Power of the Elder Wand

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 178999

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

Carol:
> At any rate, Grindelwald was certainly wielding the wand or DD
> could not have become master of it.

Geoff:
I don't think that is necessarily true... Looking at canon:

'"And Grindelwald used the Elder wand to become powerful. At 
the height of his power, when Dumbledore knew he was the only 
one who could stop him, he duelled Grindelwald and beat him 
and he took the Elder wand."

"Dumbledore had the Elder wand?" said Ron. "But then - where is it now?"

"At Hogwarts," said Harry...'
(DH "The Wandmaker" p.404 UK edition)

'"But you're too late," said Harry, "You've missed your chance. 
I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took this 
wand from him."

Harry twitched the hawthorn wand and he felt the eyes of everyone 
in the Hall upon it.'
(DH "The Flaw in the Plan" p.595 UK edition)

The Elder wand was in Dumbledore's tomb. Harry overpowered Draco 
and took his*own* wand but the Elder wand still recognised him as its
master, having disarmed Draco.