Harry, Ron and Hermione are trying to figure out why the goblins are following Ludo Bagman around. Bagman told Harry that they were looking for Mr. Crouch, and they all wonder why. Harry thinks maybe they need an interpretor. Ron chimes in to make fun of Hermione worrying about the "poor, ickle goblins" and suggests Hermione start SPUG, Society for the Protection of Ugly Goblins.
But Hermione says, "Goblins don't need protection. Haven't you been listening to what Professor Binns has been telling us about goblin rebellions?"
"No," said Harry and Ron together.
No surprise there. Harry often isn't paying attention when he should be. All we learn from Hermione is that goblins are "quite capable of dealing with wizards. . . . They're very clever. They're not like house-elves who never stick up for themselves."
The WOMBAT that was recently posted on jkrowling.com contained references to three separate goblins, however much the names might sound like each other so that we get them confused.
I can't predict what will happen, other than I very much think Gringotts, specifically the tunnels where the vaults are, will figure into the plot of the Deathly Hallows. I think that the goblins and the missing history of their rebellions, will figure into it somehow. Lucky for Harry that Hermione pays attention in History of Magic.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Conjunctivitis Curse
In GoF, Harry is warned about the dragons in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament by Hagrid. He's talking to Sirius in the fire a few days before the task and Sirius says there's a simple spell a single wizard can use to deal with a dragon. Then he is interrupted before he can tell Harry what it is.
Later, after the task, he writes Harry a letter and just happens to mention that the spell he'd been about to tell Harry is the Conjunctivitis Curse. A dragon's weakest point is its eyes, he says. But Harry's way, Summoning his Firebolt and using it to fly around and confuse the dragon, was better, much more spectacular from the point of view of a movie producer if not also the reader of a book.
So that's that, right? No need to remember that old Conjunctivitis Curse, eh? I wonder what it does? Conjunctivitis is also known, here in the States anyway, as Pink Eye. It's an infection in your eyes or, more accurately, I believe, in your tear ducts. I remember having it as a kid, I was horribly sick and my eyes were actually so stuck together, stuck closed, one morning when I woke up, that my mother had to spend a couple of minutes with a washcloth to get it open. So, if I were writing it, the Conjunctivitis Curse would make a dragon have red, irritated and weepy eyes. But I'm not J.K. Rowling. Maybe the term has a different connotation in the UK and maybe in her world, it makes the eyes go sort of out of focus, blurry, pupil-less.
Sound familiar? Others have said they believe the dragon on the Deluxe Edition cover is an Antipodean Opaleye, due to the fact that the picture doesn't show pupils in its eyes (and conveniently, it's supposedly the only dragon who won't eat humans, though I still believe the Welsh Green falls into that category as well). I have been against this idea because the Opaleye also has irridescent scales and I don't think the picture shows that.
This would be another explanation for the strange-looking eyes. And it would make Harry's ability to conquer and ride this dragon even more spectacular, if it's not the tame, sheep-eating Opaleye but a Norwegian Ridgeback or a Hungarian Horntail that he ends up riding. I've wondered what an Opaleye, native to New Zealand, would be doing somewhere a bit closer to th UK, or how the trio would end up all the way Down Under, it just doesn't make that much sense. I think the Opaleye exists because Jo decided that part of the world deserved its own dragon species and here was this great name practically sitting there for the picking, opals being also a commonly found thing in that part of the world.
So, here I am, going on record that not only is this dragon not an Opaleye but that Harry or Hermione use the Conjunctivitis Curse to subdue it and ride it, probably to escape some sort of danger. I mean, think about it, ride a dragon who can't see normally? You'd probably only do that in a real crisis, when the other choice is staying around facing certain death.
Think about how dragons have been portrayed so far in the books. Harry's practically beside himself, anticipating the first task, once he knows what it involves. Ron's opinion is changed as he witnesses how dangerous this is, no one could choose that of their own free will. The movie makes the dragon seem even more fearsome. Harry has ridden other creatures, true, but they've been virtually tame besides a dragon. A Hippogriff will actually bow to you if it likes you. And Dumbledore has ridden Thestrals before, so that's a cake-walk. Riding a dragon has to be suitably dangerous to really knock our socks off in this last, and best, book of the series. Wouldn't riding a dragon known not to eat humans be a little of a let-down?
Later, after the task, he writes Harry a letter and just happens to mention that the spell he'd been about to tell Harry is the Conjunctivitis Curse. A dragon's weakest point is its eyes, he says. But Harry's way, Summoning his Firebolt and using it to fly around and confuse the dragon, was better, much more spectacular from the point of view of a movie producer if not also the reader of a book.
So that's that, right? No need to remember that old Conjunctivitis Curse, eh? I wonder what it does? Conjunctivitis is also known, here in the States anyway, as Pink Eye. It's an infection in your eyes or, more accurately, I believe, in your tear ducts. I remember having it as a kid, I was horribly sick and my eyes were actually so stuck together, stuck closed, one morning when I woke up, that my mother had to spend a couple of minutes with a washcloth to get it open. So, if I were writing it, the Conjunctivitis Curse would make a dragon have red, irritated and weepy eyes. But I'm not J.K. Rowling. Maybe the term has a different connotation in the UK and maybe in her world, it makes the eyes go sort of out of focus, blurry, pupil-less.
Sound familiar? Others have said they believe the dragon on the Deluxe Edition cover is an Antipodean Opaleye, due to the fact that the picture doesn't show pupils in its eyes (and conveniently, it's supposedly the only dragon who won't eat humans, though I still believe the Welsh Green falls into that category as well). I have been against this idea because the Opaleye also has irridescent scales and I don't think the picture shows that.
This would be another explanation for the strange-looking eyes. And it would make Harry's ability to conquer and ride this dragon even more spectacular, if it's not the tame, sheep-eating Opaleye but a Norwegian Ridgeback or a Hungarian Horntail that he ends up riding. I've wondered what an Opaleye, native to New Zealand, would be doing somewhere a bit closer to th UK, or how the trio would end up all the way Down Under, it just doesn't make that much sense. I think the Opaleye exists because Jo decided that part of the world deserved its own dragon species and here was this great name practically sitting there for the picking, opals being also a commonly found thing in that part of the world.
So, here I am, going on record that not only is this dragon not an Opaleye but that Harry or Hermione use the Conjunctivitis Curse to subdue it and ride it, probably to escape some sort of danger. I mean, think about it, ride a dragon who can't see normally? You'd probably only do that in a real crisis, when the other choice is staying around facing certain death.
