Cheating in the Third Task/ Harry's wand

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 59554

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tiger_queen429"
<tiger_queen429 at y...> wrote:
> Hey! I have two questions...
> 
> ... possible for the champions to cheat in the Third Task ...? Harry
> ... came ... first and had ... least ... obstacles ... should have 
> reached the cup first .... 

> Yet Moody/Crouch Jr. said "I stunned Fleur Delacour as she passed." 
> I take this to mean as she passed Harry. 

bboy_mn:
Grey Wolf already convered this, Fleur was stunned when she passed Moody.


> ...edited.... My theory is that it is not too hard to sneak on to 
> the Quidditch field or the stadium to inspect or map out the maze. 
> ..., but I wonder about Cedric. Would he do the same? 

bboy_mn:
NO! Cedric is represented as a decent, noble, and honorable man. He
might take some unofficial assistance, but he would never out and out
cheat. That's my story and I'm sticking to it,


> With more obstacles than Harry had to face that should have slowed 
> him (Cedric) down considerably.

bboy_mn:
Keep in mind that Cedric had three years more magical training than
Harry, and all indications are that he was also an excellent student. 

Harry knew he was no match for the other students and he was right. He
made it through the tornement with help. Fake!Moody assisted Harry in
the first task by manipulating Hagrid into showing Harry the dragons.
In the second task, Moody assisted Cedric knowing that the noble
Cedric would repay the favor to Harry. Moaning Myrtle pointed Harry to
the merepeople's village. In the third task, Harry and Cedric helped
each other when the opportunities arose. They also followed different
paths through the maze, so we don't know what obsticals Cedric
encountered. Harry spend a significant amount of time with the Sphinx
trying to solve the riddle. It is conceivable that Cedric met a more
dangerous creature, but one he was able to deal with faster. 

Conclusion, I see no reason why Cedric couldn't have won the tornement
 on his own. He was better trained, an excellent student, and a
talented wizard.


> 
> How powerful is Harry's wand? ....edited... Could Harry's wand be 
> weaker that Voldemorts or is it just as powerful? 

bboy_mn:
On a side note, let's remember (at least according to my theory) that
when a wand choses a wizard, it is not a moral or ethical choice. It's
simply a matter of compatability. I like to illustrate it by referring
to it as a shared harmonic resonance between the wizard and the
combination of unique wand components. 

Having said that, I believe that wands do have characteristics, and
that the wand components also have unique characteristics. Holly is a
protective wood associated with life. Yew is a wood associated with
death. Oak (Hagrid's wand) is the royal wood and is associated with
strength. Unicorn hair, again in my opinion, is a subtle and refined
core that is best for magic that must be precisely applied which makes
it good for charms. Dragon heart, in a sense has more strength but is
less refined, and would be good for magic that requires a burst of
power like strong curses and tranfiguration. Phoenix feather is both
refined and strong, I consider it the royal core. I also believe that
phoenix feather matches very few wizards and witches.

Even if my interpretation is wrong, it still serves as an illustration
to make my point, which is, while wand components have
characteristics, and while, in a limited way, the wand chooses the
wizard, it is the wizard that makes the wand. 

It is the preciseness of the match and the wizards own power that
determine how powerful and effective a wand is. In Voldemort's wand,
Yew, a symbol of death, combined with a phoenix feather that is both
refined and strong would certainly make a power combination, but it is
still no more powerful than the wizard who is using it.



> ... Harry has not shown that sort of power yet unless his Patronus.
> 
> Tiger queen

bboy_mn:

Voldemort is approx 70 years old; Harry is 14. Voldemort has spent
decades studying his craft intensely and refining his power.
Certainly, he appears to be more powerful than Harry. And while Harry
doesn't have the training or experience to back up his magic, he has
certainly shown hints along the way, like his powerful patronus charm,
that he has immense magic potential. 

And remember, it is our choices more than our abilities that show who
and what we really are.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn