What is with the wimpy spells?

[TK Kenyon]

No: HPFGUIDX 162729

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "det_okse" <marklb2 at ...> wrote:
>
> one of the things that has really puzzled throughout the series is
> the lack of some really decent offensive and defensive spells.Does
> anyone else feel that the spells that are out there that are known
> and in common use seem a little....tame? 

I've considered this, and I'm glad you brought it up. On one hand, 
when the DA was in the MoM in OotP, they had an honest-to-G-d wizard 
firefight. Neville used the "stupefy" spell ("STUBEFY!" p798) and 
the DEs used the same stunning spell. (To drift over to the 
Vorkosigan universe for a minute, it looks like these guys brought 
stunners to a plasma rifle fight.) Even evil DE Dolohov used the 
dreaded Tarantallegra spell on Neville (p802) instead of something 
that, you know, might hurt somebody. 

I can see not teaching vicious spells at Hogwarts. Even though I 
attended a notorious inner-city high school during the rise of the 
drug gangs in the 1980s, no one taught pistolcraft in school. You 
had to join a gang to learn urban guerilla tactics like, um, the DA. 

> This really is just a symptom of my biggest overall criticism of 
the
> series: Harry, (and Hermione, who undoubtedly is one of the 
brightest
> students at the school) just don't seem to have gained as much
> personal power as they really should have. They have done some
> amazing things, but Look at some of the things other students have
> created in the way of magical items and accomplishments 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
>
It does seem that more research went on in high school back in the 
old days. Snape created the Sectumsempra spell, remember. That's how 
he knew Potter had his potions book. The Mauraders created the map. 
They didn't just take lessons, back then. They created new stuff. It 
may be a subtle jab from a former schoolteacher (in Portugal) on the 
laziness of students these days. 

Hermione was, however, able to summon a flock of birds and send them 
after Ron. Maybe that's indicative of some real ... superhero power 
to come. 

And I think that might be the other reason that JKR is holding back 
on the magic. Maybe she doesn't want the HP saga to turn into 
Superman vs. Lex Luthor. 

TK Kenyon -- TigerPatronus! 

www.tkkenyon.com  

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