Twins' Gambling

[elfundeb at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 37532

In a message dated 4/7/2002 4:22:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
catlady at wicca.net writes:


> Speaking of the joke shop, Elfun Debbie either wrote or quoted (it has 
> >s):
> > Is the twins' crisis over because of the windfall of Harry's 
> > Triwizard winnings? That seems too easy a solution to me for 
> > characters who have already resorted to gambling and near-blackmail. 
> 
> I don't think the twins resorted to near-blackmail. I think they just 
> tried to write a firm letter requesting an adult who definitely owed 
> them money to Pay Up, and we overheard them cautioning each other not 
> to make it sound like blackmail.
> 
> 'Resorted to gambling' doesn't sound right, either. Don't all Brits 
> have a bet now and then? As most USAmericans who work in big offices 
> throw a dollar into an office pool connected in some vague manner with 
> the Superbowl, or to group up to buy as many $1 lottery tickets as 
> possible when the prize is going to be a record-setting number of 
> millions.
> 
> 
I guess I see this differently.  Fred and George did not throw a dollar into 
the pool.  They pooled all their savings to make a highly risky bet.  From 
the accounts of Harry's Quidditch matches, we know that it's not that likely 
that a Seeker will grab a snitch if it means his team will lose.  Bagman 
knows that and gives them "excellent odds."  In fact, he's so anxious to take 
their money that he calls off Arthur's (mildmannered) protests and throws in 
an extra 5 galleons for their fake wand.

As for the near-blackmail, the conversation the trio overhears in the owlery 
indicates that George was concerned that the letter was blackmail, but was 
apparently persuaded by Fred that it was time to play dirty, and they sent 
the letter as written.  

I've always been a bit uneasy about the fact that Harry gave his Triwizard 
winnings to the twins.  I'm a bit suspicious of the twins in general, and 
think Fred in particular is quite self-centered (## 35912 and 35060), though 
I think I may be something of a lone ranger on this issue.  But I don't think 
their desperation for money was a red herring in the plot; rather, it shows 
how far they're willing to push things to achieve their objectives (though 
Bagman did play dirty with them).  I have a vague feeling that Harry will 
live to regret giving them the money.

Debbie, contemplating "Elfun Debbie" to distinguish myself from the other 
Debbie on this list


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