A Few Thoughts: Magical Bonds

[mikesusangray]

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No: HPFGUIDX C6433
From: mikesusangray
Subject: A Few Thoughts: Magical Bonds
Date: 8/9/00 4:25 pm  (ET)

Well, I've just finished a new read through the Harry Potter series,
and I've jotted down a few ideas I've been thinking about. I suppose
I'd better put them in separate messages, since they're pretty far
ranging. I'll kick off a couple this evening and get the other two or
three ready for later. So here goes:

*******************
This is definitely the wierdest, but here goes:

1. Magical Bonds. Relationships of a deep and vital nature create a bond
between the persons involved. Some examples:

At its most simple: Harry and the Big V. have the same phoenix feather
in their wands: hence, the wands can't fight. Hence, a bond of identity.

More complex: Lilly lets the Big V. kill her in hopes of saving
Harry. This creates a bond between Harry and Big V. such that V. can't
curse Harry. We could call this a generosity (or love) bond.

A related case: The <?> charm, such that a single secret bearer
knows where a person is concealed. No, this isn't quite the same
as the bonds above. Before, a natural interaction creates a magical
state without any conscious intent; here the magical state is created
intentionally. However, the magic does require a natural relationship
(presumably friendship) between the hider and the secret bearer (i.e., the
secret bearer has to agree to be one); and it also creates an unbreakable
bond between the persons in question. So, a (charmed) friendship bond.

More interesting: James chooses to save Snape's life or Harry Wormtail's,
creating a magical relationship of debt on the part of the person
saved. Dumbledore says the latter relationship may have considerable
consequences. We could call this a bond of debt.

More intriguing: Dumbledore's (in)famous "triumphant look." Harry's
blood allowed V. to re-create his body. I think we're back to another
kind of debt bond. V. is in debt to Harry, and at some point that will
have consequences.

The mysterious case: For some reason, Harry is utterly safe from the Big
V. when under the Dursleys' protection. Hm. Another relationship. Now:
assuming this is not simply because all the Dursleys' neighbors are
bodyguard wizards, it must be something about the Dursleys that repels
any attempt V. might make to reach Harry. Might we be seeing some kind
of magical bond at work here, too? I don't think the bond could depend
on any good will towards Harry on the Dursleys' part.

- The easiest solution would be some sort of <?> charm. This presents the
most straightforward solution. It also has some problems. (1) It leaves
the impression that Harry would be safe only as long as he's inside
the Dursleys' house--and people have already noted that he didn't stay
in more than he had to. (2) But can we consider this "ancient magic"
(as Dumbledore terms it) or just another run-of-the-mill charm? (3)
And also: why on earth would Dumbledore have chosen the Dursleys for the
charm--he could have done it just as well with the Weasleys--or even with
the director of a muggle orphanage. Harry certainly wouldn't have minded!

- But what if one of the Dursleys stands either in a two way bond with
V. or in a three way bond between Harry and V.? The bond is such such that
V. (though NOT magic in general--plenty of other magical people have found
their ways into the Dursleys' lives!) is utterly excluded either from the
Dursleys' life or from Harry's life when he is the Dursleys' guest. Or
could the bond derive from the Dursleys' having done the "right thing"
(keeping Harry) even though they didn't want to? I.e. perhaps pretecting
someone you don't want to protect creates a bond of its own.

Anyway, I've managed to get so far. Or am I just muggling things?

Muggling along,
Mike