Apparating/summoning (was Re: Lizards & Thanksgiving, Musings

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 6082


> As to the summoning charm when you Accio it brings the item to 
> you. In the 3rd task they talk about an aqualung flying accross the 
> countryside. So I think it is nothing like apparation.

I've read these messages with interest, since I'm reworking my spell 
pages in the Lexicon (check out the new version if you're interested; 
there's a link on the existing spell page). Apparition is done by a 
person to themselves, and it's fairly tricky to do correctly. 
Summoning and it's reverse spell, Banishing, are not all that 
difficult. Fourth year students can be expected to master them. They 
are used ON another object. Weight and distance are factors, but 
concentration and strength of the magic power within the wizard are 
more important. As for what I call "fire talking," I see that as the 
magical equivelent of using a telephone. It does not require a wand 
or incantation, which makes it magic but not technically a spell. 
Calling the person's name is how the connection is made to the 
correct fireplace. Anyone can do it, as long as they have the powder 
and a fireplace. When Lupin stepped through, he did so because he 
wanted to, undoubtedly using Floo Powder to do it. 

You can do all this within Hogwarts as long as the fireplaces are 
networked. Probably the internal Floo network of Hogwarts doesn't 
connect with the Floo Network proper, out in the Wizarding World. 
Kind of like a computer network, connected within an organization but 
blocked from the outside world by means of a firewall. Hey...! Well, 
that's cool. I hadn't thought of THAT before I typed it!

Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon