Magic in Harry Potter: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Wizards must learn how to control their magic. In young and untrained children, magical effects will occur spontaneously during moments of strong emotion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rowling |first=J. K. |title=Harry is a metamorphmagus |url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=41 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926035344/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=41 |archive-date=26 September 2011 |access-date=27 February 2008 |website=J.K Rowling Official Site}}</ref> For example, [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] liberated a boa constrictor at the London Zoo and inflated his [[Dursley family#Marge Dursley|Aunt Marge]] to an enormous size. Although young children usually cannot control their magic, the young [[Voldemort]] could intentionally cause magical things to happen.<ref>{{HPref|book=6|chapter=13}}</ref> In the novels, almost all intentional magic is performed with a [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Wand|wand]].

[[Spell (paranormal)|Spells]] are the every-purpose tools of a wizard. They are generally short bursts of magic used to accomplish specialised tasks such as opening locks or creating fire. Casting usually requires the movement of a wand and the uttering of an [[incantation]],. The language of the oftenincantations in athe modified''Harry formPotter'' ofnovels [[Latin]]has been described (seeas [[dogDog Latin|modified Latin]]),.{{Citation andneeded|date=August gesturing with a wand.2024}} However, Rowling has revealed that particularly talented wizards can cast spells without the aid of wand, although magic produced with one is generally more precise and powerful.<ref>{{cite web |titlelast=HistoryRowling of|first=J. MagicK. in|date=8 NorthMarch America2016 |websitetitle=[[Pottermore]]Fourteenth Century – Seventeenth Century |url=https://www.pottermore.com/collection-episodic/history-of-magic-in-north-america-en |access-date=528 MayAugust 2024 |website=Wizarding 2017World}}</ref> Spells can also be cast non-verbally, but with a magical wand. While most magic shown in the books requires the caster to use their voice, some do not. Dumbledore has been known to do impressive feats of magic without speaking. In ''Order of the Phoenix'', Harry casts a spell without holding his wand. He performs ''lumos'' to light his wand when it is lying on the ground near him.<ref name="HP5">{{HPref|book=5}}</ref>

== The limits of magic ==