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Paulovsk comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 11 - Less Wrong
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Okay, I don't really think this is how it'll go down - slightly too Dark Lordish. But the image was amusing, so here goes:
"It just happens that if Hermione doesn't walk, everyone but me will lose the ability to cast Patronus. Don't buy it? Oh, well, I'll just explain it to Hermione and she'll be able to testify under Veritaserum that I can do it."
Or, you know, have Hermione figure it out herself from Harry's note and do the blackmail herself.
Anyway, the blackmail potential for this is rather great, and I'd not be surprised to see it used in a more dire situation with more than Hermione on the line.
I don't get it.
"It just happens that if Hermione doesn't walk, everyone but me will lose the ability to cast Patronus. Don't buy it? Oh, well, I'll just explain it to Hermione and she'll be able to testify under Veritaserum that I can do it."
How exactly harry's ability (technique) to cast a strong patronus will interfere with the ability of the others?
I'm curious now...
We know that Obliviation doesn't erase everything - it erases memories but not every effect of the experience it erases. We've even seen it in story - Rianne Felthorne felt sad when looking at her "found" ruby. McGonnagall also hypothesized that Harry might have been abused(or otherwise experienced something awful) and then Obliviated.
Either way, I'm curious how this effect would interact with something like this.
If Harry told you the secret of the True Patronus(and you weren't the sort of person who could kill Dementors with that knowledge) and you Obliviated yourself, would that be enough to restore the capacity to use an animal Patronus?
Got it.
But this part is not strong enough: "Oh, well, I'll just explain it to Hermione and she'll be able to testify under Veritaserum that I can do it."
They could claim Hermione being able to testify under Veritaserum is only enough to prove that Harry could convince her, not that the thing itself was true.
It's more ethically dubious, but in theory he could do it to one person who could cast the Patronus Charm, have them testify under Veritaserum that they were no longer capable of it as a consequence of what Harry told them, then Obliviate them of the specifics- even if it doesn't restore their ability, at least it prevents them from affecting anyone else. Then the issue is proving they're not Occlumens.
But it's not like I'm advocating this idea, or anything.
ETA: Oh! He could do it to Amelia Bones!
Or even Dumbledore.
Someone who isn't likely to be Veritaserum-proof is probably a better candidate for this plan.
You're right, but I'd expect Bones to be Veritaserum-proof as well.
Maybe McGonagall?
Yeah, I kinda lost track of which part of the conversation this was- Amelia Bones would be useful as the Head of the DMLE, which presumably runs the prison system (thus would be in a position to suggest / implement a Dementorless Reformation). Plus she's always surrounded by subordinate Aurors who can cast a Patronus, so it wouldn't put her in much immediate danger.
Plus I kinda half-subscribe to the theory that she killed Narcissa.