Item from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The most powerful wand in existence — one of the three Deathly Hallows — made of elder wood with a Thestral tail hair core, fifteen inches long, won by defeating its previous master in combat.
The Elder Wand is the oldest and most dangerous of the Deathly Hallows, and its history is a litany of murder. Legend says Death himself made it from an elder tree on a riverbank. In practice, it has passed from wizard to wizard for centuries through a chain of violence — each new master winning it by defeating or killing the last. Grindelwald stole it from Gregorovitch. Dumbledore won it by defeating Grindelwald. Draco Malfoy unknowingly became its master by disarming Dumbledore on the Astronomy Tower. Harry became its master by disarming Draco at Malfoy Manor. The wand's allegiance is absolute: it will not perform its best for anyone but its true master, which is why it failed Voldemort when he used it against Harry in the final duel. Harry chose not to keep it — he used it to repair his own broken holly wand, then returned the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's tomb.
Fifteen inches of pale elder wood, slightly longer and thinner than most wands, with a distinctive line of carved elderberries running along its length. The Thestral tail hair core is invisible but gives the wand a faint aura of death that sensitive wizards can feel. It looks unremarkable — an old stick — which is part of its danger. Its wielder can perform magic of a caliber no other wand permits.
Also known as: the Elder Wand, Elder Wand, the Wand of Destiny, the Deathstick