[HPforGrownups] Re: TBAY: Stoned Harry

[Heidi Rugg]

No: HPFGUIDX 38689

Ahoy!

Cindy writes:
>>Heidi is not distracted by the mini-quiche, the stuffed mushrooms, or the loud music.  Instead, she abruptly slams Stoned!Harry up against the nearest wall and begins a withering cross-examination.<<

Er...actually those mushrooms were quite delightful -- was that crabmeat?  We get great crabmeat here in Virginia and it was de-lish!


Quoting Cindy:
>>"If Harry is truly immortal," Heidi demands icily, "why would Dumbledore have to have set protective "old magic" over him so that when he is in the care of his relatives, he cannot be harmed?"<<

You forgot to add that I tossed my hair back with a superious air.  I'm sure I must've been doing that.

Cindy again:
>>"You see, Dumbledore needs 'old magic' to keep Harry safe even though he is immortal.  Dumbledore is worried about a lot more than simply that Voldemort or other Dark Wizards will behead Harry.  Stoned!Harry can be neutralized in other ways.  For instance, if a Dark Wizard found Harry at the Dursleys, the Dark Wizard could bring a dementor to relieve Harry of his soul, for instance.  An Immortal-But-Soulfree Harry would still be immortal -- just very, very useless.  Dementors, lethifolds, being turned into a ferret and concealed as a pet in Moody's trunk -- Dumbledore is worried about all of these things!"<<

Hmmm...I wonder about those Dementors...I mean, if the soul (*especially* Harry's soul) is immortal, couldn't it be restored?  Is there a way to kill a Dementor?  

Heidi with her main point:
I can see how part of Harry's *destiny* is to give up something of great value (I still think he may have to give up all of his magical ability), perhaps his life, which may somehow -- through an older magic -- be restored.  I think of Aslan who was killed by the witch at the great stone table.  C.S. Lewis was, after all, very influenced by his Christian faith.  Although Aslan was *technically* immortal, he *did* give up his life.  He truly did die.   Then through a greater, older magic than any the witch had know of, was resurrected.  I am not convinced of Harry's immortality per se, at least not beyond any other mere mortal's eternal soul.  I don't see Dumbledore fiddling around with embryos.  I see him reading signs (like we're doing here), being aware and taking appropriate action.

Cindy:
>>Heidi turns to the stranger, her hands on her hips.  "Why," she asks, "was Dumbledore concerned about Harry dying ("almost lost you") at the end of PS/SS with Quirrel/Voldemort?"<<

You forgot the part about my chin thrusting forward.  Oh, and my flashing eyes.  They're brown.

Captain Cindy:
>>"Well, your question rests on the premise that Dumbledore was worried that Harry would die," she responds evenly.  "Dumbledore could have been worried about something short of that.  A never-
ending coma, or perhaps that Voldemort had succeeded in sucking Harry's power out of him, for example.  There's also the possiblity that Dumbledore isn't completely sure that everything has worked 
correctly and Stoned!Harry is really immortal.  These spells are complex, you know.  Dumbledore has already seen the Fidelius Charm plan backfire.  Besides, we later learn that Dumbledore is the self-
deprecating type, based on his statement that he may have botched the Age Line in GoF.  He may have been consumed with self-doubt about whether he had succeeded in making Stoned!Harry immortal."<<

Again, I cannot see Dumbledore *making* Harry immortal.  Dumbledore has never wanted to *use* his God-like powers.  I don't see Dumbledore as being the "consumed with doubt" type.  He's not a worrywart -- that's more McGonagal's style or even Snape's.  Even in PS/SS it was Snape following Quirrell and keeping an eye on Fluffy.  The only time Dumbledore has come out and intervened that I can recall, is when Harry was visiting the Mirror of Erised.  Even then, he was just taking appropriate action.  He had the foresight to think that the knowledge might be necessary.  But "consumed with doubt"?  Never.

And the sherbert was quite tasty -- though I prefer raspberry, just so you know next time you stock the boat.

Heidi


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