Think about how dragons have been portrayed so far in the books. Harry's practically beside himself, anticipating the first task, once he knows what it involves. Ron's opinion is changed as he witnesses how dangerous this is, no one could choose that of their own free will. The movie makes the dragon seem even more fearsome. Harry has ridden other creatures, true, but they've been virtually tame besides a dragon. A Hippogriff will actually bow to you if it likes you. And Dumbledore has ridden Thestrals before, so that's a cake-walk. Riding a dragon has to be suitably dangerous to really knock our socks off in this last, and best, book of the series. Wouldn't riding a dragon known not to eat humans be a little of a let-down?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Oh, to be skilled at Occlumency
There are moments in the books where I'd dearly love to be able to read the minds of various characters. Here are two examples:
The moment when Snape enters Lupin's office early on in Prisoner of Azkaban and finds Harry sitting there chatting with Lupin. What is Snape thinking when he sees them together?
Another moment is one I've just re-read in Goblet of Fire. The first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with the character who appears for almost all of the book to be Alastor Moody but who is, in reality, Barty Crouch, Jr.
Now, if I have my backstory right, Barty was part of the foursome who were convicted of torturing the Longbottoms into insanity. He may have even seen Neville at the Longbottom house when this occurred, we don't know for sure. I've always wondered if the Death Eaters put some sort of memory charm on the young Neville so he wouldn't remember what happened that day.
So, in the classroom, we see Barty Crouch Jr. come face to face with Neville. The fake Moody stares hard at Neville and it's clear he knows who he is and who his parents are.
After class, he almost apologizes to both Harry and Neville for bringing up painful memories, explaining that "you've got to know" what's out there, what they're up against. He makes sure Harry's not too upset, and he takes Neville back to his office with him for a cup of tea and some conversation.
Later, Neville arrives back in the Common Room with the book that would, had Harry consulted it, have contained the answer to how to breathe underwater. Neville is in a much-improved mood and Harry reflects that this is something Lupin would have done (reaching out to a student and helping them gain confidence).
So, was getting the solution to the second task into Harry's hands the only motivation for this concern for Neville's well-being? Wouldn't there have been another way to tip Harry off to the actions of Gillyweed? What is Barty feeling, coming face-to-face with someone who's been so negatively affected by the crime he had a hand in committing?
Further on in the book, I find myself questioning his motivation again. Why does he go to such great lengths to teach Harry how to fight off the Imperius curse? Doesn't this give Harry a greater chance of getting away from Voldemort? Why would this be something a Death Eater would want to do? It doesn't seem to be something that will help Harry in any of the Triwizard Tasks.
I'm not sure we'll even see a mention of Barty Crouch, Jr., in the Deathly Hallows, but I really would like an answer to these questions.
The moment when Snape enters Lupin's office early on in Prisoner of Azkaban and finds Harry sitting there chatting with Lupin. What is Snape thinking when he sees them together?
Another moment is one I've just re-read in Goblet of Fire. The first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with the character who appears for almost all of the book to be Alastor Moody but who is, in reality, Barty Crouch, Jr.
Now, if I have my backstory right, Barty was part of the foursome who were convicted of torturing the Longbottoms into insanity. He may have even seen Neville at the Longbottom house when this occurred, we don't know for sure. I've always wondered if the Death Eaters put some sort of memory charm on the young Neville so he wouldn't remember what happened that day.
So, in the classroom, we see Barty Crouch Jr. come face to face with Neville. The fake Moody stares hard at Neville and it's clear he knows who he is and who his parents are.
After class, he almost apologizes to both Harry and Neville for bringing up painful memories, explaining that "you've got to know" what's out there, what they're up against. He makes sure Harry's not too upset, and he takes Neville back to his office with him for a cup of tea and some conversation.
Later, Neville arrives back in the Common Room with the book that would, had Harry consulted it, have contained the answer to how to breathe underwater. Neville is in a much-improved mood and Harry reflects that this is something Lupin would have done (reaching out to a student and helping them gain confidence).
So, was getting the solution to the second task into Harry's hands the only motivation for this concern for Neville's well-being? Wouldn't there have been another way to tip Harry off to the actions of Gillyweed? What is Barty feeling, coming face-to-face with someone who's been so negatively affected by the crime he had a hand in committing?
Further on in the book, I find myself questioning his motivation again. Why does he go to such great lengths to teach Harry how to fight off the Imperius curse? Doesn't this give Harry a greater chance of getting away from Voldemort? Why would this be something a Death Eater would want to do? It doesn't seem to be something that will help Harry in any of the Triwizard Tasks.
I'm not sure we'll even see a mention of Barty Crouch, Jr., in the Deathly Hallows, but I really would like an answer to these questions.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Flying
The Deluxe Scholastic Edition cover art of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows shows the trio riding a dragon!
We've seen a lot of flying in the various Harry Potter books, as they pointed on on the most recent episode of Pottercast. Here is the list I came up with:
So what am I getting at? I'm wondering if there's some symbolism to flying in the Harry Potter books. In many of the books, Harry's figurative death (which happens in each book) occurs underground, or he goes underground right before it. So is flying a symbol of resurrection or something similar?
That's all I can come up with. I'd love to hear comments about this, I'm sure I've missed something.
We've seen a lot of flying in the various Harry Potter books, as they pointed on on the most recent episode of Pottercast. Here is the list I came up with:
- Harry flies on a broomstick in Book One. Many of the other students do so, too, though Harry does it somewhat better than the rest. Harry gets a Nimbus Two Thousand, a very fast racing broom.
- Ron, Fred and George rescue Harry from the Dursleys in a flying Ford Anglia in Book Two. Harry and Ron arrive at Hogwarts in the same flying car. Snape thinks it's there way of showing off. In the same book, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Professor Lockhart all fly out of the Chamber of Secrets by hanging onto the tail of Fawkes the Phoenix.
- Harry, Hermione and Sirius fly on Buckbeak the Hippogriff in Book Three. Harry's Nimbus is destroyed and replaced by a Firebolt, an international standard broom that seems much faster and better even than the Nimbus.
- Book Four shows us that Harry on his Firebolt is able to confuse a dragon. I guess, in the book, the dragon doesn't fly around like it does in the movie. Viktor Krum, who is a famous and talented Seeker, admires Harry's flying ability. Another wizarding method of flying is mentioned, but we learn that, in Britian at least, flying carpets are banned at present. They didn't used to be, though, and were useful for family transportation, apparently.
- Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna all fly on Thestrals in Book Five. Only Harry, Neville and Luna can see them, making the trip even more unnerving for the rest. We learn that Dumbledore sometimes uses this method of transportation.
- I can't think of anything new Harry flies on in Book Six.
So what am I getting at? I'm wondering if there's some symbolism to flying in the Harry Potter books. In many of the books, Harry's figurative death (which happens in each book) occurs underground, or he goes underground right before it. So is flying a symbol of resurrection or something similar?
- In Book One, the flying precedes the figurative death, coming much earlier in the book. However, it does seem to highlight Harry's feelings of belonging in the Wizarding World and freedom from the oppression he felt with the Dursleys.
- In Book Two, again, the flying car rescues him from virtual imprisonment at the Dursleys, and it enables them to get to Hogwarts when the barrier has mysteriously shut itself against them. At the end of the book, Fawkes could certainly be seen as a resurrection symbol.
