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« on: July 25, 2007, 05:38:12 PM »
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Based on what I've read/heard/thought of, this is what I think can explain the hat/sword and "unbeatable" wand.
For the hat/sword issue, in one interview she said "There is more to the Sorting Hat than what you have read about in the first three books." It should be noted, that she isn't talking about the sword coming from it, since that happened in the second book. It's known now that the sorting hat was originally owned by Godric Gryffindor. My guess is, the reason that Neville was able to get the sword, was because there is such a strong connection between it and the hat, since both were owned at one point, by the same wizard. Godric Gryffindor obviously didn't create the sword (since goblins did) but I think it's safe to say he did modify it some (putting his name on it) and could of thrown some magic on it to tie it to the hat as well.
Also, the explanation I think is the strongest about the "Unbeatable" wand, is that mainly, the "unbeatable" part, is just part of the children's story. If I'm not mistaken, the only time it's referred to as unbeatable, is directly in the story. Now, as Dumbledore brings up, the story is likely just a story, and not a real account of what happened. I'm sure there are countess examples of a similar thing happening in real life, where a real event is exaggerated, and then simplified into a children's story.
Based on that, you can assume that the wand wasn't unbeatable, but simply a much more powerful wand. It would do the same spells, but do them stronger. More evidence for this, is that Harry was able to determine that the first wand Hermione gave him didn't feel quite as powerful as his own. So we know it's possible for a wizard to judge the power of their wand. Later on, Voldemort says that the Elder Wand doesn't seem as powerful as it should. Based on that, it would seem that Voldemort knew that the wand was just a "stronger" wand. If it did have some magical unbeatable property tied to it, then it would of acted on it's own (I would think) more like Harry's did at the beginning when Voldemort was coming after him after they fled Privett drive. Based on that, I don't think the wand was unbeatable. I think it was just a very powerful one, and the children's story about it just labeled it as being so.
Another theory I have heard, is that since the wand is part of the Deathly Hallows, which are objects used to defeat death, the master of the wand can lose a duel with it, if the attacker doesn't have any intention of killing the wizard who is the master. This would explain why Grindelwald is still alive, and Dumbledore had the wand. It would also explain why Draco was able to defeat Dumbledore (Since it seemed like Draco wasn't going to kill him).
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