Wandless Magic (wasRe: Wands)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 141610

Lealess: 
> There is also Legilimency.  While Snape uses a wand in OOTP, he 
> doesn't seem to use it directly as he flees Hogwarts in HBP, or as 
he 
> interrogates Harry in the bathroom.  Dumbledore also seems to 
> practice Legilimency without a wand throughout the series.

Potioncat:
You're right, he used a wand during Occlumency lessons. He doesn't 
use 
a wand any of the other times he appears to be performing Legilmency. 

I traced back upthread as far as I could and came to a question 
something along the lines of "Why do these wizards use a wand when 
historically wands aren't needed for magic?"
I'd have to say, "Because JKR said to." That seems to be the question 
that started this portion of the thread. I'm not sure if we've taken 
this off on a tangent or not.

Back to the example of the jinxed broom, from SS/PS chapter 11:

 "Snape was in the middle of the stands opposite them. He had his 
eyes 
fixed on Harry and was muttering nonstop under his breath."

Hermione says he's jinxing the broom. Later she says to Hagrid: "I 
know 
a jinx when I see one, Hagrid. I've read all about them! You've got 
to 
keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking at all."

There is also a quick sentence about her knocking Quirrell over, but 
no 
wands are mentioned for either wizard.

I know at one time we wondered if you had to speak out loud for a 
spell 
to work. Of course, we found out you can work silent magic. You'd 
think 
the DE at the DoM battle would have done a better job with his 
curses. 
But maybe he didn't have Snape as a DADA teacher, or he took DADA as 
seriously as Draco does. 

Perhaps 7th years learn wandless magic? But, if it requires eye 
contact 
or at least a contant line of sight, I wouldn't think it would work 
too 
well in a battle. The other question is, have we seen any wandless 
magic in HBP?