HP's powers

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 112944

Rob wrote:
> Does anyone figure HP will lose his powers once he vanquishes LV?  I 
> figure this must be a possibility, since it seems most of his powers 
> seem to come from LV, and the hero in G vs. E epics often has to 
> sacrifice something for the people's benefit.
> 

Carol responds:
Harry's parents were regarded as powerful wizards ("CAR CRASH?" shouts
Hagrid indignantly in SS/PS. "How could a car crash kill Lily an'
James Potter?") and they were particularly good at Transfiguration and
Charms, respectively. Presumably Harry inherited at least some of
their skill. The ability to produce a "corporeal Patronus," for
example, seems more likely to have been inherited from James than
transferred to Harry from Voldemort. Certainly his skill at Quidditch
(and flying) comes directly from James. I think he'll lose whatever
powers he acquired from Voldemort (Parseltongue and possibly
Legilimency--I'm not sure what else) but retain the powers that are
native to him (to steal a phrase from Tolkien). If (and this is a big
if) only Voldemort can kill him and he is otherwise immune to death
until the final confrontation, he will certainly lose that immunity
and be subject to death by falling (or whatever) like any other
wizard. I tend to think that he's immune to AK and less susceptible to
Imperio than other wizards because of the scar. Maybe he'll retain the
scar but it will be just a scar (as Gandalf's ring is just a ring
after the One Ring is destroyed).

In short, if he survives, he'll be "just Harry"--an ordinary young
wizard--which is exactly what he wants to be. I can't imagine him
losing his powers and having to live in the Muggle world (or become
the first artificially created Squib). No, Harry was born with magical
powers ("His name's been down [in the Hogwarts book] since he was
born") and I doubt very much that he'll lose any powers that were not
acquired from Voldemort. And those, no doubt, he'll be happy to lose.

Carol, who is hopelessly addicted to parentheses