Magical Objects

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 15902

Amy Z wrote:

> Some magical objects do their thing even in the hands of Muggles,
> e.g. the dangerous spouting teapot that caused Arthur's office
> trouble on one occasion (CoS).  It seems likely that not all of them
> do, however.  A Muggle might pick up a wand or a broomstick and have
> nothing whatsoever happen.  A broomstick is different from a wand;
> it's basically just wood that's been charmed.  It might be possible
> to charm it in such a way that it takes magical ability on the user's
> part to activate it; if this is possible, I would think that if the
> Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office would insist on it so that an
> innocent Muggle doesn't pick up a Firebolt and find herself going 150
> mph within 10 seconds . . .

I tend to think that you =do= have to have magical ability in
order to fly a broomstick; or at least, that natural ability
counts for something.  Otherwise you wouldn't have such big
differences in how well the students could fly in their very
first class.

A wizard/witch's wand appears to act as a focus and possibly an
amplifier for magic.  JKR said in one of her recent interviews
that a witch or wizard can do magic without a wand, but not as
well.  And of course, as has already been pointed out, some forms
of magic (such as potions) don't use wands at all.


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>