Laws of the universe

[pengolodh_sc]

No: HPFGUIDX 33757

--- In HPforGrownups, Katie wrote:
[snip]
> It seems to me that the magic system is a mixture of
> magic-by-will [...] and magic-by-spells-plus-actions [...]
> *and* magic-by-potions [...].
> 
> I'm not sure, though, were the actual rules lie.  Are the
> words-and-wands simply a means to focus the magic user's will
> so that weird things don't happen?  Harry's use of magic
> prior to Hogwarts does seem to be random and to have
> unexpected consequences, so maybe a specific focus is required
> to keep the magic from doing bizarre and unexpected things. 
> That would make sense in light of the fact that Ron's magic
> went awry when his wand was broken.  On the other hand,
> wouldn't that imply that a sufficiently determined magic
> user could perform spells without the wands-and-words (at
> least in situations where he/she focused completely on the
> desired outcome) *without* having things go nuts?  

I believe in the theory of magic being done by will (possibly apart 
from potions - consider the below as skipping potions).  The use of 
formulae such as "wingardium leviosa" and "petrificus totalus" seem 
to me to be more a form of mental trick, where you associate the 
proper method for your mind to command or control the magic to 
achieve the desired result, with a specific set of words.  The wand 
is needed, I think, because the magic otherwise would spill all over 
the place, meaning much more effort must go into achieving the 
desired result, while there's lots of excess magic going all over the 
place, creating a risk for random magic side-effects.  most mages 
simply do not have the ability to focus the actual emission of magic 
well enough to be able to do any magic of note in everyday-
situations, when he does not have adrenalin helping him focus on what 
is necessary for survival.  

Take the analogy, if you like, of a nozzle on a garden-hose - you 
need it to focus the spray of water the way you want.  Without the 
nozzle, you have to use a finger on the end of the hose, and the 
results you achieve then are not always good enough for your 
purposes, and inevitably, water gets spilled.

When Harry does his spontaneous magic, by the above analogy he does 
not have the nozzle, and instead has to subconsciously focus his 
energy as best he can.  Chances are that he had a semi-conscious 
thought of it being cool to be able to get on the roof of the school-
kitchen to get away from his pursuers, that being the will-effort 
required, combined with an adrenalin-induced urgency that possibly 
contributed to his focusing-ability.

> Or are the wands-and-words something that strengthen the magic
> act?  For example, Harry has an inherent magical ability that
> he can use in times of stress, but for 'everyday activities',
> he needs the wand with its magical core element, as well as
> the word(s) that describe the action he wants to have happen,
> in order to give his magic the extra push required to get
> something done?

As I said above, I think the words are not part of the magic as such, 
but are a mental method, with the purpose of helping the mind command 
the magic properly.  The wand on the other hand, is an extension and 
refining of the person's actual ability to control the focus and 
amount of magic he is sending out in his spell.  

As such, I do not think that there are any "universal words" of 
magic, and certainly not taht we have seen any so far, even if they 
exist.  The words we hitherto hace seen in spells seem to be Latin or 
pseudo-Latin, while it seems probable to me that magic existed a long 
time before Latin existed.  If there were any such words, they might 
be in proto-indoeuropean, but as I said  - I do not really think 
there are any.  (Of course, according to Murphy, JKR will in book 
five refute everything I have written above :) ) 

> And while I'm here, does anyone know if there are websites
> discussing or listing the spells/potions/etc. used in HP?
> 
> Katie

You should try Steve van der Ark's Harry Potter Lexicon, at 
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/

Best regards
Christian Stubø