This is a bit obscure. Are you saying that the Black Family Tree serves as a binding magical contract that applies to all those listed on it by name to be 'Toujours Pur', and if one breaks the contract the consequences apply to all listed members? (Note James has an 'out' as even if he was listed, his listing was only as a place-holder) Then why was Draco listed by name, despite being a Black only through his mother's line?
I wonder why Quirrell never tried to get Harry to kill himself by making one of his homework papers into a binding magical contract. There must be some limit.
Even better: Give Harry a detention. Make him write lines 'I will always be respectful to my teachers', make the parchment into a binding magical contract - and the next time Harry acts up in, say, *Severus' class* Harry drops dead and Severus is the prime suspect. (Unless Lily's magic makes Quirrellmort drop dead instead, but he doesn't know to expect that.)
Re: Involuntary binding contractsoryx_leucoryxNovember 3 2011, 19:14:02 UTC
I don't know if Rowling thought of the concept before GOF, but what about Umbridge? She had lines in Harry's own blood stating he would not tell lies. Why not make him kill himself the first time he lied? (Maybe the modified protection would have caused him to land at King's Cross, but something should have happened.) Did Umbridge fear repercussions? Did she not want Harry dead (at least at that point yet)?
WRT Quirrell - how much of his actions were informed or dictated by Tom? Maybe Quirrell wasn't as devious as young Tom. Cursing a broom was a rather straight-forward attack. What I proposed requires planning and making connections. Maybe Quirrell was too pre-occupied with the Stone most of the time.
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I wonder why Quirrell never tried to get Harry to kill himself by making one of his homework papers into a binding magical contract. There must be some limit.
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Though it makes for a short series.
But then any competence in the villains (or heroes!), would.
Without falling back on the perennial "Villanous stupidity," why wouldn't that work?
Hmm--retreats to consider.
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WRT Quirrell - how much of his actions were informed or dictated by Tom? Maybe Quirrell wasn't as devious as young Tom. Cursing a broom was a rather straight-forward attack. What I proposed requires planning and making connections. Maybe Quirrell was too pre-occupied with the Stone most of the time.
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