Binding magical contracts

[Simon Nickerson]

No: HPFGUIDX 48217

According to Dumbledore in GoF, putting one's name in the Goblet of Fire 
makes one party to a "binding magical contract", and means that you are 
obliged to see the Triwizard Tournament through to its conclusion.

I have a number of questions about these strange contracts:

(1) What form does this obligation take? (I assume it's nothing as 
prosaic as a Muggle law court!) What would have happened to Harry if he 
had simply refused to take part in the tournament?

(2) Who is able to set up a magical contract?

(3) How is it that you can force someone into a contract without them 
actually agreeing to it? (I am thinking, of course, of Harry being 
forced to enter the Triwizard Tournament without his consent.)

(4) Isn't there a tremendous scope for abuse by dark wizards (even more 
than we've seen so far)?

(5) Assuming that you really *are* obliged to fulfil your part of a 
contract, could contracts be used as a means of ensuring loyalty (to 
Voldemort or Dumbledore) without the drawbacks of the Imperius curse?

-- 
Simon 'second post' Nickerson
"I went on the Underground - "
"Really?" said Mr Weasley eagerly. "Were there escapators?"