GOF Chapter 23: The Yule Ball
Jun. 4th, 2011 04:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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deathtocapslockI will be out of town for much of next week, so I guess you'll have more time to discuss this chapter.
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Holidays, but almost all Gryffindors are staying. Not that many kids in years 1-3? The twins are working on expanding their line of destructive edibles. Meanwhile the elves are experimenting with fattening everyone (including Fleur) up. Yes, Hermione, when you are in a foreign country it isn't that easy to get new dress robes on short notice. Since they have to fit you can't just owl for them.
Draco says out loud what Ron was thinking - who would invite Hermione? Except neither boy has realized that she underwent a physical transformation more than 5 weeks previously when she got Madam Pomfrey to shrink her teeth to less than their original size. Now that her worst physical imperfection was taken care of she is as datable as any. So much for Ron paying attention to Hermione. It's just that Harry pays her even less attention - even when the topic is brought up he doesn't immediately notice the change. BTW this is another opportunity to threaten Draco with ferret transformation. Oh, and how would braces have helped with teeth that were too large?
Pigwidgeon's return gives Ron an opportunity to display some (relatively minor) cruelty to animals (or just the typical for him lack of appreciation of anything he owns). Sirius' reply congratulates Harry for his performance and repeats the warning against Igor. So why did it take Sirius 3 weeks to send it?
No, Harry isn't preparing for the second task yet. Why do you ask?
Dobby really prepared Harry a present for Christmas, he knitted the socks himself, from wool bought with his hard-earned money. Harry just gives him his worst hand-me-down socks. Well, that's one thing he learned from the Dursleys. Ron at least gives Dobby new items. But the real surprise is that this year is the very first time we are told Harry gave Ron, his best friend (and true love :P) a Christmas present.
Harry prefers the dungbombs from Ron to the socks he got from Dobby. What is so fascinating about dungbombs? As far as I remember, making places stink lost its charm by the time we were 7 or 8.
Harry and his friends change for the ball. No indication any of them showered before doing so. No wonder they could afford to keep up the snowball fight until late. (But how come it only became hard to aim at 7? This is Scotland in midwinter. It's dark well before 5.) In a few minutes Ron manages to improve his robes somewhat. Because this is Ron the job isn't all that good, but in contrast to Molly he at least tries.
While neither Harry nor Ron behave like good date material, Padma is overtly displeased with Ron, while Parvati seems OK with having Harry for a date. Whether that's because of his status or him being better dressed than Ron or some other reason isn't clear.
Draco and Pansy receive their unflattering description. Harry is pleased he outdid both Crabbe and Goyle - neither of them has a sate! Since they are wearing matching colors I'm wondering if they might be each other's dates. (Really, a Slytherin 3rd year student would go with Greg if he only asked.)
Viktor shows up with Mystery Girl. Minerva is in red tartan. Wasn't green her color? Anyway, like Hagrid, she fails at aesthetics. Suddenly Harry recognizes Mystery Girl as Hermione-with-a-makeover. The final blow to Harry/Hermione - Harry only likes the way Hermione looks when she doesn't resemble her normal self at all. (Which doesn't rule out Hermione/Harry - as I already said, one reason all trio ships are problematic is that they all appear one-sided.)
Hermione is the object of envy/jealousy for all the girls and Ron (Ron/Hermione or Ron/Viktor?).
Igor isn't happy about this pairing either. So was Viktor rebelling against his headmaster? Was he seeking an exotic girl?
Parvati enjoys the attention awarded the date of a champion, even though it does require her to babysit her partner.
Oops, Crouch isn't here, but Percy is. Since Percy has an income he can afford new dress robes. And he is so proud to have become Crouch's personal assistant! Of course this can't be because he was doing an effective job in his previous position, right? I'm guessing Voldemort feared Crouch would do or say something at work that might give the game away? And Percy as the youngest and most earnest person around was the most convenient dupe? (Also, Tom has Peter, who had spent 10 years as Percy's pet. I'm sure Peter knows exactly how to manipulate Percy.)
Despite the fact that Durmstrang serves a larger geographical area its castle is smaller than Hogwarts. At least the grounds are more enjoyable. But only in summer. When school is out. OK, I suppose spring too. (And when does Viktor do his professional Quidditch playing? Also, if he is out so much why was he sallow-skinned in August?)
Igor doesn't want Viktor to reveal Durmstrang's location. So I guess hosting the Tournament at Durmstrang is out. Albus uses this opportunity to hint to Harry about the existence of a very secret room somewhere near his office. I'm supposed to believe the headmaster doesn't have any facilities accessible directly from his working and living space. (We know his office is adjacent to his sleeping area from OOTP and HBP.) And I'm supposed to believe a grown man who needed the bathroom urgently, upon finding himself in a corridor with no evidence for a bathroom nearby paced back and forth rather than proceeded to the correct place. Right. I think the story was just an excuse. Albus decided it was time Harry found the ROR and used this way of telling him. Especially as Albus winked at Harry. (Perhaps Harry was supposed to get the hint and take the golden egg to the 7th floor corridor and start pacing.)
I believe Fleur that Beauxbatons is a more pleasant place to attend than Hogwarts.
Albus redecorates the room with a wave of his wand. Remind me, why does Hogwarts employ a non-magical janitor?
