Unsupported flight

== Unsupported Flight== Throughout the books and movies many forms of magical travel are described and portrayed. Apparition, the Floo Network, Portkeys and flying.

There are several different ways a witch or wizard can fly, including broomsticks, enchanted objects (motorcycles, cars), hippogriphs, thestral, and other flying creatures. However, perhaps the rarest and most impressive form of flight available to wizarding kind, is unsupported flight. That is, flying without the aid of a magical object or creature.

The Harry Potter movies are somewhat contradictory to the books on the matter of unsupported flying, and therefore much on the subject is conjecture. What is contained in this article however, is based on evidence in both the movies and books.

Lord Voldemort in The Battle of the Seven Potters
In the books, the subject of unsupported flight is first brought up in the The Deathly Hallows. During the Battle of the Seven Potters, Lord Voldemort pursues and engages the real Harry Potter, who is flying with Hagrid on an enchanted motobike. Voldemort is shown to have the ability to fly unsupported like "smoke on the wind."

It is not stated, but based on the awestruck reactions of those who witnessed him doing it, Voldemort may be one of the only wizards to have ever accomplished such a feat. At the very least, the first to do so in a very long time.

The Sacking of Severus Snape
When Professor McGonagall and several of the other Hogwarts professors chased Snape from the school, he escaped by jumping out the window. However, he does not fall to his death, as he still had his wand and purportedly "learned a few tricks from his master."

He is seen flying away as huge, batlike shape.

Lord Voldemort no doubt shared his secret of flight with his (supposedly) most trusted leutenant.

Quirinus Quirell
At the end Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone, Professor Quirell is shown to have the ability to fly, or at least glide, short distances. As is shown during