Life Debt

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 154135

I have had a thought about the Life Debt.  What if like some monetary  
obligations it is "payable on demand".  That is, the debtor is free to  ignore the 
debt until the one to whom the debt is owed says "I'm calling in my  debt".  
That would mean Peter Pettigrew was free to ignore his debt to  Harry unless 
Harry specifically  stated he wanted Peter to do something in  repayment.  If 
only Harry knew that.
This possibility also raises some issues with James and Severus.  We  know 
Severus spoke to James and warned him against using Sirius as a  Secret-Keeper 
(advice James seems to have taken!).  What if James told  Severus he was 
calling in his debt in some way.  The most likely request  would be "If something 
happens to us, will you watch out for Harry in  repayment?"  Whether this 
request would bind Severus and in what way is  open to discussion. Has it been 
repayed?  Is Severus free to ignore  it?  Did James ask for something else instead? 
 If the debt was never called in by James, could Harry reactivate it  by 
telling Severus he wanted something in repayment?  Again, how would  Harry know to 
do this?  Clearly, DD never told him he had any such specific  power over 
Peter or Severus even though he told Harry about both life  debts.
Nikkalmati.


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