What is with the wimpy spells?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 162725

---  "det_okse" <marklb2 at ...> wrote:
>
> ...
> one of the things that has really puzzled me ... is
> the lack of some really decent offensive and defensive
> spells. ...
> 
> ... my biggest overall criticism of the series: Harry, 
> ... just don't seem to have gained ...much personal 
> power.... ... Look at some of the things other students
> have created ... while they were there: the maurauders
> map, the ability to change form, etc. It is almost as 
> if Harry is completely average ability-wise, but makes
> up for it with bravery. Does anyone else feel the same?
> Wouldn't we all feel better if Harry was just a bit more 
> powerful?
> 
> det_okse

bboyminn:

We have several characters in the series that could very
easily fall into the profoundly gifted catagory; certainly
Dumbledore, but also, Tom Riddle, Snape, James, and Sirius.
There abilities were far above and beyond any of the other
students who came through Hogwarts, and with the proper
motivation, they could all accomplish stunning things.

Yet, the important thing to remember is that they could
do things average students could not, even things top 
students could not. They were profound geniuses and we
can't really compare them to other students, not even
Hermione. Sadly, few of them were ever allowed to reach
their full life potential, kind of sad really.

So, from a academic perspective, it is reasonable that
Harry and Hermione do not have any of these 
accomplishments, but let us not forget that Harry has
faced and defied Voldemort more times than anyone in the
known wizard world. He certainly does have his 
accomplishments. True, he just scrapped by by the skin of
his teeth, drawing on luck more than skill, but he none
the less has done what better wizards could not. As to
Hermione, while she may not have any great accomplishments
like the Marauders Map, it's clear from the books that 
she is performing far above her grade level. That should 
not be discounted.

As to the level of spells that Harry & Co know, I think
part of that is intentional. JKR has given Harry crappy
DADA teachers every year. In the last books, Snape certainly
knows his stuff, but Harry's animostity toward Snape gets 
in the way of him learning anything. Part of the reason is
to make Harry the extreme underdog. To make Voldemort 
appear to be an overwhelming force when compared to Harry.

Also, I don't think the school ever intended any student 
to go directly from school to fighting Dark Wizards. School
is intended to give them a basic foundation upon which they
can expand their knowledge of magic on their own. 

Certainly, most wizards and witches seem to know magic 
that isn't taught at Hogwarts. Personally, I could never
understand why their wasn't a class in magical first aid. 
Lots of  people are getting hurt, and lot of potential to 
get hurt, yet they are given no tools to deal with it. So 
Hogwarts, like high school, is really very basic studies. 

I suspect with advanced students and a consistent string
of competent to excellent DADA teachers, the students 
would be much farther ahead than they are. But that is not
the case. 

I will be very disappointed if this attitude on the part 
of Harry and his friends continues in the next book. I 
fully expect to see Harry trying to make up for lost time
with respect to curse breaking, and offensive and 
defensive spells. He certainly has the people available 
who can teach him these things, and he would have to be
completely adle minded to not use them. 

In the end it may be love that saves Harry, but Harry is
not at the end yet, and if, from his current perspective,
he plans to win then he better start working for it.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn