Quote::

Sure, he had a creepiness about him, but working in a quiet & creepy store like that for years on will surely make someone uniquely weird.

Ahahahha, good point! :DD



Interesting theories put forth, yes. I don't really see them happening. Nice allusion to drug testing though - I was just thinking that if anyone from the schools weighed the wands that people would suspect them of cheating. That's why I thought Ollivander was there. I'm sure he'll pop up again later.



Also, I believe it's sneaking suspicion, not sneaky.

Quote::

Instead of Ollivander traveling to Hogwarts to measure the wands, couldn't they get that machine or whatever it was that tested Harry's wand when he went to the Ministry of Magic building for his trial? Wouldn't that have been easier?

The point is perfectly valid, it might have been easier, although not much since Ollivander would have traveled by the Floo Network and would have been at Hogwarts in seconds. However, everybody seems to be forgetting about one thing. Atmosphere. How interesting would it be for the students to walk up to a machine and toss their wands on it and get a print out? You could also ask why the students are still using quills instead of ball points or word processors. All of the little, old fashioned stuff is what creates the atmosphere in the book and its that attention to detail that keeps my attention!

I thought that the machine just tested for whose wand it was and what type. So that they have a record. I wasn't aware that it actually did anything. I mean, does it specifically say that it measures whether or not the wand is jinxed or whatever?

The only thing the machine told the guard was the type of wood, the core and how long that it had been in use. I doubt it could tell if a wand had been jinxed or not. I got the impression from the length of time that McGonnagal and the other teachers took to check out Harry's Firebolt that checking for jinxes is a lengthy process. I imagine that it would be about the same for a wand, if not more difficult because of the importance of the wand as a tool. I still stand on my opinion that Ollivander was there for atmosphere.

I personally think that he is witholding some very important information. It might come into play in the next two books, who knows?

*creeaaakkk* walks into room to pick up dusty thread



*whoosh*cough*sputter* I hate that!



I wanted to dust this off 'cause it's come back into conversation on another thread.



Here's my first impressions...



And...a bit of canon...Ollivander never says "Dark Lord" in the book. And why, if he was working for Voldy, would he be keen on selling Harry the brother wand? Ollivander would certainly know that in a duel the wands will not work properly against each other. And there is the rather remorseful note about Voldy's wand

Quote::

"...well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do..."

Ollivander told Dumbledore when Harry picked out that wand, so it would appear that he is reporting to Dumbledore in some fashion. If he were sinister or something of that nature, why would he bother?

Quote::

"Mr Ollivander wrote me to tell me you had bought the second wand, the moment you left his shop four years ago."

And Ollivander sold Voldy the wand...man, that guy's gotta be old.



There was some question as to why Harry's hair stood on end as it seems to do that when there is danger, but given the context I think it's a reference to ancient magic...it is not only evil after all that can scare us...

Quote::

For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and slience in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

What a job wand-making...knowing you could and most likely will make a wand that could devastate the wizarding world...and only hope in redemption by making a wand that could save it...secret magic indeed.



And to the point being discussed on the thread, about Ollivander weighing the wands. There is something that isn't mentioned...The Triwizard Tournament hasn't happened in...didn't Dumbledore say they had been trying to reinstate it for centuries? Even if it's only been 50 years, it's rather important and you wouldn't want just anyone coming in to weigh the wands...not only that, but Ollivander seems to know instinctively what each and every wand is made of and what it is good for. He would then know I would guess by a mere flick if it had been tampered with. While the headmasters and headmistresses of the various schools might have been able to "weigh the wands" it would be like saying...hmmm...well, that it would be just as easy for a school teacher to fix the school bus engine as it would the mechanic. It's true the teacher probably could, but if you want an expert...clearly Ollivander is the expert. He knows by looking at the wands WHO made them...he's even a little weary of Krum's wand...even seems to imply something dark about it.



And more interesting thoughts about the second time we see Ollivander...he spends much longer examining Harry's wand. He knows how powerful Harry's wand is and weighing or no, he knows that something extraordinary is likely to happen...remember is words from SS/PS?

Quote::

"-it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

and

Quote::

The wand chooses the wizard, remember....I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter....

And in a tournament that hasn't been held for ages, there is most likely a great something about to occur.



That's all for the moment...

<span style="color:blue;font-family:times new roman;font-size:x-small;]Humbly Yours,

Black DogStar[/color]



[img]http://12.22.230.41/MicroTech/Hosted/Images/Dogstarbangssig2.PNG [/img]



[/link]





Edited by: <A HREF=http://p072.ezboard.com/bsiriusblackfanclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=blackdogstar>BlackDogstar[/url] at: 8/11/04 9:11 pm

Alright, my first impression after reading all of your posts was something along the lines of, "You all are insane. It's just tradition to have a wand weighing ceremony, and seeing how old Ollivander is, I don't doubt that he was the one who probably did them when it was Hogwarts' turn to host the ceremony."



