Duel Harry (WAS: Harry Wasn't Going to *Really* Kill Sirius)

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 42984

Phyllis wrote:
> I wrote wrote:
>  
> > I have to point out, Phyllis, that Harry used Expelliarmus because 
> > it's the *only* duel spell he knows. He does *not* know how to cast 
> > an AK: check what Crouch!Moody tells them in the unforgivables 
> > class that they haven't enough power to cast an AK, but that even 
> > if they had it would be beside the point because he was *not* going 
> > to teach them how to cast it. 
> 
> now Phyllis:
> 
> OK, Grey Wolf, I'll give you that.  But, even if Harry didn't know 
> how to throw an AK, he certainly *does* know plenty of other spells 
> that would be more damaging to Voldemort than "Expelliarmus" (such 
> as "Impedimenta" or "Stupefy").  And, in a life threatening 
> situation, with his adrenaline going, who's to say he couldn't pull 
> off an AK?  He's able to produce a patronus which is "highly advanced 
> magic" that even experienced wizards have trouble with (I know what 
> you're going to say - Lupin taught him how to do it, OK, OK, I give 
> up...).
> 
> Grey Wolf continues his assault on Phyllis post <grin>:
> 
> > Voldemort is not a stupid evil overlord, but a careful planner: he 
> > gives a wand to Harry because Harry's more powerful *without* a 
> > wand 
> 
> Phyllis again:
> 
> Here I *really* disagree with you, based on an interview in which JKR 
> said that you can do unfocused magic without a wand, but to do 
> focused magic you need a wand.  I just can't see how *unfocused* 
> magic can be more powerful than *focused* magic.
>
> ~Phyllis

Two words: Win-GAR-dium Le-vi-O-sa. Focused magic spells require a very 
careful pronunciation of the words, and a very careful flick of the 
wrists. To be able to cast a spell, you have to know both, or the 
results will probably cause you more harm than good. Notice too that, 
even if Harry had trained to recognize the pronunciation, which he 
hasn't, the wrist movement must be almost invisible (since they're 
never commented upon). Harry *cannot* inmediately copy a spell he has 
just seen. It always takes him hours (sometimes days) of practice to 
get the spells right, and he needs someone to teach him. Hermione seems 
to know the theory weel enough to learn a spell on her own (from 
explicit instructions in a book), but Harry needs a teacher. Needless 
to say, Harry hasn't got hours or a teacher in the graveyard.

On the other hand, unfocused magic comes naturally at Harry, and always 
works when he's in a desperate situation, but unable to use focused 
magic to get out of it (before going to Hogwarts, because he didn't 
know magic existed, afterwards, because the Durleys stop him from using 
his wand). Please note that I *DIDN'T* say that unfocused magic is more 
powerful, I only said the *HARRY* is more powerful without without a 
wand. When he has finished his training, he will be more powerful with 
a wand, surely, but until then, the unfocused magic is what he really 
excells at. To quote Pip, the creator of this theory: Voldemort is like 
someone facing a duel with the Olympic Fencing Champion. Who then says 
"I choose the weapons. Pistols, please. (please read post 40044 for the 
full theory). The trouble is that unfocused magic does not work when 
the wizard is thinking in focused magic (i.e. when he has a wand is his 
hand and is planning from the spells he knows).

I agree that he could probably have tried to use a spell other than 
Expelliarmus from the ones he learnt for the maze task, but 
unfortunately Harry demonstrates once again that he's very much 
unprepared for adult wizard fights. Harry specifies that *the only duel 
spell he knows is expelliarmus*. He obvioulsy doesn't think that other 
spells are useful in a wizard duel. Whether this is true or not is 
beside the point: Harry will do what he believes, not what is true.

Speaking of this, I would like to point out that Expelliarmus wasn't 
that bad choice. It's a reverse spell: if it works, it gives you the 
advantage and a free spell, efectivelly reversing the course of the 
fight. Harry was on the defensive there, and by expelliarming 
Voldemort, he could start going on the offensive. It wouldn't have 
worked, of course, since Voldemort is a much better duelist than he is, 
so the AK was already on its way, but it wasn't a bad plan for someone 
who really knows nothing of dueling. In fact, the biggest error Harry 
does is not the Expelliarmus, is *getting up*. He had the advantage of 
defensive terrain,and he should have kept it: to dodge spells by using 
gravestones as protection, and look for a way out could have saved him.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf