What is meant by "Power"

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 29953

Hollydaze wrote:

> The only people we seem to know in the books are are stronly 
powerful 
> in a magical sense are:
> Harry: Defeated LV.
> LV: Before his downfall and now he has returned.
> Dumbledore: Must be powerful or LV would not be frightened of him.
> 
> Those are the only ones we know that have exceptional Magical 
> power,there maybe otehrs that we have not yet seen evidence from. 

I would definitely add Crouch Sr. to the list of powerful wizards.  
Sirius describes him as "a great wizard, Barty Crouch, powerfully 
magical -- and power-hungry."

Also, Mad-Eye Moody also probably qualifies as a powerful wizard.  
Bill Weasley says he was "a great wizard in his time;" Charlie says 
he was "one of the best" aurors; and Fred says "I know he's a genius 
and everything."

After that, figuring out the relative power of wizards gets fuzzy, 
but I'd still add Sirius Black to the list.  Sirius and James are 
described by McGonagall as "very bright, of course -- exceptionally 
bright, in fact."  That, coupled with the fact that Sirius can 
perform complex magic with other people's wands (conjuring manacles 
out of thin air), managed to become an animagus, didn't lose his mind 
in Azkaban, and escaped from Azkaban when no one else had done it 
makes me nominate him as being in the same league with Moody and 
Crouch.  Losing that duel with Pettigrew gives me pause, though.

Cindy (sad to see an absence of powerful witches, but hoping for 
great things from Mrs. Figg and keeping an eye on Mrs. Lestrange)