- In Book Three, Buckbeak saves the life of the innocent Sirius. This occurs after Harry and Sirius, as well as Hermione, almost lose their souls to the soul-sucking Dementors.
- In Book Four, Harry uses his broom to keep from being killed by the dragon, and in addition he scores fairly well in the first task and manages to convince Ron he never planned to enter the tournament himself, thus healing the rift in their friendship.
- In Book Five, the Thestrals can only be seen by those who have seen someone die. Regardless, they are able to bring all six students to the Ministry, where they again go underground and Harry almost dies. I'm not sure I see much symbolism here.
That's all I can come up with. I'd love to hear comments about this, I'm sure I've missed something.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Narrative Misdirection
Harry, Ron and Hermione are in the woods after the Quidditch World Cup. They see Winky the House-elf walking in a strange manner, as if someone invisible where trying to hold her back. Did you see that? But Harry is ready for a more plausible explanation, comparing her behavior to that of Dobby when he's punishing himself for disobeying his master. That seems to satisfy everyone, including the reader, and we go on our merry way.
Why am I bringing this up? I occurred to me that Harry has a ready-made explanation for why Snape hates him so much. Because of his father. It makes sense, but is it correct?
Things to think about:
We've never been given a satisfactory explanation for why Snape hates Neville so much.
And there are some good reasons for Snape to hate Harry that we haven't considered, though they may be equally incorrect. Snape hates Harry because Harry is responsible for the Dark Lord's downfall. Snape hates Harry and Neville because their parents fought against the Dark Lord; maybe the parents, who both thrice defied Lord Voldemort, were responsible for the death or imprisonment of someone Snape was close to. These are good explanations for why Evil!Snape would hate Harry.
Why would Good!Snape hate Harry and Neville? If he's on the same side, working for the same goal, why would he make such a point to be mean to Harry and Neville? All I can come up with is that it's probably right in front of our face (like the invisible person in the woods with Winky) yet we fail to see it because we like Harry's explanation better.
Why am I bringing this up? I occurred to me that Harry has a ready-made explanation for why Snape hates him so much. Because of his father. It makes sense, but is it correct?
Things to think about:
We've never been given a satisfactory explanation for why Snape hates Neville so much.
And there are some good reasons for Snape to hate Harry that we haven't considered, though they may be equally incorrect. Snape hates Harry because Harry is responsible for the Dark Lord's downfall. Snape hates Harry and Neville because their parents fought against the Dark Lord; maybe the parents, who both thrice defied Lord Voldemort, were responsible for the death or imprisonment of someone Snape was close to. These are good explanations for why Evil!Snape would hate Harry.
Why would Good!Snape hate Harry and Neville? If he's on the same side, working for the same goal, why would he make such a point to be mean to Harry and Neville? All I can come up with is that it's probably right in front of our face (like the invisible person in the woods with Winky) yet we fail to see it because we like Harry's explanation better.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Speaking of sleeping . . .
. . . as I was in my previous post, I have to write down the crazy dream I had the other night.
I only remember from the middle of the dream. Something had led up to where I found myself in the part I remember, but I don't know what it was.
In my dream, I was in a store, a big store with shopping carts like Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. Instead of products loose in my cart, I had a rather large cardboard shipping box. The flaps were open (I mean, not taped shut) but folded back closed so you couldn't see what was in it. The box was probably big enough to hold 10 copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, or, well, about the size box that 10 reams of copy paper come in. Maybe a bit smaller. As far as I can remember, it was the only thing in my cart.
So I pushed the cart over out of the way of the traffic and lifted one of the flaps to see what was in the box. There were other items in it, but right on top was a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It had the cover and the title and it looked just like the little animation on the Leaky Cauldron, the one that spins around, except it was full-sized and not spinning, just sitting in the box.
Now, in my dream I know I was a bit surprised to find the book there but I seemed to know I hadn't stolen it. However I'd gotten the box and its contents, it was legal for me to have them, I'd paid for them or whatever, I hadn't stolen them from the back office of my local Borders or whatever. But I also knew it wasn't yet July 21 and I wasn't supposed to have a copy this soon.
And I made up my mind, I just had to close the flaps and nonchalantly go to my car, not running or drawing attention to myself, but just calmly and like I wasn't doing anything wrong. Like I said before, I wasn't stealing. I have no idea how the box came in my possession but I hadn't stolen it, I know that much. Maybe the store had a parcel pickup window like a post office and I'd picked it up, and somehow my pre-order came early. Maybe my brother came across a copy and mailed it to me. Maybe Jo realizes how hard it is for me to wait and sent me an advance copy. Who knows.
So my plan was to go to the car, drive home and lock myself in my room and read the book, then try to keep quiet about the plot till July 21. Not to tell anyone, not to spoil it for anyone or try to make a bet on the outcome, just to enjoy it because, well, because I had it, because I could. (The hardest part about that would be keeping it from my children, esp. my youngest. He's the one who sneaks into my room to borrow my magic wand and play with it. And it's a rather large book to hide. But he can't keep a secret to save his life so I wouldn't be able to keep the book if I told him. 45 min. later the news media and the police would be at my door, wanting the book back.)
But then I woke up. My light-sleeper of a son, who's light it seemed I'd just turned out a few minutes before, woke up, went to the bathroom and then wanted me to tuck him in again.
And the moment was ruined. The book was gone. It looks like I'm going to have to wait till July 21 like everyone else.
:::::sigh:::::
I only remember from the middle of the dream. Something had led up to where I found myself in the part I remember, but I don't know what it was.
In my dream, I was in a store, a big store with shopping carts like Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. Instead of products loose in my cart, I had a rather large cardboard shipping box. The flaps were open (I mean, not taped shut) but folded back closed so you couldn't see what was in it. The box was probably big enough to hold 10 copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, or, well, about the size box that 10 reams of copy paper come in. Maybe a bit smaller. As far as I can remember, it was the only thing in my cart.
So I pushed the cart over out of the way of the traffic and lifted one of the flaps to see what was in the box. There were other items in it, but right on top was a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It had the cover and the title and it looked just like the little animation on the Leaky Cauldron, the one that spins around, except it was full-sized and not spinning, just sitting in the box.
Now, in my dream I know I was a bit surprised to find the book there but I seemed to know I hadn't stolen it. However I'd gotten the box and its contents, it was legal for me to have them, I'd paid for them or whatever, I hadn't stolen them from the back office of my local Borders or whatever. But I also knew it wasn't yet July 21 and I wasn't supposed to have a copy this soon.
And I made up my mind, I just had to close the flaps and nonchalantly go to my car, not running or drawing attention to myself, but just calmly and like I wasn't doing anything wrong. Like I said before, I wasn't stealing. I have no idea how the box came in my possession but I hadn't stolen it, I know that much. Maybe the store had a parcel pickup window like a post office and I'd picked it up, and somehow my pre-order came early. Maybe my brother came across a copy and mailed it to me. Maybe Jo realizes how hard it is for me to wait and sent me an advance copy. Who knows.
