death to capslock

How magical are magical beings?

2023-05-13T19:48:06Z

Posted by: sunnyskywalker

Inspired by Red Hen’s “History of Magic” essay, in which she hypothesizes the following:

Magical ability in humans is an aberration.

We see this partly in the way that the flow of children’s magic is impacted and bursts out at unpredictable intervals.

We see further support in the fact that no other magical species experiences such magical outbursts, needs wands, or suffers from the hypothetical Dark Arts-induced dementia.

Now, I don’t think I can categorically disprove any of these. On the other hand, there are alternative possibilities. I addressed the question of whether human magic is an aberration in “Heritability of Potterverse Magic.” (Short answer: not exactly. Wizards are extreme outliers, but their abilities are due to rare combinations of rare alleles of magic-related genes all humans have in some form.) And I provided an alternative to the “impacted flow” theory in “Magical Outbursts.”

Now I have questions about Point #3. Namely, do we know that the no other species has magical outbursts or Dark Arts-induced dementia? ( Read more... )

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Allies the Order never made

2022-01-22T10:39:00Z

Posted by: sunnyskywalker

We hear of several Order members’ missions—mostly unsuccessful—to convince various groups not to join Voldemort, and perhaps fight him instead. Remus tries “reasoned argument” with the werewolves, Hagrid and Maxime give gifts to the Gurg of the giants, and Charlie maybe talks to his dragon-handler friends. Dumbledore himself has apparently been talking to the centaurs for several years, judging by the way Firenze has surprisingly detailed information about the philosopher’s stone trap and the identity of the unicorn-killer.

There’s an interesting omission here. Did anyone try to negotiate with the goblins?
( Read more... )

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Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 26

2015-08-16T10:46:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[For the attempted break-in of Gringotts, they decide Hermione will be Polyjuiced to look like Bellatrix]

Hermione: I really hate that I have to go as the woman who tortured me.

Harry: Well, look on the bright side—it’s only for one chapter.

Hermione: I can already tell it’s going to be a long chapter.

( Read Chapter 26 )

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Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 25

2015-08-15T20:06:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[Harry and co. spend the next few days at Shell Cottage with Bill and Fleur]

( Read Chapter 25 )

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Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 24

2015-08-04T12:34:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

Hey, it's my birthday! Have another one of these!

( Read Chapter 24 )

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Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 15

2015-07-12T18:35:00Z

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[The next morning, Harry buries Mad-Eye Moody’s magical eye]

Harry: Better there than in the clutches of that evil Umbridge, after all.

( Read Chapter 15 )

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Magic vs. Might

2015-01-18T15:12:00Z

Posted by: metatrix.livejournal.com

There is an inherent divide between magical creatures (such as goblins) and wizards. This is based on two things:
( Read more... )

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New COS Content on Pottermore

2012-11-20T17:18:00Z

Posted by: dracasadiablo.livejournal.com

( The Polyjuice Potion )

( JKR about The Polyjuice Potion )

( Ghost )

( Chamber of Secrets )

( The sword of Gryffindor )

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DH Chapter 24: The Wandmaker.

2010-04-04T04:03:00Z

Posted by: elanor-x.livejournal.com

DH Chapter 24: The Wandmaker.

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