Lifedebts (WAS: Agency in the Shrieking Shack)

[naamagatus <naama_gat@hotmail.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52322

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Risti <pretty_feet51 at y...>" 
<pretty_feet51 at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Eileen <lucky_kari at y...> 
wrote:
> > Well then, Barty Crouch Jr. was certainly in debt to
> > his father. And, he decided to flout that life-debt by
> > killing his father. 
> 
> You make some very good points if indeed Bary Crouch Jr. was in 
debt 
> to his Father, but I would disagree that he is.  Azkaban, as 
horrible 
> as it is, is not death.  If saving a person from going to Azkaban, 
or 
> even recieving a Dementor's kiss caused a life debt, then Hagrid 
> would have a debt to Harry and Ron, since it was their efforts that 
> rescued him from Azkaban.  Also, Sirius Black would be indebted to 
> Harry in that regard, something that Dumbledore really mentions.  
And 
> in fact, If Crouch Jr. owes his rescue from Azkaban to anyone, it 
> would be his Mother rather then his Father.  After all, it was his 
> mother who in essence gave up her own life for his.
> 

True. In addition, I doubt that a father saving/helping his son would 
fall in the category of wizard saving wizard. A father, surely, has 
an obligation, certainly an interest, in saving his child. The moral 
debt incurred should be different than when the saving wizard is a 
stranger - or, at least, someone who has no obligation through 
familial relationship or friendship, to help. Pettigrew's life debt 
to Harry is of the highest, since not only is Harry not obligated to 
him in any way, Pettigrew did the most terrible thing to Harry - 
betrayed his parents, who were his best friends (i.e., to whom *he* 
was obligated). The life debt Pettigrew owes Harry should be that 
much heavier - inversley correlated to how unworthy Pettigrew is 
(from Harry's perspective). 


Naama