Ancient Magic

[Clare Johnson]

No: HPFGUIDX 42143

Whenever I read about the "ancient magic", it reminds me of CS Lewis' Lion,
Witch and Wardrobe which I know is mentioned from time to time by posters to
the list.  Aslan on rising from the dead refers to the White Witch (who was
responsible for his death) not being aware of an ancient or high magic
(sorry can't quite remember which) which was implemented before the world
was made, and which allows innocent willing victims to rise from the dead
when they have died in the place of a guilty victim.

Now we are certainly talking about a different world in Harry Potter but to
me ancient magic practically fills the place that physics does in the muggle
world. ie It's a rigid unchangeable framework unless you happen to know the
rules inside out and have lots of equipment to play with them (eg
anti-gravity chambers, kit to split the atom etc).  The magic equivalent of
such kit would be huge magical ability and wisdom such as Dumbledore
possesses (and Lily by implication) but Voldemort's ego gets the better of
him and he thinks that he's bigger than all the world put together; the only
thing that can show him otherwise at that point with the exception of
Dumbledore possibly is the ancient magic and it does just that.  Its role to
me seems possibly  to be supporting neither good nor bad but keeping a
balance and righting it when one side wins far, far too much perhaps.
Other references to Ancient magic (eg Harry being under the Dursley's
protection) imply that once invoked, it is unstoppable and impossible to
defy as otherwise why would the Dursleys have taken Harry in?

Looking forward to other thoughts on this.

Clareysage