Magic and its limits

Magic is a supernatural force that can change the fabric of reality on its fundamental levels. Biologically, magic is often hereditary, which allows sorcerers to practice witchcraft at a young age. It is the foundation of the wizarding world just as science and technology are the foundation of Muggle culture. Magic is what differentiates sorcerers from Muggles.

The basic concepts of magic are quite simple. Even a two-year-old sorcerer can do some form of magic, but the inherent power and potential for abuse are great indeed. It’s for this reason that promising young witches and wizards are sent to wizarding schools such as Hogwarts and Ilvermony. At Hogwarts, students learn a variety of magical specialties as well as the general theory and history of magic in their world.

Muggles and Squibes can’t do magic. As such, as a substitute for magic, Muggles use technology. In the same sense, many sorcerers are ignorant of the functioning of most Muggle devices, including electricity.

Since the International Statute of Secrecy aims to hide the magical community from the Muggle community, most Muggles are unaware of the existence of magic.

 

Limitations

Regardless of the power of the witches or wizards, they are by no means limitless. Here are some of the limits of their magical abilities:

Conjuring Rule: While it is possible to conjure things up from nothing, it is much more difficult to create something that fits an exact specification rather than something trivial. In fact, all conjured objects tend to not last, such is the case of the Patronus.

Rule against Resurrection: It’s also impossible to resurrect the dead. While corpses can be transformed into obedient beings through Necromancy, so that the resurrected being is under the command of the sorcerer, they are nothing more than soulless or self-willed zombies.

It’s also possible via the rare Priori Incantatum effect to converse with a “shadow” ghost of magically murdered people. The Stone of Resurrection also makes it possible to talk to the dead, but those brought back by the stone are not corporal and often do not wish to be disturbed during their peaceful rest. The result of such summonings is usually detrimental to the invocator.

Rule against immortality: Likewise, it’s impossible to become immortal. Sorcerers use mystical and powerful objects to extend their life, such as the Philosopher’s Stone or Horcruxes, the latter being the way Lord Voldemort was able to survive his first encounter with Harry Potter.

Becoming a ghost is also an option for witches and wizards, but it is said to be “a pale imitation of life”. Whether or not the ghosts are truly capable of feelings is unclear. Severus Snape stated that a ghost is simply “the imprint of a dead soul on earth”.
 

Main exceptions to Gamp’s Law of elementary metamorphosis

Among the exceptions to Gamp’s law of elementary metamorphosis is about food. Witches and wizards can cook and prepare food using magic, but not create it from scratch. Of the five exceptions, only food is explicitly mentioned, although speculation has suggested many other possibilities.

There is a strong possibility that money is another exception because if sorcerers could simply materialize money out of thin air, the economic system of the wizarding world would be seriously disrupted.

Although the Philosopher’s Stone does permit alchemy (including turning iron into gold), this stone is extremely rare, if not unique.
 

Relationship to magic

The emotional state of a sorcerer can affect his magical ability. For example, Nymphadora Tonks temporarily lost her power of Metamorphomage after suffering severe emotional disturbances such as great sadness at the death of Sirius Black. The shape of her Patronus is modified and takes the appearance of a wolf because she loves Remus Lupin, reflecting her love for him.

Sorcerers are also weakened when the Dementors are present around for long periods of time. Indeed, these creatures attack their prey psychologically by making them recall their worst memories, leaving the victims physically vulnerable.

Several magic spells involve the use of emotion when they are used. The Patronus spell, for example, requires the caster to focus on a particularly happy memory. An example of this is when Harry creates corporal Patronus to protect Sirius Black from Dementors as well as his other-self.

Magic and Death

The phenomenon of death is studied in detail in a room called the Death Room of the Department of Mysteries. Sirius Black falls through the veil present in the room after he was struck by a spell cast by Bellatrix Lestrange. He then disappears under the veil to the world of death.

There are some magical techniques that have been used to expand life. The Philosopher’s Stone can be used to prepare a potion that delays death forever, as long as the potion is drunk regularly.

Voldemort himself used other methods, being one of the few magicians who used the Horcruxes. He has long sought to “defeat death”, and is suspected to be the only one to have used several Horcruxes.

Legend has it that if one possesses the three Deathly Hallows, these tools would allow him to become the “master of death”. However, to be a true “master of death” means to be ready to accept that death is inevitable.

Moreover, consuming unicorn blood keeps a person alive, even if death is imminent, but at the terrible price of being cursed forever.
 

Forbidden Magic

In magic, there are spells that are strictly forbidden because of their effects. They are called Unforgivable Spells:

The imperius curse: Imperium

The crutiatus curse: Crucio

The kill curse: Avada Kedavra

Using one of these spells condemns the caster to a lifelong prison sentence in Azkaban.