OOP: Harry's Mysterious Powers

[eldee_2600]

No: HPFGUIDX 62783

I was waiting for someone to mention this, since I've been thinking 
about this, among other things, since I read OOP. 

--- Julia wrote:
> First, when Uncle Vernon is strangling Harry, there is some kind of 
> unseen "force" that makes him let go, and I don't think it's Harry 
> losing control of his magic again, because he didn't seem to be 
> aware of Uncle Vernon's reaction, and he usually seems to know when 
> he is losing control ever since he joined the wizarding world. 

I'm pretty sure he does this a second time too, in Snape's Occlumency 
lesson. Snape asks him if he meant to use a stinging hex, which Harry 
denies. Perhaps it's some natural talent for escaping? An extension 
of Lily's sacrifice? Or perhaps just teenage hormones?

--- Julia wrote:
> Second, when Harry had dropped his wand while the dementors were 
> attacking he and Dudley, he cried "Lumos," and the wand lit up 
while 
> he wasn't holding it.  And later towards the end of the book 
someone 
> else does this, but nothing happens until they're holding the wand 
> (can't remember precise details, but it's when he and Neville and 
> the others are fighting off the Death Eaters).

Ahh yes, this caught my attention too. This could be Harry showing an 
unusual bond with his wand (could his relationship with Fawkes have 
anything to do with it?), or he could be displaying a talent for 
wandless magic. Wouldn't be the first time we've seen wandless magic, 
apparently children do it all the time. But for it to be controlled 
tends to require a fairly powerful wizard as far as I can see 
(Dumbledore springs to mind, with his clapping of hands at the feast).

Either way, Harry has to have some powers up his sleeve for the next 
two books - it wouldn't be fun otherwise!

ElDee - who was completely underwhelmed by OOP, and thought that 
Tonks being a Metamorphmagus was especially lame.