Magic Laws

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 17475

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Amber <reanna20 at y...> wrote:
> 
> I've been pondering this for awhile. While I think that JKR has 
done a
> wonderful job of world building and characterization, I'm not so
> certain that she's done the best job of setting down Magic Laws. I
> almost wonder if she's deliberately not explained things well to 
allow
> her more leeway in the future. Even now after the fourth book, I am
> still confused on how magic in her world works. For example:
> 
> 1) What exactly is a Charm? To me, a Charm means that something is
> enchanted to perform a type of magic. However, this isn't always so 
in
> JKR's world, examples Cheering Charms and Wingardium Leviosa. To me,
> Wingardium Leviosa is a regular spell but it was taught in Charms. 
Why?
> What distinguishes it?
> 
> 2) What's the difference between Charms and a regular spell? And do 
the
> Hogwarts students have a class for "regular" spells?For example, 
where
> did the students learn Lumos? Or was that in Charms? Or are Charms
> regular spells and I'm just confused?
> 
> 3) Could anyone make a Potion, or can it only be made by people with
> magic talent in them? After all, Potions is simply adding 
ingrediants
> in the right order, the right way (or at least it seems that way to
> me). 
> 
> 4) What's the difference between an easy spell and a hard spell?
> Clearly, with the Patronus spell, a force of will and ability to 
hold a
> happy thought separated it from the easy spells. Is it always a 
force
> of will? 
> 
> 5) Why is the wand necessary for magic? Obviously, one can do magic
> without it. Harry did before he found out he was chosen at Hogwarts 
and
> so did Neville (remember, he bounced when his Uncle let go of him 
out
> the window). So why do they need wands? Is it a way to help them 
focus
> their magic? If so, then why don't the adults do magic without their
> wands since they have supposedly learned to focus their magic?
> 
> 6) What in the frick is Arithmancy? Hermione keeps going to that 
class
> but I'm still clueless on what it is. Magic with math? If so, give 
me
> details!
> 
> I guess these are silly questions (and I have more of them 
somewhere),
> but knowing the rules is important to me. I apologize if this has 
been
> discussed to death. If it has, just let me know and I'll start the
> arduous search of the archive. I figured that if anyone had these
> answers, it would be this group!
> 
> ~Amber
> 

This is a link to the definition of arithmancy.
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/arithmancy.html   

About the wands, I think Rowling addressed the wand issue in an 
interview. IIRC, she said that her wizards CAN do magic without wands 
(such as the boa constrictor at the zoo in SS/PS) but it's an 
uncontrolled magic and very dangerous.

I would think that potions is a very tedious subject, almost like 
baking, where exact measurements of ingredients and specific 
techniques and order of addition of ingredients are needed to produce 
the correct potion. 

:-)Milz