Black magic -- effigy

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 114806


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cynicalsquare" <TM.Riddle at g...>
wrote:
> 
> I was just wondering whether the Muggle concept of using an effigy 
> and personal implements (eg. hair, toenails) to harm another person, 
> exists in the Potterverse. We have seen, in CoS, personal implements 
> used to make the Polyjuice Potion. To me, it looks as if the effigy 
> method is not used in the Potterverse; the Dark Arts are instead 
> applied directly, for instance via the unforgivable curses. Any 
> ideas?
> 
> "cynicalsquare"

bboyminn:

Not sure exactly what you are getting at but I'll make a stab at an
answer.

We haven't seen effigies, as in VooDoo Dolls, but that doesn't seem to
really fit into the story. That is, in my view, it doesn't fit the
magical functions needed to tell this tale, but I don't think that
means it doesn't work or isn't found in this magic world. Just that it
isn't relevant to this particular story.

I think part of the reason for this is that Voodoo dolls and other
effegy-like tokens are part of African and possibly Asian magic.
Voodoo as we know it, is actually a blend of French, African, and
Island native American magic.

On the other hand, based on my understanding of your use of the words
'personal implements', we have indeed seen this more than once. Let's
not forget the Bone/Flesh/Blood magic that gave Voldemort his life
back. And let's not forget the extreme reaction of both Sirius and
Dumbledore when they found out that Voldemort used Harry's blood. I
think they had that reaction because the use of what you call
'personal implements' and most particularly the use of blood is part
of the darkest magic.

One additional item that has not been discussed in the books, but JKR
did comment on it, is that Magical 'Living' Portraits. According to
JKR to give the portraits an accurate degree of the living character
of the person depicted in the portrait, a piece of that person is
embedded into the portrait (flesh, hair, blood, whatever). That would
be one of the few examples where using tissue from a person for magic
that isn't dark magic.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)