[HPforGrownups] the difference between expelliarmus and accio spells

[Torsten]

No: HPFGUIDX 50631

>Lynda Sappington:
>I'm still kind of new to all this, 
>so I could be mistaken, but that's what occurred to me when the same question 
>popped into my head while reading.  Boy, I wish I could do "accio" spells 
>myself -- then I wouldn't be hunting for my cell phone and keys all the time! 

Question is, what limitations are there to the Accio spell? Obviously, "Accio 
Philosopher's Stone" doesn't work, unless you know where the Stone is and it can get 
to you - which leads to the assumption that Harry left his dormitory window open for 
the Firebolt to reach him.

Still, knowledge and no hindrances can't be the only obstacles, since there would be a 
lot of robbery otherwise ...

What I've been always wondering about is when Harry summons the Firebolt: "saw his 
Firebolt hurtling towards him around the edge of the woods" (GoF, The First Task). 
Why "around the edge of the woods"? Why doesn't it take the direct route to it's 
summoner (like all the other accio'd items do) and flies over the woods?

Torsten