Izeinwinter comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 27, chapter 98 - Less Wrong Discussion
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So, speculation for what Harry wants the twins to buy for him. After thinking about this for 5 minutes by the clock, this is what I came up with:
1) A nuclear device (foreshadowed, one of the few things Quirrel fears, useful as a bargaining chip/MAD)
2) Some other form of muggle weapon (superset of #1)
3) Some muggle tech that can speed up Hermione's resurrection process if the main plan fails
4) Related to #3 - ingredients for a magical ritual/potion which will resurrect Hermione if the main plan fails (foreshadowed)
Most of the ideas listed so far are either much too nasty, better done with magic, or both. Mostly both. So, what contingencies could Harry procure from the world for a reasonably modest amount of money that do things he cannot just transfigure, or do by wand, and which the twins would not recognize?
First thing that comes to mind are various non-lethal drugs, since those are going into the targets body, which means transfiguration is out if you want the subject to live. So, LSD (lethal dose absurdly higher than effective dose. .which is useful if you want to dose a crowd) Tranquilizers think this fits on all counts?
Lets see, what else would it be a bad idea/impractical to transfigure. Muggle photography gear? But the twins would recognize that.
Smoke grenades. (Not subject to finite, a counter for every spell that requires you to see your target.)
Protective kit good enough to count as valid precautions for transfiguration stunts.. would break the budget given.
Id say bugging kit, but a purely mechanical recording device would be a museum piece, and cabinet size..
Dosing the water supply might well work better on wizards than on muggles. Muggles chlorinate their water supply, and even a small amount of chlorine will rapidly inactivate LSD.
Then again, some natural water sources have that amount of chlorine in them anyway.
Don't forget useful drugs to use on allies ratehr than enemies.
Small quantity of chemical explosives.