PoA Chapter Seventeen

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up but judging by the title this is a chapter where actual important stuff happens that relates to the title of the book and everything!

Harry’s mind has gone blank with shock. Do I need to make a joke about that not being a change for Harry?

It actually took me a minute to remember what that line was talking about. It’s one of the weird things about this Buckbeak story. It’s the classic “Keep the animal from being put to sleep” story only the kids have no actual emotional investment in keeping the animal alive. Yeah, they care about Hagrid but they also know he’s irresponsible in this area and they usually have to pay for it. It’s not like any of them have any attachment to Buckbeak that justifies minds going blank with shock.

Hermione, especially, just spent the whole book being singularly insensitive to peoples’ dead pets as if she just didn’t get the problem. Suddenly she’s transfixed with horror at the idea and choking at someone daring to put down a wild animal.

Ron’s rat runs away, followed by Crookshanks, followed by Ron, followed by Harry and Hermione. The last two can’t run under the invisibility cloak, so they hold on to it, “streaming like a banner.” Which is weird because it’s streaming like an invisible banner.

Ron’s getting dragged into the willow is pretty good. The leg-breaking is pretty harsh!

Basically the whole trip through the tunnel with the animals leading them is pretty good. Yup, I was right. This is the good chapter. This whole section is the reason I always think this book should be my favorite and yet it’s not.

Why is there furniture in the Shrieking Shack? Wouldn’t a padded cell look be more appropriate for its purposes? Or just a doggie bed, wee wee pads and chew toys?

I guess Sirius could have turned into himself before carrying Ron upstairs, but it’s just too funny to imagine Ron getting dragged upstairs by a big black dog, bumping his head on every step. Sucks to be Ron.

Sirius Black emerges from the shadows. Hey, that’s the guy from the title! Glad to see you, FINALLY!

Sirius disarms Harry and Hermione. So he’s the master of their wands now, right? *rolls eyes*

Sirius reminds us that he’s, well, who he is by commenting that it was “brave” of Harry and Hermione not to run for a teacher when their friend was dragged into a tree by a large animal. Even if it plays right into his seemingly nefarious plans for them it was the right choice.

Ron vows that if Sirius wants to kill Harry he’ll have to kill them too. I mention this only because I’m pretty sure Steve Kloves expelliariumsed this line of Ron’s and presented it to Hermione along with every other admirable thing he could get his hands on in this movie, so I’ve heard.

Harry hulks out, daring Sirius to kill everybody in the room. I’m sure Ron, at least, appreciates this line of trash talk.

The description of Harry forgetting he’s small, skinny and 13 and only wanting to hurt Sirius without caring if he gets killed in return, is probably the essence of goodness according to this series. This is courage in its purest, least diluted form. And Slytherins can’t ever have it because even in their most angry moments they’d probably still be afraid of something.

Harry hears a voice in his head telling him to kill Sirius. Years ago I read a theory about how the voice in Harry’s head directing him to do something in GoF was Ginny’s because she was his true love. So now every time Harry has one of these “voice in the head” moments I imagine it’s Ginny. And certainly this is something HBP!Ginny would order him to do here, at least.

Harry can’t kill Sirius. Too bad he’s not meeting him a few years from now where he’d be able to throw a few Crucios. You know, just to assure us that he can and thus is even more heroic when he shows you mercy.

Lupin arrives to save the day! And I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten anything important…

Lupin expelliariumses everybody’s wand. So now he’s the master of everybody’s wand. Or just the one Sirius was using? Or just the ones where the people who owned them were holding them. Something like that.

Harry feels like a failure for not killing Sirius since now he’s going to be handed over to the Dementors. Yeah, that’s…not sure what the problem is there, Harry. That’s worse than being killed.

Lupin hugs Sirius like a brother. Harry and Hermione are all, “OH NO HE DIDN’T!”

Lupin hugs Sirius like a brother. Or in slash terms, Lupin hugs Sirius like an old lover with whom he will be having sex again as soon as possible.

Oy. Lupin, following Sirius’s lead, decides to hug Sirius before explaining everything, so now he has to fight through a chorus of “Shut up!” and “I trusted you!” before he can explain everything. Explain first, emote later, people!