After reflecting further, I decided that this part of the book was necessary for another reason entirely. The chapter gave us specific information on each of the champions' wands. For instance, it confirmed the idea that Fleur was part-Veela.



But was that all?



Check out these quotes:

Quote::

"Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn't it?....Containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn..." --Mr. Ollivander to Cedric(GoF)

Quote::

"Always the innocent are the first to die..." --Firenze to Harry about the dead unicorn(SS/PS)

Quote::

"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail hair." --Ron to Harry about his new wand (PoA)

Always the innocent are the first to die.. poor Cedric! Is this foreshadowing on Ron's behalf too? Could Viktor's wand core (dragon heartstring) mean anything?

Edited by: <A HREF=http://p072.ezboard.com/bsiriusblackfanclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=incarceratedfreedom@siriusblackfanclub>incarceratedfreedom[/url] at: 8/11/04 8:24 am

This is from the longbottom post, but it fits here too:



I think to disregard Ollivander as a reputable character degrades his abilities. The man





Quote:

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remembers every wand I've ever sold.

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That is a lot of wands. Now, we know Ollivanders are makers and purveyors of fine wands since 382 B.C. So suffice it to say that the man has been trained in the art of wandmaking, and that his family are no doubt experts in the field. Imagine having a family business that lasted millenia!



So when he says &quot;the wand chooses the wizard&quot; I wager he knows of whence he speaks.





Quote:

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What a job wand-making...knowing you could and most likely will make a wand that could devastate the wizarding world...and only hope in redemption by making a wand that could save it...secret magic indeed.

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No doubt, Dogstar, that you have hit the nail on the head. Wand making is akin to being an Auror, in my opinion - and with much talent comes much responsibility. I doubt any old person could say &quot;Hey - think I'll make wands!&quot; and have go at it. (Maybe Luna's mother was messing about with wand magic and offed herself...filing that thought away for further scrutiny...) Anyway, it's a serious thing...It's not like you're buying an owl off the guy.





<span style="color:red;font-family:Kristen;font-size:small;]~Pincey[/color]

<span style="color:blue;font-family:Kristen;font-size:x-small;]~Join the Hot Tub Melee in Fanfics!!![/color]



<span style="color:green;font-family:Times New roman;font-size:x-small;]Classic moments in SAAW: The glistening pink drop of potion flew from his wand and shot up Umbridge's nostril. Immediately, she began smoothing her pink cardigan over her chest, and fluttering her eyelashes, teetering coyly yet purposefully in Filch's direction.



'Oh dear, we are in trouble...' smirked Filch.



[/color]



Edited by: <A HREF=http://p072.ezboard.com/bsiriusblackfanclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=madampince@siriusblackfanclub>MadamPince[/url]&nbsp; at: 8/11/04 1:41 pm

Minteh,



Nice little theory you've got going there...and I totally agree about the wand weighing ceremony giving us more information about everyone's wands. We would not have that information-especially the side notes from Ollivander-if one of the teachers had weighed the wands. There are lots of things that point to Ron dying-including a quote from JKR herself...you should start a thread-look to see if it's been done first by using the &quot;search&quot; feature.



Pincey....



I completely agree and I think that's what I was getting at. It's important that he knows so much about wands. We even get the impression that he's the best wand maker in the world.



And I would be interested to try and figure out how old Ollivander is...he's had to been around from quite some time...I definitely think it's a fine art that's been passed down through the family. And I wonder if he'll have someone to take on his job...seeing as I completely agree that one cannot just up and decide one day that he/she will make a wand.

<span style="color:blue;font-family:times new roman;font-size:x-small;]Humbly Yours,

Black DogStar[/color]



[img]http://12.22.230.41/MicroTech/Hosted/Images/Dogstarbangssig2.PNG [/img]



[/link]

I don't know exactly how this fits into the discussion, except it is about Ollivander, but I think it's worth noting that he either:

1. knows that Tom Riddle turned into Voldemort

2. sold a wand to Voldemort



I put forth the possibility that he might be untrustworthy (in another thread) only because Harry isn't sure he like Ollivander very much.

I think both are true bleekrause.



He knows Tom Riddle became Voldy and he sold him his wand. He would have to in order to know that it was that wand that gave Harry his scar.



I do not think either makes him untrustworthy, just old...and with a gift for remembering every wand he ever sold.



Dumbledore does not say that no one remembers that Tom Riddle became Voldy, just that few remember. It was fifty years prior to the events in CoS, so not many people would even be old enough to remember and those that would be wouldn't necessarily have any idea who Tom Riddle was...just like Dedalus Diggle probably doesn't have a clue who Pansy Parkinson is. So it seems a little faulty to me to assume that because Ollivander knows who Tom Riddle was and that he sold him his wand makes him untrustworthy. Particularly when we know that Dumbledore trusts him and that Ollivander wrote to Dumbledore right away to tell him of Harry buying the brother wand.



As for Harry not being sure whether he liked him or not...again, I think it's about understanding. There is some deep and secret magic with wand making...especially wand making of his calibre. It harkens me back to ancient magic and the DoM. There are things that are great that are terrible and things that are great that are wonderful...and both can be equally frightening or unsettling. I think in Ollivander's case, it's the latter.

