Grab a tea and a cough drop so you can get through your villain monologue without losing your voice: Join Irvin, Karoline, Sophia and our guest Lizzie as they finish their discussion of Chapter 35 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- “Veritaserum”!
In this episode:
- How did Voldemort get through his villain monologue without a water bottle?
- What is the Dark Order and who believes in it?
- When do dementors dig graves for prisoners?
- The ultimate Daddy Issues episode
- Whose Voldy obsession is superlative?
- Humanizing our villains through sport
- Why is Barty Crouch Sr. turned into a bone?
- Playing fetch with Bartz Crouch Sr.
- Lupin’s highly creative storytelling
Resources:
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Sevens by Irvin Khaytman
- The Fallen Fathers of Goblet of Fire by Irvin Khaytman
- The Schemes Behind the Spite: Why Voldemort Really Jinxed the DADA Job by Sophia Jenkins
- Dumbledore: The Life and Lies by Irvin Khaytman
Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle-the Man Who Would Become “He Who Must Not Be Named” by Grace Candido-Beecher (available in all* bookstores)
I really enjoyed your discussion about the permanency of magic when it comes to transformation/transfiguration. When I read the series, I assumed that unless the transfiguration is undone, either by spell or potion (relatively quickly), the effect will be permanent. In the instances that mention magical transformation, most if not all were undone by a more qualified wizard or witch. Here are the examples I can recall:
Using this logic, I believe that Mrs. Crouch remained looking like Barty Crouch Jr at her death, and Barty Crouch Sr remained a bone after his death. There were no opportunities for the effect of the spell to be reversed in either scenario. Also, if Fang ate Crouch-bone, it would be that much more difficult to undo all of the effects.
I think you’re conflating several different types of magic here that may operate under different rules.
We know for a fact that Polyjuice wears off after an hour (per CoS), which is why the default assumption is that Mrs Crouch would change back UNLESS something weird about Polyjuice’s properties was happening due to the death, the way Cat!Hermione broke the rules.
I am in agreement with you that basic transfiguration (#1, #2, Crouch-bone) would be permanent, maybe give-or-take the death of the spellcaster.
For the record, I don’t think Fang (or dogs in general) actually eat bones, they just gnaw on them cuz they like the meat usually attached to bones. But I admit dogs aren’t my area of expertise.
I absolutely could be conflating–I am not an expert in things concerning magic rules in the Harry Potter universe. I should have said that it is my head canon that unless a spell is undone in a reasonable amount of time, the effect becomes permanent.
I do apologize for my lapse in logic when it comes to Polyjuice Potion–after reading your comment, I would like to retract/amend my position. What I meant to say was that even if Mrs. Crouch reverted to her body after the burial and after the effects of the potion wore off, no one would know about it unless the grave was opened up and the body was exhumed. So for all intents and purposes, she died looking like Crouch Jr.
As for Fang, I used the word “ate” loosely. Assuming there could have been some meat on Crouch’s bone to gnaw, Fang would be one happy boarhound.
Love the show as always and looking forward to the next episode!