Talk:Magical objects in Harry Potter

Wands – "any instrument"

From the article:

"While, according to Ollivander, any object can channel magic if the wizard is strong enough, wands are the most commonly used because of their efficiency (due to the owner's bond with the wand itself). This can explain how some wizards are able to use spells without wands (for example, retrieving an item with Accio)."

This is a misinterpretation of Ollivander's statement in Deathly Hallows that

"If you are any wizard at all you will be able to channel your magic through almost any instrument."

This statement is made in the context of using another's wand, versus using one's own wand, and not whether or not you can channel magic through, say, a rock – so the word "instrument" should be taken to refer to wands specifically, not "things". Much as saying a talented musician could get a decent sound out of any instrument would suggest an actual musical instrument more than it would suggest a random pastry bought from the nearest bakery.

As stated by J.K. Rowling:

"As established by Ollivander, a wizard can use almost any wand, it is simply that a wand that chooses him / her will work best."

References

Detail

Hello! I was hoping to hear thoughts about the amount of detail in this article. I majorly condensed the first two entries (Fake Galleons and Howler) to a length I feel is appropriate for a general audience. Wikipedia is not a fan wiki, so I think we should avoid excessive detail. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter. Thanks! Wafflewombat (talk) 05:56, 16 August 2024 (UTC)