Occlumency question...

[skriftlig.livejournal.com]

Hi! I have a question about how MAGIC works in Harry Potter's our world.

Specifically, do you need a wand for Occlumency? I know this sort of thing has probably been discussed a lot, but I haven't seen this specific case mentioned before.

The whole idea of wandless magic suggests a wand isn't always necessary for talented witches or wizards (or goblins, house elves etc..), but it also suggests that this is very rare and hard to do. I'm discounting accidental under-age magic, like when Harry blew up Marge.

I can't remember whether Harry uses a wand in his lessons with Snape and I don't have the books to hand to check. I've made a quick poll below; please vote if you are so inclined so we can see if there is a majority one way or the other.

Thanks for reading. Any comments, opinions and votes would be great! ♥

[Poll #1759338]

Comments

[vaysh]

In the Occlumency lessons that Snape gives Harry in OotP, it says:

ʹYes, Potter,ʹ [Snape] said, his eyes glinting. That is my job. Now, if you are ready, we will start again.ʹ
He raised his wand. ʹOne — two ‐ three ‐ Legilimenslʹ
A hundred Dementors were swooping towards Harry across the lake in the grounds… he screwed up his face in concentration… they were coming closer… he could see the dark holes beneath their hoods… yet he could also see Snape standing in front of him, his eyes fixed on Harryʹs face, muttering under his breath… and somehow, Snape was growing clearer, and the Dementors were growing fainter…
Harry raised his own wand.

and

ʹSo,ʹ he said. ʹHave you been practising?ʹ
ʹYes,ʹ Harry lied, looking carefully at one of the legs of Snapeʹs desk.
ʹWell, weʹll soon find out, wonʹt we?ʹ said Snape smoothly. ʹWand out, Potter.ʹ

It seems very clear here that you need a wand both for Legilimency and Occlumency.

Wandless magic, I think, depends on the magical power of the caster. It must be possible to Occlude wandlessly because otherwise Snape could not have kept his mind closed when in the presence of Voldemort, without him noticing.

Interesting question. :)

[skriftlig.livejournal.com]

OMG, thank you! I must never leave the house without a copy of OotP again.

I didn't realise Snape told Harry so explicitly to use his wand. That clears that up! My guess would be that Harry, as a beginner, needs the wand to learn the skill. Or Snape doesn't want to admit that Harry's a pretty powerful wizard!

I also think Snape must have mastered wandless Occlumency to be able to fool Voldemort and I suspect (with no real evidence) that he could perform Legilimency wandlessly too. I think there are several places where it's hinted at in the books (by Dumbledore and Voldemort as well as Snape).

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

I think Snape telling Harry to have his wand out was so that he could defend himself if he felt it was necessary. I distinctly remember Harry casting a shield charm at one point which threw Snape out of his mind.

It has been a long time since I've read the books, so I might be getting movie and book canon confused. :)

[vaysh]

It is true that Harry casts a Protego in the second scene. But clearly, Snape did not mean for him to use a defensive spell. Harry is casting the Shield Charm because he doesn't know how to Occlude his mind against Snape's Legilimency. Snape is teaching him how to do Occlumency, and for that he tells him to take out his wand.