Hermione reveals she knew Lupin was a werewolf. Lupin tells Hermione she’s the cleverest of witch of her age he’s ever met. Frankly I’m surprised the whole school wasn’t buzzing with the rumor that Lupin was a werewolf. Wouldn’t everybody notice those symptoms if they knew werewolves existed? Particularly if the guy’s name was Remus Lupin?

Lupin, continuing his usual method of discipline, watched the Trio leave the castle because he was afraid they might, but didn’t go out and get them.

Peter’s not very good at being a rat. I’d like to see somebody try to keep a real rat in his pocket under these circumstances.

But that’s not a rat, it’s…Peter Pettigrew! Dun dun DUNNN! Okay, admit it. Best reveal in the whole series.

Can’t wait till Snape gets here, though.

Things that happen more than once:

The Trio takes the same long walk down the tunnel as Snape took all those years ago.

An innocent prisoner seems to be punished for a crime. That seems to be the whole idea with Buckbeak. He’s not an animal, he’s a person innocent of a crime and being executed for it. Except that Buckbeak actually did attack Draco and Sirius didn’t kill the Potters or anyone else. I guess it comes down to the book’s belief that “he started it” or “he looked at me funny” or “he wanted killing, your honor” really is a solid defense.

Harry’s inability to kill Sirius when he’s finally got him where he wants him is like Draco (who already set up the parallel earlier) not killing Dumbledore. Only Harry’s freezing says good things about his character where Draco’s hesitation just says he’s a pussy.

Harry’s carefully praised for being brave over being smart.

He’s an animagus! Just like Rita in the next book!

It’s a gun. No it isn’t! It’s Chekov! No it isn’t!
Sirius is a pale-eyed dog
Status: fired and you didn’t even know it was a gun. I suspect Sirius and Draco having the same color eyes was a clever hint to their connection by blood.

Who’s that dog and why’s he hanging out with Crookshanks?
Status: Fired, neatly.

Is this Sirius Black guy ever going to show up?
Status: Fired, finally.

Scabbers’s missing toe
Status: Fired, surprisingly.

Snape’s poisoning Lupin
Status: Fired, lycanthropically.

Harry wants to kill Sirius
Status: Not fired, thematically.




The Cricket Rule
Day-for-Night
Chirping up a storm by now.

Idiot Picture
What is it with Gryffindors and explaining things quickly? Honestly Sirius, holding on to the story is what got you put in Azkaban to begin with! After all these years you’d think you’d want to spit it out fast.

James Bond Exposition Rule
Sirius is very committed to the opposite of this in this chapter, making sure not to say anything to explain his true position to Harry, even while Harry’s attacking him.

Not to be undone, Lupin then yammers on about how he got his job as a teacher instead of explaining the same stuff Sirius refused to explain.

Light Bulb Moment
“But then…why hasn’t he shown himself before now? Unless…unless he was the one…unless you switched…without telling me?”

Misdirected Answering
No really, the psycho murderer will just sit here next to the kid with the broken leg as the moon rises in the sky and Snape rushes through the tunnel. Go head, Lupin, and tell us how Dumbledore totes made you a teacher even though you’re a werewolf because he’s just that tolerant. And how’d you get the idea for the Marauder’s Map? And why’d your friends call you Moony?

POV Shots
Harry and Hermione run through the tunnel following Crookshank’s fuzzy tail.

Spring-Loaded Cat
All that training of Crookshanks’s has been for this scene.

Jabootu score 8

Comments

[the-bitter-word.livejournal.com]

Why is there furniture in the Shrieking Shack?

Could it be in case a guest drops by, like... oh, I don't know... SNAPE? (In Church Lady voice.)

...it was “brave” of Harry and Hermione not to run for a teacher when their friend was dragged into a tree by a large animal. Even if it plays right into his seemingly nefarious plans for them it was the right choice.

Riiight. Note that Voldemort will make use of that impulse later. Black would no doubt approve.

This is courage in its purest, least diluted form. And Slytherins can’t ever have it because even in their most angry moments they’d probably still be afraid of something.

Like fear is a bad thing instead of a natural response to danger. Like using wiles or brains or determination to counter fear is a bad thing.

