Ticket to ride - no wands necessary

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 42610

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "feliciarickmann" <feliciarickmann at d...> 
> wrote:

Marianne, queen of the deadbolts Wrote:
 If, as I've always assumed (sorry I
 can't quote canon here because I simply don't remember it, if 
 it exists) one needs a wand to apparate, ...........?  
END Marianne, queen of the deadbolts

Felicia Replied (in part):
 Can someone confirm that a wand IS definitely needed to apparate. I 
 do not remember anything that that effect in canon.  Not to cast 
 aspertions on Marianne, it's just that I know that seems to have 
 been  no *apparations* as such only floo powder, portkeys and the 
> like.    
END Felicia  

Marianne fired back:
> 
> Well, no, I can't recall that anything in canon says "One must have a 
> wand to Apparate."  But, if an experienced wizard is able to do so 
> without a wand, why is Sirius still relying on Buckbeak for travel in 
> GoF, when Apparation would be quicker.  Especially when he is 
> obviously concerned about Harry once he finds out that Harry's scar 
> is hurting?  
> 
> I can understand at the end of PoA that Sirius needs some assistance 
> in getting out of Hogwarts because 1) you can't Apparate into or out 
> of Hogwarts and 2) Sirius is probably not up to normal wizard snuff 
> at that point. But, months later, when Harry himself sees that Sirius 
> looks healthier, has gained some weight, doesn't look like the fright-
> show he was in the Shrieking Shack, - you'd think this would be an 
> indication from JKR that he's physically okay.  But, is he 
> apparating?  No, he's apparently still flying about on Buckbeak.
> 
> So, that leaves me with several choices: 1) A wand is necessary for 
> Apparation. 
> 
> If a wand is not necessary, then why is Sirius, a bright Hogwarts 
> student, apparently not not using apparation for travel? 
> 
> 1)  Sirius, like other experienced wizards, can apparate perfectly 
> well without a wand, but feels an obligation to not leave Buckbeak to 
> fend for himself, so rather than safely Apparate unseen from place to 
> place, he stays with the hippogryff.  2) Apparation can be detected 
> or monitored by the MoM, so Sirius cannot do so for his own safety. 
> 3) Sirius is not a powerful enough wizard to managed Apparation 
> without the aid of a wand. 
> 
> I'm sure there are other possibilities that could explain this, but 
> that's all I can deal with right now.
> 
> Marianne

bboy_mn opens his big mouth:
Personally, I don't think wands are needed to Apparate. Wand are a
point of focus, they are used when casting spell (charms, curse,
etc..). CASTING being the keyword; when you are trying to focus magic
outside of yourself on some external act of magic.

Apparating, requires mental focus on the location you want to end up
at, but all the magic to accomplish the event is internal.

Sirirus, the hippogryff, and Apparation-
Q: But, if an experienced wizard is able to do so without a wand, why
is Sirius still relying on Buckbeak for travel in GoF, when Apparation
would be quicker?

I know you answered your own question, but I'd like to add some more.

Sirius is originally located in West or Central Africa or for my
money, in Asia somewhere (Thailand or Malasyia, possibley India are my
best bets) based on the fact that he is sending large tropical birds
with mail to Harry. There is a limit to how far you can apparate. My
personal guess is that a common but very good wizard can apparate
consistendly for over a distance of 500 kilometers (about 300 miles,
again just my personal estimation). That means you can go from London
to Paris but you can't go from London to Hogwarts (both Glasgow and
Edinburgh are more than 500km from London). So there is no way Sirius
can apparate from Morocco or Thailand. But if arctic tern can fly from
the Arctic to the Antarctic and Monarch butterflys can fly from
Minnesota to Mexico and S.America then Buckbeak can certainly cover
the distance.

When Harry saw Sirius in the fire, he looked good (or at least a lot
better), but when he saw him in the cave at Hogsmead, he looked really
bad again, so his abilities may have still been limited by stress.

I also think that Sirius feels some obligation to look after Buckbeak.
(As you pointed out.)

Once he is at Hogsmeed, he probably can apparate short distances, but
he doesn't have anywhere to go. Hogsmead/Hogwarts is where he wants to
and has to be, so where is he going to apparate to? Also, he can't
risk allowing himself to be seen, so it is safer for him to move
around as a lovable stray dog, than to apparate around in human form. 

This brings up a NEW QUESTION? 
Q: Can animagi apparate while they are in animal form?

Of course, we don't really know, but it's still an interesting
question. Personally, I think not.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

bboy_mn