CHAPDISC: DH36, THE FLAW IN THE PLAN.

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 185281

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jkoney65" <jkoney65 at ...> wrote:

 jkoney65:
> The wand is dangerous? How so? The wand can't do anything without the 
> wizard using it. Maybe many of its past owners weren't the best 
> people but that has no bearing on Harry.

Geoff:
Maybe, but it is dangerous in the same way that a chain saw 
or a shotgun is; there is a potential there if a wizard *does* use 
it with malicious intent.. A revolver may sit in a drawer in 
someone's room harmlessly but can become dangerous in 
seconds if a user involves it.

In a similar way, words can be dangerous. For example,  Avada 
Kedavra remains as two words on a piece of paper - until someone 
uses them intending evil.

Their very existence can be a source of danger.

Pippin:
> How does a stick of wood know anything? But it has to know when its
> master has been defeated, and who defeated him.

Geoff:
In the same way that we know, from the Wizarding world, that some 
inanimate objects possess a degree of sentience. We have the classic 
example of the Sorting Hat and also the portraits which are basically 
inanimate canvases  retaining a measure of the knowledge of their 
subjects. Even a Bludger seems to have a low level of knowledge.