Theft of the Elder Wand (The Tale of the Three Brothers)

Theft of the Elder Wand
Part of
Date	Prior to 19 May 1292
Location	Wizarding inn, England
Cause	An unknown wizard wanted the Elder Wand.
Result	Antioch Peverell is slain, and his wand is taken.
Commanders
Antioch Peverell
Antioch Peverell's killer
Casualties
Antioch Peverell

"That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine-sodden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and, for good measure, slit the oldest brother’s throat."

— Description

The theft of the Elder wand was an event that took place during the thirteenth century, when a wizard stole the Elder Wand from Antioch Peverell and slit his throat, thereby claiming the wand for his own.

History

Background

Creation of the Elder Wand

"So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death!"

— The Tale of the Three Brothers

The Elder Tree from which the wand was made

According to the "Tale of the Three Brothers" (as compiled in The Tales of Beedle the Bard) three brothers — suspected to be Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus Peverell — were out travelling when they came to a treacherous river that had been known to claim the lives of many that had attempted to cross it. Taking no chances, the three brothers pulled out their wands and conjured a bridge out of thin air. However, as they began to cross it, they found a hooded figure blocking their path. It was Death himself, dressed in a simple long black cloak. Death felt cheated that the three brothers had outsmarted him and had not drowned in the river, as many others had.

Death gives Antioch Peverell the Elder Wand

While pretending to congratulate them for their triumph, Death schemed against them. He offered each brother their choice of gift as a reward for outsmarting him. The eldest went first, and being a belligerent man he asked for a wand that would defeat all others. Death went to a nearby elder tree and created a wand from its wood, which he handed to the eldest brother. The second brother, who wanted to humiliate Death even further, asked for an object that would recall the dead and was given the Resurrection Stone. The youngest was wiser than his brothers and was sceptical of Death's intentions. He asked for an object that would allow him to live his life without the fear of Death following him. Reluctantly, Death handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility.Albus Dumbledore thought it was unlikely that the Elder Wand was actually made by Death, and assumed that it may have been created by the eldest of the three Peverell brothers, Antioch.

The theft

Antioch's throat is slit

Antioch then travelled for about a week, reaching a village where he met with his rival, who he killed in a duel. He then travelled to an inn, where he drunkenly boasted of the wand's powers. That night however, he was murdered in his sleep by another wizard who slayed his throat, thereby allowing him to take possession of the wand.

Aftermath

It is unknown what happened to the wizard who killed Antioch, but it can be assumed that the wand was passed on in a murder or a theft, or it is possible that he passed it on to someone else willingly. The wand went through the possession of many different wizards and witches, eventually being passed on to Harry Potter, who placed it in the grave of Albus Dumbledore, meaning that after his death no one could master the wand forever.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (First appearance)
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard