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Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 15, chapter 84 · 2012-04-17T22:42:46.349Z · LW · GW

I'm pretty sure it was meant for Dumbledore. If it was meant for Hermione it could have just fire-ported to her.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 14, chapter 82 · 2012-04-05T17:55:39.295Z · LW · GW

"It comes due when you graduate Hogwarts," the old wizard said from high above.

It looks to me like they don't have quite enough time for Hermione to get a job as an investment banker. Of course, he still has plenty of options if the arbitrage trick doesn't work.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 13, chapter 81 · 2012-04-01T14:47:06.437Z · LW · GW

I'd say trying to have a 12 year old girl tortured to death is a better example of villainous behavior. I also don't see much evidence of Lucius doing any of this to help Harrymort. It seems more like a desperate attempt to sabotage him out of fear and anger.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 13, chapter 81 · 2012-03-30T21:59:57.974Z · LW · GW

I agree that her being afraid of Harry isn't something I would expect, but her comments make me think she isn't taking the situation seriously.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 13, chapter 81 · 2012-03-30T16:49:46.788Z · LW · GW

"Enough, Mr. Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "We shall be late for afternoon Transfiguration as it is. And do come back here, you're still terrifying that poor Dementor." She turned to the Aurors. "Mr. Kleiner, if you would!"

Is it just me, or does that NOT sound like someone who just found out that dementors, thought to be manifestations of fear, are afraid of her student? I'm guessing it's one of two things:

  • She's so relieved that one of her student isn't going to be tortured to death that she isn't really processing everything else that's going on or

  • She thinks the whole thing is a trick Harry and Dumbledore came up with, and dementors aren't really afraid of Harry.

Either one could lead to a very entertaining aftermath.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 12 · 2012-03-28T03:12:03.427Z · LW · GW

You're right, I had completely forgotten about clearing Hermione. The first two options I listed could still be used to pay back the debt if the rules surrounding it are too ridiculous, though. This is, of course, simply an extension of his other money-making schemes or a possible source of starting capital.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 12 · 2012-03-28T02:56:10.316Z · LW · GW

If it had worked, the results would have been more favorable. However, it seems much less likely to have worked.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 12 · 2012-03-28T02:32:23.228Z · LW · GW

Of course now there is the matter of paying back the debt. He has several more options than he did before. He could cash in a few more of his imperious-debts (which are each apparently worth 10,000 galleons and a pureblood girl). He could raise an army of dementors as his mob and have wealthy purebloods pay for "protection" (highly unlikely, but his dark side might consider it). Or he could simply conquer magical Britain before he graduates and disregard the debt.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 12 · 2012-03-28T02:26:23.420Z · LW · GW

Indeed. I knew this chapter would be entertaining, but I didn't think it would be that good.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 12 · 2012-03-26T01:39:38.631Z · LW · GW

That was my impression as well. This means that Harry could order the dementor to do pretty much anything. All he'd really have to do is demonstrate that he can command them and he'd open up several options. Of course, all of this depends on Harry knowing that the dementors aren't controlled only by the expectations of those around them.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 11 · 2012-03-23T13:46:38.676Z · LW · GW

If he could change part of the testimony to something demonstrably false, that no one else in the room knew at the time, he could prove that her mind had been compromised. Actually changing the memory would be a problem, and it doesn't seem like a likely solution to me, but it's still possible.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 11 · 2012-03-23T13:23:58.113Z · LW · GW

I'm thinking that Harry is about to try to either command or destroy the dementor. To do either, he'd have to leave his dark side, so I'm not sure how successful he'll be. I'm close to certain that the Eliezer put the dementor there for a reason, and that the reason probably wasn't so that Harry could say, "dementors are bad" again.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 10 · 2012-03-23T12:17:03.776Z · LW · GW

I'm thinking that Harry is about to try to either command or destroy the dementor. To do either, he'd have to leave his dark side, so I'm not sure how successful he'll be. I'm close to certain that the Eliezer put the dementor there for a reason, and that the reason probably wasn't so that Harry could say, "dementors are bad" again.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 10 · 2012-03-13T00:51:51.245Z · LW · GW

Yes, but the magic that was used to acquire that particular cloak was capable of blinding/destroying dementors, so it should be possible to get that magic back out using the newly revealed rule of potions.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 10 · 2012-03-13T00:17:16.180Z · LW · GW

I guess Harry's got another reason to destroy more dementors. Also, I suspect the cloaks will have more than one use. Dragons blood apparently has twelve uses, after all.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 10 · 2012-03-12T23:21:12.527Z · LW · GW

I'd imagine that would be determined by the other ingredients and stirring patterns. It could also be used to make someone invisible to dementors, immune to the effects of dementors, temporarily unkillable, give off their own dementor-like aura, or just look like a dementor. Depending on what the other rules are, that cloak could be very valuable.

Comment by aladner on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 10 · 2012-03-12T22:40:41.996Z · LW · GW

On the topic of potion invention, what ever happened to the cloak from the dementor Harry killed? Based on the rules of potions given so far, that could probably make a nice Potion of the True Patronus™.