Subtle laws of wands

"Subtle laws govern wand ownership, but the conquered wand will usually bend its will to its new master"

- Mr. Ollivander

The Subtle Laws of Wands is a term used to refer to the magical rules that apply to wand ownership and usage.

Wand Ownership
Wands can be acquired in one of three general ways: by selecting a newly created wand (usually made by another), by winning a wand

Initial Selection
"The wand chooses the wizard. That much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wandlore...if you are any wizard at all you will be able to channel your magic through almost any instrument. The best results, however, must always come where there is the strongest affinity between wizard and wand. These connections are complex. An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand."

- Mr. Ollivander

Mr. Ollivander states that a wand chooses a wizard. It is not clear why, but certain wands seem to have a natural affinity for certain wizards or witches, This is the most fundamental law. The second states the connections made between both wizard and wand are complex, and will grow with experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand. Thirdly, a wizard may channel his energy with any wand, whether his or not. However, the best results come where there is a great likeness between a wizard and a wand.

Recovery


One can also procure a wand by "winning" it from its master. One can simply steal/borrow another witch or wizard's wand but its allegiance will only bend towards the new master when it is won, and the best results always come when a wand's allegiance is with the caster. The holder of a wand whose allegiance has not been won may be noticeable to them as Hermione Granger was uncomfortable using Bellatrix Lestrange's wand.

To win a wand, one must overcome its master in combat, though this does not apply to practice duels, in which being disarmed or defeated will not affect a wand's loyalty due to the perceived levity. However, it should be noted that wands develop an affinity to their owners that they will not give up easily; even when won, they will often retain some loyalty to the original owner. The only exception to this is the Elder Wand, which is "completely unsentimental" and will only be loyal to strength. In other words, when won, it switches its allegiance entirely.

Inheritance
In some families, wands may be inherited, such as Neville Longbottom using his father's wand and Ron Weasley using his brother Charlie's old wand. However, each of these cases ended with the wands being snapped in half, and both Neville and Ron were more successful using other wands, therefore making it questionable that one can fully master a wand gained in this way.

Priori Incantatem


Two wands with the same magical cores coming from the same magical creature, referred to as "brothers", cannot be forced to duel against one another. Should two such wands ever come in the way of one another, a rare connection is formed called, Priori Incantatem. When the connection is formed, the wands battle to merge a golden orb into the other's shaft; the one that succeeds to force the orb in the other is the winning wand. Because of its rarity, most wizards never learn that such a connection is possible - this is the first law of Priori Incantatem.

After two brother wands connect through means of Priori Incantatem, both wands come to know one another and may react towards each other without the consent of their owners, or the winning wand only reacts towards the losing wand - this is the second law of Priori Incantatem. Also, under special conditions it is possible for one wand to recognize its "brother's" master, even when a different wand is used. For example, during the Battle over Little Whinging, Harry's wand recognized Voldemort and spurted "golden flames" at him, even though Voldemort was using Lucius Malfoy's wand at the time.

Damaged wands


Wands that have suffered an immense degree of damage can not be fixed by any means most wandmakers know, except with help from the Elder Wand, as seen when Harry Potter's wand was broken from a reflected Blasting Curse and Hermione Granger was unable to repair it. Harry later fixed it with the Elder Wand.