75th 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: 75th 23 March 2012 02:28:28AM *  2 points [-]

The obvious guess is that Harry will destroy the Dementor in full view of everyone. But this seems far too obvious for Eliezer to taunt us so.

Harry knows nothing about the aurors, the Prophet reporter, Umbridge, Fenrir Greyback (if that's a correct identification), or Amelia Bones.

That leaves

  • The dementor
  • Minerva
  • Lucius
  • Neville's grandmother
  • Himself

The dementor he can destroy, but that's the obvious answer. Minerva he knows nothing shocking or incriminating about, and I can't think of anything that would help. Same goes for Madam Longbottom, I think.

That leaves

  • The dementor
  • Lucius
  • Harry himself — Oh, and I forgot: Everything in Harry's pouch.

What could Harry say about himself that's shocking? He could confess to his role in the Azkaban breakout, but I can't see how that would help Hermione. None of his scientific knowledge or magical discoveries would impress the Wizengamot, if they could even understand him.

Does he know anything incriminating about Lucius? Well, he knows he was a Death Eater. But Harry is immune to Veritaserum and can't testify.

Is there anything he can do about or with the dementor other than destroy it, which is far too obvious?

Comment author: pedanterrific 23 March 2012 02:44:08AM 4 points [-]

Is there anything he can do about or with the dementor other than destroy it, which is far too obvious?

He might be able to do something fancy the same way he commanded a dozen of them to "Turn and go and do not speak of this to anyone" in TSPE. Maybe silently tell it to spread the word to its brethren that no Dementor is to go near Hermione? Which still leaves her stuck in a cold metal box for ten years, so it doesn't seem to help much.

Comment author: gwern 23 March 2012 02:46:07AM 3 points [-]

Maybe. On the other hand, he's in a hall of people who all strongly believe that Dementors would never do any such thing and will obey their commands.

Comment author: pedanterrific 23 March 2012 02:51:40AM 4 points [-]

So you're going with Harry's initial idea, that Dementors are controlled by expectations? If that's the case, then yeah, it probably won't work.

Comment author: cousin_it 23 March 2012 04:03:39PM *  0 points [-]

Is there anything he can do about or with the dementor other than destroy it, which is far too obvious?

Go in front of it and let the horrible personality possess him again. After making some sort of precommitment, I suppose. This solution was foreshadowed in the omake "Lord of the rationality".

But in truth, I lost faith in Eliezer's ability to come up with realistic solutions when Harry miraculously survived the first dementor attack in Azkaban. He will probably just have Harry use his main character powers again.