used wands

[Athena Appleton]

the topic about wandless magic got me thinking about wands in general...

you know how Ollivander says that you never get as good results when you're using a wand not specifically made and fitted for you? ever wonder about the folks out there using used wands?

Ron is the first person I'm thinking of, but after CoS, his powers didn't seem to get any better with a new wand than the used one he broke in the flying car/Whomping Willow deal... but did he get a brand new wand, or was it another hand-me-down, or bought second-hand?

Then Neville has always used his dad's wand (how sweet), but it got ruined in OotP. Personally, I think that after he gets his own wand, we'll be able to tell a difference in the effectiveness of his magic.

[paintballdecoy]

Thats a good question. I think Rons new wand is brand new, in fact he said so at the beginning of PoA. Neville's grandmother probable has Neville use his fathers wand becuase his father was such a great wizard, i think now that he has his own wand his magic will improve greatly.

as far as using others wands, Ollivander uses all of the tri-wizard cup contestants wands to "weigh" them.

[Athena Appleton]

Yeah, the deal with Neville's wand is, I think, similar to keeping an heirloom... Neville's gran almost certainly has him using his father's wand as a sentimental thing, as well as the fact that Frank Longbottom was a very talented wizard, and no doubt she wants Neville to inherit that talent...

With Ollivander weighing the wands, it's obvious other people's wands can be used by anyone, it just doesn't work as well, plus I would imagine he'd be able to use any of them, seeing as he does make and sell them. And, it's not as if any great magic came out while weighing the wands.

[Emma'I'm a real witch']

When I was little I had this daft idea that if I used someones pen who had nice handwriting then so would I. Daft Eh

I think this sort of relates to the using of someone elses wand, it works (as in it writes) but not in the same way.

[Athena Appleton]

cute analogy!

you were a weird little kid, weren't you?

[Emma'I'm a real witch']

Bit odd I agree.

I'd love to say I'd grow out of it, but it isn't true!!!!!!

[Amon Rê]

but did he get a brand new wand, or was it another hand-me-down, or bought second-hand?

Good question...I mean we definitely know there is a second-hand robe shop...why couldn't there be a wand-restorer/second-hand shop...It does say that Ron got a new wand, but the wands have to be put somewhere...all we have are examples of hand-me-downs...no idea

[Nobby]

Good question ..the thing is why would there be second hand wand shops in the first place. i think this because the only reason you were to buy a wand is the get your first wand or to replace a broken wand. therfore would there be any second hand wands? because the only reason to get a new one is if the old one is broken. if the wand chooses the wizard most wizards would be most compatable with their first wands. then why buy a new wand and sell your first one? it makes no sense! ron had charlies old wand and im guessing that it was second hand when charlie had it thats why he got a new one!

Do you get what im trying to say? why get a new wand if your first wand should be the one your most compatable with? barring the exceptions of hand-me-downs!

[Aberforth]

A second-hand wand shop could sell wands of dead wizards and also act as a pawn shop - you sell your wand to them for a quick hit of gold and then you could buy it back at a higher price if you can afford it. If not then the general public can buy it.

Maybe Charlie bought his second hand or something like that, but when he started work he could afford to buy his own.

[Nobby]

yeah it could possibly...but overall im trying to say that theres only one wand for a wizard so wizards wouldn't change their wand. but i agree the shops would have its uses

[Athena Appleton]

I've been thinking about that, and have come to the conclusion that the "the wand chooses the wizard" thing could mean a type of wand. For example, Lily's wand was ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. We don't know the core of it. Let's say just for arguement's sake that it had a unicorn tail core.

So Lily goes to school, and in her second year is carrying her wand in her backpack and OOPS the backpack falls down the stairs and her wand snaps. She needs a new wand.

She goes back to Ollivanders. She orders a wand, ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow with a unicorn tail. It works just as well as her other one did.

The only exception is the fact that the particular phoenix tail feather in Harry's wand was from Fawkes, who provided the tail feather in Voldemort's wand, too. In this particular rare situation, that exact tail feather was important in the Priori Incantatum in GoF. In general, though, any other holly and phoenix feather, eleven inch long wand would work for Harry just as well as the one with Fawkes's tail feather.

About the second-hand wands, I agree with Aberforth that there would be a need for one (wands are pretty expensive, Harry's was seven Galleons, and that's quite a bit to the Weasley family). Wizards can use other people's wands, and if my theory about the compatibility of the wand depending on the type, not the actual wand itself, then it would make more than enough sense to have the second-hand wand shop. I liked the idea of a wizarding pawn shop!

[Ferrus]

Very probably right Athena, after all there are only so many core-wood type combinations, so there must be SOME wizards carrying the same wand type.

[Athena Appleton]

Yeah... not to mention, it couldn't be THAT hard to special order a wand, if you already know what your combination is.

There has to be some way to get a good wand after you're 11-years-old, because I have my doubts that you're just expected to take perfect care of your wand for the rest of you life, without the possibility of getting another compatible wand... I mean, if Ron, Neville and Hagrid could all break wands or have their wands broken, it only logically follows that they aren't the only three to ever have that happen, ya know?

[Emma'I'm a real witch']

Just a thought, when LV gave Harry some of his powers, do you think it was this that made Harry choose his wand? (As in that particular wand)
Was this the only wand that could defeat the other?

Maybe its because of the whole 'wand chooses the wizard thing' and harry had some voldy qualities as well as powers, Tom Riddle even talks about how much they are alike in CoS.

[Evil Wizard Petting Zoo]

If alotta witches and wizards share the same wand cores, it seems like none of them would be able to duel. Or does it have to be out of the same animal. Like 2 unicorn hairs from the same unicorn.