The names in the Goblet

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 96685

Various snips & cuts from the Names in the Goblet thread...

Naama wrote:
Are you saying that Harry was *not* bound by a magical contract? I
don't see any evidence for that. It seems that once your name is spit
out of the goblet, you are, willingly or not, a contestant.

Carol:
So Dumbledore is right--there's no escaping the
contract and Harry has no choice to participate.

Tyler:
I can't help but wonder though...if Harry had refused
to participate, what would the consequence have been?
What is the penalty for violating a magical contract?
Expulsion? A fine? Jail time? I'm amazed Harry
didn't think to ask. If it was nothing severe, I
think I would've just taken the penalty as opposed to
jumping through hoops for LV.

Ravenclaw Bookworm:
Remember how most of the students were wishing they could be in it.  
And how jealous Ron was because Harry got in and he didn't. Why would 
Harry give that up?

Steve (bboy): 
I suspect there may have been ways around Harry having to compete, but
I also think the 'path of least resistance' was to just let things
move forward.  <snip> So, he just rides it though to the end. No 
shame in losing when you are out manned and out gunned. Unfortunately 
that course of action doesn't take Harry's personality into 
consideration. Harry is not one to make a half-hearted effort just to 
get by and get it over with. He's going to try and win, something 
Dumbledore and McGonagall didn't anticipate.


Siriusly Snapey Susan:
Interesting questions, Tyler.  What WOULD the punishment be if 
Harry'd just said no way?  I'd never thought of that!  

I think I agree with Bookworm's & *part* of Steve's messages, that 
Harry's personality is such that he doesn't like to back down and at 
some level he wants to try to prove himself.  Be brave, do your best, 
don't give up, fight to the end, blah blah blah.  Hasn't Harry shown 
all along that, even if he's dreading something, he can't seem to 
stop himself from going after it?  Couldn't he have said, "Oh, gee, 
that'll be awful if Voldemort gets the Sorcerer's Stone.  Huh--too 
bad there's nothing that can be done to stop him."  No, Harry's 
nature seems to be to think he CAN do things...or that it's his 
responsibility to try.  I suspect he felt he *should* do this since 
DD said it was a contract.

I think I disagree w/ the last part of Steve's statement, though.  Do 
you really think DD thought Harry wouldn't try to win?  I know Harry 
was told there would be no shame in finishing last since he was 
younger [paraphrasing], but I think DD *did* think Harry would try 
hard and hoped he would do well.  Another of those opportunities to 
advance his skills that DD seems to either set up or allow [like the 
obstacles to get to the SS].  IMO, of course.

Siriusly Snapey Susan