Snogging and Love Potions wasRe: CHAPDISC HBP 15, The Unbreakable Vow

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 152186

> Potioncat:
>
> Love potions have been a part of fairy tales folklore for ages.
There
> are many
> stories of young people going the "local witch" to get love
potions
> or amulets.
> Just like divination, something always goes wrong.

a_svirn:
Exactly. Can you recall any folklore fairy tale where love potions
are being put to good use? (Personally, I cannot. Tristan and Isolde
certainly made a mess of it.)

> Potioncat:
If Harry had taken
> the
> love potion, at the point that Ron did, would Romilda have been
> pleased
> with the result? He would be a moon-eyed puppy, bouncing around
and
> annoying the daylights out of her.

a_svirn:
Is that what you think Tom Riddle Sr. did? There must have been more
to it, since Tom Riddle Jr. was the result.

> Potioncat:
> JKR has shown us the danger of love potions with Merope and Tom
Sr.
> She's shown us the silly effects of the potions (later in HBP).
But I
> don't think she intends the potions to be dark. They can certainly
be
> misused!
>

a_svirn:
If you say they can be *mis*used, you thereby suggest that bending
other people to your will sexually can be -- in theory at least  --
put to good use. That of course calls the definition of *good* into
question.