Harry hears a voice in his head telling him to kill Sirius. Years ago I read a theory about how the voice in Harry’s head directing him to do something in GoF was Ginny’s because she was his true love. So now every time Harry has one of these “voice in the head” moments I imagine it’s Ginny. And certainly this is something HBP!Ginny would order him to do here, at least

Huh? I thought the voice in his head was Hermione, his would-be conscience. Or Voldie, his Horcrux buddy. Ginny only makes excuses for him after the fact. Then again, so does McGonagall. Soul-mates?

Harry feels like a failure for not killing Sirius since now he’s going to be handed over to the Dementors.

Dementors make you vaguely relive your parents' deaths! Dementors trump everything horrible that can happen to a person.

Lupin hugs Sirius like a brother.

Wait... this is before he's even heard his explanation? Whoa.

Lupin, following Sirius’s lead, decides to hug Sirius before explaining everything

Oh, I see. Weak Lupin, again.

Harry’s freezing says good things about his character where Draco’s hesitation just says he’s a pussy.

In Draco's defense, if he had a voice in his head telling him to kill, he probably would have done it out of sheer terror. And Draco's parents were only threatened, not actually killed.

He’s an animagus! Just like Rita in the next book!

I can't decide if the animagus is brilliant invention or deus ex machina to the extreme. I would probably be more impressed if we saw one of the Trio, or their hangers-on like Luna, or enemies like Draco, try to learn the animagus spell. Without that, it just seems like a contrivance pulled out of a hat. But, kudos for multiple uses, at least. Sadly, it was one of the things that got people looking obsessively for clues in the texts.

Time-Turners, on the other hand... argh.

What is it with Gryffindors and explaining things quickly?

A brave man should never have to explain, but rather let his actions speak for him. However, I blame the author for dragging out the moment(s) that explanation happens. It's supposed to be a mystery, you know.

"Unless…unless he was the one…unless you switched…without telling me?”

Oh, duh, Lupin. Just... duh.

Did Crookshanks get weird vibes off non-potioned Lupin? Not that anyone would have paid attention to the Kneazle.

It's sad that what little I remember is from the movie and not the book, which really didn't grab me, although I don't remember why. It was a long time ago. The movie was pretty good, though, probably the best of the lot by a wide margin.

Good summary! (And sorry about edits.)

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Like fear is a bad thing instead of a natural response to danger. Like using wiles or brains or determination to counter fear is a bad thing.

I've always loved that line from the Wizard of Oz where the Wizard says the Lion thinks that simply because he runs away from danger, he has no courage. He's confusing courage with wisdom.

Huh?

I didn't get it either. But it was such a bizarre idea that I started randomly planting Ginny in Harry's head.

Personally, I'm shocked everybody isn't becoming an animagus. It's one of the first things I'd want to learn if I were a wizard.

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Time-Turners, on the other hand... argh.

Yeah, I know. Rowling threw it in because it was 'cool' or whatever, but really, time travel trumps everything. If I was a super hero - not that I spend much time thinking about such things, mind! - I'd want time travel as my super-power. Because someone with time travel will always reign supreme. I cite as proof "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".

Once Rowling introduced time travel the whole series was blown. Although she did half-heartedly try to plug up the hole, I think Hermione mentions in HBP how all the Ministry time turners were destroyed? Of course we'll conveniently turn a blind eye to the time turners stashed away by the Malfoys or all the other dark wizards ...

Argh indeed.

Lupin hugs Sirius like a brother.

Wait... this is before he's even heard his explanation? Whoa.

Did Lupin know the truth by then? Seeing Pettigrew's name on the map or something? Otherwise yeah, that's a big boo-boo that I never saw before!

[oryx_leucoryx]

Yes, he saw Peter's name on the map, that was why he came in the first place, not because the kids were struggling with a homicidal tree or to protect them from Sirius. But he still hasn't figured out the switch. All he knows is that something in the official version is wrong, but as far as he knows at this moment Sirius was still the Potters' Secret Keeper.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Because someone with time travel will always reign supreme. I cite as proof "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".

Or Terry Pratchett's 'Thief of Time'. Remember rule number 1!

