Extraordinary magic in the climax

[davenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 132759

Has anyone else noticed that the climax/resolutions of the books 
generally seem to involved magic that goes beyond anything else we 
see in the books?

PS/SS - The Mirror of ERISED can actually manipulate objects in the 
room based on the desires of the looker!

CoS - Loyalty to Dumbledore summon Fawkes... carrying the Sorting 
Hat... containing Gryffindor's sword!!  Who saw that coming?

PoA - A bit different... we are aware of Animagi, and it's no 
shocker that there is time travel involved given Hermione's class 
schedule, and we are familiar with Patroni, but the conclusion to 
this book incorporates a) three characters having turned themselves 
into animagi; b) three hours of time travel; c) Harry conjuring a 
Patronus, that d) is his father's animagus form.

GoF - That crazy scene with the golden dome, the phoenix song, the 
Priori Incatatum that generated "shadow spells" that actually knew 
what was going on, rooted for Harry, and held LV back for a few 
seconds so Harry could run to the Cup.  Crazy stuff!

OoP - Statues coming to life, the Veil... I don't have it with me 
and it's been a month since I read this but I seem to remember some 
other intense magical activity going on between LV and DD.

It's pretty neat stuff, but I confess that my initial reaction to 
some of these things was that it was a bit over the top to have a 
hopeless situation end up being resolved using magic that was barely 
hinted at in the books, if at all.  Did anyone else have this 
reaction?  I think I was rolling my eyes particularly at the way the 
Stone ended up in Harry's pocket.  I hate to complain, I love the 
books, but sometimes you want Harry to just win outright by nailing 
LV or a DE with a good hex or two.  The Patronus in PoA was 
especially satisfying for this reason.

- davenclaw