Life/Debt Bonds in the Potterverse

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 38862

I know that this has been discussed before, and I have checked the 
Lexicon for further info, but I still feel confused over the nature 
of this bond - but believe that it will be fundamental to the rest of 
the books, and possibly even to Harry's survival.

Dumbledore tells us:-
"This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable... the time may 
come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life" (p.311 
POA UK hardback).

We learn from Hagrid (P.154 POA):-
"But when a wizard goes over ter the dark side, there's nothing and 
no one that matters to'em any more"

Thus if Voldemort would not want a deputy in Harry's debt, it would 
seem to imply that the Life/Debt bond is more than a moral/chivalrous 
bond. At this level it is almost a compulsion.

I can understand that Pettigrew tried to persuade Voldemort not to 
use Harry in his "resurrection potion" - he would not then have to 
honour his side of the Life/debt bond against Voldemort. How though 
could he allow Harry to face Voldemort in the graveyard duel? My only 
solution (other than accusing JKR of flinty writing) is that somehow 
Harry was pre-destined to survive that particular encounter, and 
therefore Pettigrew was not forced to act.

I believe that the Life/debt bond can actually operate on 2 levels - 
the compulsive element that would still hold Pettigrew in Harry's 
debt. But also a pyschological element - or debt of honour - which 
would form part of the Wizard Warrior Code.

Snape saves Harry's life in PS/SS. Dumbledore believes that this is 
because "he felt that would make him and <James Potter> quits. Then 
he could go back to hating <him> in peace. This implies to me that 
Sanpe wasn't acting on compulsion but was lifting a pyschological 
burden - namely the Life/debt bond created between himself and James 
Potter. If this is the case, it would seem to imply that *normally* 
the bond is only between the 2 individuals, it is only Snape who 
chooses to carry it on for another generation.

We see many possible scenarios that could result in a Life/debt 
burden, but have still not beent old if these bonds have been 
created. For instance, would a bond be created when Harry saved 
Sirius and Hermione from the dementors? After all, they would still 
have been alive - albeit without souls. Could Voldemort be in debt to 
Harry because Harry's blood resurrected Voldemort - or can we rule 
this out? IMO there must be a conscous decision to save life for the 
bond to kick in - although I admit that there is no canon for this. I 
suppose as well, the fact that Harry's blood resurrected Voldemort 
rather than saved him from death might ensure that there is no bond.

One final thought, to what do those in debt owe their debt? In other 
words, could the debt that is owed to Harry be passed onto Voldemort 
as he is now a "by-product" of Harry - through the use of his blood - 
or is the debt owed to the character and person of Harry alone?

Ali

Who tomorrow is going to play "Pooh sticks" off Pooh bridge for her 
father-in-law's 60th birthday!! (At his request).