dbdabc90   
   From: lizardalive@yahoo.com   
      
   On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:21:20 -0800 (PST), Rats wrote:   
      
   > The Elder wand is supposed to be a wand that cannot lose in duels yet   
   > Dumbledore beat Grindewald in a duel to win the elder wand off him.   
   > How could this be?   
      
   Also missing in the canon is the battle between Grindelwald and the   
   Dumbledore family in their early years. So to answer this, my theory   
   is as follows:   
      
   In the course of the fight, Ariana, in a poor attempt to protect or   
   stop the fight, intervened unknowingly when Grindelwald cast an avada   
   kadavra curse at either or both Albus and Aberforth. She caught it and   
   died sacrificing herself to save her brothers. This would then resolve   
   a number of plot holes.   
      
   The sacrifice of the fragile Ariana would have put both her older,   
   smarter, and stonger brothers into shame and denial making them feign   
   ignorance over the details of her death. Albus would assume   
   responsibility because he didn't do enough to protect her.   
      
   The sacrifice would have given Albus powerful protection against all   
   of Grindelwald's curses allowing him to ultimately defeat Grindelwald   
   even with the Elder Wand. Grindelwald may have been aware of this   
   added strength causing him to fear Albus Dumbledore.   
      
   In the confrontation between Grindelwald and Voldemort in Nurmengard,   
   Grindelwald would have been unaware of Albus Dumbledore¢s death. He   
   would assume that in order to defeat Dumbledore and master the Elder   
   Wand, a foe would need a similar protection as Dumbledore is not one   
   to be tricked or defeated in any menial way. And he knew no one would   
   be willing to sacrifice their life for Voldemort to provide such   
   protection.   
      
   This would have given Albus knowledge about a charm that no one else   
   in the entire wizarding community was aware of. It had no name or   
   reference. Voldemort was barely able to extrapolate its power and not   
   very well. And from the beginning, Albus knew the details of this   
   charm that forced him to put Harry Potter in the care of his   
   (mother's) closest blood relative to ensure the protection of the   
   charm would continue until he comes of age.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)