The Limits on Magic (kinda long)

[Rita Winston]

No: HPFGUIDX 6437

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Caius Marcius" <coriolan at w...> 
wrote:
> (snip)
> (3)	Skills and knowledge cannot be obtained by magical  methods. 

We don't know that this applies to Muggle skills and knowledge -- all 
we see them studying is Magic skills and knowledge. Maybe you have to 
*work* to learn to make Potions, but then you can make a Potion that 
will make you know how to speak and read French.
 
(snip)  
> We've heard little about cheating on exams at Hogwarts,

Only that they took their first year finals with special quills 
that had been enchanted with an Anti Cheating Spell.

(snip) 
> (4)	Most poignantly of all, material possessions cannot be 
> magically acquired,

We don't know this of Muggle possessions, only of Magic possessions. 
Harry can't transfigure a rock into a Firebolt, but maybe he could 
transfigure a rock into a new dress robe for Ron if only he had 
thought of it, and asked Hermione to look up the spell.

(snip)
> And this isn't merely due to his youth and inexperience: Sirius
> Black, a skilled and experienced Wizard,

who doesn't have a wand at that time. I think it may be because he 
doesn't have a wand right 'now' is why he doesn't Apparate, not 
that he can't Apparate or dislikes it.