Apparate or Die Trying

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 39462

Grey Wolf wrote:

> The easiest reason is that it takes a little time to apparate, 
>during which time you're half-here/half-there, which explains how 
>can bodies mix when several people do it at once, and how things 
>can go wrong *in pieces*: if it was instantaneous, they might be 
>other problems, but there would be no reason for your arm to be 
>left behind.

I don't have a problem with any of the explanations people have 
offered for why wizards don't apparate out of a tight spot.

Well, OK, that's not true.  I *do* have a problem.  The problem is 
that there is no *canon* to cite for any of it.  And you all *know* 
what a stickler for canonical purity I can be.  ;-)

Really, now.  JKR could have given us more limits on apparating.  We 
*see* Bagman apparate *twice* in GoF, so JKR had the opportunity to 
describe the process.  (In fact, the main purpose for mentioning 
that Bagman apparates into and out of the camp grounds is to 
establish the concept, right?)  Does he fade out slowly?  Is there 
an incantation?  Does he use his wand?  Does he appear exhausted?  
Does it take some time?  

Well, you'd never know by reading GoF.  All we learn about 
the "rules" of apparating is that apparating makes a small pop, it 
is difficult, it can go wrong (although splinched people can be 
fixed), and that it is inaccurate over long distances, IIRC.  Those 
limitations are not nearly sufficient to ease my worries when we are 
on the brink of a struggle for control of the whole wizarding world.

The funny thing is that JKR didn't have to skimp on the rules of 
apparating in the way she did.  (Yes, I know the series isn't 
finished so I can't be sure about what I'm about to say, but that's 
never stopped me before).  So far, the only real purpose of 
establishing the ability to apparate is to explain how the DEs wind 
up in the graveyard.  So JKR could have linked apparating to 
Voldemort.  Just make it a Dark Art possible only via the Dark Mark 
on Voldemort's command and be done with it.

Someone mentioned to me off-list that the Imperius Curse has some of 
the same pitfalls -- that it is a huge loophole that leads to all 
manner of FLINTS.  Maybe so.  But at least we have two limits on 
Imperius that help JKR worm her way out of FLINTS.  It can be thrown 
off, and it is Unforgivable.  Maybe these limitations are 
insufficient, but they strike me as more substantial than the limits 
on apparating.

So then.  Is apparating the magical concept that has the highest 
potential to generate mega-FLINTS in future books?

Cindy