So my plan was to go to the car, drive home and lock myself in my room and read the book, then try to keep quiet about the plot till July 21. Not to tell anyone, not to spoil it for anyone or try to make a bet on the outcome, just to enjoy it because, well, because I had it, because I could. (The hardest part about that would be keeping it from my children, esp. my youngest. He's the one who sneaks into my room to borrow my magic wand and play with it. And it's a rather large book to hide. But he can't keep a secret to save his life so I wouldn't be able to keep the book if I told him. 45 min. later the news media and the police would be at my door, wanting the book back.)
But then I woke up. My light-sleeper of a son, who's light it seemed I'd just turned out a few minutes before, woke up, went to the bathroom and then wanted me to tuck him in again.
And the moment was ruined. The book was gone. It looks like I'm going to have to wait till July 21 like everyone else.
:::::sigh:::::
Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon
Why not?
Maybe if you tickle them, they let you ride them?
Just a thought. It just occurred to me to connect that Hogwarts motto with the cover art for the Scholastic Deluxe Hardcover edition, and that's what I came up with.
It's late at night. I'll probably think I was very silly when I wake up in the morning.
Maybe if you tickle them, they let you ride them?
Just a thought. It just occurred to me to connect that Hogwarts motto with the cover art for the Scholastic Deluxe Hardcover edition, and that's what I came up with.
It's late at night. I'll probably think I was very silly when I wake up in the morning.
Can Fred and George predict the future, or can they time travel?
I'm re-reading GoF and I've just got to the part where Fred and George make a wager with Ludo Bagman.
So, they bet something that sounds so unlikely that they must have known ahead of time how the match would end. How?
I see two alternatives. Time travel and Divination.
We never learn what extra subjects Fred and George took, so we don't know if they took Divination or if they were any good at it. What we do know is that our author seems to, for the most part, discount Divination as in imprecise branch of magic (because Dumbledore and McGonagall think this, among others).
So that leaves u with Time Travel. We know it's happened before. How would they do it? The Fred and George who went to the match then go back in time and tell their other selves, the ones who haven't seen the match yet, who won? Or do Fred and George somehow go forward in time? We don't see anyone going forward in time in PoA, so we don't know if Wizards can do so or not.
If Fred and George have mastered this, without a time turner, this might be useful for Harry in the last book.
So, they bet something that sounds so unlikely that they must have known ahead of time how the match would end. How?
I see two alternatives. Time travel and Divination.
We never learn what extra subjects Fred and George took, so we don't know if they took Divination or if they were any good at it. What we do know is that our author seems to, for the most part, discount Divination as in imprecise branch of magic (because Dumbledore and McGonagall think this, among others).
So that leaves u with Time Travel. We know it's happened before. How would they do it? The Fred and George who went to the match then go back in time and tell their other selves, the ones who haven't seen the match yet, who won? Or do Fred and George somehow go forward in time? We don't see anyone going forward in time in PoA, so we don't know if Wizards can do so or not.
If Fred and George have mastered this, without a time turner, this might be useful for Harry in the last book.
Friday, June 08, 2007
They're Riding on a Dragon!
Click the title to go to the story at the Leaky Cauldron where you can see the artwork, if you haven't already. I've been waiting for the Deluxe Edition Cover Art since early May, and it's finally here.
And I'm speechless. I don't know what to say about it, or write about it.
It's great! A really cool picture, makes a great desktop background!
And I never expected this. I sat looking at it and wondering -- "is it a Thestral? But it doesn't look like a Thestral. It's too big to be a Thestral, and it has horns. But They're riding it. Remember how fierce they were in GoF, remember how scared they were at the thought of confronting one. But they're riding it in this picture, how can that be?
Did Charlie tame one for Harry to use in the final battle? Is it Norbert and it remembers Harry from 6 years ago? Norbert wasn't very tame, though, remember -- Hagrid saying he was at a "difficult stage", and how it sounded like he ripped apart the stuffed animal Hagrid put in the crate to keep him company on the flight to Romania.
I just can't really come up with any scenario that gets the trio on the back of a dragon. I guess that's why I'm not the author of these books.
I can't wait to find out what this is all about.
And I'm speechless. I don't know what to say about it, or write about it.
It's great! A really cool picture, makes a great desktop background!
And I never expected this. I sat looking at it and wondering -- "is it a Thestral? But it doesn't look like a Thestral. It's too big to be a Thestral, and it has horns. But They're riding it. Remember how fierce they were in GoF, remember how scared they were at the thought of confronting one. But they're riding it in this picture, how can that be?
Did Charlie tame one for Harry to use in the final battle? Is it Norbert and it remembers Harry from 6 years ago? Norbert wasn't very tame, though, remember -- Hagrid saying he was at a "difficult stage", and how it sounded like he ripped apart the stuffed animal Hagrid put in the crate to keep him company on the flight to Romania.
I just can't really come up with any scenario that gets the trio on the back of a dragon. I guess that's why I'm not the author of these books.
I can't wait to find out what this is all about.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Further thoughts on my theory below
The idea of Aunt Petunia at Number 12 Grimmauld Place is so tantalizing, I've been thinking of it a bit more.
I've been convinced for a while that a Bundimun (see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I think it's on page 5) lives at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. When Harry arrives he hears something scuttering behind the skirting board, and I don't think it was Mr Samuel Whiskers and his wife Anna Maria. There was also a musty odor, I believe, which fits the setting but is also a sign of a Bundimun lurking nearby.
So the question is, did Mrs. Weasley, Sirius or any of the Order Members recognize the signs and try to get rid of this pest? We hear nothing about that, so we don't know. FB makes it sound like a building can actually be destroyed if a Bundimun is allowed to continue to inhabit it. Or maybe it's just that the Ministry needs to be contacted to bring in the big guns.
How would Petunia and her rubber gloves react when confronted by a Bundimun? Or where will they go if the house actually collapses because of it? I've got all kinds of ideas in my head and they can't all happen because some of them are mutually exclusive.
I'm thinking of my back-door neighbor in college who came over to borrow something and discovered that I and my roommates were in pursuit of a mouse that we'd heard in our kitchen cabinets. This young lady actually stood on a chair and screamed. I thought that only happened in cartoons! I wonder if that would be similar to Petunia's reaction. Or would she faint? Fainting's dangerous, then they can crawl over your body while you're out -- but she might not stop to think of that.
I've been convinced for a while that a Bundimun (see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I think it's on page 5) lives at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. When Harry arrives he hears something scuttering behind the skirting board, and I don't think it was Mr Samuel Whiskers and his wife Anna Maria. There was also a musty odor, I believe, which fits the setting but is also a sign of a Bundimun lurking nearby.
