Comments | angua9: Oo, Those Wacky Wands!

angua9

Oo, Those Wacky Wands!

Aug 08, 2007 17:51

First, thanks to all of those who responded to my poll on possibly problematical aspects of Deathly Hallows. And no, it's not too late to respond - please do so!

In the meantime, here are the findings so far: ( cut for spoilers because after all these months of cowering in terror of vengeful spoiler purists I find I don't have the courage not to )

hp, dh

Comments 40

tartanboxers August 8 2007, 23:41:55 UTC

Speculative question off the top of my head: What if Harry was wrong about being master of the Elder wand, but he still won because Voldemort was never its master, either?

Marian and I actually talked about this a little bit on our way back home. She brought up the point of all the times the DA practised disarming each other. Does that mean that every member of the DA (or thereabouts) is the master of everyone else's wand? I think we sort of concluded that intent has to play a role. The DA members were just practising and not fighting an actual life-or-death combat. Otherwise it just gets way too complicated and my head wants to explode.

Another thing we wondered: Maybe the whole master thing ONLY applies to the ELder Wand? Although I think something Ollivander said may condradict that.

angua9 August 8 2007, 23:50:29 UTC

Yeah, Ollivander does contradict that, and it's the reason Harry never got good results with the Tracker's wand Ron gave him, but Draco's wand works great for him, and ditto for various other wands Ron and Hermione use.

carissa_lynn August 8 2007, 23:51:49 UTC

Another thing we wondered: Maybe the whole master thing ONLY applies to the ELder Wand? Although I think something Ollivander said may condradict that.

It's explained both ways in DH, and it's really confusing. I don't think it applies only to the Elder wand, but maybe that it plays a bigger part in how the Elder wand works than with other wands. At least, that's the way I explained it to myself. At any rate, I think that was one of the weaker parts of the book, because there is nothing in previous books to tie it in. It seems a little like it was added on and there are LOTS of questions.

angua9 August 9 2007, 00:05:00 UTC

But it's weird, because there was something from previous books to tie it in - the whole thing about the wand choosing the wizard was totally foreshadowing. But I can't remember anything that corroborates or foreshadows the bit about a wand transferring its allegiance. I can only guess that she thought to hint at that at all would give too much away.

Thread 8

penny_sieve August 9 2007, 00:06:40 UTC

Snape talking to the portrait drove me more crazy than the "wand thing" which is too complicated for my pea sized brain to comprehend :P

enomis57 August 9 2007, 00:10:42 UTC

My only input to the wand thing is that Harry defeated Draco AFTER all that took place so they don't count =)

And now that Harry is not using Draco's wand anymore but has fixed his old wand he can snap Draco's wand so that it can never be defeated again and the Elder Wand story comes to an end.

That's what I thought had happened anyway........

angua9 August 9 2007, 00:13:48 UTC

My only input to the wand thing is that Harry defeated Draco AFTER all that took place so they don't count =)

That's... actually a very good answer.

enomis57 August 9 2007, 00:21:26 UTC

Thanks =)

anonymous August 9 2007, 00:11:02 UTC

Swooping in as a lurker of your journal, which I enjoy. :)

The answer here might be summed up by Ollivander way back in book one: "Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember..."

So maybe a wand doesn't *have* to change it's allegiance, unless it "wants" to. Given what Ollivander has said, it doesn't sound like wands follow hard and fast rules. The Elder Wand may have simply preferred Harry over Draco for its own reasons, and so used the excuse of Harry disarming him to "choose" Harry.

FlyingButtress

angua9 August 9 2007, 00:20:09 UTC

Another good point! It is very much emphasized that the wands choose, so they must have a choice. Ollivander says (bolds mine):

Of course, the manner of taking matters. Much also depends upon the wand itself. In general, however, where a wand has been won, its allegiance will change.

Subtle laws govern wand ownership, but the conquered wand will usually bend its will to its new master.

Yes, if you won it, it is more likely to do your bidding, and do it well, than another wand.

There's no other real explanation for the uncertainty except that the wand gets to decide.

mrs_bombadil August 9 2007, 00:35:59 UTC

And so, in the matter of Dumbledore v. Grindewald you have two extraordinarily talented wizards and it makes sense that it would change allegiance to whomever of the two wizards prevailed. In the matter of Draco disarming Dumbledore, it could be a matter of "Dude! Nobody ever pwns that guy. Good on you little squirrely one." And then with Harry it's "Whew. Dodged a bullet there." But, seriously, that's part of why I think that it magnifies things for a wizard to be using the wand that bested the master of the Elder Wand ( ... )

themorningstarr August 9 2007, 02:14:19 UTC

I think it's also key that Harry became master of the wand that disarmed Dumbledore, not merely that it was Draco. So I think that by going back to his own wand, he sort of neutralizes the EW. Because now even if someone bests Harry, he's not using the wand that bested the EW.

It makes sense that way in my mind anyway.

Thread 11

ravensnape August 9 2007, 02:01:50 UTC

In researching a story I'm sure I'll never finish I looked up quite a bit on medicinal plants with Elder being one of them. Also wood used in wand making was key to points of the story. With this info in mind, perhaps it is just that the Elder wand itself, if given living attributes, choses-in Dumbledore's words-the true master of death, Harry. Harry was the wizard deserving of it's loyalty. A master whose intent was not to destroy but to heal. Because I have a raging headache and need some of the medicines I researched, I'll just post a link thingy Elder rather then writing out a summary of one article on Elder wood. Seems I remember some chat with JKR about research she did on wand wood. Or did I just imagine that while sipping one of my concoctions o_O.

This one is also very good. Found with a quick qoogle search: Elder and Witches

laurel_potter August 9 2007, 04:40:28 UTC

In researching a story I'm sure I'll never finish...

NO, NO, SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!!!

Ahem. (sorry, just had to say it)

ravensnape August 9 2007, 12:37:47 UTC

Wow, now I have three people who want to read the ending. Go figure?

laurel_potter August 9 2007, 22:44:04 UTC

I have always -- always wanted to see this story through 'til the end. Doesn't matter if it's AU, doesn't matter that Harry doesn't get with Ginny, LOL, I'm just interested in seeing how it all turns out.

As you know, I've volunteered to come do housework for you so you want write, lol.

Thread 6