Expelliarmus question

[BrennaShade]

We know from PoA that the disarming spell can be cast on more than one person at once. My question is twofold.

First off, does the caster have to consciously want the spell to hit more than one person for it to do so?

and secondly, if someone has not drawn their wand and is hit by the spell, would it have the same effect as if they had their wand out, or would they remain unaffected?

[Rushia]

*cuddles her widdle Brenna*

Well, I'm not sure about the first one, though I would actually say no. My opinion is kinda that it might hit two people if you missed. ^^;; Or if you were aiming to hit two people. But really, spells affect what they hit, so if you accidentally hit two people, then two people would be disarmed.

You are disarmed of whatever you are holding. I don't have references, but I believe that has been used to disarm people of things which are not their wands. If they had their wand in their pocket, say, and nothing in their hands, then it might disarm them of their wand.

[Ravenclaw_Soprano]

I'm not entirely sure on the first one. I'm inclined to say that you have to be thinking about disarming many people at the same time, but I'd also say that it can happen by accident as well.

On the second part, I believe you are right, Rushia, in that it will disarm them of whatever they're holding... There's an example of this in CoS, I think, when Harry gets serenaded by the cherub on Valentine's Day. He rips his bag, things spill, and Draco picks up Riddle's diary. If I'm remembering correctly, Harry uses Expelliarmus to get the diary back from Draco (since they didn't learn Accio until 4th year). Someone please check in the book to make sure I've got this right, though...

~Lauren of the Traveling Thespian Troupe!

[Orchideous]

For the first question, I'm inclined to think that disarming two people may happen by accident, like when a person gets distracted or when their hand slips. As for the second one, yes, the spell can definitely work on any object the target is holding.

Percy said, "As a school prefect-" but Harry had lost his temper. He pulled out his wand and shouted "Expelliarmus!" and just as Snape had disarmed Lockhart, so Malfoy found the diary shooting out of his hand into the air.

- COS, pg. 259 U.S.

[BrennaShade]

Thanks a lot ^_^

Mods, this can get locked'n'graved at your leisure.

[AurorKeefy]

First off, does the caster have to consciously want the spell to hit more than one person for it to do so?

Although it certainly appears to suggest this at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban, I personally find the concept rather irritating. The implications of this for duelling are considerable, and I don't really like the idea of a wizard beyond the skill of Dumbledore or Voldemorte (and possibly inclusive of Bellatrix and Mad-Eye in his prime) being able to disarm multiple opponents with a single spell. Yes, Lupin shouts expelliarmus, and yes, Hermione and Harry are disarmed, but it is also described - though I may be guilty of agreeing with cinematic interpretation rather than true canon here - as having a bolt effect rather than an area. ("A jet of green light issued from Voldemort's wand just as a jet of red light blasted from Harry's" - GoF) It is a curse that is possible to dodge, not just block, after all, and that suggests that hitting two people is all but an impossibility. Personally, I am inclined to think that Lupin uses the spell twice - though only verbally on Harry, where the immediacy is required. Hitting two people with expeliarmus would require a very special amount of duelling skill, and even Voldemort flees a bunch of Aurors. Generally, I say no.

and secondly, if someone has not drawn their wand and is hit by the spell, would it have the same effect as if they had their wand out, or would they remain unaffected?

Expelliarmus, to my mind and in instances of the somewhat inconsistent canon regarding it, has a physical effect, in addition to the obvious disarming aspect. One spell used forcefully is enough - as I understand it - to knock a wizard off balance, while three spells from Ron, Harry and Hermione is enough to knock Snape out. It has a physical effect.
Regarding other objects, and paticularly the diary, I feel that the object disarmed depends upon the mindset of the disarmer. Harry was attempting to disarm Malfoy of the Diary. Had he have missed and hit, say, Goyle holding a cupcake, then Goyle would not have been actively disarmed of the cake, though it is feasible he might have dropped it in the shock. Alternatively, had Dean been holding another copy of Riddle's Diary, and been hit, then he would've been disarmed of the diary.

These suggestions should be regarded as an interpretation of canon, as I don't believe the books are consistent enough on the matter to provide a solid "yes/no" answer. Ultimately, vague canon allows interpretation, so use what works best for you, but I feel that is the most likely explanation.