Curly comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 21, chapters 91 & 92 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: NancyLebovitz 04 July 2013 11:49AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 04 July 2013 07:07:13PM 5 points [-]

I'm actually starting to believe EricMS is right, and Harry might use the resurrection ritual - blood of the foe, bone of the ancestor, flesh of the servant. No, I don't know how he'd source Draco's blood, Quirrell being out of the question, and the bone is a tall order as well, even with both parents at Hogwarts and Harry apparently about to learn the Obliviation spell. Perhaps a tooth will do? They are dentists...

But it's still a wonderful idea, because it pays off the story's Star Wars references, in particular the comparison of Neville to Darth Vader. If a lightsaber spell is introduced in the second act, someone must lose his hand to it in the third.

Neville Longbottom cuts off Ron Weasley's hand with a lightsaber. This has to happen.

Comment author: Velorien 04 July 2013 07:44:33PM 6 points [-]

Truly awesome though that wouuld be, as others pointed out in the thread you link, there's no reason to believe that said ritual works on the properly dead.

Furthermore, think about the implications if it did work - everyone who knows about it, including all Death Eaters, would have those three items readied in case of their unexpected demise, and would thus be functionally invincible.

Comment author: DanielLC 04 July 2013 09:47:32PM 2 points [-]

I don't see why bone would be difficult, given that it doesn't have to be taken from a living ancestor. Not unless Dumbledore prepared for this and warded their graves.

Comment author: [deleted] 04 July 2013 09:58:38PM *  1 point [-]

Harry's unable to leave Hogwarts. There could be ways around the restriction, but they add complexity to the solution.

ETA: Which, to be clear, looks completely unworkable on its in-universe merits. The real problem is that Harry's never heard a full description of the ritual, neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort would give him one, and Voldemort would have stolen the book that contains it.

Comment author: [deleted] 05 July 2013 03:57:34AM *  1 point [-]

Perhaps a tooth will do? They are dentists...

Maybe, though I don't think teeth have any actual bone in them. But I'm sure a pinky toe wouldn't be missed. Not so much as one's child, anyway.

Comment author: [deleted] 05 July 2013 04:33:41AM 0 points [-]

I don't think teeth have any bone in them either. I'm perplexed by the number of serious criticisms this comment has received. I was telling a joke. Does it not read like one?

Comment author: [deleted] 05 July 2013 05:19:36AM 2 points [-]

Not really, but all of the responses sound friendly to me. Mine certainly was.

Comment author: ChristianKl 05 July 2013 08:30:59AM 0 points [-]

Is there anyone who qualifies as a servent for Hermoine?

As far as foes go, the troll might be viable.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 05 July 2013 06:25:29PM 0 points [-]

Harry himself could be viable too... not the best, but could work.

Also, where's the philosopher's stone? That was supposed to be the best way, in canon.

Comment author: Velorien 05 July 2013 07:33:09PM 1 point [-]

Still in the third-floor corridor, as far as we know. But while we know it can extend life (and in canon, you have to keep brewing and taking Elixir of Youth for that to work), there's no hint that it can bring back the dead.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 06 July 2013 04:37:28PM 1 point [-]

Not the dead-as-a-doornail, on its own - but given that it was Voldemort's preferred method, it seems like something that continues to be relevant after some form of death. Could come in handy in some way.

Comment author: Velorien 09 July 2013 12:32:38PM 1 point [-]

It might work as part of a two-step resurrection process, with the first step being to get Hermione as alive as the shade of Voldemort was in canon. Of course, that would rely on the existence of souls, which Harry does not believe in.