I hope you don’t mind me responding again so late. I’ve been away since last Thursday and this is the first chance I’ve had. To make things worse my comment is far too long. I don’t expect you to agree with it, but I hope you may find it interesting and amusing. Definitely not irritating!
I can see that it would have been nice – or more straightforward - for Ollivander to have described the relationship between a wizard and a wand taken by force in the way you say. He did tell us a lot, though, and I think that the way he did describe it reflects his character and in particular his leaning towards power. But he did talk about the relationship, and he made a good point that any decent wizard should be able to use any old stick at a pinch.
You say about the wand choosing the wizard and the wizard taking a wand, These two ideas are contradictory and can't both be true. I’d argue that they may be contradictory, but they can both be true! Simply, there’s a difference between shopping and fighting. But whether you buy your wand in a shop or take it in a fight, a relationship between wand and wizard is begun and needs to develop. In the case of a taken wand, its bending to the wizard's will is the beginning of the relationship, I guess. Perhaps one would say that in the shop the wand has the upper hand and in the fight the wizard does, but there is room for variation in each. (I should imagine that Voldemort shopping for a wand would be a different kettle of fish from Neville doing so!) As we know, a wand doesn’t automatically go to the victor of a fight; it’s clear that the victor has to take the wand and want it.
As Ollivander says, "Subtle laws govern wand ownership". Harry had no problems with Hermione’s wand, although it wasn’t his and he hadn’t taken it by force, he was only borrowing it. He chose Draco’s wand as the ‘friendlier’ of the two in his pocket. The other wand belonged to Bellatrix, and Draco was certainly friendlier to Harry than she was: he’d just backed down from identifying Harry, while Bellatrix had just sent for Voldemort with a cry of "Harry Potter! Your death approaches!" Of course, Harry’d also taken Draco’s wand from Draco’s hand, while it was Ron’s spell that sent Bellatrix’s wand flying. Both are true. (Mind you - I've just remembered - Harry caught the wand. And used it.)
Late again (part 1)
I can see that it would have been nice – or more straightforward - for Ollivander to have described the relationship between a wizard and a wand taken by force in the way you say. He did tell us a lot, though, and I think that the way he did describe it reflects his character and in particular his leaning towards power. But he did talk about the relationship, and he made a good point that any decent wizard should be able to use any old stick at a pinch.
You say about the wand choosing the wizard and the wizard taking a wand, These two ideas are contradictory and can't both be true. I’d argue that they may be contradictory, but they can both be true! Simply, there’s a difference between shopping and fighting. But whether you buy your wand in a shop or take it in a fight, a relationship between wand and wizard is begun and needs to develop. In the case of a taken wand, its bending to the wizard's will is the beginning of the relationship, I guess. Perhaps one would say that in the shop the wand has the upper hand and in the fight the wizard does, but there is room for variation in each. (I should imagine that Voldemort shopping for a wand would be a different kettle of fish from Neville doing so!) As we know, a wand doesn’t automatically go to the victor of a fight; it’s clear that the victor has to take the wand and want it.
As Ollivander says, "Subtle laws govern wand ownership". Harry had no problems with Hermione’s wand, although it wasn’t his and he hadn’t taken it by force, he was only borrowing it. He chose Draco’s wand as the ‘friendlier’ of the two in his pocket. The other wand belonged to Bellatrix, and Draco was certainly friendlier to Harry than she was: he’d just backed down from identifying Harry, while Bellatrix had just sent for Voldemort with a cry of "Harry Potter! Your death approaches!" Of course, Harry’d also taken Draco’s wand from Draco’s hand, while it was Ron’s spell that sent Bellatrix’s wand flying. Both are true. (Mind you - I've just remembered - Harry caught the wand. And used it.)
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