Magical Contracts and Ancient Magic

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 190668



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lynda Cordova" <sweenlit at ...> wrote:
>
> Mike:
> 
> Whether Lily had any idea that
> there was some "Ancient Magic" available to make her sacrifice
> meaningful, we have no way of knowing but it seems unlikely.
> 
> Lynda: (replies)
> 
> That's an interesting assumption. Throughout the series the
> "ancient magic" has always been associated with Lily's
> sacrifice--it therefore makes sense that Lily knew something 
> about that ancient magic. I realize that there is no hard and 
> fast evidence to that effect, but neither is there any that the
> other is true.
> 

Steve:

Interesting. This raises an issue in my mind. If Lily was aware of the 'ancient magic' she was invoking, does that corrupt the process? 

Does this 'magic' have to be spontaneous and innocent, or can it be willful and calculated? Can you knowingly and willful invoke this particular aspect of Ancient Magic? 

I'm not sure. It seems much more powerful if Lily doesn't know, and simply feels the deep parental need to protect her child. But, at least in my mind, some of the literary magic is lost, if it is willful and calculated. 

Based on vague implications by Dumbledore, I have to believe that Lily stumbled on this by accident. There was no calculation or forethought. Still, I'm not sure there is enough evidence to prove or even establish that position. 



> Mike:
> In the second case, Voldemort implied that the war would end and no
> harm would come to anyone else, if Harry gave himself up. Whether
> Harry believed that is unclear, but he was sure that his sacrifice
> would put Voldemort one step closer to defeat and that seemed to be
> at least part of his intention
> 
> Lynda:
> 
> I never believe that what a deceiver is telling me is truthful,
> myself. So I've always read Thingy's statements with a jaundiced
> eye, expecting them to be lies.
> 
> Lynda
> 

Steve: 

Voldemort kills people on a whim, human life, other than his own, means nothing to him. All are just fodder for his canon. 

I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw Hagrid. 

Steve/bboyminn