That’s an interesting idea. However, I think that you may be missing a couple of issues.
For one, if the implication that magically created objects are more susceptible to the Dementors’ aura of destruction is sound, then the vial could easily degrade before the clothes, especially if it was designed to disappear quickly (e.g. hyper-thin glass, or made of something even more fragile than glass).
You do make a good point about the clothes, but honestly, that makes me question why she still had her original clothes at all. When the Dementor was taken to Hogwarts, it was wearing a cloak that was new that morning, but is tattered by the time the students practiced their Patroni on it. Very close proximity to one Dementor did that in hours, why does she still have her original clothes after a decade of being in rather close proximity to dozens of Dementors? The intensity of the aura could fade quite sharply relative to distance, I suppose, but if it weakened that quickly I don’t think it would be the issue that much of the story makes it seem to be. The only explanation that leaps to mind quickly is that they make several copies of an inmate’s clothes when they enter, and replace them as the old pair wears out. It would keep them from having to bother about making clothes themselves, and be consistent with the story. Though, if the clothes are copied magically, it seems that they’d wear out quickly as well…perhaps they preserve the original and make dozens of copies, but overall it seems like a reach.
It might also be that while a Dementor’s emotional drain is more or less unaffected by physical barriers (is this true? I think it is, but I can’t seem to find anything that points in either direction) their destruction aura is not, thus the color was leeched from the clothing but they stayed more or less intact. This seems at least as plausible, and supports your argument about the flask.
In an aside, if the cloaks aren’t an integral part of the Dementors, how do they always have enough cloaks for more than a hundred of them? It seems like when they are around the others, they should have to replace their robes several times a day. And if magically created objects disappear more quickly…but I digress.
But the biggest obstacle in the way of your theory, I think, is Harry. Harry knew that they were trying to commit the perfect crime, and did not know that Quirrell was grooming him to be a leader for everyone to turn to. What would Harry have thought about leaving the flask, then? It’s quite possible that Quirrell told him essentially what I just posted, that it would disappear without a trace, but that means that Harry thought that it was something that would be gone in a couple of years, when it wasn’t. Absolutely no mention was made of what the vial was made of, meaning that it was considered trivial, and therefore normal. [edit: I was referring to Dumbledore et all. If it was some exotic material, it’s reasonable it wouldn’t have been mentioned from Harry’s POV, but in the discussion afterwards it certainly would have been.] So unless Harry thought that the flask was magically created and it was actually trueblown (as I assume it would be called with glass), I don’t see a way around that.
So in summary, it looks like your thought is quite possible, but I’m not completely convinced that it is what actually occurred.
… they make several copies of an inmate’s clothes when they enter, and replace them as the old pair wears out.
With respect, it sounds like you’re clinging to your theory. A much simpler explanation is the effect significantly decreasing over distance. Also the effect on living prisoners body is psychological, wasting away, not physical, like corrosion or decomposition.
What would Harry have thought about leaving the flask, then?
Harry? You mean Harry “the Defense Professor of Hogwarts was all like ‘Let’s get Bellatrix Black out of Azkaban!’ and you were like ‘Okay!’” Potter? As I recall he was busy pretending to be Voldemort in front of Bellatrix, and afterwards busy angsting over the loss his mentor. I don’t see his lack of fussing over details as a strong reason to conclude anything.
With respect, it sounds like you’re clinging to your theory.
I did say that I thought it was a reach.
As for distance, she’s at the bottom of Azkaban, directly adjacent to the Dementor nest. There really isn’t much distance there at all. Physical barriers, on the other hand, there are. As I mentioned above. Notice the part where I said “this theory is supported by the story and supports your idea”?
And the effect on living prisoners was what I was referring to when I mentioned the emotional draining.
I don’t see his lack of fussing over details as a strong reason to conclude anything.
You’re assuming he didn’t know about the flask beforehand. I’m assuming that he
had to have, to have reacted the way he did (ie, not at all).
Just because Harry has made mistakes doesn’t mean he’s a moron.
That’s an interesting idea. However, I think that you may be missing a couple of issues.
For one, if the implication that magically created objects are more susceptible to the Dementors’ aura of destruction is sound, then the vial could easily degrade before the clothes, especially if it was designed to disappear quickly (e.g. hyper-thin glass, or made of something even more fragile than glass).
You do make a good point about the clothes, but honestly, that makes me question why she still had her original clothes at all. When the Dementor was taken to Hogwarts, it was wearing a cloak that was new that morning, but is tattered by the time the students practiced their Patroni on it. Very close proximity to one Dementor did that in hours, why does she still have her original clothes after a decade of being in rather close proximity to dozens of Dementors? The intensity of the aura could fade quite sharply relative to distance, I suppose, but if it weakened that quickly I don’t think it would be the issue that much of the story makes it seem to be. The only explanation that leaps to mind quickly is that they make several copies of an inmate’s clothes when they enter, and replace them as the old pair wears out. It would keep them from having to bother about making clothes themselves, and be consistent with the story. Though, if the clothes are copied magically, it seems that they’d wear out quickly as well…perhaps they preserve the original and make dozens of copies, but overall it seems like a reach.
It might also be that while a Dementor’s emotional drain is more or less unaffected by physical barriers (is this true? I think it is, but I can’t seem to find anything that points in either direction) their destruction aura is not, thus the color was leeched from the clothing but they stayed more or less intact. This seems at least as plausible, and supports your argument about the flask.
In an aside, if the cloaks aren’t an integral part of the Dementors, how do they always have enough cloaks for more than a hundred of them? It seems like when they are around the others, they should have to replace their robes several times a day. And if magically created objects disappear more quickly…but I digress.
But the biggest obstacle in the way of your theory, I think, is Harry. Harry knew that they were trying to commit the perfect crime, and did not know that Quirrell was grooming him to be a leader for everyone to turn to. What would Harry have thought about leaving the flask, then? It’s quite possible that Quirrell told him essentially what I just posted, that it would disappear without a trace, but that means that Harry thought that it was something that would be gone in a couple of years, when it wasn’t. Absolutely no mention was made of what the vial was made of, meaning that it was considered trivial, and therefore normal. [edit: I was referring to Dumbledore et all. If it was some exotic material, it’s reasonable it wouldn’t have been mentioned from Harry’s POV, but in the discussion afterwards it certainly would have been.] So unless Harry thought that the flask was magically created and it was actually trueblown (as I assume it would be called with glass), I don’t see a way around that.
So in summary, it looks like your thought is quite possible, but I’m not completely convinced that it is what actually occurred.
With respect, it sounds like you’re clinging to your theory. A much simpler explanation is the effect significantly decreasing over distance. Also the effect on living prisoners body is psychological, wasting away, not physical, like corrosion or decomposition.
Harry? You mean Harry “the Defense Professor of Hogwarts was all like ‘Let’s get Bellatrix Black out of Azkaban!’ and you were like ‘Okay!’” Potter? As I recall he was busy pretending to be Voldemort in front of Bellatrix, and afterwards busy angsting over the loss his mentor. I don’t see his lack of fussing over details as a strong reason to conclude anything.
I did say that I thought it was a reach.
As for distance, she’s at the bottom of Azkaban, directly adjacent to the Dementor nest. There really isn’t much distance there at all. Physical barriers, on the other hand, there are. As I mentioned above. Notice the part where I said “this theory is supported by the story and supports your idea”?
And the effect on living prisoners was what I was referring to when I mentioned the emotional draining.
You’re assuming he didn’t know about the flask beforehand. I’m assuming that he had to have, to have reacted the way he did (ie, not at all).
Just because Harry has made mistakes doesn’t mean he’s a moron.