OotP: Wandless magic?

[LadyMyneh]

No: HPFGUIDX 62787

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "isabella_080" 
<isabella_080 at y...> wrote: 
> So, it sounds to me like the wand lit up before he "snatched it 
> up"...that would mean wandless magic, wouldn't it? This just seems 
> significant to me.  Is it just a small hint as to Harry's growing 
> powers, or are we (& Harry) going to learn that wandless magic is 
> very rare, but he can do it (of course).  I know wandless magic has 
> been discussed before on the list...but isn't this the first time 
> Harry's done it not including before his Hogwarts days?  I saw all 
> those incidents before Hogwarts as *losing* control of powers w/o a 
> wand, while this scene seems like is *gaining* control over magic 
> without a wand.  Or are we just being prepped for a very powerful 
> Harry?  I could be making much out of nothing, but I think this 
> probably points to wandless magic being important later in the 
> books.  Perhaps because it would be difficult for Harry to fight LV 
> because of the Priori Incantatem effect...he will have to use 
> wandless magic?
> 
> Isabella

I think that the wands act as a focus for the magic. When it's done 
without the wand, especially by someone untrained or highly 
emotional, it tends to be erratic and uncontrollable. It would make 
sense that as a wizard gains more power, they can perform simpler 
spells without needing to focus on the wand too much, while even the 
greatest wizards (Dumbledore and Voldemort) still need to use wands 
when performing complex spells, because otherwise they might just be 
way out of control.