Mysteries to me; maybe not to you

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 144684

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Bart Lidofsky <bartl at s...> wrote:
>
> Bart:
> Can anybody explain why Dumbledore was knocked backwards and 
> out a window by Snape's AK spell?
> 
> Can anybody explain why a personal award given to Tom Riddle ended
> up in Filch's office?
> 
> Can anybody explain why Snape sent out the alarm about the raid on
> the  Ministry?
> 
> Can anybody explain why Lord Voldemort must not be named? Or why
> they just don't call him "Tommy"?
> 
> Bart
>

bboyminn:

Q1-AK Curse: 
Many people will say that the AK curse does no physical harm, and
further that it has no physical effect beyond death. But first, you
must ask yourself how many AK have you actually seen; from extremely
few to none, if you ask me. Most accounts of the AK curse are not
actually witnessed, we see before and after, but not during. So we
can't say what an AK does or doesn't do in terms of secondary effects.
We can only relate after the fact the few examples we do have.

However, we have many other spells as examples. Harry stuns Ron
repeatedly when they are practicing for the Tri-Wiz Tournement. Ron
simply falls down. But when Dumbledore rescues Harry from fake!Moody,
his Stunner blasts through a substantial castle door, splintering it
in the process, and still has enough power to knock fake!Moody off his
feet and into unconsciousness.

We see examples of the Expelliarmus; in most cases, like the DA Club,
a person's wand flies from their hand. Yet in the Dueling Club when
Snape cast the spell against Lockhart, Lockhart is knocked the length
of the Dueling Pitch and into the back wall. Again, a tremendous
contrast in the effects of the spell.

When Herione perform the body-bind on Neville in SS/PS, Neville simply
falls over. In other cases, we see people knocked into air and off
their feet by the spell.

So, I think it depends on the intent and the dynamics of the
situation. In a moment of extreme emotion or the heat of the battle,
most curses can have tremendous physical force. When cast in calmer
more controlled circumstances like the classroom, the basic intended
spell effect is there but the additional physical effects are not.

Consequently, I don't think we can read too much into the physical
effects at the top of the tower.

Q2-Award:
If we are assuming what you mean correctly, others have already
answered this question. The Special Services Sheild was in the trophy
room.

Q3-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (or Tommy):

I will let JKR answer this question from the MuggleNet (Emerson) /
Leaky Cauldron (Melissa) Edinburgh interview.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-2.htm

ES: What prompted people to start referring to Voldemort as
You-Know-Who and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?

JKR: It happens many times in history — well, you'll know this because
you're that kind of people, but for those who don't, having a taboo on
a name is quite common in certain civilizations. In Africa there are
tribes where the name is never used. Your name is a sacred part of
yourself and you are referred to as the son of so-and-so, the brother
of so-and-so, and you're given these pseudonyms, because your name is
something that can be used magically against you if it's known. It's
like a part of your soul. That's a powerful taboo in many cultures and
across many folklores. On a more prosaic note, in the 1950s in London
there were a pair of gangsters called the Kray Twins. The story goes
that people didn't speak the name Kray. You just didn't mention it.
You didn't talk about them, because retribution was so brutal and
bloody. I think this is an impressive demonstration of strength, that
you can convince someone not to use your name. Impressive in the sense
that demonstrates how deep the level of fear is that you can inspire.
It's not something to be admired.

ES: I meant, was there a specific event?

JKR: With Voldemort? It was gradual. He was killing and doing some
pretty evil things. In the chapter "Lord Voldemort's Request," when he
comes back to request that teaching post in book six, you get a real
sense that he's already gone quite a long way into the dark arts. By
that time a lot of people would be choosing not to use his name.
During that time his name was never used except by Dumbledore and
people who were above the superstition.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

So, apparently this fear of a name has some historical precedents both
is the real world and in fiction/folklore/myth/legend.

Further, we must remember that wizards live in a world in which words
have tremendous power; words can kill both by direct action and by
inference. 

I can easily see people fearing to speak Voldemort's name because they
don't want to be though a supporter by anyone, and because they don't
want to be overheard by DE's for fear that they may be suspected of
plotting against the Dark Lord. To have any association with that name
at all just seem too dangerous to risk.

A further example is the old superstition that to speak the devil's
name is to call him to your side. So, there really was a time when
people feared to speak the devil's name, which lead to many pseudonyms
for the devil; 'Dan Scratch' comes to mind.

Just a few thoughts.

STeve/bboyminn