Introduction, and thoughts regarding HPL:Puzzles and Mysteries

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 104875

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, James Lawlor <jlawlor at g...> wrote:
> ...edited...
> 
> If we consider the plan involving the Triwizard Tournament it is 
> the best, and really the only way to keep anyone (and in particular,
> Dumbledore) from finding out that Voldemort had returned to power. 
> It would have been easy enough for Crouch-as-Moody to turn Harry's
> toothbrush or pillow into a portkey. But if Harry had disappeared 
> from his bed or the bathroom never to be seen again, it would have 
> caused quite a stir. ...edited...
> 

Asian_lovr2:

Excellent post, very concise and well thought out. Of course, I agree.
Among other things, enchanting Harry's toothbrush or pillow is not as
easy as it sounds. Fake!Moody would have had to get into Harry's
bedroom without being detected. Remember among other things, he would
have had to get past the portrait of the Fat Lady.  

Then, how could he make sure that someone else didn't touch the
toothbrush or pillow first, thereby sending the wrong person to the
graveyard in Little Hangleton. Also, how could he time it properly?
How would he know that Harry hadn't bought a new toothbrush? How would
he know that Harry hadn't borrowed Ron's toothbrush? How could he be
sure that the pillows wouldn't get switched when the Elves cleaned the
Dorm Room? Too many variables and uncertainties. 

The plan for assisting Harry in winning the Tri-wizard's Tournement,
included as part of the plan, making sure that no one but Harry could
touch the cup. It was a precise object, it was to be touched at a
controlled time and place, and Fake!Moody was on the spot to make sure
it was Harry who touched it. Of course, Fake!Moody hadn't considered
that Harry and Cedric would touch it together.

As I read your post, a new thought occurred to me, the cauldron that
was used to bring Lord-V's body back had to have a potion in it, based
on the description and actions of the fluid in the cauldron. In
additon, I doubt that the Riddle family just happened to have a giant
man-sized cauldron laying around. 

So, Voldemort did need some time to prepare for the Rebirthing
Cerimony. Given that both he and Peter had limited ability to move
around in the wizard or muggle world in order to find cauldrons and
potion ingredients, and that in all likelihood, the potion ingedients
were relatively obscure, it probably took a great deal of time to get
it all together. So, the end of the Tri-Wiz, which was also near the
end of the school year, probaby worked out nicely.


> James Continues:
> 
> - How did Sirius order that Firebolt without giving himself away?
> How did he get the money out of his vault? And for that matter, how 
> did Mrs. Weasley get money out of Harry's vault?
> 
> As for the first question, I thought of a couple answers, but if you
> think about them too much they begin to fall apart, so I offer the
> easy explanation: The Goblins didn't care to inform anyone that
> Sirius Black had been making large withdrawals. As for the Weasleys,
> it could easily have been arranged so they have permission. Or 
> possibly there's magic at Gringotts that would prevent someone 
> dishonestly taking money out of someone else's vault.
> 
>  - James Lawlor

Asian_lovr2:

I think the answer to the purchase of the Firebolt is as simple as
'Mail-Order'. Just as we here in the muggle world are able to purchase
things with a written authorization to withdraw funds from out bank
accounts (ie: checks and Dedit cards), Gringott's bank has an
equivalent procedure. 

Business in the Wizard World has to be just as complex as business in
the muggle world. We see evidence of international trade,
business-to-business transaction, a full range of commerce; I find it
difficult to believe that is all done on a person-to person,
face-to-face, cash only basis. It's reasonable and logical that the
Wizard's Banks has some means of accomodating transactions like this. 

Another example, Hermione mail ordered Harry's Broomstick Servicing
Kit while she was on vacation in France. It seems reasonable that the
same process would come into play. Hermione, as part of the product
order form, signed an authorization that allowed funds to be
transferred from her Gringott's account to the account of Quality
Quidditch Supplies. This of couse assumes Hermione has a Gringott's
account, but I think that's a fair assumption.

Also, I want to re-enforce the point you made. The Goblins don't seem
to have any fondness for or strong allegiance to the Ministry. I think
it is clear from the books that Goblins take money matters very
seriously. Given that, I don't think they would feel any obligation to
betray a customer's privacy, and inform the Ministry of activity on
certain accounts. I think safeguarding their customers money and
privacy is far more important to the Goblins than assisting the
Ministry in catching criminals.

I also agree that Goblins have their own brand of magic that is well
suited to Banking. I have always speculated that the Goblins have a
magical means of detecting fraud. Therefore, when Mrs. Weasley claims
to need money from Harry's account for school supplies and pocket
money, the Goblins can tell that Mrs. Weasley is indeed telling the
truth; that she is in fact acting as an authorized agent of the
account holder.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/Asian_lovr2