Conjuring food/Merope's situation (Re: Moaning Myrtle is Harry's aunt on...)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 168041

Carol:
> I've asked myself both questions and can only conclude that JKR is
> placing limitations on magic, just as she does when she makes real
> money and real food necessities in the WW. <snip> (I still think 
> it's unfair to poor Merope to think that she could have kept 
> herself alive using magic when she couldn't conjure food or money.)
 
> va32h: 
> I do agree with you except - we have seen Molly conjure food. She's 
> made sauce come out of her wand when cooking. And Harry has 
> conjured water from his wand. In general, my understanding of magic
> is that conjured items do not last...<snip> Maybe conjured food and 
> water is not filling. 

Jen:  I thought of the sauce Molly conjured as the magical equivalent 
of stretching a pot of soup by adding more water because you don't 
have anything else to put in it.  So the sauce added to the 
appearance and flavor without adding anything of substance.

And the point about Merope not lifting her wand seemed more about the 
avenues open to her as a magical person, like unlocking the door of a 
store when no one was around to get some food or using a trick like 
the one DD used on Mrs. Cole to convince a bank teller she had a 
legitimate withdrawl form instead of a worthless piece of paper.  Not 
exactly on the up-and-up but something to show Merope was fighting 
for her own survival.  Riddle seemed to be born healthy; I guess she 
got enough nutrition to support his growth if not her own.

Jen