Mistakes made in Deathly Hallows? The Elder Wand

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 181452

> bdclark0423 wrote:
> > "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!'  
> 
> Bart:
> Assuming: the Elder Wand always wins duels for it's owner. 
Question: How 
> do you defeat the owner?
> 
> Answer: You defeat the owner by not fighting a duel with him/her 
while 
> he/she is using the wand. In other words, the battle must be a duel 
AND 
> the owner must be using the wand in order for the owner to be 
guaranteed 
> a win. That leaves a LOT of leeway. For example, an ambush by 
multiple 
> wizards, attacking by surprise, convincing the holder to choose not 
to 
> fight, etc.
> 
> My GUESS about DD versus Waldo is that while Waldo prepared to be 
> attacked by a spell, DD used strictly Muggle means, taking him 
> completely by surprise.

a_svirn:
Oh, I think the answer is simpler. The wands – including the Elder 
one – are notoriously fickle. And as soon as a wand changes its 
allegiance it changes its owner. In fact the very concept of wand 
ownership is somewhat contradictory. Since wands apparently have 
minds of their own you can only *own* them by constraining then to do 
your bidding. And yet neither wizards, nor Goblins have leaned how to 
bind magical objects. Which makes me wonder why wizards prefer to 
rely on wands rather than enhancing their wandless magic skills. 

a_svirn