Tina and the Elder Wand

A highly relevant question to ask, as we all try to predict the future of the Fantastic Beasts series, is who is the current master of the Elder Wand? We know that when the series began, Grindelwald was its master and owner. We know that when it ends, Dumbledore will be its master and owner. But who is its master right now? Based on Grindelwald’s defeat at the end of the first Fantastic Beasts movie, it is either Newt or Tina (or perhaps the Swooping Evil, but that theory hasn’t gained as much traction).

So which is it, Newt or Tina? Potter fans have taken it upon themselves to argue the semantics of the scene to try and glean an answer, and that seems to be a worthwhile way to await November. However, I’ve yet to see either side bring up one of the most definitive pieces of evidence we have: a statement from Albus Dumbledore that it wasn’t Tina.

In Tales of Beedle the Bard, buried among Dumbledore’s commentary on the Tale of Three Brothers, there’s a very intriguing footnote: “No witch has ever claimed to own the Elder Wand. Make of that what you will.” This seems to be our answer right there, if we take it at face value… and I am inclined to do so. But I’m also going to play devil’s advocate and examine some possible refutations.

1. Just because no witch ever “claimed” to own the Elder Wand doesn’t mean that no witch ever owned it. While Tina has all the subtlety of an Erumpent in a china shop, it could be that she managed to keep quiet in this instance.
2. Just because no witch ever owned the Elder Wand doesn’t mean that no witch was ever its master. Rather like Draco Malfoy, it’s possible that Tina was the master of the wand without ever physically owning it.
3. It’s a deliberate omission on Dumbledore’s part. The intro to the book presents the following disclaimer:

It seems only right to make one small, additional comment on Professor Dumbledore’s notes.

As far as we can tell, the notes were completed around eighteen months before the tragic events that took place at the top of Hogwarts’ Astronomy Tower. Those familiar with the history of the most recent wizarding war (everyone who has read all seven volumes on the life of Harry Potter, for instance) will be aware that Professor Dumbledore reveals a little less than he knows – or suspects – about the final story in this book. The reason for any omission lies, perhaps, in what Dumbledore said about truth, many years ago, to his favourite and most famous pupil:

“It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”

Whether we agree with him or not, we can perhaps excuse Professor Dumbledore for wishing to protect future readers from the temptations to which he himself had fallen prey, and for which he paid so terrible a price.

4. It’s an oversight on Jo’s part, which will be retconned in the future. Beedle the Bard was released a decade ago, when Jo was not even thinking about the Fantastic Beasts film franchise. Perhaps this hasn’t been fixed yet because Jo knows we’d notice and realize what that switch meant.

Personally, I still think Newt is the current master of the Elder Wand. But what do you think?

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