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Magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable

by David Haber

At the end of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore describes the life that Peter Pettigrew owes Harry as "magic at its deepest, it's most impenetrable". But who else the in Harry Potter books might owe Harry a life ? And are life and Unbreakable Vows related?

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Reader Comments: (Page 2)

If you break an Unbreakable Vow you right? Well why didn't Peter Pettigrew after he spilled Lily and James's secret?

Posted by Brandi on November 4, 2006 9:36 PM

Pettigrew did not make an unbreakable vow. He was made the Potters' Secret Keeper. They are two different spells with different rules.

I think the same is probably true of unbreakable vows and life s -- they each bind people, but the rules are different. I haven't thought this through so I don't have specifics to offer.

Posted by Beatrice from Abilene, TX on November 4, 2006 11:31 PM

Say Dumbledore's not . Then wouldn't Snape because he hadn't fulfilled the job Malfoy was assigned to do by Voldemort? Wouldn't the unbreakable vow him?

Posted by Margaret from Chicago on November 5, 2006 11:36 AM

It would if you were 100% sure that that's what Snape vowed to Narcissa to do. But if you read the wording of the vow very carefully, indeed, if you re-read the entire chapter, it never really says out in words exactly what Draco's task was...

Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on November 5, 2006 11:49 AM

Brandi - Peter Made a fidilius charm or something, with james and lily these are different and also if you did not complete a life would you as i dont think it says so in the books?

Posted by Abdul from London, Hounslow on November 5, 2006 1:25 PM

I think your theory is getting very close to the culmination of all of the books. Harry be saved by �love� which is �more powerful� than Voldemort�s kind of magic. The life s � Snape�s to James, which has passed on to Harry, and Pettigrew�s to Harry also act as a form of love. Personally, I think, on the Snape analysis, having the life to James, and then being responsible for James�s , should/could have almost ed Snape, and explain why at that point he switched sides to help Dumbledore. It also explains how he hates Harry, whom he thinks is �not worthy� of all of this attention that Snape inadvertently focused on him, because Snape also has to focus his attention on protecting Harry no matter how much he resents him. I have even wondered if Nagini is the original snake from the zoo that Harry saved and also owes Harry a , but not a life . (No one else seems to agree with that theory). At the end, Voldemort could be surrounded by people who love Harry, or have life s to him and lead to his downfall. I think the unbreakable vow was just shown to us, so that Snape would have to Dumbledore, even against Snape�s , to clear the path for the Voldemort/Harry showdown in Book 7.

Posted by Raow from Petaluma, CA on November 6, 2006 10:59 AM

It has been put forward that as Pettigrew now has a 'silver hand' that he might Lupin. I think it far more likeley, and much more easily fit into the story that when Fenir Greyback tries to Harry in book 7 (authorized or un authorized) that Pettigrew discharge his ing Greyback with the 'silver hand'. It does seem to nicely tie off some of the looser ends and characters.

Posted by C. Tarbox from Gettysburg, Pa on November 6, 2006 12:10 PM

If just by saving some ones life you create a "life "' wouldn't most of the wisarding world be ened to Harry for defeating 'Morty the first time?

Posted by Kevin from Wisconsin on November 7, 2006 09:00 AM

I think most fans believe it has to be a more personal act... but who knows? It would be a great help to Harry in his search for the horcruxes and eventual showdown with Voldey if he could draw on the combined magical power of all the good wizards... after all, isn't that how love works anyway?

Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on November 7, 2006 09:28 AM

Snape stopped the eaters (I don't remember which ones) the night of the storming of the tower from ing Harry. Maybe that cleared his ?

Posted by Kevin from Wisconsin on November 7, 2006 12:47 PM

Kevin from Wisconsin-
That could be... but let's pretend Snape is evil for a moment. He would also have stopped him because LV wanted to Harry.
P.S.-I do not think Snape is evil. I just think he is a very bitter person.

Posted by Mark H from MI on November 8, 2006 3:23 PM

Life s are created when you save another wizard's life. Safe their life, not them. They're life s, not s. Sheesh. So why would Snape owe Harry a life for ing his parents?

Posted by xuanji from Singapore on November 9, 2006 01:42 AM

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