So the question is, did Mrs. Weasley, Sirius or any of the Order Members recognize the signs and try to get rid of this pest? We hear nothing about that, so we don't know. FB makes it sound like a building can actually be destroyed if a Bundimun is allowed to continue to inhabit it. Or maybe it's just that the Ministry needs to be contacted to bring in the big guns.
How would Petunia and her rubber gloves react when confronted by a Bundimun? Or where will they go if the house actually collapses because of it? I've got all kinds of ideas in my head and they can't all happen because some of them are mutually exclusive.
I'm thinking of my back-door neighbor in college who came over to borrow something and discovered that I and my roommates were in pursuit of a mouse that we'd heard in our kitchen cabinets. This young lady actually stood on a chair and screamed. I thought that only happened in cartoons! I wonder if that would be similar to Petunia's reaction. Or would she faint? Fainting's dangerous, then they can crawl over your body while you're out -- but she might not stop to think of that.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
My theory about how Deathly Hallows will begin
A couple of things have been whirling around in my mind, and today they settled down and formed themselves into this theory. I think it makes a lot of sense, I wonder what anyone else thinks?
First, Dumbledore did not discuss Harry's inheritance from Sirius in front of the Dursleys by accident. He had a reason, even if we were to distracted by floating drink glasses to notice. Dumbledore had so many opportunities to speak to Harry that year, including in the Weasley's broom shed, that I just think it wasn't by chance that Vernon Dursley has now heard that Sirius is dead, Harry is his heir, the address of his ancestral home, the name of the Wizarding bank and that Harry has an account there with gold in it, and that a group calling itself the Order of the Phoenix has, and plans to again, use the aforementioned home as their headquarters. Remember, Dumbledore is the Secret-Keeper for the Order of the Phoenix. No one can find the place if they aren't told about it by Dumbledore, right? But now all three Dursleys have been told.
Second, fast forward to the end of HBP. Consider the fact that, according to formula, in every other book, we see Harry take the train all the way back to Platform 9-3/4, Harry goes through the barrier back into the Muggle part of King's Cross station and sees the Dursleys. He's always going off with them back to Number 4 Privet Drive when we last see him, right? But not so at the end of HBP. Why not?
What if Vernon has spent the year since we've last seen him trying to find out as much as he can about Harry's inheritance? What if he makes an attempt to get money from Harry, as payback for having raised him? As Harry's guardian, he'd be legally entitled to take charge of Harry's assets, even if it wouldn't be ethical. So that's one thought that I had.
Whether Vernon makes Harry take him to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, whether Vernon has already visited it during Harry's sixth year at school (and whether he'd be able to see it, given the anti-Muggle charms the Blacks may have put on it), or whether the Death Eaters just decide to attack the Dursley's house once Harry comes of age, I think it's very likely that the entire Dursley family will be in for an extended stay at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, for their own safety. Maybe their house gets blown up. Maybe one of the Death Eaters tries to kill Dudley.
Oh, to see Aunt Petunia in her rubber gloves attempting to scrub and scour the place from top to bottom! The aptness of this fate makes me laugh out loud every time I think of it!
First, Dumbledore did not discuss Harry's inheritance from Sirius in front of the Dursleys by accident. He had a reason, even if we were to distracted by floating drink glasses to notice. Dumbledore had so many opportunities to speak to Harry that year, including in the Weasley's broom shed, that I just think it wasn't by chance that Vernon Dursley has now heard that Sirius is dead, Harry is his heir, the address of his ancestral home, the name of the Wizarding bank and that Harry has an account there with gold in it, and that a group calling itself the Order of the Phoenix has, and plans to again, use the aforementioned home as their headquarters. Remember, Dumbledore is the Secret-Keeper for the Order of the Phoenix. No one can find the place if they aren't told about it by Dumbledore, right? But now all three Dursleys have been told.
Second, fast forward to the end of HBP. Consider the fact that, according to formula, in every other book, we see Harry take the train all the way back to Platform 9-3/4, Harry goes through the barrier back into the Muggle part of King's Cross station and sees the Dursleys. He's always going off with them back to Number 4 Privet Drive when we last see him, right? But not so at the end of HBP. Why not?
What if Vernon has spent the year since we've last seen him trying to find out as much as he can about Harry's inheritance? What if he makes an attempt to get money from Harry, as payback for having raised him? As Harry's guardian, he'd be legally entitled to take charge of Harry's assets, even if it wouldn't be ethical. So that's one thought that I had.
Whether Vernon makes Harry take him to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, whether Vernon has already visited it during Harry's sixth year at school (and whether he'd be able to see it, given the anti-Muggle charms the Blacks may have put on it), or whether the Death Eaters just decide to attack the Dursley's house once Harry comes of age, I think it's very likely that the entire Dursley family will be in for an extended stay at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, for their own safety. Maybe their house gets blown up. Maybe one of the Death Eaters tries to kill Dudley.
Oh, to see Aunt Petunia in her rubber gloves attempting to scrub and scour the place from top to bottom! The aptness of this fate makes me laugh out loud every time I think of it!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
What would ruin it for me
I've been thinking about various ways the last Harry Potter book could end and wondering if I could be severely disappointed. I've come up with a short list of things that, if they happened, I'd be so severely disappointed I'd feel it was a waste of time to obsess over these books for as long as I have.
First, if Dumbledore turns out to have been lying to Harry or manipulating things, using Harry as a way to save the wizarding world without regard to Harry's feelings. I don't think that'll happen but I've heard theories that amounted to as much. If it turns out Harry's faith in Dumbledore is misplaced, I'll be extremely disappointed.
Second, I really think I'll be pretty disappointed if Harry dies. Ditto for Ron, Hermione and even Ginny. It would have to be for a very, very convincingly good reason for me not to be disappointed.
Third, I'm kind of expecting a big surprise, along the lines of what we learned about Sirius Black and Scabbers in PoA and how Moody turned out not to be Moody in GoF. I've been expecting that ever since, when I read both OoP and HBP, and I was rather disappointed. True, I was spoiled for HBP, I never got to read the lightning-struck tower chapter without knowing what was coming, so maybe I'd have felt differently if I'd been surprised by that. So, if there's no big surprise, I'll be disappointed.
Fourth, if, after it's all over, there's a sense that it was all senseless (I felt this after OoP -- If Harry had just used the mirror to contact Sirius, if he'd not been fooled, it needn't have happened. I hope there isn't a death in DH that feels like that, I hope it feels like there was a purpose, like if the person hadn't died, Voldie would have triumphed.
I hope after I read the last book, I immediately want to go back and read them all over again. That's what I hope.
First, if Dumbledore turns out to have been lying to Harry or manipulating things, using Harry as a way to save the wizarding world without regard to Harry's feelings. I don't think that'll happen but I've heard theories that amounted to as much. If it turns out Harry's faith in Dumbledore is misplaced, I'll be extremely disappointed.
