He grabbed Harry's arm below the shoulder and helped Harry limp toward the plinth where the cup stood. When they had reached it, they both held a hand out over one of the cup's gleaming handles.
'On three, right?' said Harry. 'One - two - three -'
He and Cedric both grasped a handle.
Instantly, Harry felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel. His feet had left the ground.
He could not unclench the hand holding the Triwizard Cup; it was pulling him onward in a howl of wind and swirling color, Cedric at his side" (J.K. Rowling 635).
"They had left the Hogwarts grounds completely; they had obviously traveled miles -perhaps hundreds of miles - for even the mountains surrounding the castle were gone.
They were standing instead in a dark and overgrown graveyard; the black outline of a small church was visible beyond a large yew tree to their right. A hill rose above them to their left. Harry could just make out the outline of a fine old house on the hillside.
Cedric looked down at the Triwizard Cup and then up at Harry.
'Did anyone tell you the cup was a Portkey?' he asked.
'Nope,' said Harry" (J.K. Rowling 636).
Portkeys are a technology invented by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series. They are transportation devices created from commonplace household objects by means of magic. Once an object has been turned into a portkey assigned to take a group of people to a fixed destination, all one has to do is hold onto it, and they are whisked away. The most prevalent portkey in the seven book series is the Triwizard Cup in the Goblet of Fire. During the last moments of the tournament, Harry and Cedric grab the cup, only to realize that it has been tampered with and turned into a portkey. It brings them directly to a graveyard where they are met by Voldemort. Cedric is then MURDERED by the unforgivable curse, avada kedavra.
We believe that although the technology may not seem practical right now, there is no predicting what the future in hundreds of years may bring. It could be that technology reaches the advanced level required to create a teleportation device. Unfortunately, we do not believe that the portkey is likely to be created in the near future. The ability to split the particles within a human, transport them, and recombine them in the exact same way at another location is, at this point in time, impossible. If it is created, it would have many practical applications by eliminating the need for transportation devices used in our modern world, such as the car or plane. Users would be able to carry specific objects that would transport them to a desired place, creating a much simpler and faster way of reaching a destination. It could also cut down on transportation costs making it more feasible for the less wealthy to travel.
While teleportation could be utilized to create efficiency and even protection, as people could get to emergencies quicker, there are ethical drawbacks if teleportation is not regulated. As of present day, under law, people’s privacy and property are protected. Teleporting could change that. Although people currently are able to secure their homes with lock mechanisms and security systems, but that would not prevent teleporters from entering. Teleportation would become more ethical if there was a way to prevent people from occupying private spaces. However, preventing people from teleporting to certain places could also raise issues trom those who believe they are being too restricted Inherently, the introduction of portkeys would spark debate and want for regulation. It may make sense for certain groups to have access to portkeys, like public safety, power could be misused at some point, so people may feel like this technology could further corrupt society. Another issue about access could arise depending on the price of the portkey. If portkeys were to be very expensive, possibly due to the costs of advanced technology, the rich may be the only ones who are able to obtain them, thus giving them more power and an ability that, as previously discussed, could be corrupting. The innovative ways to use a portkey, for good and evil, is unlimited. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a great example of the different natures of people who may use them. In the beginning, Harry, along with the Weasleys, is able to travel to a Quidditch game efficiently by use of a portkey. On the other hand, Voldemort is able to turn the triwizard cup into a portkey, thus causing Harry and Cedric to arrive at the graveyard, allowing for Cedric to be killed.
Unfortunately, we do not believe that the portkey is likely to be created in the near future. It does not seem like a feasible technology right now, but often there are breakthroughs that allow concepts to be created that are extraordinary.
Works Cited
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic Books, 2000. Print.
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