The names in the Goblet (Was: DD: an appreciation)

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 96802

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "caesian" <caesian at y...> wrote:
> 
> I have to go with Dumbledore on this one, because, to paraphrase 
> Hermione, if you can't trust him then who can you trust?  I believe
> the contract is binding.  And from the writers perspective, can 
> anyone think of a better solution than the binding contract explanation?    
> This is (albeit highly-believable) Fantasy afterall - if she says it's 
> binding, who are we to argue?  I don't hear gripping about the 
>  realistic chances of portkeys, for example.
> 

*Gasp* Trust Dumbledore? You must be joking!

OK, I've never claimed that he's ESE but  to  take everything he says
at  face value is a grave error IMO. Not only has DD been keeping
Harry in the dark for 5 books, JKR has used that as a reason to keep
us in the dark as well.

This little episode, for example. The Goblet threw out Harry's name.
Fine. Which school was he competing for? Not Hogwarts, the name
of the Hogwarts champion had already been drawn. Crouch!Moody
witters on about confounding the Goblet with a fourth school for
which Harry would be the only representative and therefore sure to
be drawn. So, what was the name of the school? The name should
have been there right below Harry's. DD never mentions it, but when
you think about it, no such person as 'Harry Potter of Thingummy
College' exists. No person, no contract.Yet everybody acts as if Harry
is competing for the old Alma Mater when by the rules he can't be.
Nobody asks. And DD doesn't say even though he read the slip.

I think that DD has good reason not to.  He has suddenly become
aware that Harry is being set up. And the competition is the means
chosen by the baddies. Call the whole thing off (possible IMO, it is 
the Triwizard Tournament, not the Quadriwizard) and Harry will 
still be at risk but not in front of a numerous and watchful crowd.
There's more safety in an arena loaded with judges and surrounded
by spectators than say, wandering across to Hagrid's hut in the dark,
or so DD surmises.

No, I don't believe DD thought there was a contract but he probably
calculated that pretending  there was gave him  a better chance of
scotching the plot. 

Taking this line of reasoning obviates the need for  JKR to 'bend' 
things a bit so that they fit the needs of the plotline. I would be
sorely disappointed if that is what she has done, in fact I think she
has thought out every little wrinkle in 7 books.

Kneasy