A Portkey Question ....

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23141

First off, since you all won't recognize my name, yes, I'm new here 
(typical newbie intro, no doubt)--so greetings to all!

Anyway, I've been lurking here for a couple of days and was inspired 
to comment on the below post, because it was one of the things I 
had put on a list a week ago which I eventually intend to submit to 
Steve Vander Ark for the 'Puzzles, Mysteries, etc.' page (the nitpick 
page) of the Lexicon.

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "M. Barnett" <fyregirl at c...> wrote:
> Ok, why do the other appearances of the portkey 
> require specific times, when the Tri-Wizard cup does not?  
...
> Are there 2 different types of portkey?  1 that is on a time 
schedule 
> and another that activates whenever it is touched?

My only issue with the "you can choose whether or not to put it on a 
timer" theory espoused by some of the other repliers to this post is 
that Arthur Weasley in GoF, Chapter 6 says portkeys are "objects that 
are used to transport wizards from one spot to another at a 
prearranged time."  He says this as though it is an INHERENT (is
there 
a code to do italics for emphasis here?) property of portkeys not a 
convenient feature to use in some instances but not others.  I
realize 
it doesn't specifically gainsay the idea, but it does seem like an 
inconsistency to me.  Thoughts anyone?

-Luke