[HPforGrownups] Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 13: Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw

[Margaret Fenney]

No: HPFGUIDX 189987

> 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".


bookcrazzzy:

I have to agree that a normal wizard functioning normally would be able to
save himself from a fall "most times".  I don't think it is a matter of
citing instances of wizards falling off their brooms but rather a matter of
accumulated general knowledge of wizards and magic.  We know that there a
great many ways that a wizard can respond to a given situation, depending on
their knowledge, skills, individual strengths, etc., the most obvious
example of this being the Tri-Wizard Tournament.  With respect to falling
off a broom, we know that Neville's bouncing is one way and DD's slowing
Harry down is another way.  We can easily think of other possibilities such
as summoning another broom, transforming a rock on the ground into a
mattress, transforming something on the wizard into a balloon, etc.  As long
as the wizard is not under some impediment that prevents such a response, I
think it is reasonable to believe it would be normal for him to save himself
from a fall.