[oryx_leucoryx]

The book mentions that the sun is just setting bellow the horizon as the chapter begins. Since it is the full moon, when the moon is in opposition to the sun relative to the earth, this should be when the moon is beginning to appear on the opposite horizon. At least it would have had Hogwarts been on an open plain. Mountains may create some delay. BTW according to this detailed timeline it is now around 9:30. They have Remus transforming at almost 11:00. This looks way too late. Supposedly cloud cover is to account for the extra delay but the theory of werewolf transformation in the Potterverse becomes rather convoluted. It seems they transform when the full moon is generally visible in their local area, regardless of whether they themselves are exposed to moonlight (or Remus wouldn't transform in a closed room with curtains on the windows).

Hermione, especially, just spent the whole book being singularly insensitive to peoples’ dead pets as if she just didn’t get the problem. Suddenly she’s transfixed with horror at the idea and choking at someone daring to put down a wild animal.

Hermione is angry and frustrated that her research got disregarded.

Hagrid's hut isn't on the Marauders' Map. Neither is the Shrieking Shack itself, only the beginning of the tunnel is. So these minutes, when it is already past sunset, when Scabbers is running from the hut to the tunnel, is when Remus, who has yet to take his potion, decides to leave everything and go after Peter. Note that Remus was watching the map because he expected trouble of some kind. Though the trouble may happen in a place that was off the map (suppose the kids tried to interfere with the execution and got caught?) And the event likely to cause the trouble - the execution - was scheduled for sunset. So why not go to Severus and ask for the potion right after dinner (after all, he makes an entire cauldron of it the first day it needs to be taken so it should be ready and waiting), before he sat to watch the map? What was he thinking?

And BTW, why did the Marauders leave those places off their map?

Why is there furniture in the Shrieking Shack? Wouldn’t a padded cell look be more appropriate for its purposes? Or just a doggie bed, wee wee pads and chew toys?

It's Dumbledore making a statement about Remus' humanity, a statement belied by the state of said furniture. Unless you think the Marauders brought the furniture in, so they could use the place as a club-house at times other than the full moon.

Sirius disarms Harry and Hermione. So he’s the master of their wands now, right? *rolls eyes*

And he does so with Ron's wand. So he mastered that one too. Oh, but he wasn't planning to keep the wands so it doesn't count? Do the wands know that? Does Sirius have to cross his fingers when he disarms the kids to prevent them from losing mastery of their wands?

The description of Harry forgetting he’s small, skinny and 13 and only wanting to hurt Sirius without caring if he gets killed in return, is probably the essence of goodness according to this series. This is courage in its purest, least diluted form. And Slytherins can’t ever have it because even in their most angry moments they’d probably still be afraid of something.

And anyway, except for Draco they are giant hulks so they have no justification for being afraid. (As if that means much against magic.)

Hermione kicks Sirius to force him to let go of Harry. This is a counterexample to those who say Hermione before DH wasn't good at thinking on her feet or in a fight.

Crookshanks nearly became the master of Harry's wand.

Harry raises his wand to kill Sirius. And what was he going to do with the wand? Cast a Jelly-leg jinx? Oh, maybe use Wingardium Leviosa and then drop him on the floor or bash his head into a wall?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Remus's forgetting his potion is just going to get more hilarious as the night goes on. I mean...as you say, what was the man thinking? I can sympathize with JKR trying to give him a shock that drives it out of his head, but once you know that he's forgotten--particularly since Snape will show up and remind him right away--you just start thinking he's an idiot.

I do wonder with MWPP left those places off the map. Maybe they ran out of room on the parchment. Or they didn't want anybody to know Remus was in the Shack in case the map was discovered? Or maybe they were being helpful for plot purposes.

Harry raises his wand to kill Sirius. And what was he going to do with the wand? Cast a Jelly-leg jinx? Oh, maybe use Wingardium Leviosa and then drop him on the floor or bash his head into a wall?

That is kind of hilarious. Put his eye out, I guess.

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Harry raises his wand to kill Sirius. And what was he going to do with the wand? Cast a Jelly-leg jinx? Oh, maybe use Wingardium Leviosa and then drop him on the floor or bash his head into a wall?

That is kind of hilarious. Put his eye out, I guess.

Nah, shove it up his nose. It worked for Harry before!

