Yes, absolutely. Voldemort would have killed Draco Malfoy without hesitation to claim the Elder Wand. His singular, ruthless pursuit of power and his complete disregard for the lives of others, including his own followers, made Draco entirely expendable in his quest for the most powerful wand.
Voldemort's Ruthless Pursuit of the Elder Wand
Voldemort's obsession with the Elder Wand overshadowed all other considerations. He believed that possessing it was the key to defeating Harry Potter and achieving immortality. This belief drove him to extreme measures, even turning on his most loyal servants.
Why Draco's Life Was Worthless to Voldemort
- Ultimate Power: The Elder Wand represented the pinnacle of magical power for Voldemort. He was convinced that only with this wand could he overcome Harry Potter and solidify his reign. No individual's life, especially not that of a teenager who had, from Voldemort's perspective, failed him multiple times, would stand in his way.
- Demonstrated Intent: In their final confrontation, after Harry Potter revealed that Draco Malfoy had unknowingly become the Elder Wand's true master, Voldemort explicitly stated his intention to seek out and kill Draco. He showed no qualms about this, indicating a clear and immediate threat to Draco's life. This was not a hypothetical situation; Voldemort had the information and the intent.
- Past Precedent: Voldemort had already shown his willingness to dispose of Draco. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Draco was tasked with killing Dumbledore, the punishment for his failure would not only have been his own death but also severe repercussions for his family. This established that Draco's life was always conditional and secondary to Voldemort's overarching plans and desires.
- Lack of Loyalty: Voldemort's loyalty extended only to himself and his ambition. He famously killed Severus Snape, believing Snape was the Elder Wand's true master, despite Snape being one of his most trusted and crucial Death Eaters. If he could kill Snape, a long-serving and seemingly loyal servant, for the wand, he would certainly kill Draco, who had proven less effective and more of a liability in Voldemort's eyes.
The Dynamics of Power and Betrayal
Voldemort's world was built on fear and subservience, not loyalty or affection. Anyone who inadvertently stood between him and his objectives became an obstacle to be removed. Draco, by unknowingly disarming Dumbledore and thus becoming the Elder Wand's master, became just such an obstacle in Voldemort's warped perception.
| Aspect | Voldemort's Stance |
|---|---|
| Elder Wand | The ultimate object of desire; any obstacle to its possession, living or dead, would be eliminated. |
| Draco Malfoy | Expendable. A tool whose usefulness had expired, or worse, who inadvertently held the key to Voldemort's greatest ambition. His life was of no value compared to the wand's power. |
| Loyalty/Family | Non-existent. He threatened Draco's family if he failed Dumbledore's murder, and he would have killed Draco himself without a second thought for the wand. |
| Demonstrated Action | After learning Draco was the wand's master, Voldemort declared his intent to seek and kill him. He also killed Snape for the same reason, illustrating his methods. |
Conclusion
Voldemort's nature, his ultimate goal, and his demonstrated actions make it unequivocally clear: he would have murdered Draco Malfoy to secure the Elder Wand. Draco's life held no significance to the Dark Lord when confronted with the prospect of absolute power.