Second, I really think I'll be pretty disappointed if Harry dies. Ditto for Ron, Hermione and even Ginny. It would have to be for a very, very convincingly good reason for me not to be disappointed.
Third, I'm kind of expecting a big surprise, along the lines of what we learned about Sirius Black and Scabbers in PoA and how Moody turned out not to be Moody in GoF. I've been expecting that ever since, when I read both OoP and HBP, and I was rather disappointed. True, I was spoiled for HBP, I never got to read the lightning-struck tower chapter without knowing what was coming, so maybe I'd have felt differently if I'd been surprised by that. So, if there's no big surprise, I'll be disappointed.
Fourth, if, after it's all over, there's a sense that it was all senseless (I felt this after OoP -- If Harry had just used the mirror to contact Sirius, if he'd not been fooled, it needn't have happened. I hope there isn't a death in DH that feels like that, I hope it feels like there was a purpose, like if the person hadn't died, Voldie would have triumphed.
I hope after I read the last book, I immediately want to go back and read them all over again. That's what I hope.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Really off-the-wall Horcrux theories
I'm going to post these here because they came to me yesterday morning and I wanted to write them down. I can come back and laugh at them when the Deathly Hallows is published and I find out I'm wrong.
First theory: When Dumbledore de-horcruxed the ring, the part of Voldemort's soul transferred itself to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was aware of this and knew he was not long for this world. He arranged for Snape to kill him and thus destroy that part of Voldie's soul and that explains the events in HBP. An alternate theory to this is that the part of the soul that had been in the locket was transferred to the green potion and that when Dumbledore drank the potion he took that part of the soul inside himself, making it necessary for Snape to kill him. The drawback to that is how did he commmunicate that to Snape, which I don't know. Maybe Dumbledore had already visited the underground lake and knew what the potion was and arranged with Snape what he was suppose to do.
Second theory (less off the wall than the one above): Harry will become convinced that he himself is a Horcrux, and that he has to die and kill Voldemort all in one moment in order to defeat him. He comes up with a plan to accomplish this and is in the act of carrying it out when Hermione figures out that Harry really isn't a Horcrux and steps in somehow and saves Harry, but Voldemort still dies. Obviously the details are really sketchy, but I wouldn't be surprised if some version of this one actually happens.
First theory: When Dumbledore de-horcruxed the ring, the part of Voldemort's soul transferred itself to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was aware of this and knew he was not long for this world. He arranged for Snape to kill him and thus destroy that part of Voldie's soul and that explains the events in HBP. An alternate theory to this is that the part of the soul that had been in the locket was transferred to the green potion and that when Dumbledore drank the potion he took that part of the soul inside himself, making it necessary for Snape to kill him. The drawback to that is how did he commmunicate that to Snape, which I don't know. Maybe Dumbledore had already visited the underground lake and knew what the potion was and arranged with Snape what he was suppose to do.
Second theory (less off the wall than the one above): Harry will become convinced that he himself is a Horcrux, and that he has to die and kill Voldemort all in one moment in order to defeat him. He comes up with a plan to accomplish this and is in the act of carrying it out when Hermione figures out that Harry really isn't a Horcrux and steps in somehow and saves Harry, but Voldemort still dies. Obviously the details are really sketchy, but I wouldn't be surprised if some version of this one actually happens.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
NCIS Season Finale SPOILERS
Okay, you're right, this is supposed to be a Harry Potter blog.
But the writers of my favorite TV show, NCIS, pulled a surprise out of their hats that rivals JKR's sneaky it-was-in-your-face-all-along-why-didn't-you-see-that-coming type of surprise, and I couldn't help making some comparisons.
I was sitting there thinking, "Benoit." Right, her name's Jeanne Benoit, and both of the names are pronounced very Francais, even the nurses say her last name the way the French would say it (Ben wah, not the Americanized Ben oyt that you'd expect). But she's American, her mother (who we met in a previous episode) is American. Why didn't I stop and take it one step further to wonder where this very very French name came from, when right in the same episode there is another person with a French accent, a French nickname.
But no, I got distracted. They're going to pull another "Kate" -- I was sure of it. Then the nurse starts talking about the Angel of Death (also the title of the episode) and there's this little girl who's holding an angel doll, first she's at the airport when the kid gets hit with the cab, then she's at the hospital, standing right behind Tony but Tony doesn't see her. No, they're not going to kill Tony off, are they? But he's going to be so sad if they kill Jeanne off (though I guess it would settle his feelings of ambiguity over whether or not to move in with her). Or is it going to be the Director -- someone was in her house, a left-handed scotch drinker (I'm left-handed, do I pour with my right or my left hand -- there they've got me distracted again!).
There's the picture of the Director's father. Yes, she does have his eyes (though Gibbs said it backwards, that he has her eyes). I'm not good with eyes, is this man someone we've already seen and I don't recognize him? That will be something to watch for when I re-watch it (my DVR's recording away so I can watch it again later!).
Here come the real spoilers. If you haven't seen this episode yet and want to be surprised, don't say I didn't warn you, STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!
So, no one dies (unless you count the heroin mule, Dr. Benoit's patient). Tony pulls off a great save, sliding across the floor to get the gun and shooting the bad guy in the shoulder after Jeanne stabs him with a scalpel. Meanwhile, Abby's in the lab sleeping on the floor (why doesn't she have furniture in there?) and her computer's working to match the scotch drinker's fingerprints, and the Director's Daddy's picture comes up. Upstairs Tim is looking to find who ordered the NCIS staff's lie detector tests. He talks like McGee, even more technical than I can understand about how and where he's tracing this, oversees and back and into some black ops and he lost me even before that, and then Gibbs talks about a stake-out and if you can't find the person you stake out their "girl" and tells McGee to search the Director's name (Gibbs had lost me at that point as well) and before we see Daddy's picture on Abby's computer we see McGee's search has come up with Daddy as well, though I at least am not yet sure what that part really means.
We see the arms dealer the team has been tracking on and off all season, La Grenouille, talking to his henchman and looking at photos of Tony and Jeanne and discussing whether Tony would do anything because he loves Jeanne. The henchman says Tony has a different "skirt" every few weeks and the relationship means nothing.
So then, the big surprise, all of you reading this have probably figured it out by now, and I can just hear my husband (who will watch the recorded version with me at some point) saying, "I knew it, I mean, they're both French!" but I didn't see it coming. Jeanne is apparently La Grenouille's daughter, and we see him meeting Tony in his limo and butchering his Italian last name (despite his ability to say it correctly earlier). Now what's Tony going to do, dating the daughter of an international arms dealer? And is he safe, being that he's in this criminal's limo and (as we established when he entered the morgue to take care of the bad guys) unarmed?
We'll have to wait all summer to find out.
I laughed for about 5 minutes, I was so delighted to be surprised like that. Great job! Great show!