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

Meh. I think the shack was just an abandoned building on the outskirts of the village that Albus acquired for the purpose and had the tunnel to it built. It was probably already the local "haunted house", and he just capitilzed on the reputation. I expect the furn was already there, and probably so rickety that no one else wanted it.

Well, you never hear about the *shack* having been built for the purpose of housing a werewolf (pretty good trick of managing to build a new house and have it *immediately* be rumored to be haunted).

[oryx_leucoryx]

And of course it had the advantage of being located outside of Hogwarts. So if anyone asked, Dumbledore could swear under Veritaserum that there never was a transformed werewolf on school grounds. Which is the only advantage the Shack had over a locked room in one of the dungeons. But the arrangement was ridiculous in any case. Why not lock Remus in wherever he was? Or if he was walked off grounds why not floo/Portkey/send him by Knight Bus home for his transformations? OK, I suppose the last two would attract attention and side-along wasn't invented yet. Still, I think flooing (from the village if not from school) should have worked.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

About moonrise -

Where I come from (North America), and, presumably, throughout the world, the moon is often VISIBLE in the sky while the sun is up! Discussing this with my sister, we came to the conclusion that sunshine must counteract moonshine - or something. But, if all it took to keep Remus from transforming was the absence of moonlight, why did he ever transform in the shack?

I'd say the theory of werewolves in these books is indeed convoluted.

[lynn-waterfall.livejournal.com]

I think that the moon can only appear in the daytime sky in the new moon end of the cycle, because it's only then that the moon is on the sun's side of the earth. At full moon, the moon is on the opposite side of the planet from the sun, so it would only appear at night. If you go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_phase and scroll down, you'll find a table that lists when the moon is in the sky during the different phases.

However, you would think that werewolves could *theoretically* avoid transforming simply by traveling around the globe to stay in daylight once a month. Or by going to the appropriate polar region, during certain times of the year, since in summer there are days that last months there. (According to Wikipedia, "In Svalbard, Norway, the northernmost inhabited region of Europe, there is no sunset from approximately 19 April to 23 August.")

It might be tiring, but the wizarding world's transportation is better than Muggle transportation. It should be possible, and probably less tiring even than transforming *with* Wolfsbane. Remus apparently found transformations debilitating even with the potion.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Where I come from (North America), and, presumably, throughout the world, the moon is often VISIBLE in the sky while the sun is up!

That depends on the point in the lunar cycle. On full moon the moon is exactly opposite the sun and therefore it should be visible from sunset to sunrise. On the new moon the moon is between the earth and the sun, it rises with the sun and sets with it. The waxing crescent rises progressively and sets progressively later than the sun, the first quarter rises at noon and sets at midnight and so forth. See Lunar phases on wikipedia.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

So why not go to Severus and ask for the potion right after dinner (after all, he makes an entire cauldron of it the first day it needs to be taken so it should be ready and waiting), before he sat to watch the map? What was he thinking?

Yeah, but Lupin had this passhole thing going on, whenever Snape brought him the potion, he'd just ignore it and leave it there on the table. Didn't want to give Snape the peace of mind of drinking it so that he knew a mad werewolf wouldn't come after him. *kicks him* So of course he wouldn't give him the satisfaction of doing and asking for it.

Crookshanks nearly became the master of Harry's wand.

Lol, just like Voldemort should've been worried that Nagini would technically be the master of the Elder Wand after he sicced her on Snape, but whatever...

part 2

[oryx_leucoryx]

Lupin arrives to save the day! And I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten anything important…

By this time Severus is also on his way, several minutes behind Remus. Severus saw Remus running down the passageway out of sight. Since Remus saw Peter last at the willow and Severus saw Remus already in the tunnel the time gap between seeing the map and arriving at the Shack should be greater in Severus' case. (IOW when Remus enters the room Severus should be still in the castle, on his way to the doors or something.)

Lupin expelliariumses everybody’s wand. So now he’s the master of everybody’s wand. Or just the one Sirius was using? Or just the ones where the people who owned them were holding them. Something like that.

Unless Remus had his fingers crossed too. (Sirius was no longer holding a wand. Harry held his, Hermione the two others. Hermione totally is the master of Ron's wand.)

