Conflicts, cheats and credibility

[dungrollin]

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> Jo mentioned:
> >>> The whole thing is really shaky though. DD claims to have 
defeated Grindelwald in a dual which simply should not have been 
possible, unless for some reason Grindy wasn't using the Deathstick. 
<<<
> 
Tim:
> The fairy tale exaggerated the Elder Wand's superiority. Or 
Dumbledore knew the issue and didn't use magic to defeat Grindelwald, 
but instead used some more muggle-like technique.
> 
> Do those explanations work?
> 
> Rather bizarrely there is already an entry on the Wikipedia about 
the Elder Wand. This is part of what it says:
> >>> The current consensus among fans seems to be that, since the 
Elder Wand was sought as a means to defeat death, an opponent who is 
purposely seeking not to kill the wand's master could defeat him, and 
thus take possession of the wand. This is inferred by the fact that 
Dumbledore was able to defeat Grindelwald without killing him, and 
why Draco Malfoy, who did not have the nerve to kill Dumbledore, was 
able to defeat him using Expelliarmus. <<<

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_Wand#Elder_Wand 
> So there you go, we have consensus, it's official ;-)

Dung:

But this is appalling!!! If that's the truth, then she didn't have it 
planned out at all, she was making it up as she went along, because 
she said (right after HBP was published) that Grindy *died* in 1945.

The Deathly Hallows and associated plot points and character arcs 
were therefore *made up after she wrote HBP*. They were never planned 
all along. I *believed* her, damn it. I feel conned.

Oh, and here's another inconsistency: 
There's a bit in Quidditch Through the Ages (which I don't own so 
can't quote) which says that the only wizards who can fly without a 
broom are those whose animagus forms can fly. Cut to DH where it 
turns out that both Voldemort and Snape can fly with no broom.

And here's a job for a holesmith:
If Hermione was able to (effectively) side-along apparate Yaxley to 
Grimmauld Place, into the Fidelius Charm, why couldn't Snape side-
along with a gang of DEs? Apparition doesn't require speaking, so the 
tongue-tying hex wouldn't have stopped him. 

Grumble grumble grumble.