Wandlore and more

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 185386

 
> a_svirn:
> Um, yes, but Draco acted as Bella's proxy, and Harry disarmed him.
On  the whole, it is not surprising that the wand felt unfriendly – it
 probably couldn't figure out who was supposed to be its master, after
 all. 

Pippin:
Bella told Draco to pick her wand up. She didn't lend him her wand to
use, and Draco didn't use it. Bella wouldn't think she needed anyone
to fight as her proxy, least of all Draco.  And Harry definitely
didn't beat Bella herself -- he fled. 

IMO, Bella's wand would consider itself stolen rather than won -- if
so, it's no wonder that Harry and Hermione found it less than
cooperative. The loan company might rightfully repossess my car, but
they wouldn't  be entitled to my Aunt's Ferrari  just because the keys
were in the glove box.

Carol's observations about Ollivander's language made me think about
how differently he spoke to Harry in PS/SS. No qualifications there --
"Well, I say your father favoured it -- it's really the wand that
chooses the wizard, of course." "And of course, you will never get
such good results with another wizard's wand."  

The situations  were very different. In one case, Ollivander is
talking about his products with   a novice customer who lacks even
basic knowledge, and in the other Ollivander is being asked for expert
advice about an object he's studied but never examined by  a
frighteningly knowledgeable layperson in a matter of life and death.
It's no wonder his style changes!

But there may be more to it than that. Basic explanations must often
be so simplified that they're  technically incorrect "Water freezes at
32 degrees." "The primary colors are red, yellow and blue." "The
United States is a democracy." True enough for a kid on his first day
of school, but not for a specialist.

Just as it's more correct to say that "water freezes at 32 degrees
Farenheit under conditions of standard temperature and pressure,"
it might have been more  correct if Ollivander had said, "You will
never get as good results with an Ollivander wand that favors another
wizard as you will with an Ollivander wand that has chosen you." 

The Elder Wand is not an Ollivander wand, and is conceivably so much
more powerful that it can give results comparable to an Ollivander
wand even though it hasn't chosen its user. 

Pippi