Wands and Magic : was Random Musings from a lurker

[yumeno at mindspring.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15987


Indigo wrote:

<Not entirely true.

Harry had several occasions had magickal things happen before he ever 
set foot in Hogwarts.

Ending up on the roof when he jumped to attempt a beating from Dudley 
and his bully boys.

<Turning a teacher's wig blue.

*snip rest of list*

You're right about that, I'd forgotten. (teach me to post at 1 am..)

But on the other hand, Harry has been in plenty of stressful and/or dangerous situations since then, usually without his wand and he's never done anything like that instinctive magic since Book 1. And all that happened before he went to school and got his wand. 

That makes me think that maybe being trained in magic and having a wand might "shut-off" a connection between a wizard's unconcious and their powers. Harry was able to do things like jumping to the roof and shrinking his sweater before knowing he was a wizard and knew anything about magic. So, when faced with danger, his body and powers reacted unconciously to save him.

But, now that Harry knows he's got magic and that he's supposed to be using a wand for it, the connection's been broken. Instead of using his powers instinctively, he knows he's supposed to be using a wand for his magic and he can't use those powers without his wand. So, therefore he hasn't been using his power like that, even when he's lost his wand in a dangerous situation. (Riddle, end of GoF)

I also wonder if that instinctive magic might only be seen in Muggle-born children. Wizard children would already know about magic and what they are, so that unconcious reaction is lost to them.
(I hope this is making sense. @.@)

<Plus, having a wand doesn't necessarily mean your magic is all that 
good. Gilderoy Lockhart (feh!) turned Harry's arm boneless and 
rubbery and at least once the wand got all wobbly and jumped out of 
his grip or was dropped.  

Lockhart would be a moron whether he were a Wizard or a Muggle. ^-^
I agree, I'm not saying all wizards are competent just because they use a wand. There's bound to be individual degrees of proficiency and talent from wizard to wizard.

Tavichan
np : through the night / outlaw star opening