What makes LV so powerful?

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 169225

Bart:

> Based on canon that there IS a genetic component to 
> magical ability, and additional canon showing (albeit 
> not telling) that it does not work according to the 
> laws of genetics, the best theory I have heard (who 
> came up with it?) was that there is a viral component 
> to magical ability; meaning that there is a genetic 
> component that makes one more or less susceptable to 
> the virus, which is difficult to catch

houyhnhnm:

I do know the canon. The reason I wrote "if" is because 
the transmission of magical ability clearly does not 
follow the rules of classic Mendelian single-locus 
inheritance.  I'm afraid I don't have enough confidence 
in Ms. Rowling's level of scientific literacy to make 
it interesting to speculate.  I do like the virus theory. 

Bart:

> Thinking this through, this may be a major part of why 
> Voldemort wants to kill Harry, himself. His fear of 
> Dumbledore might well be related to DD's ability to 
> bring out little Tommy Riddle; note that while DD has 
> no problem using the name, "Voldemort", he calls him 
> "Tom" in the MoM; given the above theories, this could 
> well have been a tactic to weaken Voldy.

houyhnhnm:

Kind of like the power of the ancient Irish satirists 
to weaken an opponent through ridicule.  A superficial 
Google search suggests that a belief in the magical power 
of satire existed in many cultures. If it holds in the 
Potterverse as well, it makes the Snape!boggart incident
seem a little more sinister.