Dumbledore and Socks, Magical Contracts, and Bertie Botts Beans

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 109947

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dcgmck" <dolis5657 at y...> wrote:
> [snip]
> Dumbledore, explaining the rules for the selection of champions: 
> 
> "Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she 
> is obliged to see the tournament through to the end.  The placing of 
> your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract.  
> There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion."  
> (GoF U.S. pbk 256)
> 
> The wording is such that the name, not the placer of the name, is the 
> one bound by the magical contract.

A bit of selective quoting there, because it goes on:
"Please be very sure, therefore, that you are whole-heartedly prepared
to play, before *you* drop *your* name into the Goblet."
(My emphases.) 
There's absolutely no point in placing an age restriction around the 
Goblet if some-one can put your name in for you and have it count
as a valid entry.

You enter yourself, not drop some-one else's name into the Goblet.
In addition, Crouch!Moody burbles on about Confundus charms with
Harry being entered as the sole would-be contestant from a non-existent
4th school, a school Harry does not attend. How can such an entry
possibly be valid? It can't, but DD is willing to pretend that it is,
because it gives him an edge. He knows where and when attempts
will be made to get at Harry. 

Who are the two that insist the rules be followed? Bagman - a very
dodgy character and probably a Voldy supporter (who I've commented
on before), and Crouch Snr who we later find out was under Imperius
control at the time.

We all know why it's presented this way, of course. It's because
otherwise there wouldn't be a plot, but it seems a very ropy and not
very credible way of setting one up. First time you read it, it seems
almost reasonable. Not the second time when you've had a chance
to think about it a bit; too many questions start to surface.

Four champions in a competition for three?
Four schools in a competition for three?
How does the Goblet recognise a non-existent school?
A 'contract' when the person involved has never agreed to it?
When that person does not attend the school his name is linked to?
When it was patently impossible for that person to put his name in the
Goblet?

A fraudulent entry and therefore not valid. No contract exists.
I've never liked this bit of plotting, much too threadbare.
Maybe JKR was having an off-day.

Kneasy