Thanks, for the look up (why didn't I remember those scenes dammit all).

When Crouch Jr. (via Moody polyjuice) talks about when casting the imperio the caster needs to have an absolute drive to domminate the victim? The Crucio curse requires the caster to deeply desire to cause pain to the victim.

Both of those seem (to me at least) to be at odds with the aloof (even happy) state of mind that is said to be effected upon an imperio'd victim.

The killing curse seems to be a possible exception, in that the only requirements I have seen are power and skill. Both of which the imperious curse can apparently enhance to a certain extent.

 

The only thing Moody says is that the Killing Curse "needs power behind it". Nothing about the Imperius or the Cruciatus.

Bellatrix says you need to feel sadistic pleasure to cast the Cruciatus "properly", but Harry casts it in DH without that, so it may be that what Bellatrix means by "properly" is something like "as powerfully as I can".

Harry also casts the imperius in DH, without any kind of mental state at all. It seems as easy for Harry as Sectumsempra was. He does seem to have a certain talent for the Dark Arts XD

 

And even that's vague, to boot. What did he mean by it?

Pure speculation here, but from the way he talks about the whole class not being able to give him more than a nosebleed, it sounds like it's something you have to have the nerve to do. Perhaps it's similar to how the Disarming Charm seems to have more than one effect? (Would have said the Revulsion Jinx as well, but that appears to vary depending on environment if anything.)

Which begs another question. Apparating underwater: is it plausible? I don't remember anyone Splinching after reaching their destination, but it's a different medium and all, so...

 

Are there some magical properties of water I'm not aware of? Why on earth would it matter when you started or ended (as long as you remembered to bring along your bits, which people apparently forget sometimes) when it's a magical teleporting ability? Harry Potter magic doesn't care about physics it's fantastic in nature (unlike Dresden magic which at least interplays with physics).

 

There are some indications that water does have certain magical properties:

1. Knight Bus can't go underwater

2. Spells cast underwater manifest differently (though they still have the same general effect)

3. Voldemort's flying between Britain and mainland Europe in DH might suggest you can't apparate across large bodies of water.

 

1. Where does it say that? I know it never goes underwater, but that probably has to do with more practical elements, like being on roads to get an idea where you are and going.

3. I always interpreted Voldemort flying from mainland Europe to Britain has more to do with not being able to apparate across large distances.

 

Harry lost his Parseltongue ability after the events of DH, right?

 

Water is said to disrupt magic somewhat, its part of the reason Vernon took them to the hut on the rock, because he though they wouldnt be able to cross water.

Even the story of the three brothers hints at water being a serious hazard.

Grante this is from interviews and not the books.

 

A bit OT, I know, but is it a common feature of various magical systems in different universes for water to be a sort of purifying/disrupting force? I mean, I don't remember correctly, but it was so in DF too, right?

 

Yup.

/10chara

 

If you look back to Greek and Roman mythology water is often used as a purifying and protective element when dealing with the deities of each religion. The River Styx, for example, was the source of Achilles' invulnerability and the mortal Sipriotes was turned into a woman for witnessing Artemis bathing.

The emphasis on water as a vital and integral part of religion is understandable given that Ancient Athens relied heavily on its navy to wage its wars. The Peloponnesian Wars and the Greco-Persian Wars both made heavy use of Athens' status as the premier naval power on the Mediterranean.

 

This bugged me on a re-read of Book 6 a while back, and I may have just forgotten, but the discussion on the previous page reminded me: when exactly did Draco Imperius Rosemerta? Since I thought he didn't go to Hogsmeade on the first trip. Did I miss something?

 

It would have happened sometime between Draco being marked (mid-way through the summer?) and the necklace attack. So either a trip to Hogsmeade in the summer, sneaking out a secret passage early in the year, or during the first Hogsmeade trip are your options.

 

The shard of Sirius' two-way mirror that Harry kept throughout DH occasionally showed the face of Aberforth Dumbledore, who had the rest of the mirror. Are we told how Aberforth came to possess said mirror? I can't recall.

 

Pretty sure Aberforth mentioned that he acquired it from Mundungus. I'll flip through my copy of DH and check.

Edit: Yep.

 

Probably been answered already, but I'll ask. How exactly do we figure bludgers to work? There has to be some sort of rebound charm on them to make them divertable with force, but that ball has to be light enough to actually be hittable like this, and still be able to have enough impact to break bones. Also, the physical size. If it's too small, I can't see a beater being able to constantly hit it acurately, and if it's too heavy, I can't see beaters being able to slug at it for hours on end. Too large, and it wouldn't be able to go through the air that well.

Thoughts?

 

What are the limits on the distance that Apparition, Portkeys and Floo-travel can cover?

 

Apparation simply becomes increasingly difficult with range. It is not stated whether that is a linear increase or what.
Nothing is said anywhere I can find about portkey range.
Floo travel can bring you anywhere connected to the floo network, from anywhere connected to the floo network.

 

Is the Hogwarts Quidditch season predetermined in terms of when the six matches happen and which teams play?

For example, is the first game always Gryffindor-Slytherin and does it always take place during early November?

 

I haven't checked the books, but according to the wiki it's been the same every year except twice.