Harry feels like a failure because Sirius will be returned to the dementors rather than already be dead at his hand. So Harry regrets not giving Sirius a quick death? Regrets not being able to be the one responsible directly for Sirius' death? (That's OK, Harry will end up being at least partially responsible for Sirius' death 2 years from now.)

Frankly I’m surprised the whole school wasn’t buzzing with the rumor that Lupin was a werewolf.

Indeed. This must be his 9th or 10th transformation since the beginning of the school year. Though only a handful of students knew of the one in December. And perhaps only the third years know of his Boggart form. I'm also surprised that wizarding-raised children such as Ron don't show awareness of the full moon despite the fact that they attend school in a place that is rumored to have werewolves (according to Draco in PS). Why does Ron never warn Harry and Hermione against going out at night on full moon nights?

Ron and Hermione are amazed to learn the staff knew of Remus' affliction. Well some of them knew already since Remus' time as a student. I'm guessing Trelawney was one who didn't know, hence Remus avoiding her crystal gazing.

I suspect Sirius and Draco having the same color eyes was a clever hint to their connection by blood.

So you think this part was planned? Do you think she planned on having Bellatrix as their relative too or was that something she added between GOF and OOTP?

Ollivander has 'pale eyes shining like moons' and also 'silvery eyes' (PS). Luna has silvery, but not necessarily pale eyes. Are they related to the Blacks too?

“But then…why hasn’t he shown himself before now? Unless…unless he was the one…unless you switched…without telling me?”

Hey, Remus, why would they tell you? They haven't been speaking to you for months by the time this switch thing came along. Note how Remus isn't with the Marauders in the Order photo. And how Lily doesn't mention him in her letter.

Re: part 2

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Harry feels like a failure because Sirius will be returned to the dementors rather than already be dead at his hand. So Harry regrets not giving Sirius a quick death? Regrets not being able to be the one responsible directly for Sirius' death? (That's OK, Harry will end up being at least partially responsible for Sirius' death 2 years from now.)

Heh. Not that Harry will dwell on that overmuch. It's SNAPE'S fault Sirius died! Snape's!

It is kind of funny that he feels like a failure basically being he failed to enact a mafia-style revenge killing.

You really would think people would have figured out Remus was a werewolf. Or maybe JKR could have hidden it if she always had kids thinking some teacher was a werewolf so that he was just one of many. Make it a boy who cried werewolf type thing. But then, that would have tipped her hand by even introducing the idea. You'd just really think Draco would have come up with it.

I could believe she planned the Black/Malfoy connection. Or at least that she'd say she did if someone pointed out the eye color!

The isolation of Remus during the first war is a pretty interesting unanswered question, isn't it? Did they just think it was him because he was the werewolf? Maybe they suspected his wishy-washiness in ways they didn't Peter's obvious bad qualities?

Re: part 2

[oryx_leucoryx]

The isolation of Remus during the first war is a pretty interesting unanswered question, isn't it? Did they just think it was him because he was the werewolf? Maybe they suspected his wishy-washiness in ways they didn't Peter's obvious bad qualities?

Peter may have manipulated that isolation. He needed James to trust him so when Dumbledore said the spy was someone close to the Potters he wouldn't be the one suspected so he may have done something to make Remus look suspicious.

Re: part 2

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

That's OK, Harry will end up being at least partially responsible for Sirius' death 2 years from now.

Oh, that's harsh! :-)

[tdotm.livejournal.com]

---“Hermione, especially, just spent the whole book being singularly insensitive to peoples’ dead pets as if she just didn’t get the problem. Suddenly she’s transfixed with horror at the idea and choking at someone daring to put down a wild animal.”

That’s because she’s already a self-righteous Plot Device, rather than a consistent believable character. (By Book 7, she’ll be in very good company.) I always thought that early Hermione was a JKR self-insert as she actually was – plain and clever, insecure but loyal and nice. OotP/HBP Ginny was JKR as she’d have liked to have been – popular with boys *and* girls, stunning, and adored for some reason without having to make the effort of being nice/charming like ordinary folk have to. Then Hermione started to become a Mary Sue (hello Viktor!) so JKR could rewrite her past and Ginny got the Hero. Pansy wasn’t even allowed to marry Draco (who's no prize). JKR’s actually stated that it was because she hated her. Yet she was no worse than Ginny until the last battle and I don’t remember her ever using violence like HG. However, we’ve all noticed that bullying in this world isn’t wrong in itself, only when used by/against the wrong people.