But the writers of my favorite TV show, NCIS, pulled a surprise out of their hats that rivals JKR's sneaky it-was-in-your-face-all-along-why-didn't-you-see-that-coming type of surprise, and I couldn't help making some comparisons.
I was sitting there thinking, "Benoit." Right, her name's Jeanne Benoit, and both of the names are pronounced very Francais, even the nurses say her last name the way the French would say it (Ben wah, not the Americanized Ben oyt that you'd expect). But she's American, her mother (who we met in a previous episode) is American. Why didn't I stop and take it one step further to wonder where this very very French name came from, when right in the same episode there is another person with a French accent, a French nickname.
But no, I got distracted. They're going to pull another "Kate" -- I was sure of it. Then the nurse starts talking about the Angel of Death (also the title of the episode) and there's this little girl who's holding an angel doll, first she's at the airport when the kid gets hit with the cab, then she's at the hospital, standing right behind Tony but Tony doesn't see her. No, they're not going to kill Tony off, are they? But he's going to be so sad if they kill Jeanne off (though I guess it would settle his feelings of ambiguity over whether or not to move in with her). Or is it going to be the Director -- someone was in her house, a left-handed scotch drinker (I'm left-handed, do I pour with my right or my left hand -- there they've got me distracted again!).
There's the picture of the Director's father. Yes, she does have his eyes (though Gibbs said it backwards, that he has her eyes). I'm not good with eyes, is this man someone we've already seen and I don't recognize him? That will be something to watch for when I re-watch it (my DVR's recording away so I can watch it again later!).
Here come the real spoilers. If you haven't seen this episode yet and want to be surprised, don't say I didn't warn you, STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!
So, no one dies (unless you count the heroin mule, Dr. Benoit's patient). Tony pulls off a great save, sliding across the floor to get the gun and shooting the bad guy in the shoulder after Jeanne stabs him with a scalpel. Meanwhile, Abby's in the lab sleeping on the floor (why doesn't she have furniture in there?) and her computer's working to match the scotch drinker's fingerprints, and the Director's Daddy's picture comes up. Upstairs Tim is looking to find who ordered the NCIS staff's lie detector tests. He talks like McGee, even more technical than I can understand about how and where he's tracing this, oversees and back and into some black ops and he lost me even before that, and then Gibbs talks about a stake-out and if you can't find the person you stake out their "girl" and tells McGee to search the Director's name (Gibbs had lost me at that point as well) and before we see Daddy's picture on Abby's computer we see McGee's search has come up with Daddy as well, though I at least am not yet sure what that part really means.
We see the arms dealer the team has been tracking on and off all season, La Grenouille, talking to his henchman and looking at photos of Tony and Jeanne and discussing whether Tony would do anything because he loves Jeanne. The henchman says Tony has a different "skirt" every few weeks and the relationship means nothing.
So then, the big surprise, all of you reading this have probably figured it out by now, and I can just hear my husband (who will watch the recorded version with me at some point) saying, "I knew it, I mean, they're both French!" but I didn't see it coming. Jeanne is apparently La Grenouille's daughter, and we see him meeting Tony in his limo and butchering his Italian last name (despite his ability to say it correctly earlier). Now what's Tony going to do, dating the daughter of an international arms dealer? And is he safe, being that he's in this criminal's limo and (as we established when he entered the morgue to take care of the bad guys) unarmed?
We'll have to wait all summer to find out.
I laughed for about 5 minutes, I was so delighted to be surprised like that. Great job! Great show!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
"Dumbledore thinks . . ." -- or does he?
"I've got to be quick," Harry panted. "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak."
Whereupon he proceeds to give Hermione and Ron the Map, the bottle of Felix Felicis, and instructions to watch what Malfoy and Snape are up to, and then Harry hurries off on the Horcrux Hunt with Dumbledore.
But wait a minute -- here's a quote from much earlier in the book, spoken by Dumbledore in the Weasley's spidery broomshed:
"I wish you to keep your Invisibility Cloak with you at all times from this moment onward. Even within Hogwarts itself. Just in case, do you understand me?"
And just in case you're unsure, note that when Harry dashes up to the dormitory, he grabs only the Map and the rolled up socks containing the potion bottle. He already has the Cloak on him, as confirmed by the fact that he says "Dumbledore thinks" in the statement I quoted above.
Show of hands: Who thinks Dumbledore knew Harry had the Cloak on him, specifically didn't ask him but instead sent him to get it because he knew Harry had something important to do? Could that have been part of the "additional protection" Dumbledore anticipated being "in place" while he himself was gone from Hogwarts?
:::::sigh::::: I keep coming back to this one question: How much does Dumbledore know, how does he know it, how much does he foresee and intend Harry to do and how much is just happy (or unhappy) coincidence? And will we ever know the answer to these questions?
And can I stand to wait 73 more days to find out?
Whereupon he proceeds to give Hermione and Ron the Map, the bottle of Felix Felicis, and instructions to watch what Malfoy and Snape are up to, and then Harry hurries off on the Horcrux Hunt with Dumbledore.
But wait a minute -- here's a quote from much earlier in the book, spoken by Dumbledore in the Weasley's spidery broomshed:
"I wish you to keep your Invisibility Cloak with you at all times from this moment onward. Even within Hogwarts itself. Just in case, do you understand me?"
And just in case you're unsure, note that when Harry dashes up to the dormitory, he grabs only the Map and the rolled up socks containing the potion bottle. He already has the Cloak on him, as confirmed by the fact that he says "Dumbledore thinks" in the statement I quoted above.
Show of hands: Who thinks Dumbledore knew Harry had the Cloak on him, specifically didn't ask him but instead sent him to get it because he knew Harry had something important to do? Could that have been part of the "additional protection" Dumbledore anticipated being "in place" while he himself was gone from Hogwarts?
:::::sigh::::: I keep coming back to this one question: How much does Dumbledore know, how does he know it, how much does he foresee and intend Harry to do and how much is just happy (or unhappy) coincidence? And will we ever know the answer to these questions?
And can I stand to wait 73 more days to find out?
May 11
That's the date that we first saw artwork for the Deluxe Scholastic Hardcover edition of HBP. This had a picture of the Gaunt house from the outside, and Harry and Dumbledore following the ministry official through the woods towards it. We were all wondering how it related to the artwork on the regular cover and to the story itself, remember?
So, any day now we should be seeing artwork for the Deluxe edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
So, any day now we should be seeing artwork for the Deluxe edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
"And it takes six months . . . You've got to let it stew . . . ."
"Typical," said Ron.
They're referring, of course, to Felix Felicis, concluding it would be too much of a bother to try and make more of it for themselves because it's complicated to make and also not meant for those who are impatient or poor at planning ahead.
We also know that Polyjuice Potion takes over a month to make, and so does Veritaserum.
