If this is true for ordinary wands, then it would likely be even truer for a super-wand.

So I think of the Elder Wand moving from wizard to wizard, looking for greater and greater wizards: Grindelwald to Dumbledore, and from Dumbledore to – Harry? There were pit stops along the way, Draco and Voldemort, but the Wand wouldn’t really accept them because they were flawed.

And the way the wand changed ownership from Dumbledore to Draco to Harry while all the time being in Voldemort’s possession was a little creepy too. As if it knew about events which happened away from it. As if it were prescient. As if it were – sentient.

It reminds me a little of Elric’s Stormbringer, and yes, of the One Ring. Possesed artifacts, all. Harry was quite wise to put it back in Dumbledore’s grave, I think.

That’s a confusing part, too. I think the difference is that the legend says the Elder Wand is undefeatable. But in real life it seems like the holder of the Wand is being defeated all the time. I almost think the possession of the Elder Wand gave the holder an almost psychosomatic effect that led them to believe they were unbeatable but which in the end led to their downfall.

Except for those who didn’t count on the Elder Wand’s properties to do the job for them, namely Dumbledore & Harry.

I have another question.

How could Dumbledore possibly defeat Grindelwald in a duel if Grindelwald had the Elder Wand. I thought the Elder Wand could never be defeated.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense for a few reasons, but I think that’s the explanation.

I can imagine that Harry, when he finally faces Voldemort, will be prepared to kill him in order to save those who would be killed or corrupted by Voldemort if he didn’t. He will not feel like a hero, but rather disgusted. He will be ready to sacrifice his untarnished soul for the sake of others (like Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac). It will be right and not easy. Killing is worse than dying. And then, just before he actually kills Voldemort, something happens that vanquishes Voldemort, so Harry doesn’t need to kill him.
(Something similar may have happened on the Astronomy Tower – in spite of the fact that Dumbledore is the epitome of Good and Voldemort is the epitome of Evil.)

If, instead, Harry should really have to kill Voldemort, I am very sure that JKR’s message will not be: “Well, kids, killing is usually bad, but sometimes it’s a heroic deed”. (Don’t get me wrong, Travis, this is not what I think you suggested.)