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magical theory - Infinite food source via self-cannibalism in Harry Potter



In the Harry Potter universe, one limitation of magic is the ability to generate food from nothing, being one of the five exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. There are notably special cases noted at the Harry Potter Wikia page, mainly:



It should be noted that while food cannot be outright created from nothing, it can be multiplied if one already has some food to multiply, it can be enlarged or the food can be summoned if one knows the approximate location and is fairly sure the food will still be there. It should also be noted that while food cannot be conjured, consumable liquids such as sauces and potable water can be.



Also, it seems that if one has significant capabilities as a healer, all flesh wounds that aren't the result of a curse or jinx, can be repaired via incantations and no additional tonics, potions, ointments, etc.


Assuming we aren't concerned with diseases resulting from cannibalism, such as kuru, is there anything, beyond a lack of pain tolerance, that would stop a wizard from just periodically lopping off his leg, healing it back; and cooking, cloning, and deliciously seasoning (due to free ability to summon a nice white wine sauce) one's own lower leg? Maybe transfigure some of it into a nice chianti and fava beans.



Or maybe, if a pair of wizards worked in coordination, ripped out the other's liver, kind of like Prometheus's being eaten daily in Greek mythology? Sounds like a viable way to have infinite food and water. Kind of like the fish and bread story in Christian mythology (feeding tons of people with a single fish and loaf of bread), but a bit more gory. Organ meat should provide enough vitamins and calories to cover most nutritional requirements.



Answer



Wizards can't grow lost body parts with (normal) magic. Only dark wizards like Voldemort can do that like in the case of Scabbers during his comeback.



“And now Wormtail was whimpering. He pulled a long, thin, shining silver dagger from inside his cloak. His voice broke into petrified sobs.


      “Flesh - of the servant - w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master.”


      He stretched his right hand out in front of him - the hand with the missing finger. He gripped the dagger very tightly in his left hand and swung it upward.”


-Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Chapter-32



Voldemort might have promised him to give back his hand after he returns,




“My Lord…” he choked, “my Lord…you promised…you did promise…”


      “Hold out your arm,” said Voldemort lazily.


      “Oh Master…thank you, Master…”


      He extended the bleeding stump, but Voldemort laughed again.


      “The other arm, Wormtail.”


      “Master, please…please…”


-Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Chapter-33



Even though you have a new hand, it will not be under your control completely. Scabbers was killed by his own hand when he hesitated to attack Harry.




“You’re going to kill me?” Harry choked, attempting to prise off the metal fingers. “After I saved your life? You owe me, Wormtail!”


The silver fingers slackened. Harry had not expected it: He wrenched himself free, astonished, keeping his hand over Wormtail’s mouth. He saw the ratlike man’s small watery eyes widen with fear and surprise: He seemed just as shocked as Harry at what his hand had done, at the tiny, merciful impulse it had betrayed, and he continued to struggle more powerfully, as though to undo that moment of weakness.


“And we’ll have that,” whispered Ron, tugging Wormtail’s wand from his other hand.


Wandless, helpless, Pettigrew’s pupils dilated in terror. His eyes had slid from Harry’s face to something else. His own silver fingers were moving inexorably toward his own throat.


-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,Chapter-23



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