<span style="color:blue;font-family:times new roman;font-size:x-small;]Humbly Yours,

Black DogStar[/color]



[img]http://12.22.230.41/MicroTech/Hosted/Images/Dogstarbangssig2.PNG [/img]



[/link]

I need to clarify. I stated in another thread something along the lines of, "I don't know if Ollivander is trustworthy, but I think he really knows his stuff," when the discussion centered on whether or not lots of people know that "the wand chooses the wizard." Some people took this to mean "I know that Ollivander ISN'T trustworthy," and rebutted me, but not in a flame war sort of way, just in a way that I realized I hadn't been clear enough in my sentence.



Again, I don't necessarily think Ollivander is bad, I just don't know that we have enough evidence to know he is good. Harry's misgivings about him are the only reason I have to even call the subject into question.



As for my post above, I should have said, "Either:



1. Ollivander knows that Tom Riddle became Voldemort

OR

2. Ollivander sold Voldemort the wand AFTER his transformation from Tom Riddle."



The way I stated it previously made it sound like I wasn't sure Ollivander made Voldemort's wand, but I do understand that part!





To recap: Despite poor sentence structure or wording of any of my previous posts concerning Ollivander, I do not now, nor have I ever, intended to assert that it is MY opinion that Ollivander is bad, evil, untrustworthy or scary in any way, but that on the basis of Harry's misgivings I think Ollivander bears watching.



I don't mind healthy criticism when I disagree with everyone, but I hate to waste it when I agree with them!

Thanks for keeping me on track!

At first I was thinking that people were making a mountain out of a molehill with the whole Ollivander thing, similar to Mark Evans. But then BlackDog got me thinking.

Quote::

What a job wand-making...knowing you could and most likely will make a wand that could devastate the wizarding world...and only hope in redemption by making a wand that could save it...secret magic indeed.

This must be similar to what a great artist or writer feels every time they complete a work...will this be the one that makes my career, or breaks it? The difference being that in Ollivander's case, the consequences/rewards of his work could be far greater. What an awesome responsibility. It seems proper that the trade has been passed through the family, and his knowledge of his craft would be such that he would be entrusted with the safety/security of the Tri-wizard tournament. Is it not the same with the Olympics? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the judges for the respective sports are all people who were once at the top of the very game they are now officiating. At one time, then, it makes sense that Ollivander was a top wizard, possibly from the time when Dumbledore fought his own battle against the Dark Side.



One other thing that raised my eyebrows here (not to mention the hair on my arms!): When someone (Pince?) put it all together that Ollivander made Cedric's wand as well as Ron's new wand from the tail of a unicorn, perhaps even the same unicorn, it reinforced the foreshadowing JKR has given us of Ron's premature death. I believe it was in SS/PS that Firenze tells us of the power of unicorn blood in restoring a half-life. Is there a connection of all things unicorn with abbreviated life-span? And since the wand chooses its wizard, was Ron "chosen" to be the next to die? I know this belongs on another thread, but since it pertains to Ollivander and his wands, I thought it worth mentioning.

"The crosses which we make for ourselves by a restless anxiety as to the future are not crosses which come from God." Francois Fenelon

Ah...bleekrause, I see what you mean thanks for the clarification ...



Only I'm sure that Ollivander sold Tom Riddle the Hogwarts student the wand and not Tom Riddle now Voldy the wand because of his rather remorseful note...

Quote::

"....well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do...."

If Ollivander had sold the wand to Voldy, he would have known precisely what that wand was going out into the world to do.



And I think Ollivander is rather suspicious of Dark Magic...his note about Voldy's wand and the way he treats Krum's wand is what makes me think so. I reckon Ollivander knows precisely who Karkaroff is...in fact, I have a feeling Ollivander knows a fair bit about a lot of things. It's his demeanor when examining Krum's wand...how he's just sort of...it's like he tries to remain impartial 'cause his job is wand making and in this case wand weighing, but still, his feelings kinda peek through...

Quote::

"This is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm much mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I...however..."

Doesn't quite seem to say what he means, no?



I think the unicorn thing is quite important, Yarn. I think I'm going to start a thread on hints of Ron Dying if I don't find it in here...I haven't searched yet. There's another thread I want to start, soon, too. But you know me it takes forever to get all the canon and such squared away...I'm such a nerd.<span style="color:blue;font-family:times new roman;font-size:x-small;]Humbly Yours,

Black DogStar[/color]



[img]http://12.22.230.41/MicroTech/Hosted/Images/Dogstarbangssig2.PNG [/img]



[/link]

I agree with you BlackDogstar, I think it's that he sold the wand to Tom , not V, and I think that means Ollivander is really knowledgeable and smart, even more so than most of the wizarding world.



Is your quote about feeling sad about what the wand was used for from the movie? I don't remember it in the books, and can't find it in the books, but it sure sounds familiar.



Brenda