My trouble with this theory is not that the dirt is lethal—after all, Harry has already decided Lucius’s life is forfeit the moment he ceases to cooperate and that could happen at any time, contract or not contract, signing just means Lucius doesn’t die soon—but rather that it seems like an extremely risky booby trap which could blow up (literally) the moment someone casts a finite-incantatem (which could happen anywhere by anyone for any reason), and it’s actually more than a little suspicious if the ultra-high-security Gringotts meeting room where everyone is supposedly disarmed didn’t involve a precaution like eliminating any transfigurations...
You know, I’m suddenly starting to see why goblins aren’t allowed wands.
Compare what we’ve seen of Gringotts and Hogwarts security, given that the latter arguably contains the more valuable resource.
IIRC, there is such a thing as “goblin nations”, meaning they’ve managed to preserve national sovereignty despite being being as inferior in magic to their oppressors as the Native Americans were in technology. And despite starting a number of wars (the Goblin Rebellions) against said oppressors.
They hold exclusive control over Britain’s only bank, and this goes unquestioned by the general public.
They can already legally hire wizards to do magic for them (cf. Bill Weasley, Curse-Breaker for Gringotts).
The fact that spellcasting is an enormous force multiplier in battle (free teleportation, perfect camouflage, armour-piercing hexes...) may be the only reason why they’re not already the master race.
My trouble with this theory is not that the dirt is lethal—after all, Harry has already decided Lucius’s life is forfeit the moment he ceases to cooperate and that could happen at any time, contract or not contract, signing just means Lucius doesn’t die soon—but rather that it seems like an extremely risky booby trap which could blow up (literally) the moment someone casts a finite-incantatem (which could happen anywhere by anyone for any reason), and it’s actually more than a little suspicious if the ultra-high-security Gringotts meeting room where everyone is supposedly disarmed didn’t involve a precaution like eliminating any transfigurations...
Thief’s Downfall probably does this.
You know, I’m suddenly starting to see why goblins aren’t allowed wands.
Compare what we’ve seen of Gringotts and Hogwarts security, given that the latter arguably contains the more valuable resource.
IIRC, there is such a thing as “goblin nations”, meaning they’ve managed to preserve national sovereignty despite being being as inferior in magic to their oppressors as the Native Americans were in technology. And despite starting a number of wars (the Goblin Rebellions) against said oppressors.
They hold exclusive control over Britain’s only bank, and this goes unquestioned by the general public.
They can already legally hire wizards to do magic for them (cf. Bill Weasley, Curse-Breaker for Gringotts).
The fact that spellcasting is an enormous force multiplier in battle (free teleportation, perfect camouflage, armour-piercing hexes...) may be the only reason why they’re not already the master race.
In canon, Thief’s Downfall undoes transfigurations.