Other Ways That Albus Lost the Elder Wand


Dumbledore disapparated onto a windy, foggy Scottish moor – that also happened to be a small regional airport.

Behind him, a large machine was making a loud, buzzing noise. Turning around in surprise, he saw a twin turboprop passenger plane taxiing rapidly toward him! The spry headmaster pulled out his wand and shouted, "Arresto Momentum!" The plane did indeed skid to a rapid halt, sending the only flight attendant aboard into a short and bruising flight of her own. The plane's stressed metal emitted a loud, hideous groan, and the old man let out a yelp ("Aiyee!") of his own, briefly losing his presence of mind as well as his grip as he flung himself down to the tarmac.

The stiff winds and the propeller suction sent his wand flying – right into the spinning metal blades. In milliseconds, the Elder Wand was shredded into Elder toothpicks.

And that is how, very briefly, an aging Alitalia charter plane became the most powerful wizard in the world.


Harry Potter was staying at the Burrow with his clever mail-owl, Hedwig, and his newly-adopted stray puppy, a little hyper-active border collie that he had named "Taz." The pup was wearing out the boy with a game of fetch: balls, sticks, stones, anything he could carry was fair game.

Like overeager and under-trained pups anywhere, Taz wouldn't stop till both he and the boy were utterly exhausted. The Twins spelled Harry for a little while, but when Taz wore them out too, he was back to Harry, growling cutely and demanding more action. Harry picked up the stick and angrily threw it as far and hard as he could.

Just then, Albus Dumbledore apparated into the garden to visit the Weasleys. Hearing loud barking and seeing a black streak rushing toward him, the old man sensibly pulled out his wand. Mistaking one stick for another, Taz took a flying leap, and snatched it out of the headmaster's hand!

And that is how, very briefly, a black puppy became the most powerful wizard in the world – until Harry was able to tackle him, tickle his belly, and get him to release the slightly drool-covered and gnawed wand, which he bashfully handed back to the head-scratching headmaster with a "Sorry."


Dumbledore had agreed at last to help Harry Potter with some private training. While Harry was learning different dueling styles from Moody, Flitwick, Remus and even Tonks, the headmaster himself was willing to give him a few pointers too.

Little did he know that Harry was also receiving some private tutoring, from the Weasley Twins – in the semi-honorable old art of pranking. Thinking to try something novel, Harry decided to use a switching spell in his duel. He waved his wand, and to to the observer it would appear to have done nothing. With a smirk, Albus waved his own wand – which squeaked, and turned into a rubber chicken. Reaching into his robe pocket with a smirk of his own, Harry pulled out the Elder Wand and said, "Looking for this?"