polyjuice question.. (Long & Confusing)

[archeaologee]

No: HPFGUIDX 40074

Carrie-Ann wrote:

> Yes, Hair does carry DNA, well the hair follicles do...

I thought it might, but wasn't sure - also don't remember follicles 
being mentioned.  Thanks for clearing it up though.
 
Carrie-Ann again:

> > If the spirit of the person who you transform into is with you 
> whilst 
> > you are transformed (as could be argued by the fact you take on 
> their 
> > physical appearance) then the link formed from person B's hair 
will 
> > be to person A (so that is who you transform into).
> 
> I don't think that I understand this part... From the explaination, 
I 
> would think that you mean that since person A has transformed into 
> person B, the link would be to person B (the original owner of the 
> hair...), but you go on to say that it would be person A.  Am I 
> confused, or is that an error 

<snip> 
>                     person A= "Crouch Jr." 
>                     person B= "Moody," and 
>                     person C= "Snape"
> 
> So if "snape" tries to tranform into Moody, but takes a hair 
> from "Crouch!Moody", Are you saying he'll turn into "Crouch" 
> or "Moody"? I think that you are saying he'll turn into "Moody", is 
> that right.

Yup, the idea is that you take on the spirit of the person you 
tranform into whilst transformed.  So, as you are linked to Moody 
whilst Crouch!Moody then you skip the Crouch bit.  The point is that 
you distribute "spirit" with the hair, also it is the "spirit" which 
dictates the transformation. Couple of pretty big premises on pretty 
shaky ground there though.

 
> > However, if one assumes that you retain your own spirit during 
the 
> > transformation then the homeopathic link will be to person B, 
> > regardless of their outward appearance.  This would also apply to 
> > animagi, you would transform into the person, not the animal, no 
> > matter what they looked like when the hair was obtained.

> In this scenario, I think that your explaination points to the link 
> being to "Crouch", because he has retained his own spirit even 
though 
> his appearance is that of "Moody", right?

Yes indeedy.  Assumption is that you only take on the appearance and 
not the spirit of Moody whilst transformed.
 

<snip>

 I guess that's why I really 
> like Corinth's theory:
 
> >Perhaps person C would turn into person A turned into person B. In
> >other words, they would take on the appearance of person B for the
> >remainder of person A's hour, and then turn "back" into person A 
for
> >the remainder of his or her own hour. 

So do I, didn't think about that at all.  Would like to add that if 
you change back in an hour whatever, it might be the time that you 
make the potion that is critical.  If you look at Crouch!Moody he 
carries the potion around with him all day.  This would mean that it 
doesn't have to be drunk immediately, so it may well be what you are 
transformed into when the hair is added to the potion that is 
important. On a sidenote, what on earth would happen if you through 
the hair in *whilst* it was changing back.  All kinds of funky 
scenarios there <James imagines a half Moody, half Crouch person with 
Moody's face and constantly disaapearing\reappearing eye>  

Just to bring in fairy tales, if this is like Cinerella then her 
shoes\appearance\mice change back to the original state at 
midnight....but...the glass slipper that is removed from her stays 
the same.  So, if the potion is the same than any hair you take from 
the transformed person will remain in the transformed state.  This is 
a giant leap, but I have a feeling JKR is more familiar with this 
story than anthropological views on magic.

> >-Corinth, who just discovered this group and is thrilled to learn
> >she is not the only person who obsesses over details of a fictional
> >universe.
> 
> Welcome, Corinth!

Also welcome, have fun and write often :-)

 
 
> Carrie-Ann (who has sent her head spinning with all of this, and 
> would like to apologize in advance if her use of the fictional 
> scenario of "snape" trying to become "Moody" through "Crouch!Moody" 
> wasn't the correct way to go about things, but she couldn't think 
of 
> another way!)

It was good, visualisations are always helpful, and I am sure you 
have sparked a thousand plot bunnies.


James