Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (SPOILERS)

[thingamajig]

OK, I finished a little while ago, cried a ton (hey, I'm hormonal!), overall liked it a lot. Can someone please explain the whole deal with the wands, though? The part that Harry explains to Voldie right at the end? Because I read it twice over and still don't get what Draco and/or Draco's wand had to do with anything. It's late, and I was reading the end around 25 pounds of sweaty cranky toddler in my lap.

[Deleted]

I think what happened is in HBP, Draco summoned DD's wand (the big daddy death wand), thus making him the owner, even though Snape killed DD. Then, since Harry took Draco's wand, he gambled that the Elder Wand would notice that Harry had bested Draco and was thus the new owner of the Elder Wand. And there's something thrown in about how his and Voldemort's wand were connected, but not just through the cores, and Harry was the stronger of that connection, as evidenced by the attack as he left Surrey. (as explained by DD in the "death" of HP chapter. But I'll have to re-read everything again.

[Deleted]

As I understand it:

Dumbledore was the owner of the Elder Wand.

Draco took Dumbledore's wand from him (which I guess means he got ownership of all of Dumbledore's wands, including the Elder Wand.)

Harry took Draco's wand from him in the great chandelier debacle, thereby getting ownership of the Elder Wand, which Draco didn't know he owned.

So, even though Voldy possessed the Elder Wand, Harry was the true owner. Yadda yadda yadda.

Clear as mud?

[Deleted]

I had a moment of confusion myself, so anybody feel free to correct me: When Harry brought dying Dumbledore up to the tower in HBP, Draco burst in and disarmed Dumbledore, using Expelliarmius. So according to Harry, Draco was then the rightful master of the Deathstick, having bested Dumbledore by taking his wand away. And then Harry "defeated" Draco by disarming HIM at Malfoy Manor, making Harry the master of the Deathstick. Voldemort had assumed that because Snape killed Dumbledore the Deathstick would go to Snape and then via Snape's murder to Voldemort; he didn't know Draco got there first.

ETA: Err, and spordelia got here first

[thecupcakekid]

Ah thanks Spordelia, I was a tad confuzzled too.

I got the basics of it, I just didn't get why taking the one wand would mean all the wands would switch to the taker. That must make dueling super complicated.

[thingamajig]

Thanks, you guys...still a little confused but less so. Is the Elder Wand Dumbledore's regular wand that he used every day? Is that why it was buried with him, and is that the one that Draco took from Dumbledore (and then dropped? How did it get buried with Dumbledore?)

[whatever]

thingamajig said:

Thanks, you guys...still a little confused but less so. Is the Elder Wand Dumbledore's regular wand that he used every day? Is that why it was buried with him, and is that the one that Draco took from Dumbledore (and then dropped? How did it get buried with Dumbledore?)

From what I understand, yes- that was Dumbledore's everyday wand. Draco expellimariused it from Dumbledore but didn't touch it, it flew over the edge of the ramparts, according to Book 6. They found it and buried it with him.

And did anyone else tear up in the scene of Remus showing baby photos to the Order members? Why did he and Tonks have to die?

[thingamajig]

From what I understand, yes- that was Dumbledore's everyday wand. Draco expellimariused it from Dumbledore but didn't touch it, it flew over the edge of the ramparts, according to Book 6. They found it and buried it with him.

Aha, thanks!

[thecupcakekid]

Whatever, I thought killing both Tonks and Lupin was overkill, as someone else said. Just so sad, especially since almost all of Harry's friends made it out alive and well.

I loved Molly showing up at the end, but wish it had been Neville taking out Bellatrix, or his Grandmother doing it with him. I loved how proud she was of him, that "Naturally" or whatever when the kids tell Gram he's fighting. His character has grown the most for me, and in a way that I loved.

[CyberCathy]

She killed Hedwig?!?! I don't think I'll ever get over that one. I hate when pets die.

I liked it overall. I can't wait to take a more leisurely read-through so I can analyze more stuff.

The Potters had a cat. Crookshanks, perhaps?

When Harry stopped at the end to ask Voldy if he should explain what LV did wrong, I just about died. I yelled out, "Harry, no. That's what always does in the evil overlords. Don't make the same mistake."