---“Sirius disarms Harry and Hermione. So he’s the master of their wands now, right? *rolls eyes*”

I still like PoA, but I had to delurk specifically to comment - MWAH!

For the thousandth time, why didn’t JKR say that the Elder Wand OF POWER had unique properties? It was a unique wand, I’d have swallowed it. In fact, it’d make it MORE believable if it acted differently. With a couple of comments in Book 7 on the reason why Dumbledore could beat Voldemort in action, despite being twice his age, it’d have all made sense. It’d have looked *planned*. Instead it looks as if –um - bear with me – her story doesn’t *quite* hold together. This is hardly the only wand swapping scene that you look back at and think ...’the f**k?’ Just don’t get me started on the Awesome Cloak of 100% Impenetrability.

---“Ron vows that if Sirius wants to kill Harry he’ll have to kill them too. I mention this only because I’m pretty sure Steve Kloves expelliariumsed this line of Ron’s and presented it to Hermione along with every other admirable thing he could get his hands on in this movie, so I’ve heard.”

I’m still happy to split the blame equally between that ridiculously average hack Kloves and WB wanting to get the female tween money. Changing a unique character into a two dimensional cliché is Girl Power! Despite the fact that the execs making the decisions (and pulling all the little girls’ strings) are probably all men nearer their 50s than their teens. Ron – not needed. Brave hero and feisty (yawn) heroine is the be-all and end-all . A second male in the Trio being brave while sarcastic and lazy would never work. Look how the choice between serious tortured hero and funny, unsentimental, also-hero messed up the original Star Wars Trilogy!

What really gets me is that JKR seemed to buy into all this rubbish instead of having the confidence to maintain the integrity of her original ideas, characters and story. That worked really well for her...

---“Lupin arrives to save the day! And I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten anything important…”

More Mwah! Still, I don’t mind this sort of oversight in a book I enjoy – after all, it’s been a busy evening for a lot of people....

---“But that’s not a rat, it’s…Peter Pettigrew! Dun dun DUNNN! Okay, admit it. Best reveal in the whole series.”

Yes. This is what makes me mad. I haven’t read Twilight, but I’m strongly assured that it’s all rubbish. JKR, however, was really on to something in the early days. It’s not that we liked it because we were conned, or drugged, or not having good sex. She started off well, then she let herself (and us) down. Sigh.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

OMG, the wand thing drives me crazy and I've wondered the same thing: why not just make the Elder Wand unique in that way? It would solve so many problems and make perfect sense. As it is we don't even see anything about it that's unique so that would be one thing to set it apart.

Look how the choice between serious tortured hero and funny, unsentimental, also-hero messed up the original Star Wars Trilogy!

Ha!

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

I always thought that early Hermione was a JKR self-insert as she actually was --

Rowling has said pretty much exactly that on her web site here (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=8):

I have often said that Hermione is a bit like me when I was younger. I think I was seen by other people as a right little know-it-all, but I hope that it is clear that underneath Hermione's swottiness there is a lot of insecurity and a great fear of failure (as shown by her Boggart in 'Prisoner of Azkaban').

But then, yes, Hermione got a makeover and became pretty/beautiful for Ron, while Harry got the pretty belle of Hogwarts who materialised out of the ether in book 6.

For the thousandth time, why didn’t JKR say that the Elder Wand OF POWER had unique properties?

Darn, you are so, SO right! Some of the most colossal failures of the last book would have been extinguished by just a few lines. Even though Rowling didn't have a clue about the Hallows until she sat down to write book 7 she could still have made it clear that the Elder Wand operated on wand 'rules' completely distinct from those of normal wands.

But no. She just went ahead and contradicted all of her earlier books. I really lose pretty much any and all respect for Rowling when I muse over what sort of mind - what sort of illogical, confused, messy mind - could do something like that. It's incredible. If only she'd been edited, been held to account! Did she really not care by the time she tried to work out how to end the series?

