Put-Outer (was Re: Summary/Questions: PS/SS Chapter One)

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27074

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Joy M" <joym999 at a...> wrote:
> What's the deal with the Put-Outer?  Why would Dumbledore need a 
> special device just to put out some streetlights?  Was his wand in 
> the shop for repairs or something?

Ooh, a nice question.  Here's some possibilities:

1) Up until this point, none of the strange occurences (mass owls 
flying by day, cats reading signs) has been identified as being 
related to wizards.  JKR could be putting off this revelation until 
later, and hence, for Dumbledore to use a wand so soon would tip her 
(albeit rather obvious) hand before she wants to.  As it is the scene 
maintains a certain amount of unfamiliarity that using a wand no 
longer has in our fantasy-exposed society.

2) At the time when all these wizard spells were discovered/invented, 
electricity did not exist so there may not be traditional spells 
(those using wands, incantations, potions, etc.) to affect electrical 
devices.  I certainly can't think of any that we know of.  Hence the 
put-outer, presumably a more recently designed device in wizard 
society, was necessary for such a purpose.

Hmm, I had another answer yesterday when I read this message, but I 
seem to have forgotten it.

-Luke