Mistakes made in Deathly Hallows? The Elder Wand

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 181440

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bdclark0423" <bdclark0423 at ...> wrote:
>
> >zgirnius:
> >It is possible that the Elder Wand does not have to win duels for 
> its
> >owner. The wand in the story of the Three Brothers must - the actual
> >historical artifact that inspired the story, may perhaps only be a
> >wand of great power.
> 
> bdclark0423:
> After my post, I still had some doubts in my own mind.  However 
> though,  before I even threw this topic out there, I made sure to 
> define one of the original conditions of the Elder Wand:  
> 
> "So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a 
> wand...that must always win duels for its owner:  a wand worthy of a 
> wizard who had conquered Death!'  
> 
> So with that, all the other comments I've already included, plus 
> those thoughts and ideas within DH, we are still given the 
> impression that anyone with the wand cannot be beaten.  Now, since I 
> have researched this just a little bit further since my original 
> post, there's actually some wiggle room, i.e. what if the one 
> holding the one is not challenged by Death....?
> 
> Anyway, I'm still curious to see other opinions.

Geoff:
I agree with you that this hinges on what we mean by "had 
conquered Deatrh" and also the circumstances of the holder's 
death.

If, for example, you consider the first brother, the wand passed 
on because he was killed, not in a duel, but by stealth. The Elder 
wand obviously does not consider the morals of the conqueror 
but only the fact that it has changed hands.

Taking a more recent transfer of ownership, I feel that Draco 
was able to get the wand from Dumbledore because the 
latter had not conquered death but was actually close to 
succumbing to it.

But, then again, can the holder be deprived of the wand by 
another wizard who is quicker on the draw? Even the cowboy 
with the most high-tec sixshooter can be outgunned by his 
opponent if the latter happens to be wearing a white hat.
:-)