A question about portkeys

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 91664

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "suehpfan" <stanleys at s...> wrote:
> Sue ponders:
> 
> In the beginning of GoF (I do not have my book :() Mr. Weasley 
> explains that a portkey is used to transport people at a particular 
> time to another place.  As a matter of fact there is a great deal of 
> discussion about the time on Stoteshead Hill, they even counted 
> down.  After the QWC, the whole group went to try to get an "early 
> portkey".  How is it then, that the portkey in the maze took Cedric 
> and Harry the moment they touched it?
> 
> Any answers out there?
> Sue

bboy_mn:

So, let me ask you a totally unrelated question. How do you start a car? 

The most obvious answer is, you get in the car, put in the key and
turn it to 'Start'. But, I was in a small strip mall the other day and
as I walk out to my car, the car sitting right next to mine started on
it's own. 

How, you and I may ask? Answer: the car had a remote starter. Actually
not that unusual up here in the great white north. Very convinient for
starting you car on cold winter mornings. But wait there's more. We
even have cars that start on a timer. Set your car to start at 6:30am
so that it's nice and toasty warm inside when you leave for work at
7:00am.

Back to Portkeys-

Mr. Weasley was explaining to Harry how THEIR Portkey was going to
work. We have actually seen Portkey activated by several methods in
the book and their is no reason to believe that, just like starting a
car on a cold winter morning, these aren't standard variations of a theme.

The methods of activation-

Time of day - very safe for use when traveling to the World Cup. If
you miss the departure time of the Portkey, the spell is lost and the
the Portkey simply becomes a muggle-safe manky old boot laying on the
ground.

Activated by touch - Another logical and convinient way to use a
portkey. You are get ready to go to work, you grab your preprogrammed
Portkey and bada-bing bada-boom, you are off to work.

Countdown activated - for those times when you can't plan ahead. You
charm the object, allow time for everyone to touch it, when everyone
is ready, you then activate it on the count of three.

Command activated - same as above, but instead of going 1, 2, 3, GO!,
you just say 'NOW!', and you are off.

So, the conclusion that allows for the many variations we see in the
books, is that these are indeed just variation of the different ways
to program a Portkey. 

So, in situations like this, where you have what might appear to be an
inconsistancy, just do what I do, make something up.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboy_mn