Dumbledore and Socks, Magical Contracts, and Bertie Botts Beans

[dcgmck]

No: HPFGUIDX 110022

> Asian_lovr2:
> 
> The two quotes above are related, but they are not one and the same,
> one is not a true extension of the other.
> 
> In the first quote Dumbledore is explaining the nature of the Goblet
> and the tournament; subject: Goblet. In the other, Dumbledore is
> addressing the students and explaining the nature of their actions;
> subject: Students. [snip, very reluctantly]
> 
> [snip]
> Most of your question are answered in my explanation above. I think
> JKR, foreseeing this possibility, carefully chose Dumbledore's words
> so that the name coming out creates the /binding magical contract/
> rather than the name going in. Since Harry's name came out, he is
> bound to compete; the contract is binding. Her game; her rules.

dcgmck:
Thank you, Steve, for finding the words.  I love your programming 
analogy.  There does seem to be a muggle world counterpart for almost 
everything magical these days, a point that continually delights 
Arthur Weasley.  My only quibble is that JKR's wording does seem to 
state pretty clearly that the magical contract is effected by the 
insertion of a name, not by its output.  That, too, would be an easy 
enough programming hack to execute.

> Asian_lovr2: 
> However, while I can explain how things did work, my personal
> curiosity is intensely piqued by wonder what the penalty or
> consequences are for breaking that contract. 
> 
> Does the Goblet psychologically compel you to continue, sort of a
> competitive Imperius Curse? 
> 
> Does it turn you into a warty toad until you agree? 
> 
> That would be an interesting bit of trivia to know.

dcgmck:
If, as others have speculated, LV's taking of Lily's life created a 
magical contract that he attempted to violate by taking Harry's life 
as well, then we may already have seen a potential consequence of the 
violation of a magical contract.  It stands to reason that Nature, 
the Universe, or whatever serves as the source of magic for the 
wizarding world would/will exact a harsher, more effective punishment 
than the judicial systems that 'enlightened' societies have.