter at all, though he's  unmasked
and conspicuous? You'd think they'd have a hiss or two
to spare for him.

And BTW, what sort of an explosion could rip Voldemort
from his body, destroy the house, and yet leave Harry,
Voldemort's wand and even his robes unharmed? Did
someone take the wand, the robes and the baby
out of the house first and then destroy it?

Pippin