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| + | [[File:Tumblr lu79xvOXZn1r5tevgo1 1280.jpg|251x251px|thumb|right|[[Peter Pettigrew]] indebted to [[Harry Potter]] for having saved his life]] |
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| ⚫ | A ''' |
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| + | {{Quote|Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt... When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them... and I'm much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of [[Harry Potter]]... This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry.|The power of a life debt|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}} |
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| ⚫ | A '''life debt''' is a magical bond formed between a [[Wizardkind|wizard]] or [[Wizardkind|witch]] and the person whose life they saved. The one who owes the debt to the saviour would one day be obliged to repay the deed by doing something beneficial to the said saviour. Such a bond can be formed between even the worst of enemies and regardless of whether either of the involved parties want it or not. As this bond is magically binding, the indebted could commit the repayment without acknowledging it, or even against their will. |
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| + | {| class="wikitable" border="1" width="100%" |
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| + | |- |
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| + | ! scope="col" |Saviour(s) |
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| + | ! scope="col" |Person(s) saved |
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| + | ! scope="col" |Date |
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| + | ! scope="col" |Notes |
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| + | |- |
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| + | |[[James Potter I|James Potter]] |
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| + | |[[Severus Snape]] |
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| + | |[[1970s]] |
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| ⚫ | |In his [[fifth year]] James saved [[Severus Snape]] from a near-fatal prank that [[Sirius Black]] played on him, which involved luring Snape to the [[Shrieking Shack]] where [[Remus Lupin]] was in his [[werewolf]] form. As such, Snape owed James a life debt, although they hated each other. This was repaid when Snape repeatedly protected James' son, [[Harry Potter|Harry]], throughout Harry's years at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. However, it is possible that Snape chose to protect Harry solely because of his love of Harry's mother, [[Lily J. Potter|Lily Potter]]. Snape also could've repaid James when he asked Dumbledore to hide the Potters in 1981. |
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| + | |- |
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| + | |[[Harry Potter]] |
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| + | |[[Peter Pettigrew]] |
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| + | |[[6 June]], [[1994]] |
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| ⚫ | |In his [[third year]] Harry prevented [[Peter Pettigrew]] from being murdered by his former best friends, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, for treason. Instead, Harry asked for him to be transferred to [[Azkaban]]. Though Pettigrew escaped, he still owed Harry a life debt. Perhaps due to gratitude, Peter suggested to Voldemort on using another wizard for the [[Regeneration potion|potion]] to [[Return of Lord Voldemort|recreate his body]]. This was repaid when Pettigrew hesitated and showed a fleeting moment of mercy at the [[Skirmish at Malfoy Manor]] and released Harry from a choking hold with [[Peter Pettigrew's silver hand|his silver hand]], which Voldemort had given to him for sacrificing his own hand to bring Voldemort back into human form. Unfortunately, it was fulfilling this debt that caused the silver hand to then turn on Peter, killing him for showing what Voldemort would have considered weakness. |
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| + | |} |
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==Behind the scenes== |
==Behind the scenes== |
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| − | *Both known life debts are related to Harry's benefit, and both the |
+ | *Both known life debts are related to Harry's benefit, and both the indebted parties died protecting him. |
| + | *[[J. K. Rowling]] has stated [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] did not owe Harry a life debt for his rescue of her in the [[Chamber of Secrets]].<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-3.htm 2005 Leaky Cauldron with J. K. Rowling]</ref> |
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| − | *It is possible that [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]], [[Arthur Weasley|Arthur]], and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] have a life debt to [[Harry Potter]] as he saved their lives. Ginny in her first year, Arthur in Harry's fifth year, and Ron in their sixth year. It is unknown if this is true. If the last is true, then the debt was repaid in Deathly Hallows. |
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| + | *It is unknown whether [[Arthur Weasley|Arthur]] or [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] ever had life debts to Harry, for being rescued after being attacked by Nagini in [[1995]], and given a [[bezoar]] after being poisoned in [[1997]], respectively. If it is true that Ron once owed Harry a life debt, he presumably repaid it by saving Harry from drowning in [[1998]]. Seeing that Ginny did not owe Harry a debt, it may be possible that neither Arthur nor Ron owed him either. |
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| − | *It is unknown if life debts can be made between animals and people, but if so Harry |
+ | *It is unknown if life debts can be made between animals and people, but if so Harry may be in debt to [[Fawkes]] the Phoenix for saving him from the [[Basilisk venom]], and [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] might have been in debt to Fawkes for swallowing the [[Killing Curse]] during his duel with [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]], although it should be noted that an instance where a Phoenix would require the repaying of a life debt would be rare, if even possible, given that they are, in all known cases, reborn after death. |
