My assumption was always just that the “summon death” bit referred to creating a Dementor, and that they are much more directly about death than simple nothingness. This isn’t necessarily implied by the text, but it seems the more likely explanation.
And yes, you can definitely argue with the author about their own characters, to a certain extent. (I.e., “He’d never do X, Y is way more like him!” okay, “Harry is actually a 57-year-old woman!” not okay). You’re well within the lines here.
… the most terrible ritual known to me demands only a rope which has hanged a man and a sword which has slain a woman; and that for a ritual which promised to summon Death itself—though what is truly meant by that I do not know and do not care to discover, since it was also said that the counterspell to dismiss Death had been lost.
Chapter seventy-nine, HP:MoR
I can see your interpretation, but Quirrel’s commentary does not lend it credence. He does fear Dementors, or rather their effect upon him, but—no, your interpretation holds; regardless of how high a probability there may be of the spell merely summoning a Dementor, the inability to dismiss what’s summoned leaves too high a risk of freeing something worse.
Though I would think Quirrel would clearly express those concerns over opting to speak warily and vaguely of the ritual—and I think it out of character for him to not have thoroughly contemplated it.
My assumption was always just that the “summon death” bit referred to creating a Dementor, and that they are much more directly about death than simple nothingness. This isn’t necessarily implied by the text, but it seems the more likely explanation.
And yes, you can definitely argue with the author about their own characters, to a certain extent. (I.e., “He’d never do X, Y is way more like him!” okay, “Harry is actually a 57-year-old woman!” not okay). You’re well within the lines here.
Chapter seventy-nine, HP:MoR
I can see your interpretation, but Quirrel’s commentary does not lend it credence. He does fear Dementors, or rather their effect upon him, but—no, your interpretation holds; regardless of how high a probability there may be of the spell merely summoning a Dementor, the inability to dismiss what’s summoned leaves too high a risk of freeing something worse.
Though I would think Quirrel would clearly express those concerns over opting to speak warily and vaguely of the ritual—and I think it out of character for him to not have thoroughly contemplated it.
Does Quirrell know that Dementors are death? I think Quirrell’s interpretation is based on a lack of data, not on a difference of opinion.
Indeed, I see your point. The theory still holds should the ritual summon one Dementor or many, and I’ve benefited from considering it; thank you.