GOF Chapter 22: The Unexpected Task

[oryx_leucoryx]

Today's Transfiguration lesson is about turning an animal from one species to an animal from a different one. What's the point? Does the animal retain the neurology of its original species or acquire that of the new one? Even in the latter case, surely its memories are those of the original species? How do the poor creatures know how to do things?

Ron and Harry are having a sword-fight with fake wands. At least Minerva criticizes them. She announces the Yule Ball, where 4th years and up (as well as any younger guests some of them might invite) have a chance to socialize with the 24 guests. Because the guests are living on their respective vehicles and hardly have a chance to socialize with anyone. Unless you count Viktor ducking his fans in the library.

The champions and their dance partners traditionally open the ball. Now Harry has a task to distract him from preparing for the second task (something he hasn't thought about yet, despite his experience with the danger of the first one). Well, now he thinks of the dragon as a fun diversion, so maybe there is no contradiction.

Molly was right - at least among the 4th years and higher everybody is staying for Christmas, regardless of how they rank their prospects of getting a date to the ball. (Did Ginny think of going home before she got an invitation or was she counting on someone inviting her?) Harry suddenly notices the girls at Hogwarts, now that he needs one as a date. Until now he only noticed boys like Ron, Cedric, Viktor and Draco. Maybe he really is gay.

Well, at least Harry knows whom he'd like to ask, if given a chance. Now that he needs a date, he refuses 4 girls who ask him. Yes, they only care about him because he's famous, but so does almost everyone else, so what's the difference? Even Ron (and Draco!) originally got interested in him because he was TBWL.

The Hufflepuffs are letting Harry be. Which does not mean any of them believe he wasn't a cheat. Aw, Draco's audience has shrunk!

Rita's interview with Hagrid was mostly about Hagrid's opinion of Harry, of course. At least Hagrid acknowledges Severus' criticism about Harry's constant line-crossing wasn't entirely off. Oh, Hagrid will attend the ball. Guess with whom?

Why would Dumbles need to buy 800 barrels of mead for the ball? Buy one bottle and multiply however many times. Unless he wasn't that great at Transfiguration? But he did book the Weird Sisters, the only wizarding band in Britain (as far as we know). Wizarding cultural life is so exciting.

Filius let the students play games in class so he could chat with Harry and praise him. Is he the new Hagrid? Binns still insists on making goblin rebellions boring. That's because goblins are no longer rebellious. Now 'Moody' has them working seriously, he doesn't just impress them with Dark Arts demos. And he's teaching the entire class now, not just Harry. Severus would no sooner let them play games in class than adopt Harry. Little does Harry know. Right, how evil of a teacher to give students until the end of term to prepare for a test. (Which happens to be on a topic that is supposed to be crucial for Ron and Harry's preferred career path, BTW.)

Wizarding cards are cooler than Muggle ones because they explode occasionally, but skrewts are beasts from hell. I follow the logic, almost.

There are only 2 kinds of books Harry ever enjoys reading - Quidditch books and Dark Arts books. Now he is with the former. Despite having a potentially dangerous task to face in some 2.5 months. Hermione is such a spoil-sport to remind him of that.

The twins want Ron's owl to send a letter, but they won't tell him to whom. Fred knows he'll attend the ball with Angelina before he even asked her. Of course for all we know they have been dating since 1st year - Harry wouldn't be able to tell.

Ron wants to attend the ball with the best-looking girl he can manage, and that does *not* mean Hermione. This is his second major personal insult to her (in addition to many minor ones), which is why she made it a life mission to force him to acknowledge his mistake and marry her. Soulmates indeed.

Neither Harry nor Ron have a date, but Harry's fate is worse, because he is a champion. Harry can't get Cho alone. After all these years he finally discovered girls' preference to have company on the way to the bathroom.

A bezoar is a key ingredient of an antidote. Harry will remember this better coming from a younger version of Severus.

Harry manages finally to ask Cho, but he is too late. Oh, Cho would so have agreed if only he had asked before Cedric did! Even when he loses Harry gets affirmation that he really is the best. See, Cedric is pretty and brainless. As opposed to Harry who is not (yet) pretty and, er, well... (let's not discuss his brains here).

Harry's one consolation is that Ron failed even worse than he did, by asking someone who more obviously outclassed him. Ron's consolation is that Neville was refused by Hermione - ie Neville ranks even lower than Ron because the girl who turned Neville down ranks much lower than the one who completely ignored Ron. Of course Ron can't imagine anyone (but Neville) asking Hermione of his own will. Not happening, right? (Notice how Neville is better socialized and braver than both trio boys - he dares to ask a girl before they do, and his choice is based on the girl's behavior rather than purely her looks. Also, he didn't give up when he was turned down. Also, Ginny is so popular that the only one who asked her to the ball was Neville, and only because Hermione refused him.)

Suddenly Ron has the realization of the century - Hermione has 2 X chromosomes! (Do wizards know about chromosomes? Never mind.) But despite her repeated insistence, he can't get that she already had a date. Ron even tries setting Ginny up with Harry - again, too late. Not that Ginny likes Neville, in any way. Not that he was her preference. He was just her ticket to the ball. As she leaves for dinner we part for ever with Ginny V1.0, the one who, among other things, keeps Hermione's confidence.

Finally Harry asks Parvati, who for plot-contrived reasons is still available. Lavender was already asked by Seamus, but Padma might go with Ron. We can all sigh with relief that this messy business was completed in a single chapter.

Comments

Comment #1 of 2

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

What's the point?

I don't think there ever was one; it was just a whimsical 'cute' thing that Rowling threw in. Fair enough, I guess, for a 'kids' series. And turning things into other things would be fun to do (or read about).

Does the animal retain the neurology of its original species or acquire that of the new one? Even in the latter case, surely its memories are those of the original species?

Oooh, I like that second question particularly, nice one. The first, though, it sort of plugs into the whole animagus thing, doesn't it, where the wizard retains his mind - but takes on the animal's instincts? Not sure if I'm tapping into fanon here.

I was just reading a fanfic a few days ago that had the students at a typical 5th year charms lesson learning how to banish/vanish mice. The poor mice were being decimated; half of the bodies vanished, the other half spilling out over the desks, heads going, tails remaining behind, etc. Ugh. Yet the story wasn't playing it up for gruesomeness at all, it was very much in a Rowling "fun and games, don't think about the details, oh, maths!" style.

Did Ginny think of going home before she got an invitation or was she counting on someone inviting her?

But there'd be no doubt of Ginny attending, would there? GINNY WEASLEY, THE GIRL WHOM 'A LOT OF BOYS LIKE'.

Until now he only noticed boys like Ron, Cedric, Viktor and Draco. Maybe he really is gay.

Oh, for goodness sakes - will you stop that already??!?!?

:-)

Yes, they only care about him because he's famous, but so does almost everyone else -

All except for one girl. And that's NOT Ginny Weasley. You know who I'm talking about. The heroine of the series. The leading lady. Harry's one true equal (and beyond). YAY!!

:-)

Buy one bottle and multiply however many times. Unless he wasn't that great at Transfiguration?

Making something out of nothing is conjuration - conjuring - isn't it? Oh, and it won't be until book 7 when Rowling decides that food can't be conjured.

Hermione is such a spoil-sport to remind him of that.

One of the times where she proved she was just too good for him, and make me want to shake him. Just one of the times.

Ron wants to attend the ball with the best-looking girl he can manage, and that does *not* mean Hermione. This is his second major personal insult to her (in addition to many minor ones), which is why she made it a life mission to force him to acknowledge his mistake and marry her. Soulmates indeed.

Half-way through this paragraph I was making a mental note to rebuke you for not introducing an 'anti-OTP' label when I read on and found that you basically did just that. Good on ya Oryx. Indeed, this CANCELS OUT anything Ron did (if there was anything) that was of OTP worthiness up to this point.

(Likewise his acts of jealousy and using Lavender in book 6 cancels out anything - if there was anything - positive between now and then. See? It's easy to take R/Hr out of the running!)

Re: Comment #1 of 2

[oryx_leucoryx]

Making something out of nothing is conjuration - conjuring - isn't it? Oh, and it won't be until book 7 when Rowling decides that food can't be conjured.


But according to Hermione in book 7 itself, food can be multiplied. So all a wizard would ever need is the equivalent of a single balanced meal in non-perishables, as long as s/he remembers to multiply it before eating the last bit.

Re: Comment #1 of 2

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Yep, you're right. My memory of DH is fading, it seems (dunno if that's a good or bad thing. :-)).

So all a wizard would ever need is the equivalent of a single balanced meal in non-perishables, as long as s/he remembers to multiply it before eating the last bit.

Yep. Or on the infinite camping trip, even if they Hermione had forgotten to pack any food despite packing eating utensils and tea, they could have still done this multiplication trick with the food they purchased that time from the supermarket.

Just another example of the characters being dumbed down to suit the story. :-(

Re: Comment #1 of 2

[oryx_leucoryx]

Half-way through this paragraph I was making a mental note to rebuke you for not introducing an 'anti-OTP' label when I read on and found that you basically did just that.

I think of all the pairings Rowling shows us in their early stages the only one that is anywhere near healthy is Bill/Fleur (though Fleur in DH seems to be on her way to become another Molly). Of the long-established pairings I think the most functional one is the Malfoy couple, I can't see either of them doing the equivalent of Arthur's retiring to his shed, nor do I see either of them encouraging Draco to be better than the other parent (Molly wants her sons to be ambitious - that's her complaint about the twins).

Re: Comment #1 of 2

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

Molly wants her sons to be ambitious
Not that that makes her a Slytherin or anything.

Re: Comment #1 of 2

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

I've got absolutely nothing against a parent wanting their children to eclipse their own station in life. In fact I think it would be a bad parent who doesn't try and motivate their children to excel, to do better, to improve on what went before. So I've no problems with Molly on that score.

Also I'm not impressed with the Malfoys. Yes, we see them holding hands in book 7 ... the book where the Dark Lord is dumping on them. In other words we're seeing them under extreme and unusual circumstances. And when they're feeling sorry for themselves.

But when they were on top of society they (a) were bad guys, supporting the dark lord's depredations, and (b) they brought up Draco to be a cowardly murdering type of person. The fact that they supported each other when the chips were down and they were threatened doesn't do much to mitigate their vastly greater sins in my opinion. Certainly you can't use the Malfoys as role models of 'healthy' couples?!? Abusing their house elves, bringing up a boy to be like Draco, bribing the Ministry. (I was going to add 'kicking out the headmaster' but yeah, that made sense, even though Rowling would be aghast to realise it.)

Comment #2 of 2

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Also, Ginny is so popular that the only one who asked her to the ball was Neville

Good on you again! You can tell I read and comment to these things sequentially, can't you? I got my dig at Ginny in at the start. :-)

Not that Ginny likes Neville, in any way. Not that he was her preference. He was just her ticket to the ball.

True. But Ginny (V 1.0) *does* stick with Neville, rather than jump ship immediately for crush target Harry, right? Sort of surprising, but there you go; Rowling was careful to make her look good here. Funny how all that went by the wayside in books 6 & 7. Really adds credence to the theory that Rowling's ethics - is that the word? - 'standards'? - are just screwed up, such that she thought Ginny V2.0 was a nice girl.

... keeps Hermione's confidence.

Goodness, I'd forgotten that! Most pro-Ginny fans conveniently forget that Ginny betrayed Hermione's confidence in book 6 ... in fact the whole R/Hr war of petty jealousy and bitterness and flesh-eating birds can be laid at dear Ginny's feet, her putting Hermione in hot water to save herself. But her keeping Hermione's secret back here, in book 4 ... that's a great example of how Ginny V1.0 *was* worthy of Hermione's trust!

*weeps for the loss of Ginny V1.0*

Finally Harry asks Parvati, who for plot-contrived reasons is still available.

Good point. It *is* canon that she's one of the prettiest girls in the school/year, right? I'm pretty sure someone in the actual books says that.

We can all sigh with relief that this messy business was completed in a single chapter.

Sadly we had almost an entire *book* devoted to such puerile topics with HBP.

Re: Comment #2 of 2

[dracasadiablo.livejournal.com]

Finally Harry asks Parvati, who for plot-contrived reasons is still available.

Good point. It *is* canon that she's one of the prettiest girls in the school/year, right? I'm pretty sure someone in the actual books says that.

It could be that we are meant to think that somebody did ask her but, since she and Lavender are presented as shallow, she was secretly waiting to see will Harry ask her out?
Or maybe she accepted somebody's incantation only to dump him for Harry?

Heck, considering how JKR paint all the "good" characters as being obsessed with Harry it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Re: Comment #2 of 2

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

Sadly we had almost an entire *book* devoted to such puerile topics with HBP.

Even when I was still a big fan of the series, I remember being annoyed with all of the silly teenage drama. I mean, JKR's trying to give the impression of there being a real, serious WAR about to happen. Annoying soap opera-type squabbles really don't go with that at all.

Re: Comment #2 of 2

[oryx_leucoryx]

Yes. Y1 and Y6 are the years where Harry's personal experience (aside from the final drama) most resembles that of a normal boarding school student. Even with 2 mysterious murder attempts and occasional war news.

Re: Comment #2 of 2

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

One of the arguments put up by the Rowling faithful to divert attention away from the author's errors in the romance department is that she wasn't writing a 'romance' series, rather action/drama (fantasy?). But that argument is knocked into tiny pieces when one looks at the sixth book, where the 'silly teenage drama' fills half the pages - extends for half the year, certainly.

But yes, Rowling was trying to go 'serious' and then went backwards with the idiotic juvenile stuff in HBP. Ugh.

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

Does the animal retain the neurology of its original species or acquire that of the new one?
That's the inherent difficulty with any sort of transformation/ transfiguration and I'd cut Rowling some slack here: She just took this from all kinds of fairy tales and myths and didn't bother to think more about it than usual. I mean I should have liked her to have done it, but I tend to look more severely on things she invented herself from scratch than when using time-honoured tropes, I guess.
Anyway, I always wondered how polyjuice was supposed to work. The transfiguration cannot just be skin-deep because where would all the extra flesh come from e.g. in Harry's case when turning into Crabbe or Goyle. But if it extends to the whole body, shouldn't the brain be part of it, too? So how do Harry and Ron retain their own thoughts when being polyjuiced into Crabbe and Goyle? Has fanon come up with any answers to that?

Because the 24 guests are living on their respective vehicles
If this wasn't due to lazy writing it would be SO offensive! I mean, both schools are there under the official heading of international cooperation, making friends bla bla bla and it's abundantly clear that gigantic Hogwarts would have more than enough space to accomodate them - not to mention "wizarding space". But the icky foreigners are still kept outside like chipsies were in the good old times, just let in for having meals?

How evil of a teacher to give students until the end of term to prepare for a test.
This is, in fact, a realistic depiction of what pupils are like. It's their God-given right to mentally start holidays about two weeks in advance!

Again, I rather liked the fact that all the protagonists (Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny) ended up with someone they didn't want to go with and ended up looking rather like losers (not so much towards their fellow students, but towards the reader).
But so much yes as to the Ron-loves-Hermione-shipwreck. I mean, you could have it either way: Ron might not want to acknowlegde he was interested in her - but then he would very well have known she was a girl and pretty. Or he'd honestly be that dense as to not even realize his feelings for her (although I'd say that would be much more in Harry's line as Ron ususally is well aware of his needs)- then why would he react so jealous about Viktor Krum? Because Hermione was part of his domestic apparel?

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

But so much yes as to the Ron-loves-Hermione-shipwreck. I mean, you could have it either way: Ron might not want to acknowlegde he was interested in her - but then he would very well have known she was a girl and pretty. Or he'd honestly be that dense as to not even realize his feelings for her (although I'd say that would be much more in Harry's line as Ron ususally is well aware of his needs)- then why would he react so jealous about Viktor Krum?

I think there's lots of reasons to mock R/Hr but I never thought about the GoF Yule Ball thing in quite that way, I love it!

[for-diddled.livejournal.com]

"Anyway, I always wondered how polyjuice was supposed to work. The transfiguration cannot just be skin-deep because where would all the extra flesh come from e.g. in Harry's case when turning into Crabbe or Goyle. But if it extends to the whole body, shouldn't the brain be part of it, too? So how do Harry and Ron retain their own thoughts when being polyjuiced into Crabbe and Goyle? Has fanon come up with any answers to that?"

Perhaps their thoughts and memories are tied up with their souls, rather than their physical brains? Potterverse!Souls have enough physical presence to be eaten and split up and hidden in things, so maybe they can affect your memories too.

"But the icky foreigners are still kept outside like chipsies were in the good old times, just let in for having meals?"

I prefer to think that Dumbledore offered to let them stay in Hogwarts, but Olympe and Igor knew what sort of school he was running, and wanted to keep their students safe from the incompetent teachers/bullying pupils.

"Or he'd honestly be that dense as to not even realize his feelings for her (although I'd say that would be much more in Harry's line as Ron ususally is well aware of his needs)- then why would he react so jealous about Viktor Krum? Because Hermione was part of his domestic apparel?"