| + | *In {{DH|FA1}}, Pettigrew never repaid his life debt, as he was knocked out by [[Dobby]] instead of strangling Harry, thus he never released him on an impulse of mercy. This was most likely done as the scene of Pettigrew strangling himself seems too violent for a PG-13 movie. |
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==Appearances== |
==Appearances== |
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| + | *{{PS}} {{1st}} |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' |
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| + | *{{PS|F}} |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]'' |
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| + | *{{POA}} {{1st ID}} |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' |
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| + | *{{POA|F}} |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]'' |
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| + | *{{POA|G}} |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]'' |
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| + | *{{DH}} |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' |
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| − | *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I]]'' |
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| + | ==Notes and references== |
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| + | {{Reflist}} |
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| + | [[de:Lebensschuld]] |
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[[fr:Dette de vie]] |
[[fr:Dette de vie]] |
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[[fi:Hengenvelka]] |
[[fi:Hengenvelka]] |
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| − | [[ |
+ | [[zh:命债]] |
| + | [[Category:Magical contracts]] |
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| + | [[Category:Plot to murder Peter Pettigrew]] |
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Revision as of 13:06, 29 February 2020
Peter Pettigrew indebted to Harry Potter for having saved his life
- "Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt... When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them... and I'm much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter... This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry."
- — The power of a life debt[src]
A life debt is a magical bond formed between a wizard or witch and the person whose life they saved. The one who owes the debt to the saviour would one day be obliged to repay the deed by doing something beneficial to the said saviour. Such a bond can be formed between even the worst of enemies and regardless of whether either of the involved parties want it or not. As this bond is magically binding, the indebted could commit the repayment without acknowledging it, or even against their will.
Known life debts
| Saviour(s) | Person(s) saved | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Potter | Severus Snape | 1970s | In his fifth year James saved Severus Snape from a near-fatal prank that Sirius Black played on him, which involved luring Snape to the Shrieking Shack where Remus Lupin was in his werewolf form. As such, Snape owed James a life debt, although they hated each other. This was repaid when Snape repeatedly protected James' son, Harry, throughout Harry's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, it is possible that Snape chose to protect Harry solely because of his love of Harry's mother, Lily Potter. Snape also could've repaid James when he asked Dumbledore to hide the Potters in 1981. |
| Harry Potter | Peter Pettigrew | 6 June, 1994 | In his third year Harry prevented Peter Pettigrew from being murdered by his former best friends, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, for treason. Instead, Harry asked for him to be transferred to Azkaban. Though Pettigrew escaped, he still owed Harry a life debt. Perhaps due to gratitude, Peter suggested to Voldemort on using another wizard for the potion to recreate his body. This was repaid when Pettigrew hesitated and showed a fleeting moment of mercy at the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor and released Harry from a choking hold with his silver hand, which Voldemort had given to him for sacrificing his own hand to bring Voldemort back into human form. Unfortunately, it was fulfilling this debt that caused the silver hand to then turn on Peter, killing him for showing what Voldemort would have considered weakness. |
Behind the scenes
- Both known life debts are related to Harry's benefit, and both the indebted parties died protecting him.
- J. K. Rowling has stated Ginny did not owe Harry a life debt for his rescue of her in the Chamber of Secrets.[1]
- It is unknown whether Arthur or Ron ever had life debts to Harry, for being rescued after being attacked by Nagini in 1995, and given a bezoar after being poisoned in 1997, respectively. If it is true that Ron once owed Harry a life debt, he presumably repaid it by saving Harry from drowning in 1998. Seeing that Ginny did not owe Harry a debt, it may be possible that neither Arthur nor Ron owed him either.
- It is unknown if life debts can be made between animals and people, but if so Harry may be in debt to Fawkes the Phoenix for saving him from the Basilisk venom, and Dumbledore might have been in debt to Fawkes for swallowing the Killing Curse during his duel with Voldemort, although it should be noted that an instance where a Phoenix would require the repaying of a life debt would be rare, if even possible, given that they are, in all known cases, reborn after death.
- In the first part of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pettigrew never repaid his life debt, as he was knocked out by Dobby instead of strangling Harry, thus he never released him on an impulse of mercy. This was most likely done as the scene of Pettigrew strangling himself seems too violent for a PG-13 movie.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First identified as Life debt)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows