gwern comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 11 - Less Wrong

6 Post author: Oscar_Cunningham 17 March 2012 09:41AM

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Comment author: gwern 22 March 2012 01:03:58AM 1 point [-]

The true Cloak of Invisibility may be using the thestral blood for permanence as well. Most cloaks of invisibility fade and weaken with time until they are useless; until Harry discovered a secret use, the primary difference of Harry's cloak was it's ability to last for so long.

IIRC, both canon & MoR flat out says that the Cloak is more than a merely unfading ordinary invisibility cloak, but grants hiddenness and protection on a deeper level than them. It differs in both quality and quantity, you might say.

I would guess that most people don't have the means or desire to experiment with thestral blood.

One might say the same thing of using or researching dragon blood. And yet...

Lastly, Felix Felicis is a super finicky potion. It is toxic in large quantities, difficult to brew, and dangerous to get wrong.

Everything is toxic in large quantities, and the difficulties & danger of preparation apply to, well, the preparation, not the end product. (This actually makes it an even better potion to make permanent with thestral blood.)

Comment author: Xachariah 22 March 2012 01:22:35AM 2 points [-]

Ah yes. I should have said the most easily noticeable aspect of the cloak. I meant in canon that's what tipped them off.

One might say the same thing of using or researching dragon blood. And yet...

You know, it feels significant that Dumbledore loves to experiment with and discover new uses for other species blood, but I'll be darned if I can figure it out.

Comment author: drethelin 22 March 2012 03:47:47AM 1 point [-]

Dumbledore is a secret vampire. The reason he couldn't defeat Grindlewald earlier was because he was flat out unable until he made a bargain with a dark power and gained the strength of Vampirism.

Comment author: pedanterrific 22 March 2012 03:50:30AM 1 point [-]

No, the blood sacrifices were made to slake Dumbledore's vile thirst. After they stopped, well...