He didn't realise his feelings at first, but did when she went out with somebody else.

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

He didn't realise his feelings at first

Feelings is one thing, but actually noticing that she was a girl? Not finding her physically attractive? It doesn't really add up.

I guess it's all part of Harry and Ron never talking about girls at all, or their best friend. So Rowling could keep Ron artificially jealous of Harry for the Voldievision scene maybe.

[dracasadiablo.livejournal.com]

"But the icky foreigners are still kept outside like chipsies were in the good old times, just let in for having meals?"

I prefer to think that Dumbledore offered to let them stay in Hogwarts, but Olympe and Igor knew what sort of school he was running, and wanted to keep their students safe from the incompetent teachers/bullying pupils.

I would like to think that too. But I very much doubt that Dumbledore would have offered them all free run of the castle.
Especially after the cup spat out Harry's name. They would have all been security risks and possible DE or just threats in his mind.

[nx74defiant.livejournal.com]

Because the 24 guests are living on their respective vehicles

I can image the conversations with their friends once they go back to Beauxbatons and Durmstrang -

How was it? Did you have a great time? I wish I could of gone!

And the students who had gone to Hogwarts replying -

Actually it was disappointing. We had all our Headmaster/mistress. Not that Headmaster/mistress didn't do a great job of course, but I was hoping to go to some classes with the Hogwarts students, I was looking forward to (insert favorite class, perhaps Durmstrang students wanting to see how the Defense compared to their Dark Art Classes, or wasn't Flitwick supose to be a World Class dueling champion?)We only ate in the Castle and most of the students ignored us. We got to use the library, but (Beauxbaton's students complaining about how much better their library was, Drumstrang's student complaining how all the "interesting" books were locked up in the restricted section that they couldn't access.)
Well what about the tasks?
The first task was exciting, but for the 2nd & 3rd task we just sat and waited for the champions to come out. (Dumbledore had to speak with the chef meriperson to find out what had gone on for the 2nd task. And fake Moody's plan obviously wouldn't work if anyone could see what was going on.

[danajsparks.livejournal.com]

----Again, I rather liked the fact that all the protagonists (Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny) ended up with someone they didn't want to go with and ended up looking rather like losers (not so much towards their fellow students, but towards the reader).

If I understand you correctly here, then I agree. Unlike in subsequent books, the adolescent shenanigans in this chapter feel pretty realistic to me. I remember doing some pretty shallow and stupid things at that age.

[mmmarcusz.livejournal.com]

Why would Dumbles need to buy 800 barrels of mead for the ball? Buy one bottle and multiply however many times.


Not to mention that there will only be about 300 people at the Ball, which will lead to severe hangovers (if not alcohol poisoning). Oh dear, maths.

[sharaz-jek.livejournal.com]

How do you think he's persuading Hagrid not to kidnap the first-years and make them take care of the Skrewts?

[wolf-willow31.livejournal.com]

Why would Dumbles need to buy 800 barrels of mead for the ball?

I wondered that, too, especially since most of the attendees are a bit young to be drinking something like mead. My guess is that Dumbles decided to take advantage of the opportunity to restock his private supply. ;)

[sunnyskywalker]

Even if she had stuck with her original(ish) 1000 students total number, that would leave over 500 students plus a few dozen teachers and guests, which would still mean, what, maybe a third of a barrel per person? A quarter if they're really packed? Unless they do have a drinking age which would exclude some of the students, leaving more for everyone else. How big are these barrels, anyway?

[dracasadiablo.livejournal.com]

Harry's one consolation is that Ron failed even worse than he did, by asking someone who more obviously outclassed him.

I can imagine how "interesting" the family diners at the Weasley household are if Ron is still fascinated by Fleur. XD

Notice how Neville is better socialized and braver than both trio boys - he dares to ask a girl before they do, and his choice is based on the girl's behavior rather than purely her looks. Also, he didn't give up when he was turned down.

Neville is much braver and better person then Harry. It's a shame we had to be subjected to camping trip from Hell. I would have been much happier reading about Neville and other kids at Hogwarts.
But then, considering how big disaster the last book was it may be better that way.
I don't think I would have been able to take one more character assassination.

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

I always wished that Neville was the main character of these books. Not only is he a brave, good person who really tries to do the right thing, but he is much more of an underdog than Harry the Gary Stu. I could actually root for a hero like him.