Duel Harry (general)

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 42986

Some (hopefully short) General comments on the discussion of Harry
dueling.

GREY WOLF:
 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). ...SNIP...
- end This part - Grey Wolf -

bboy_mn adds some thoughts:
"Win-GAR-dium Le-vi-O-sa" which in the simplest terms, is 'levitate a
feather'. But Ron was able to use it to levitate a massive troll club.
This re-enforces how powerful intent is in casting a spell. Snape cast
'Expelliarmus' and blew Lockhart halfway across the great hall, when
it typically just levitates the other persons wand into your hand. So,
if Harry had hit Sirius with any significant charm/curse and had
murderous intent behind it, and a murderous rage behind it, he could
have done some real damage, especially, when he was only inches away
from Sirius' heart. Although, in general, something along the line of
'stupefy' or Reductor Curse (or similar) would have the greatest
potential for danger.


Grey Wolf continues:
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 Dursleys 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. ...SNIP...
- end Grey Wolf - this part -


bboy_mn rambles on:
I'm with you on this one, both on the general concept and the fact
that you were referring specifically to Harry. Although, 'unfocused'
magic is probably the correct way of referring to it, in a sense it is
 uncontrolled magic or better yet magic out of control, out of Harry's
control, like a dam suddenly bursting. Plus, his magic is frequently
acting spontaneously to protect him, almost like a magical reflexive
survival instinct. I just don't think Harry's unfocused magic is as
simple as being a losing of one's magical temper. I think Harry has a
powerful force of magic in him that can act with the specific intent
of protecting him; magical survival instinct. While this may not apply
so much to the Sirius Shrieking Shack situation, it could have very
strongly applied to the Voldemort Graveyard situation. If pushed far
enough, assuming he was able to react soon enough, before Big_V AK'd
him, his uncontrolled force of instinctive survival magic could have
unleashed substantial power. But, by giving Harry his wand, he forces
the situation into a whole new framework. 
-end bboy_mn - this part -


Grey Wolf continues"
 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, effectively reversing the course of the
fight. Harry was on the defensive there, and by expelliarming
Voldemort, he could start going on the offensive. ....SNIP....

Hope that helps,
 
END - Grey Wolf

bboy_mn finally:
Did anybody else notice that when Harry and Draco tried to curse each
other, and they cursed at the same time, their curses hit mid-air and
were deflected. Harry's hit (I forget which one) one of Draco's goons,
and Draco's dental curse hit Hermione. I always took that as JKR's
hint that simultaneous curses can interact in unusual ways. Her way of
telling us 'pay attention, this is going to come up again'.

Probably doesn't add up to much; just some thoughts I'm throwing in.

bboy_mn