Weren't all three of these potions on display in the very first Newt Potion class in HBP? And hadn't Slughorn just arrived at Hogwarts much more recently than even one month?
So, did Slughorn make these ahead and store them somehow? Did Snape make them and Slughorn just use them? How would that work? "Professor Slughorn, I've prepared these potions for my NEWT level class but now that you'll be teaching it, why don't you use them?" From observing them, I'd say the two professors have different enough teaching styles that Slughorn wouldn't use Snape's lesson plans but would teach the class his own way.
Harry is convinced that Malfoy stole the Polyjuice potion for use in having some ready-made but inobtrusive guards for his secret activities. How much potion would that require? Surely more than could be stolen in one shot in a classroom filled with students.
So did Slughorn make the potions ahead of time and pack them away in his suitcase to bring to Hogwarts? Or is this just a case of Jo's maths weakness striking again? And did Draco steal the Polyjuice potion? Did he steal any of the others as well? We see no evidence that he used Felix.
Hmm . . .
They're referring, of course, to Felix Felicis, concluding it would be too much of a bother to try and make more of it for themselves because it's complicated to make and also not meant for those who are impatient or poor at planning ahead.
We also know that Polyjuice Potion takes over a month to make, and so does Veritaserum.
Weren't all three of these potions on display in the very first Newt Potion class in HBP? And hadn't Slughorn just arrived at Hogwarts much more recently than even one month?
So, did Slughorn make these ahead and store them somehow? Did Snape make them and Slughorn just use them? How would that work? "Professor Slughorn, I've prepared these potions for my NEWT level class but now that you'll be teaching it, why don't you use them?" From observing them, I'd say the two professors have different enough teaching styles that Slughorn wouldn't use Snape's lesson plans but would teach the class his own way.
Harry is convinced that Malfoy stole the Polyjuice potion for use in having some ready-made but inobtrusive guards for his secret activities. How much potion would that require? Surely more than could be stolen in one shot in a classroom filled with students.
So did Slughorn make the potions ahead of time and pack them away in his suitcase to bring to Hogwarts? Or is this just a case of Jo's maths weakness striking again? And did Draco steal the Polyjuice potion? Did he steal any of the others as well? We see no evidence that he used Felix.
Hmm . . .
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Inanimate Objects Thinking for Themselves?
"Ginny!" said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain? . . ."
Chamber of Secrets, p. 329, Scholastic paperback edition.
So, we shouldn't trust inanimate objects that can think for themselves. Have we seen any other objects that can think for themselves? Here's a list (in order of their first appearance in the series):
--The Sorting Hat
--Mr. Weasley's car
--The Goblet of Fire
Are any of these objects Horcruxes? I'd say it's unlikely the Ford Anglia (is Anglia a form of the same word from which we get Angel?) is a Horcrux, being that it's a Muggle car, and was probably made after Riddle's time as a young man. But the Sorting Hat and the Goblet of Fire seem likely choices to me.
I'm sure people have talked about the Sorting Hat. I seem to remember someone pointing out that Harry pulled the sword from the hat. The sword wasn't in the hat when Fawkes brought the hat to Harry. It came out later. It seems to have been left with something more akin to a slice of Gryffindor's soul than Riddle's. I don't mean a Horcrux, but maybe there's some other way of leaving behind some essence of your values, your personality, in an inanimate object, for another purpose than immortality, and Gryffidor did this with the Sorting Hat. I'm not going to pursue this now except to say I don't think the Sorting Hat is one of Riddle's Horcruxes.
But the Goblet of Fire. I wonder where that's kept. Maybe in a vault with other treasure, a vault with a round door or doorway, filled with gold coins and fine objects covered with rubies. Does that sound familiar?
Chamber of Secrets, p. 329, Scholastic paperback edition.
So, we shouldn't trust inanimate objects that can think for themselves. Have we seen any other objects that can think for themselves? Here's a list (in order of their first appearance in the series):
--The Sorting Hat
--Mr. Weasley's car
--The Goblet of Fire
Are any of these objects Horcruxes? I'd say it's unlikely the Ford Anglia (is Anglia a form of the same word from which we get Angel?) is a Horcrux, being that it's a Muggle car, and was probably made after Riddle's time as a young man. But the Sorting Hat and the Goblet of Fire seem likely choices to me.
I'm sure people have talked about the Sorting Hat. I seem to remember someone pointing out that Harry pulled the sword from the hat. The sword wasn't in the hat when Fawkes brought the hat to Harry. It came out later. It seems to have been left with something more akin to a slice of Gryffindor's soul than Riddle's. I don't mean a Horcrux, but maybe there's some other way of leaving behind some essence of your values, your personality, in an inanimate object, for another purpose than immortality, and Gryffidor did this with the Sorting Hat. I'm not going to pursue this now except to say I don't think the Sorting Hat is one of Riddle's Horcruxes.
But the Goblet of Fire. I wonder where that's kept. Maybe in a vault with other treasure, a vault with a round door or doorway, filled with gold coins and fine objects covered with rubies. Does that sound familiar?
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Book 7 Predictions
I took a quiz on The Leaky Cauldron that allows you to predict details of what will happen in Book 7.
I have to qualify that by saying I wish I could have given comments on some of them, and others I was just unsure so I guessed.
For example, "Will Harry learn more about love in the Dept. of Mysteries?" I put no, but I do think we will probably visit the "love" room in the dept. of mysteries and that Harry will learn more about love, though I don't know that he'll learn it at the Ministry. I think Harry's lessons will be learned from life, not from a school book or a research dept. at the Ministry.
"Will we visit the Chamber of Secrets again?" I put yes, but I'm not sure we'll go there, I just think it will have something to do with something in the book. I think the damage Ron's wand explosion caused resulted in the cave-in of the secret passageway behind the 4th floor mirror that Fred and George tell Harry is now completely blocked, though they used it earlier in Harry's second year. Since there are 7 secret passageways, I think that will be significant in some way and the chamber is likely to play a part in it somehow, esp. since Slytherin created it and Voldemort is Slytherin's Heir.
I have to qualify that by saying I wish I could have given comments on some of them, and others I was just unsure so I guessed.
For example, "Will Harry learn more about love in the Dept. of Mysteries?" I put no, but I do think we will probably visit the "love" room in the dept. of mysteries and that Harry will learn more about love, though I don't know that he'll learn it at the Ministry. I think Harry's lessons will be learned from life, not from a school book or a research dept. at the Ministry.
"Will we visit the Chamber of Secrets again?" I put yes, but I'm not sure we'll go there, I just think it will have something to do with something in the book. I think the damage Ron's wand explosion caused resulted in the cave-in of the secret passageway behind the 4th floor mirror that Fred and George tell Harry is now completely blocked, though they used it earlier in Harry's second year. Since there are 7 secret passageways, I think that will be significant in some way and the chamber is likely to play a part in it somehow, esp. since Slytherin created it and Voldemort is Slytherin's Heir.
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