Was it extremely excruciating for him every second like the Cruciatus Curse? Was it just complete helplessness and powerlessness? Was it a mix of both? Something else?
We know that the Elder Wand instantaneously shifts allegiances if it is ‘won’ by someone; that is, if the user wielding the Elder Wand is disarmed or killed by the opponent. But what if there is also a ‘gradual’ mechanism to it?
What if, during Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s duel, the Elder Wand sensed Grindelwald’s wavering spirit as his ideals crashed and sunk in the face of Dumbledore’s own? Could this be the reason why the Elder Wand transferred its ownership over to Dumbledore, allowing him to secure a victory over his former friend? We know that Dumbledore was more skilled, but I don’t think that was enough to secure a win. The Elder Wand had to have had allegiance issues in that moment.
My theory essentially is this: the Elder Wand, to be properly maximised in effectiveness, must be wielded by someone who is utterly resolute in what they believe in and what they strive to accomplish. The Elder Wand responds to power – any notable sign of emotional, mental or spiritual weakness dampens the connection between the wand and its owner, and transfers it to someone in battle who impresses the Elder Wand far more than its current user ever could.
We know that the Elder Wand instantaneously shifts allegiances if it is ‘won’ by someone; that is, if the user wielding the Elder Wand is disarmed or killed by the opponent. But what if there is also a ‘gradual’ mechanism to it?
What if, during Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s duel, the Elder Wand sensed Grindelwald’s wavering spirit as his ideals crashed and sunk in the face of Dumbledore’s own? Could this be the reason why the Elder Wand transferred its ownership over to Dumbledore, allowing him to secure a victory over his former friend? We know that Dumbledore was more skilled, but I don’t think that was enough to secure a win. The Elder Wand had to have had allegiance issues in that moment.
My theory essentially is this: the Elder Wand, to be properly maximised in effectiveness, must be wielded by someone who is utterly resolute in what they believe in and what they strive to accomplish. The Elder Wand responds to power – any notable sign of emotional, mental or spiritual weakness dampens the connection between the wand and its owner, and transfers it to someone in battle who impresses the Elder Wand far more than its current user ever could.
After all, if they were that close in power, then the Elder Wand would have entirely tipped it in Grindelwald’s favour, since it makes you much stronger than you originally were.
Is there any sense at all in this, or is it a simply inconsistency?