Extraordinary magic in the climax

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 132834

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "davenclaw" <daveshardell at y...> 
wrote:
> 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!

Finwitch: Well, it IS logical that if someone had a desire to FIND 
the stone - not USE it -or, like Quirrell, present it to his master - 
he'd know WHERE the stone was, right, even if the mirror did not show 
any truth really? Dumbledore put such a spell into it to hide the 
stone. Oh, I think I do know that Voldemort knew how the mirror 
worked, BUT neither he nor Quirrel had the correct DESIRE to key the 
stone... that's why says: "use the boy".
 
> CoS - Loyalty to Dumbledore summon Fawkes... carrying the Sorting 
> Hat... containing Gryffindor's sword!!  Who saw that coming?

Finwitch:

Well -- Dumbledore did sort of say Fawkes would remain - "So long as 
just one who's loyal to me remains at Hogwarts I have not truly left" 
or some such -- of course, Harry didn't understand that hint, even 
though Dumbledore had, upon describing a Phoenix, told him and even 
ephacised: they make very *faithful* pets. Or about that help being 
always given at Hogwarts when asked... Of course he couldn't say it 
directly, but that's what we got.

Anyway, in this AND first book, the objects(and bird) were there all 
along, we just learn something new of them.
 
> 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.

Finwitch:

Yes, well, the big deal was Sirius the godfather, offering him a 
home - thus creating a happy enough memory for Harry1 to keep the 
Dementors away long enough for Harry2 to cast the Patronus. As we see 
in OOP casting a patronus when one is NOT under Dementor-influence is 
much easier (as Harry2 was not). That's why I consider the not-so-
corporeal Patronus that Harry1, under the attack of *several* 
Dementors to be the key moment in Harry's mastering the spell, more 
than the corporeal one Harry2 cast. We're not even told what happy 
thought he used for it. The one Harry1 cast, however - it's the hope 
of going to live with Sirius instead of Dursleys... and that's 
telling, IMO. Harry couldn't have cast either Patronus had he 
permitted Sirius&Remus kill Pettigrew.
 
> 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!

Finwitch:

Well, we've known that Harry's wand was brother of Voldemort's since 
Harry bought it. And the Priori Incantatem as well as spell-echos 
were presented in the QWC when Amos tested Harry's wand. We just 
didn't know that brother wands fighting would have that sort of 
effect.
 
> 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.

Finwitch:

Well, we did hear of Department of Mysteries in GoF, at QWC - 'no one 
knows what they are doing' - the Department was also brought up in a 
discussion with Luna, Harry's trial near it and Harry's dreams of 
it.. really, what WOULD you expect to find in Department of Mysteries 
but devices dedicted to study the greatest Mysteries - death, life, 
time, thought/human mind, truth, future i.e Prophecies...? 

As for the statues coming alive... what of the armours, gargoyles, 
portraits, talking mirrors and moving staircases at Hogwarts? The 
statue itself was well portrayed before and after the trial. Or the 
giant Chess set? I would have been MORE surprised if Dumbledore, the 
great and powerful wizard, could not enchant a statue, when different 
enchanted objects for different purposes are found and discussed of 
ever since the first book... 

Maybe they'll go as far as to teach the students to enchant in the 
next book... be it Charms or Transfiguration. 

Finwitch