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

JKR’s actually stated that it was because she hated her

Oh, how JKR fails as a writer. Her personal feelings about the characters- based on real people that she has history with, apparently- ruined her ability to write a good story, because she had to slap down the ones she hated at every turn, and had to make the good ones succeed without suffering too many setbacks or humiliations. She didn't have to be perfectly impartial, but jeez. *shakes head*

I don’t remember her ever using violence like HG. However, we’ve all noticed that bullying in this world isn’t wrong in itself, only when used by/against the wrong people.

Too true. I loathe the messages this series sends about bullying. The heroes [Gryffindors] are good, and will always be good, even when they do bad things to those they don't like [Slytherins, mainly, though poor Marietta was another casualty]. Or rather, when the unworthy force them to punish them for being so evil and despicable, ugh.

But when the bad guys do the same thing the 'heroes' did, that just reinforces how awful they are, wtf?!

why didn’t JKR say that the Elder Wand OF POWER had unique properties? It was a unique wand, I’d have swallowed it. In fact, it’d make it MORE believable if it acted differently.

*gasps* That could've totally redemeed that craptastic plotline! Why oh why did JKR fire her editors? Someone needed to point out things like that to her, instead of letting her run around destroying her own mythology.

She started off well, then she let herself (and us) down. Sigh.

That's why I'm so bitter. Twilight, it's rubbish but I can laugh at it and be entertained by how silly and OTT it is. HP? WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN IT ENDED UP BEING. *wails and feels betrayed*

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Sucks to be Ron.

Impossible. He ended up being awarded with Hermione, after all. What a gal! :-)

Sirius disarms Harry and Hermione. So he’s the master of their wands now, right? *rolls eyes*

Aw, hell, you beat me to it. I was going to write a paragraph of parody at how the kids lost the mastery of their wands, and, after Lupin "threw each back to its owner", they never worked nearly as well EVER AGAIN, because Lupin was still their master. Just like it was for Harry with Hermione's wand in DH. And the Elder Wand with Riddle, after he took it from Dumbledore's tomb. Riiight. But you were way ahead of me.

Just imagine if the books were rewritten - edited - to be consistent with all of Rowling's DH rubbish. What a colossal mess would result!!

Ron vows that if Sirius wants to kill Harry he’ll have to kill them too. I mention this only because I’m pretty sure Steve Kloves expelliariumsed this line of Ron’s and presented it to Hermione along with every other admirable thing he could get his hands on in this movie, so I’ve heard.

Yep. A feral canon-thumper once reminded me of Ron's line in the book, which I'd forgotten. We were arguing about whom was more important to Harry and the series, Hermione or Ron. Why are you rolling your eyes at me, Mz. Magpie? Oh, I know, yes, okay, it's obvious, Hermione by a long shot. Silly feral canon-thumper!

Oy. Lupin, following Sirius’s lead, decides to hug Sirius before explaining everything, so now he has to fight through a chorus of “Shut up!” and “I trusted you!” before he can explain everything. Explain first, emote later, people!

Well, I was seriously impressed with the way Lupin handled things, by handing back the kids' wands so they'd shut up and listen. That's exactly what I try and do with belligerent idiots who won't stop to think. Well, I stop short of handing them the equivalent of deadly weapons, but I was still impressed.

Although Deathly Hallows has changed it all, because Lupin knew full well that he REMAINED THE MASTER of those wands that he handed back. He was NEVER in any danger at all! OH NO!! The one cool scene in the whole book, RUINED for me by Deathly Hallows!! Will the horror of that final novel never cease to torment me?!?!?!?!!

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Just imagine if the books were rewritten - edited - to be consistent with all of Rowling's DH rubbish. What a colossal mess would result!!

LOL! Every book should have an epilogue where the characters have to get together and do some complicated duelling exercise where they disarm their own wand back into their possession, following the chain backwards.

[lissa2.livejournal.com]

"Although Deathly Hallows has changed it all, because Lupin knew full well that he REMAINED THE MASTER of those wands that he handed back. He was NEVER in any danger at all!"
I expect that the "JO defense army" respond to that would be that nobody in the WW besides wandmakers knew about the "wand will change alliance if taken by force" rule.
That would explain why learning this rule wasn't part of the Hogwarts curriculum. But otoh it's very unbelievable that wandmakers could still keep it a secret from the general public after centuries of conflicts between wizards.
And why keep it a secret anyway?