Life debts again was Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: A theory regarding the "innocence" of Sirius Black and the Redemption of Peter

Wed Jan 29 00:03:00 UTC 2003

No: HPFGUIDX 50928

Irene writes:
I don't think this kind of "saving" creates a 
life debt. It's not very clear from the books, 
but my feeling is that wizarding life debt 
requires two components: intent and risk of 
your own life.

I reply:
I think I have to disagree here: the first instance
of life debt that we hear of is the life debt that
Pettigrew owes to Harry, right?

What risk to his own life was Harry facing when
he told Sirius to show mercy to Pettigrew? Aside
from the hypothetical risk, none, really.

So, although we haven't been given specific rules
for what constitutes a life debt, I don't think
that risk-to-one's-own-life is necessarily a 
qualifying factor.

-Tom