The Elder Wand is one of the objects that make up the Deathly Hallows. According to legend, whoever united the wand with the other two Hallows (the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility) would become the Master of Death. It became the main plot point for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 when Voldemort steals it from Dumbledore's tomb in the ending of the first part of the film.
Background[]
The Elder Wand was the most powerful wand in the wizarding world. It is shown to have various application, depending on the will of the user. It can casts spells that are indicated with a bright glow, for instance, in red or blue. Despite being the possession of Dumbledore, the Elder Wand does have limitations to its power, for instance, he couldn't nullify the curse on Marvolo Gaunt's Ring entirely or to overcome the enchantments from the Drink of Despair.
In the hands of Grindlewald, he used it to kill Aurors in Europe and even duel with Albus Dumbledore until he has lost the duel and the Elder Wand which fell into the hands of Dumbledore, who became the true master. Now in the right hands of the true master, Dumbledore used it to create great magic, making him the world's most powerful wizard of all time.
Dumbledore also used it to duel with Voldemort whilst protecting Harry at the Ministry of Magic Atrium, to conjure a Firestorm to scorch the Inferi and to get rid of thoughts and put them into a Pensieve. In the hands of Voldemort, he uses it to cast the Avada Kedavra killing curse on Harry Potter (who has willingly surrendered himself to Voldemort to destroy the Horcrux inside him, which Voldemort doesn't know about).
Trivia[]
Differences from the source material[]
- The downfall of Voldemort and Harry's ownership of the wand differs in the second part of the film adaptation:
- With all the Horcruxes destroyed, Voldemort tries once again to cast the Killing Curse on Harry, but Harry rebounds it with a Disarming Charm. As the two spells collide, only Harry forces Voldemort's curse back to its sender, and the Elder Wand responds to Expelliarmus and lands into Harry's hand
- Harry breaks it into two and throws them over the bridge, knowing that the wand is too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands again.
