The difference between the expelliarmus and accio spells

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50577

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tom Wall <thomasmwall at y...>"
<thomasmwall at y...> wrote:
> 
> Steve:
> Expelliarmus is a charm intended to take away an opponent's 
> offensive weapon capabilities. ...
> 
> Cassie:
> If you break it down in the Latin you get: expello "I expel" 
> arma "weapon."
> 
> Canon:
> "[Harry] pulled out his wand and shouted, 'Expelliarmus!' and just
> as  Snape had disarmed Lockhart, so Malfoy found the diary shooting 
> out of his hand into the air. Ron, grinning broadly, caught it."
(CoS 239)
> 
> Me:
> I wonder if this is a mistake, then. Cassie's Latin is dead-on, 
> and I think Steve's right, that for the most part, 'expelliarmus' 
> is used to remove a weapon from an opponent.
>
> ...edited...
> 
> Still, it's bizarre that a disarming spell could be used to remove a 
> mere diary from Malfoy's hands, ...edited...
> 
> -Tom

bboy_mn:
Who has stayed up way too late.

We come back to the wizard's intent. Ron knocked out a troll using the
wrong spell. He used 'levitate a feather' when he should have used
'levitate wood' (or something equivalent). Yet his intent was so
strong, that it worked anyway.

The Diary is not a weapon in the truest sense, but it is dangerous, 
an obviously substantial enchanted object, and has potential for harm.
This is compounded by Draco using the diary against Harry. In a very
vague broad general sense, Draco is using it as a weapon to torment
Harry; to attack his emotions. Given what I have said, and Harry's
assumed feelings, he could have had the motivating feeling necessary
to make a disarming charm work.

Just a few thoughts.

boy_mn