[HPforGrownups] Polyjuice, Gringotts, and Doppelgangers [WAS Gringotts Speaks Out]

[Sharon Hayes]

No: HPFGUIDX 179369


Sharon:
> >hehehehe.....Excellent reminder that it is pretty damn strange that
in DH all of a sudden people (AKA Bellatrix) are asked for their wands
instead of their keys. Nifty plot device, but totally a plot-hole of
you ask me.
> >
Horace:
> If I don't mess, The vault in PS/SS (Vault 713 if I remind well) has
no keyhole, and can be opened only by a Goblin. I guessed that the
Lestranges' vault has yet another kind of lock (related to the wand).
> Or maybe the Goblins raised the security level in those troubled
times (whoever boarded a plane lately can guess what I mean...?)
>
Carol responds:

Bellatrix Lestrange has had her wand stolen and is anticipating a
break-in by HRH, and she has apparently asked or ordered the Gringotts
goblins to take precautions, which is why they specifically ask to
examine her wand and why they have set up the waterfall thingie to
detect imposters. (Travers is also suspicious that Bellatrix has her
old wand and has to be Confunded, as does the goblin examining the wand.)

Sharon
A very reasonable explanation there Carol. I do wonder about security and polyjuice though. If someone takes polyjuice and transforms into another person, they retain their own mind. That is, they are in another body but their personality is still *theirs*. Is that all they retain?  if so, how does that work?  To me that means they must also retain their own brain, since mind comes from brain.  Now if they keep at least their brain, surely the goblins would find a way of detecting this -- a much more secure way of identification if you ask me. Surely there is some magical lie detector test to reveal imposters?

On the subject of polyjuice, do the internal organs transform as well? So, for example, when the 7 friends transform into Harry's doppelgangers, do they retain their own internal organs and characteristics? Is it just the external appearance that is changed?  We know that Hermione compains about Harry's eyesight, which means she definitely has Harry's eyes, but that could be construed as part of the external appearance. Short-sightedness and myopia have something to do with the shape of the cornea or something, which would change to reflect Harry's when the polyjuice comes into effect. Moreover, If all the internal organs change as well, then how does the person retain their own mind/personality?  That leads me to think that it IS just outward appearance that's changed.

Also on the subject of the doppelgangers, Hermione and Fleur are the only girls to transform into Harry.  JKR makes no mention of how weird that must have been. Sorry if this seems trivial but to go from having female "bits" to suddenly having male "bits" must feel awfully odd. Neither Hermione nor Fleur bat an eyelid at the change, although Fleur thinks she looks hideous, it's all about outward appearance, not about genitals -- I know if it were me, I would totally freak out, and at LEAST be curious to have a look!  LOL. Hermione and Fleur would also have been much smaller than Harry (one assumes?) and no mention is made about them busting out of their bras or clothes. Is Hermione sans bra already and does she have jocks or boxers on already -- I can't imagine Fred and George watching them stripping off and seeing Hermione/Harry or Fleur/Harry in pink lacey knickers and not making some comment! Seriously.  OK I know they are "children's books"-- only NOT because I wouldn't allow an 8 year old to read the last couple of books --but I just can't believe Fred and/or George let that slip by, especially since JKR notes that they are stripping off in front of each other and revealing embarrassingly huge amounts of Harry's body.

Just my totally over-obsessed mind working here.

Sharon, wondering if "over-obsessed" is a redundant term?