[HPforGrownups] Magic Laws

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 17479

Amber 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?

It =is= confusing, but I'm coming around to the notion that a
"Charm" is a "regular" spell (i.e. one that doesn't fall into any
of the other categories, such as Transfiguration, Potion, etc.). 
Or maybe what distinguishes a Charm is that it's spoken?  That
would of course technically make the various Curses, Hexes, and
things like the Expecto Patronem also Charms, but it makes a
certain amount of sense to study those separately (in Defense
Against the Dark Arts).

(That also means that Charms = English class, if we're trying to
do equivalences.  :) )

> 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).

Good question, and I can't think of any canon examples that would
give evidence one way or the other.  Of course, a lot of the
ingredients would be accessible only to the wizarding community
under normal circumstances.
 
> 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?

(Speculation)  Could be that, could be other things such as
accurate visual imagination, the ability to hold a
complex/detailed process in your head, maybe a combination of
both.
 
> 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?

It may be harder for =any= wizard to focus magic without a wand. 
It could be also that the wand acts as an amplifier.
 
> 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!

Somebody already posted the relevant web address, I notice, but
the "short form" is that Arithmancy is divination by means of
numbers.
 
> I guess these are silly questions (and I have more of them somewhere),
> but knowing the rules is important to me. 

I can't help but be reminded of one of my math teachers in junior
high school, who stated "A question is only stupid if you already
know the answer."  Question away!  That's what we're here for!


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>