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

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 152233

> > 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:
> I'm not saying Love Potions are a good idea. I'm saying they 
aren't 
> dark...at least not in this story.

a_svirn:
House-elf slavery isn't *dark* either. At least, it's certainly 
legal. 

> > 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:
> Yeah, these were adults who thought they were in love and were 
> married. But...whatever its effects on Tom, it wasn't a real 
> relationship and Merope knew it. Unfortunately, it caused a big 
> disaster. What she felt probably wasn't love either.

a_svirn:
Tom did not use the potion and married Merope because he thought he 
was in love. He thought he was in love and married Merope because of 
the potion. 

> > 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.
> 
> Potioncat:
> Hold on. You're looking on these as date-rape-potions. That isn't 
> what they are. 

a_svirn:
Well, *what* they are? They create powerful infatuation or 
obsession. Sounds like bending other people to your will to me. 
Sexually, considering the nature of the obsession. At any rate it 
means altering other people's mental state considerably. 

> Potioncat:
And no, I would not condone something that allowed you 
> to bend other people to your will...sexually or other wise. OK, 
put 
> these characters in the hands of a different author and Bellatrix 
> could have loads of fun with the potions. But I don't think JKR 
had 
> anything like that in mind.

a_svirn:
She did invent Bellatrix though. So the possibility is there, even 
in this author's Universe. Besides, I'd say Merope's actions were as 
bad as anything Bellatrix could come up with.
 
> Potioncat:
> Who knows what the effect would have been Harry if he'd taken the 
> love potion while it was fresh. 

a_svirn:
I guess not much different from the effect Tom Riddle Sr. suffered 
from. He would have become obsessed with Romilda, completely at her 
mercy. 

> Potioncat:
We know Molly made a love potion in 
> her Hogwarts days. 

a_svirn:
And we may guess to what end. 

> Potioncat:
We know the potions are being sold openly. 

a_svirn:
So what? There is lots of stuff going on in the WW that shouldn't be 
allowed at all.  

> Potioncat:
<snip>
> But love potions are not out of place in a series that includes 
> unicorns, witches and magic.

a_svirn:
Crucio and Imperio are not out of place in this series either.