To the Extreme

[Ken Hutchinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 164882

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "va32h" <va32h at ...> wrote:
>
> 6) Any random character is: an unregistered Animagus/impersonating 
> someone via polyjuice potion/under the Imperius Curse (usually this 
> situation relates to items 1 or 2).
> 

Ken:

I think you are quite wrong to criticize your fellow readers/plot
theorists on this one. The three magical techniques you mention are
supremely powerful. All three of them have been used to do mischief
right under Dumbledore's nose. Readers are not wrong to suspect that
they could be used again. The onus is on the author to explain why on
Earth they would be left unused, in fact. It would be rather like
modern people not using electricity, computers, or automobiles. Oh
yeah, we've got them but, I dunno', just too much bother I suppose.

The other obvious possibility is that readers are right when they
suspect these techniques would appear prominently in the last book.
The author has nothing to explain if they are being used. If some very
powerful element is introduced and then never used again or is used
infrequently it becomes a serious flaw unless an explanation is given.
So far I have not heard an explanation that precludes the use of these
three again. It may offend you and others to have polyjuice used in
every instance where it would be effective but it offends many of the
rest of us when a obviously applicable device is not used in every
situation where it would advance some character's plan. Will this play
end with dozens of loaded but unfired Chekhov guns littering the stage??

Ken