Understanding Dumbledore's Plan for the Elder Wand

Dumbledore's plan regarding the Elder Wand was multifaceted and rooted in his understanding of destiny, sacrifice, and the nature of power. Here’s a detailed breakdown of his strategy:

Understanding the Elder Wand's History

Dumbledore was aware of the Elder Wand's legacy and its tendency to change allegiance when its master was defeated. He had become its master after defeating Gellert Grindelwald but he knew that his own death was imminent. The implications of the Elder Wand's history were crucial in shaping his strategy for its future.

Planning for His Death

Dumbledore intended to die at the hands of Severus Snape. He ensured that Voldemort would believe Snape was the Elder Wand's master, preventing Voldemort from realizing he could not wield it without first defeating Dumbledore in battle. This decision was pivotal in his overall plan.

Passing the Wands Power

By allowing Snape to kill him, Dumbledore aimed to make the wand shift its allegiance to Snape. However, since Snape did not defeat Dumbledore in combat, the wand's loyalty would pass to Harry Potter when he disarmed Draco Malfoy. This was a clever maneuver to ensure Harry would have the power to face Voldemort without being corrupted by the wand's allure.

Trusting Harry

Dumbledore believed in Harry's ability to ultimately defeat Voldemort. By indirectly transferring the wand's allegiance to Harry, Dumbledore ensured that Harry would have the necessary power while remaining untainted by the wand's legacy.

The Final Confrontation

The final confrontation involved careful planning to ensure Harry inherited the power of the Elder Wand. The intricate details of Dumbledore's plan balanced the immediate threat of Voldemort with the long-term protection of Harry.

In summary, Dumbledore's strategy was a carefully orchestrated plan to ensure that Harry would inherit the power of the Elder Wand while also protecting him from the corrupting influence of its legacy.

Confusion in the Prose

There is a bit of confusion regarding this in the prose. In the Kings Cross chapter, the following dialogue is heard:

But you expected him to go after the wand
I have been sure that he would try ever since your wand beat Voldemort's in the graveyard of Little Hangleton. At first he was afraid that you had conquered him by superior skill. Once he had kidnapped Ollivander however he discovered the existence of the twin cores. He thought that explained everything. Yet the borrowed wand did no better against yours! So Voldemort, instead of asking himself what quality it was in you that had made your wand so strong what gift you possessed that he did not naturally, set out to find the one wand that they said would beat any other. For him, the Elder Wand has become an obsession to rival his obsession with you. He believes that the Elder Wand removes his last weakness and makes him truly invincible. Poor Severus. . . .

If you planned your death with Snape, you meant him to end up with the Elder Wand didn't you
I admit that was my intention said Dumbledore but it did not work as I had intended, did it
No said Harry. That bit didn't work out.

Whereas in the next chapter, it is mentioned twice by Harry that its power would have died since Dumbledore intended to die undefeated during the duel with Voldemort, and again when he is speaking to Dumbledore's portrait.

This confusion primarily arises due to the Draco Malfoy angle. If Draco had managed to kill Dumbledore, Draco would have inherited the wand, meaning Voldemort would have a clear path to it. Dumbledore, having anticipated this, arranged his death at the hands of Snape. Harry was lucky that Draco disarmed him, and Snape subsequently killed him.

Analysis of the Confusion

According to Dumbledore's plan, he wanted to save Draco from death in case Voldemort went after the Elder Wand. Therefore, he understood that Snape too would have to face a mortal attack to secure the wand. This is reflected in the dialogue:

Poor Severus...

About the confusion on whether Dumbledore meant for Snape to end up with the wand or if the wand's power would have died:

First Scenario: Snape Ending Up with the Wand

My guess is that Dumbledore would have arranged the matter like he did with the Gryffindor's Sword. The attack on the Tower was a surprise, and Dumbledore didn't have ample time to put his arrangements in place. Since Snape was the Headmaster, he had all the time in the world to take hold of the wand after Dumbledore's death, as if it were planned. However, how Harry would have defeated Snape is beyond imagination.

Second Scenario: The Wand's Power Having Died

If the wand's power had died with Dumbledore, it would have meant that Voldemort and Harry would have dueled on skill alone. Additionally, remember the fact that when Voldemort performs the Cruciatus Curse on Harry after coming back from unconsciousness, Harry does not feel the pain. This implies that no spell from Voldemort or his followers is binding on him and the others.

Muggle Reasoning: I personally believe that this is an editing error on the part of the publishers. The prose should be read as:

If you planned your death with Snape you meant to end the power of Elder Wand didn't you

J.K. Rowling might be able to clarify this in Pottermore.

Regarding Harry's statement, meant him to end up with the Elder Wand, I believe the him in this case is Voldemort and not Snape, as wielding the wand would have made no difference given the wand's power would have expired with Dumbledore's death.