Dueling and Honorariums...

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 157535

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Bored_in_Texas" wrote:
>
> Hey, just wanted to throw this out, mainly because I don't really 
> understand the true dynamics of this, so I was wondering if anyone 
> else did.  
> 
> The Dynamics of Dueling:
> 
> The quote I have in mind is when Sirius is dueling with a Death  
> Eaterin the Ministry and "their wands were flashing like    
> swords." Now, in a duel with swords, the optimum distance would   
> beone sword (about 3-4 feet) and the participant's arm, another 3 
> feet or so.  If one cannot use their wand as a sword and it is 
> more of a pistol (and in numerous books, wands have "fired off"
> spells before), wouldn't they want to stay as far away as 
> necessary? <snip>

Mike:
Yes, it does appear as if JKR had a 17th century, Three Musketteers 
style battle in mind (right century?). Doesn't really fit the 
weapons she has equipped them with, does it? My opinion is that JKR 
didn't put too much thought into the technical aspects of battling 
like a wizard. Or, if she did, she didn't know how to incorporate 
her brand of magic into her idea of a proper battle between good and 
evil. Doesn't bode too well for book 7.

> FT:
> Much like Muggle dueling, the option is to win at any 
> cost.  If the victory is a dead Order member, or a stunned 
> Death Eater, wouldn't the lesser spells be out of the picture? 
> Why would the Death Eaters bother with anything less than a 
> killing curse? <snip> 

Mike:
Herein lies the problem of inventing the ultimate weapon, 
introducing it into a situation that includes stone-cold killers, 
then not really explaining the mechanics of using the ultimate 
weapon. In point of fact, JKR has under-explained most all of her 
most important magic, so far. How do you make a Horcrux; well you 
encase your piece of soul. The AK is unblockable; unless you stick a 
statue in front of it, but there's no countercurse; unless you know 
how to invoke ancient magic. Granted, we did have a maniac 
explaining AK to us, but that wasn't our choice, and JKR didn't have 
anyone disavow us of what Crouch Jr taught us in GoF.

I expect that firing off an AK requires a certain amount of 
concentration in concert with magical ability and resolve. So, few 
wizards can perform the spell in battle type conditions. But, then 
try to explain Blondie in HBP? Maybe the spell doesn't travel that 
fast, too easy to dodge, leaving one vulnerable both before and 
after conjuring? Trying to match the capabilities of the spell with 
the employment of it in canon leaves one in a quandry. I confess 
myself dissappointed.<g>

BTW, didn't JKR say "Hogwarts" was a flower or some plant name she'd 
seen in a horticulture park or a garden?

Mike