# Harry Potter style magic user VS Modern soldier **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412 "2017-01-05T19:39:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/41 "2017-01-09T17:28:53Z")
Yes, magic in the Harry Potter universe has limits. The limit being the power of plot. If necessary for the story, a wizard literally has infinite power. If not, he is so susceptible to this limit he is likely to forget the very existence of certain spells, charms, or potions. That said, if that universe is the setting, I can’t imagine a hostile muggle receiving the impetus of plot over a wizard. Unless they also have another one as an ally. In which case this discussion becomes pointless. Oh, wait… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/42 "2017-01-11T15:47:35Z")
Now in the later books, dont we see some communications or some time of crossovers with muggle government leaders? For example isnt there sort of wizard ambassador to say the American president? I imagine over time the CIA or the NSA would figure out that something isnt right and start an investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/43 "2017-01-11T17:27:43Z")
Actually, this discussion brings to mind a rather entertaining and cathartic scene in Doctor Who, where an FBI agent faces off with the terrifying alien of the week. The alien makes some intimidating speech about how they’re everywhere and all-powerful and have no need of weapons thanks to how much they already control Earth. The FBI agent cuts him off by quick-drawing a revolver and putting three rounds center-of-mass and dropping the alien on the spot. “Welcome to America.” The FBI agent was played by an English actor, of course. So hard to find Americans to play Americans in action roles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/44 "2017-01-11T18:52:25Z")
Thing is, we have to know how magic works works in the Potterverse (just as a start, could _Protego_ stop rifle bullets? Does it require being directed at a particular threat, or is it general-purpose protection (in other words, would the witch need to know where the soldier is and what she’s doing?) Can a wizard cast a different spell without undoing _Protego_? (and if the last two answers are ‘yes’, is there some other drawback that explains why witches don’t always cast _Protego_ at the beginning of any duel?)). And of course the best answer to how Potterverse magic really works is from, I’ll call him, **Tim** > [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](#): > > Clearly, whichever of the combatants is the protagonist will win such a battle to the death. On the off chance that the battle occurs in a prolog or in flashback, whichever combatant is the father/mother/lover/buddy/teacher of the protagonist will tragically lose. One other possibility, if the battle occurs as one of many early rounds of some sort of tournament and neither character is vital to the protagonist, whichever character has more elaborate backstory or characterization will win. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/45 "2017-01-11T19:04:18Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Thing is, we have to know how magic works works in the Potterverse (just as a start, could _Protego_ stop rifle bullets? Does it require being directed at a particular threat, or is it general-purpose protection (in other words, would the witch need to know where the soldier is and what she’s doing?) Can a wizard cast a different spell without undoing _Protego_? (and if the last two answers are ‘yes’, is there some other drawback that explains why witches don’t always cast _Protego_ at the beginning of any duel?)). > > And of course the best answer to how Potterverse magic really works is from, I’ll call him, **Tim** IIRC, the series presented _Protego_ as a momentary shield, i.e. the wizard needed to identify the danger and cast _Protego_ to shield themselves from the incoming attack. I don’t think we ever see a wizard casting _Protego_ as a preventative measure, where it hangs around for a while or until it blocks something. Most wizards don’t seem to know what guns are or what they do, and bullets fly faster than spells. I’m not convinced that a Potterverse wizard is guaranteed to survive an encounter with a trained gun user. Could be the soldier draws and fires before the wizard can get their shield up. Wizard dueling seems to be largely based on the recognition and countering of telegraphed spells, not using stealth or cover. My impression from the books was that the muggles were in danger from Voldemort and his crew mostly because they weren’t predisposed to believe in magic. That, and the initial attacks looked more like disasters than murders. Had Voldy won the day, I’m not positive that he would have been able to kill all muggles. In the end, I think it’s either the wizard in all cases due to the amazing power of magic, or it’s whoever gets the drop on the other due to action beating reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/46 "2017-01-11T19:12:10Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I’m reminded of a scene from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where a particularly nasty nigh-indestructible demon, who has been out of action since Medieval times, (cut into pieces and stored separately across the world during the Crusades) is resurrected by the season’s villains and faces off against Buffy, armed with a stolen anti-tank missile launcher. > > Buffy shoulders the launcher and aims at the demon. The demon’s cohorts (the season’s villains) realize what’s about to happen and dive for cover. The demon stares Buffy down and gives her this line: > > “What’s that do?” > > Then he is promptly blown away, never to be seen on the show again. Before Buffy actually meets the demon (think he’s called “the Judge”), she’s told “No weapon forged can defeat him”. So Xander (who for complicated reasons has enough military weapons to steal one) steals her a rocket launcher. When the Judge repeats to Buffy the line about “no weapon forged”, she tells him, “That was then. This is now.” ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412/47 "2017-01-12T04:40:50Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > The FBI agent cuts him off by quick-drawing a revolver and putting three rounds center-of-mass and dropping the alien on the spot. > > “Welcome to America.” That is one of my favorite Dr Who scenes. [Welcome to America.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNxh4uxLkco) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-style-magic-user-vs-modern-soldier/776412.md?page=2)