Spells & Charms; the nature of magic

[Vicki Granger]

No: HPFGUIDX 20441

*2)Shields - Something curious that I've realized is that there 
doesn't seem to be the equivalent of a personal shield in JKR's 
world. There's no way to protect yourself from having a spell cast on 
your when you're sleeping, when you're unaware, when you're dueling 
another wizard/witch. The wizard/witch must be faster than their 
opponent to avoid being hit by a spell or else they're out of luck. 

~There is a small shield but it's hardly worth mentioning... The 
Sheild Charm casts a temporary, invisible wallthat deflects minor 
curses (GoF31). Maybe in Harry's world the magic is so advanced that 
the limits of shielding have been passed. There are suggestions that 
spells can be blocked by counter spells if you're quick but nothing 
that is long-lasting and no proper examples. In the books I'm reading 
at the moment shields are definitely a MAJOR thing (The Obernewtyn 
Chronicles - Isobelle Carmody).

*5)Odd Powerful Magic - <snip> There aren't many equivalents of 
Animagi. If a person can shapeshift, it's normally because it's part 
of their heritage (Jennifer Roberson's Cheysuli series, Huff's Wizard 
of the Grove series).

~One other example is in Tamora Pierce's 'The Immortals' Quartet. 
>From the end of the second book on the main character, Daine, can 
change into full animals, turn parts of herself into animal parts 
(eagle eyes, grow wings) or turn into a combo of animals! This is 
much better than Animagi because there is no limit to what can be 
done bar energy drainage. Another example is the Animorph books where 
they have to aquire the DNA first but that's a bit different...

*There are other magical universes in which a school for  witchcraft 
and wizardry would be an odd concept.

~Tamora Pierce and Isobelle Carmody both have schools and other 
things where the magi work together and learn, although Isobelle 
Carmody is more fantasy than magic because she deals more with 
paranormal abilities but there are still many paralells. Magi are 
also consiered an army factor in Tamora Pierce's books. 

*It is not possible to bring the dead back to life  (GF 36)

~One example of bringing the dead back to life in a book is in Tamora 
Pierce's books, Thom brings back the bad guy to prove he is the most 
powerful.

Well, that's my contribution to this discussion... it's basically 
just a list of 2 main books that have some wierd stuff in them ;-) Oh 
well...

~*Vicki*~