Memory Charms

[owl]

Has anyone else noticed that there seems to be a conflict of sorts between CoS and GoF?

It's those Memory Charms. In GoF they seem only to remove the memory of a specific recent event, leaving the rest of the mind more or less intact, whereas in CoS it gives the subject total amnesia—and Lockhart still has no memory in OotP. It doesn't seem to be caused by Ron's malfunctioning wand, either, because Lockhart was planning to tell the Hogwarts staff that Ron and Harry lost their minds at the sight of Ginny's body. And as far as I recall he uses Obliviate, same like in GoF.

Does that mean all Lockhart's victims are going about like stroke patients? Ugh.

So, Flint or not? Any way to reconcile it?

Comments

[wahlee-98.livejournal.com]

I think it's a difference between Lockhart's Memory Charms and other peoples. Most wizards are smart enough not to erase everyone's memories-- but Lockhart is completely without scruples, and it's probably easier to erase everything than to selectively go in and modify certain things.

That's what I always figured, anyway. Lockhart's a complete and total jerk.

*uses Lockhart icon*

[ravenclaw-devi.livejournal.com]

Pretty much.

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

That's what I always thought, too. You can cast spells at different strengths depending on what you need - after all, Levitating a feather takes much less effort than Levitating a troll's club. Part of it, I'm sure, is simply your natural ability and confidence with the spell as well. Think about the progression of Harry's Patronuses. He started out with nothing more than a wisp of smoke, and it wasn't until it really mattered that he got Prongs. So I expect you can cast various levels of the charm. And I bet that Hermione could tell you all about it - it seems like something you'd learn in Arithmancy.

[owl]

I'm sure Hermione could go into exhaustive detail on the subject :D

Your icon is hilarious! Where is it from?

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

One of my Quiz Bowl guys made it for me when I passed the EMT-B certification exams.

[vader-incarnate.livejournal.com]

What everyone else said. I just assumed it was a strength of the charm thing, and that you could gauge how much stuff went away. :P

[owl]

I would have thought, though, that it would take more power to erase the whole memory, and Lockhart doesn't strike me as competent in any way. It must be a finesse as opposed to force issue, then.

[wahlee-98.livejournal.com]

That would be my guess-- that the spell might use the same *word* each time, but the intent behind the charm determines what's being done with the memory. It seems as though some memory charms (like with Aunt Marge in PoA) can erase the memory of a selected event, while others (like with Morfin Gaunt in HBP) causes the person to retain the memory of the incident, but makes them remember it differently.

I guess it's the difference between "delete all" and "ctrl-delete." :P

[owl]

Yes, that's a good point about there being other differences in the effect of memory charms!

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, Lockhart makes a point of saying that he's particularly talented with memory charms, so it could very well be that they're the one thing he can do well.

[owl]

Mind you, I wouldn't believe anything that comes out of Lockhart's mouth...

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

Good point. ;)

[anthon1.livejournal.com]

Again, I think it's mostly an intent thing. A wizard with no memory at all is going to be noticed and commented on, and we all know that Memory Charms aren't entriely effective - eventually, someone will discover what was hidden if they have the cause and the inclination. Two twelve year-olds losing their minds over a Basilisk wouldn't be entirely out of the question, I suspect, and ditto the wizards and witches roaming around defeating monsters in deepest darkest Peru or wherever it was that Lockhart found them. :P On the other hand, the Ministry officials overseeing the Quidditch World Cup had no wish to entirely destroy the Muggles whom they Obliverated, and it was far more effective and efficient (not to mention ethical) just to edit their memories rather than get rid of them entirely...

[owl]

True, though I think that Harry Potter losing his memory would have led to a few uncomfortable questions for Lockhart, seeing as the Hogwarts staff could see through him like glass...

[anthon1.livejournal.com]

True; but did he realise it? I'm never entirely sure how aware he was of other people seeing through his act, and of how much of it was an act...

And thinking latterally, just how old was he? I bet that skill with Memory Charms could have been fairly useful to unscrupulous members of a certain secret society...