Harry's abilities (normal or otherwise)

[Charmian]

No: HPFGUIDX 10538

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Keith Fraser" <keith.fraser at s...> 
wrote:
> Why isn't Harry, son of two of the best students at Hogwarts, one 
of 
> whom managed to become an Animagus at age 15, a better wizard? 
> Academically he seems a fairly ordinary Joe, certainly compared to 
> Hermione, even if he is extremely brave and brilliant at Quidditch.

I don't think he is necessarily a bad wizard. We know that Hermione's 
truly brilliant, and that Crabbe and Goyle aren't that bright, but we 
don't know exactly where Harry stands in his class academically. He 
did manage to produce a Patronus, though. Plus he has no incentive to 
become an animagus. You could also say that with all the extra-
curricular work he's been doing, and all the advanced magic he's been 
exposed to, he's probably ahead of most of his peers in experience 
and knowledge.
 
> 
> I thought of this while trying to hold up the super-Harry theory. I 
> believe it may, just may, support it. Possibly James and Lily's 
> abilities have combined to make Harry immensely powerful on an 
> instinctive/higher level which he hasn't learned how to access yet. 
> 

I don't think in the magical system set up in the books people's 
powers differ very much in type as opposed to level. Sure, some 
people are better at some branches of magic than others, but it seems 
to be more a question of passion/intellectual interest. Everyone 
seems to be able to do the same kinds of magic if they want to. 

And to add more boring speculation about magic... It's interesting 
that in JKR's world magic is a inborn potential to be developed 
rather than a skill to be learned, as opposed to other fantasy books 
anyone can learn magic by studying. I think Harry will become more 
powerful with study and practice rather than from innate abilities. 
Like someone else had said early (sorry I don't recall when), Harry 
could do magic without even knowing that he did (kind of more like 
psychic powers), or knowing any spells. But I don't think that this 
shows a difference between child and adult wizards; everyone bothers 
to learn spells because it's more efficient to do magic in that way.  

Charmian