life's debt and how does it work?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 134720

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tina_00" <crisarrieta at i...> wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> What exactly do we know about life's debt? If I'm not mistaken, 
> we've only heard about it from Dumbledore, and he didn't explain 
> much when talking about Wormtail. But Dumbledore was sure that 
> having a Death Eater who owes his life to Harry won't exactly be a 
> plus to Voldemort.
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Oh, I don't know how it affects the characters - I am a lurker for a 
> reason, and the reason is that you guys come up with much better 
> theories than I do -, but am I the only one who thinks that this may 
> play a big part in book 7?
> 
> Cristina 


bboyminn:

Life Debt seem to be a little deep than you might think. Check out
this quote from the most recent interview with JKR and Melissa Anelli
for The Leaky Cauldron. 

The Leaky Cauldron-
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/extras/aa-jointerview3.html

MA: Does she (Ginny) have a life debt to Harry from book two?

JKR: No, not really. Wormtail is different.  You know, part of me
would just love to explain the whole thing to you, plot of book seven,
you know, I honestly would.


I think we can safely say that Harry saved Ginny's life, but at the
same time she doesn't have a Life Debt to him. I think part of the
reason is that it was indirect. Harry killed Diary!Tom and the
Basilisk and THAT saved Ginny. In Wormtail/Peter's case, by direct
action, Harry prevented Peter's death. 

The distinction is very subtle. For example, I don't think Harry owes
Snape a life debt for trying to save Harry when Quirrel was jinxing
his broom. True he muttered some counter jinxes, but it was Hermione's
actions direct and indirect that saved Harry. Although, I don't
honestly think that created a life debt between Harry and Hermione
either, because again, the action was too indirect.

Next, even though Dumbledore says that Life Debt is magic at it's
deepest, I'm more inclined to think it is nature at it's deepest. True
there is an essense of magic there but it's not in the form of cast
spells and enchantments. I think is more subtle and natural, perhaps
organic is a better word. 

Just a thought. Hope it helps.

Steve/bboyminn