Willingly Given

[anakinbester]

No: HPFGUIDX 46336

Ressurecting this thread here ^^;; 
Sorry, I wanted to reply to this but I've been busy. 



Michelle wrote:

> `Flesh of servant willingly given'
> 
> First of all lets get the dictionary definitions out of the way:  
> 
> willing 
> adj. 
> 1. Disposed or inclined; prepared: I am willing to overlook your 
> mistakes. 
> 2. Acting or ready to act gladly; eagerly compliant: 
> 3. Done, given, accepted, or borne voluntarily or ungrudgingly. Of 
or 
> relating to exercise of the will; volitional. 
> 
> willingly
> adv. In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; 
> cheerfully. 

By that definition, Peter was not willing. However, the definition 
tha'ts important is what the spell means. It could be enough that 
Peter cut his hand off hismelf; therefore, showing at least some 
level of willingness. That could be enough for the spell. 

 
> Ok now what I'm about to suggest is that Wormtail didn't give his 
> flesh willingly because he felt he had no choice

Ahh but he did have a choice. Peter's always had a choice. He could 
die. Really what could Voldemort have done, if Peter had been willing 
to die rather than ressurect him? 
Again though, Peter chooses life, no matter how miserable over the 
possibility of death. 

Or my favorit pet theory is tortured Peter. If Peter has been 
tortured into subservience (which is completely possible and is a 
documented reaction to severe torture) then he's no longer behaving 
in a way the would be natural to him, and any show of willingness 
would come totally from a psychological reponse to negative 
reinforcemnt and a whole slew of other fun behvior modifying 
technigues issued in torture. That would also eliminate the 
possbility of Peter seeing death as a viable alternate choice. 

Either way, as Michelle points out, Peter is bullied and forced under 
extreme duress. He has been tortured. We see canonicle usage of the 
Cruciatus curse on him, and seemingly Peter feels Voldemort has 
authority over him and he can't say no, no matter what his personal 
feeling are on the subject. 

All straddeling the fence aside, I agree that he was not willing, 
however, I think he might have been willing enough for the potions 
purpose. 

To me, if any weak link omes out of Peter's flesh being part of the 
potion, it's that PEter as that life debt to Harry. Voldemort better 
hope that doens't transfor the same way the protection Lily gave to 
Harry transferred =P


Pyllis Wrote: (with me editing in Sirius, rather than Moody, as 
corrected in a later post)

> I don't think Wormtail's flesh is the weak link in the potion 
because 
> Dumbledore and [Sirius]don't react when Harry tells them about 
> Wormtail's sacrifice - it's the taking of Harry's blood that 
triggers 
> [Sirius's] "long, low hiss" and Dumbledore's "gleam of triumph."

To which I say: 

I'm not sure that in and of itself discounts the idea that Peter's 
flesh could be a weak link. It seem to presume that Sirius and 
Dumbeldore know the exact workings of the potion and Peter's exact 
frame of mind while cutting his hand off. 

That could be significant without them realizing it. Dumbeldore, 
after all, is not all knowing. Sirius certainly isn't.


-Ani