Wands/Wandfree/Scars/Eyes/History of wand usage was: Wand-free magic ?

[jastrangfeld]

No: HPFGUIDX 46643

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Audra1976 at a... wrote:

> First, I'd like to cite another example of wand-free magic--when
Quirrel is 
> hexing Harry Potter's broom during the first Quidditch game and
Snape when he 
> is countering the curse.  Hermione says he only needs eye contact for 
> that--just like Harry used eye contact to make the glass disappear
from the 
> snake exhibit, and to blow up Aunt Marge.  


Me:  Hadn't thought of that!  But you're right, he was looking at Aunt
Marge when it happened, he was on his feet directly speaking to her! 
And he was looking at the snake and the two boys in front of the glass
when the glass disappeared too!!  Hmm.  Interesting.  My original
point  in #46559 is that Harry simply will be the first to really
refine his own powers without wand usage.  I guess I never did make my
complete point there.  I believe that the wand is indeed a directional
point for the magic to flow through.  The magic elements and the wood
simply helping the magic through.  Otherwise why is the texture of the
wood important at all?  Why wood?  Because it's porous?  They snape
bad wizards wands, so they cannot perform magic.  They do not allow
other magical creatures (ie House Elves) to use wands, and I believe
that's so they do not get too powerful.  Wonder what would happen if
you let those House Elves or even the Goblins have wands . . . 

True there are incidences where curses are performed with direct eye
contact (Quirrell on Harry in the Quidditch match) but actually
directed spells is another thing.  I fully expect Harry to no longer
need a wand at some point, the question will be what causes it.  Does
it have anything to do with his scar?  Lilly's eyes?  

Finwitch had replied in 46589 that wizards have been doing magic
without wands, and that Olivander had made the first wand.  I don't
believe this is cannon.  And seeing as JKR loves to get the research
and history in, I'll go to the next part of your response.

> I'm not a history buff, so I don't know exactly what was going on in
the 
> world in 382 BC when an Ollivander supposedly started making wands.
 I wonder 
> if there was any significance to that specific year?  I was able to
find a 
> few sources that say that say (in the real world at least) that the
Druids in 
> Britain were the first to use wands, and they go back as early as
500 BC.   
> This means that the original Ollivander was probably a Druid.
> 
> Audra


Well we can check out the Wikipedia, the free online encylopedia in
every language (actually found this through Google when I typed the
year in).

http://www.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?search=382+BC

It appears that Philip II, king of Macedon was born in 382 BC.  hmm. 
In general in 4th century BC:

Events: 
Invasion of the Celts into Ireland. 
Kingdom of Macedon conquers Persian empire 
Romans build first aqueduct 
Chinese use bellows 
Significant persons: 
Plato, philosopher 
Aristotle, philosopher and scientist 
Philip II of Macedon 
Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, invades Asia Minor, Persia and
reaches India 


Well further research of wand usage brings up Lord Voldemort.  It also
brings up Odysseus.  In specific:  

Circe 
The next stop was the island of Circe (Aeaea), where Odysseus sent a
scouting party ahead of the rest of the group. She invited the
scouting party to a feast, the food laced with one of her magical
potions, and she then changed all the men into pigs with a wand after
they gorged themselves on it. Only Eurylochus, suspecting treachery
from the outset, escaped to warn Odysseus and the others who had
stayed behind at the ships. Odysseus set out to rescue his men, but
was intercepted and told by Hermes to procure some of the herb moly to
protect him from the same fate. When her magic failed he was able to
force her to return his men to human form. She later fell in love with
Odysseus and assisted him in his quest to reach his home after he and
his crew spent a year with her on her island. Circe and Odysseus had
three children: Telegonus, Argius, and Latinus. 

So when was the Trojan war you ask?

Why it's the first war listed!

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars

c.1200 BC Trojan War 


I hope this puts it all somewhat into perspective anyway ;o)

Julie - majored in World History and enjoying lots of references in
the HP series.