Harry's brand of magic

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 146531

Nicholas wrote:

The  challenge for Harry is not to learn more magic, but to conquer 
his  emotions and to channel the instinctive powers that he possesses. 
In the  confrontation with Snape at the end of HBP, Harry's magic was 
useless,  because he was so overcome with emotion at what had happened 
to  Dumbledore. His efforts were slow and predictable, and Snape 
easily  defended himself (whilst at the same time, and very 
interestingly, telling  Harry exactly where he was going wrong and why 
the spells he was casting  were ineffective!)
Julie:
I very much agree with your point that Harry possesses instinctive
power, which he must learn to channel. I also think Harry's magic  was
useless against Snape not because he was overcome by emotion
in general but because of the particular emotions that were directing
him at the moment--hatred and a desire for vengeance. Dumbledore has
said Harry's greatest power is his capacity for love, which is  apparently
the power Voldemort knows not, and certainly doesn't understand. So
until Harry channels his considerable instinctive powers through love
and mercy (Dumbledore's method) instead of through hatred and 
vengeance, he cannot defeat Voldemort (just as Snape, despite his 
prowess with magic, does not have the power that will  defeat Voldemort). 
 
Julie 


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