CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 13: Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 189985

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nikkalmati" <puduhepa98 at ...> wrote:

Nikkalmati:
>Harry was nearly killed because he was unconscious from the effect of the Dementors.  Most times a wizard would be able to seve himself from a fall.

Geoff:
> > I'm inclined to disagree with you. Can you advance any canon 
> > evidence for your suggestion?

> Nikkalmati 
> What is it you disagree with?  My POA US paperback covers the events pp 179-81. We see that Harry was hearing his mother's voice and "white mist was filing Harry's brain. . .. What was he doing?" Then he was falling but he "knew no more."  He was in the hospital when he woke up and he did not remember hitting the ground.  The teammates and Hermione told him DD came out on the field and slowed him down before he hit the ground.  They had all thought he was dead. He had to be carried to the castle. Clearly, he passed out.
> 
> If you disagree about a normal wizard saving himself, think about how Uncle Algee tested Neville when he was a boy.  He dropped him out of the window knowing he would not be hurt, if he had magic.  Didn't Neville bounce all the way down the road or some such?

Geoff:
Quite correctly, you cite one instance of a wizard saving themselves although 
this could be an instance of accidental magic such as Harry finishing up on 
the roof of the school or the incident with Aunt Marge.

Counter to that, you have the case of Neville falling off his broom (PS "The
Midnight Duel" pp. 109/10 UK edition). If he had been higher, this cold have 
resulted in death or serious injury.

Where I disagree is in extrapolating one incident which you quote to "most times".