As Wizarding Britain's only known band begins to play Parvati backleads Harry into a dance of sorts. But others (especially Neville) are doing worse so Harry can relax a bit. 'Moody' notices Harry's socks and learns Harry is special to Dobby. (Insert pervy thoughts about Barty looking under students' clothes.) Hermione gets to enjoy both the dancing and Ron's jealousy. 2 years from now this trick won't work as well. Ah, but Ron isn't at all jealous that the girl he suddenly realized he wanted was dancing with someone else, no. He is mad that she is with *Harry's* Tournament rival. Whom Ron fanboyed until recently. Denial much?
The twins want to talk business with Ludo. Though not really about marketing fake wands. Percy is so proud the tournament is going well despite Harry's selection - nobody died so far nor were there any other disasters. It seems Crouch has been absent for at least a few days already if Percy is already doing his work. (Actually according to Sirius' Prophet clippings in chapter 27 Crouch has been absent for a month already.) There's an International Ban on Dueling? Is that a new development of the last 2 years? Because I recall a Dueling Club that met for one session back then. Also, shouldn't Draco and Harry have been expelled for illegal dueling if so?
Harry and Ron go for a walk because they need more opportunities to overhear other people's conversations for the sake of exposition. Igor is concerned about something that has been getting clearer and clearer for months. Does this mean that when Igor arrived at Albus' school he already knew the Dark Mark was returning? (Later this night Albus will learn of Igor's concern and insult Severus with his 'sometimes we Sort too soon' remark. Does knowledge of Igor's fears rule him out in Albus' eyes as the one who plotted to get Harry into the contest? Unless his expression of fear is seen as an act intended at finding where Severus stands?) Harry is observant enough to notice the familiarity of their interaction.
Hagrid gives us a couple of pages of exposition about his mother until Olympe outright denies any of it is in any way relevant to her. Meanwhile Harry attempts to distract himself by watching a beetle. Ron is shocked with the news of Hagrid's ancestry, but this is by no means an indication of racism on his part. Nor on the part of his parents, from whom he learned about giants. If it's true it's not a prejudice, see. (Compare discussion of race and educational attainment or race and crime.)
The boys return to find Hermione dancing with Viktor. She really liked him, she wasn't only trying to get at Ron. Padma and Parvati are surrounded by Beauxbatons' boys. (Somewhere in the crowd the newly-formed-Ginny V2.0 is dancing with Michael Corner, but we will only learn about it next year.)
When did giants leave (or die out) in Britain? If Hagrid's mother was among the last of them does this mean the giants left/died in the 1940s or did she stick around in Britain after leaving her family? Was Grawp born in Britain or in the Urals?
Cedric catches Harry and tells him to take a bath. Perhaps if he smelled less he'd have a better chance with Cho. Oh sorry, it was a hint about the egg. But Harry doesn't get it and suspects Cedric's motives. Because he doesn't remember Cedric's display of sportsmanship last year. Also, Harry has a chance of hearing Hermione berating Ron for not asking her out to the ball. But he values Ron's friendship too much to tell him Hermione's criticism was justified. Like Remus Harry isn't in the business of helping his friends see their faults and grow.
---------
Holidays, but almost all Gryffindors are staying. Not that many kids in years 1-3? The twins are working on expanding their line of destructive edibles. Meanwhile the elves are experimenting with fattening everyone (including Fleur) up. Yes, Hermione, when you are in a foreign country it isn't that easy to get new dress robes on short notice. Since they have to fit you can't just owl for them.
Draco says out loud what Ron was thinking - who would invite Hermione? Except neither boy has realized that she underwent a physical transformation more than 5 weeks previously when she got Madam Pomfrey to shrink her teeth to less than their original size. Now that her worst physical imperfection was taken care of she is as datable as any. So much for Ron paying attention to Hermione. It's just that Harry pays her even less attention - even when the topic is brought up he doesn't immediately notice the change. BTW this is another opportunity to threaten Draco with ferret transformation. Oh, and how would braces have helped with teeth that were too large?
Pigwidgeon's return gives Ron an opportunity to display some (relatively minor) cruelty to animals (or just the typical for him lack of appreciation of anything he owns). Sirius' reply congratulates Harry for his performance and repeats the warning against Igor. So why did it take Sirius 3 weeks to send it?
No, Harry isn't preparing for the second task yet. Why do you ask?
Dobby really prepared Harry a present for Christmas, he knitted the socks himself, from wool bought with his hard-earned money. Harry just gives him his worst hand-me-down socks. Well, that's one thing he learned from the Dursleys. Ron at least gives Dobby new items. But the real surprise is that this year is the very first time we are told Harry gave Ron, his best friend (and true love :P) a Christmas present.
Harry prefers the dungbombs from Ron to the socks he got from Dobby. What is so fascinating about dungbombs? As far as I remember, making places stink lost its charm by the time we were 7 or 8.
Harry and his friends change for the ball. No indication any of them showered before doing so. No wonder they could afford to keep up the snowball fight until late. (But how come it only became hard to aim at 7? This is Scotland in midwinter. It's dark well before 5.) In a few minutes Ron manages to improve his robes somewhat. Because this is Ron the job isn't all that good, but in contrast to Molly he at least tries.
While neither Harry nor Ron behave like good date material, Padma is overtly displeased with Ron, while Parvati seems OK with having Harry for a date. Whether that's because of his status or him being better dressed than Ron or some other reason isn't clear.
Draco and Pansy receive their unflattering description. Harry is pleased he outdid both Crabbe and Goyle - neither of them has a sate! Since they are wearing matching colors I'm wondering if they might be each other's dates. (Really, a Slytherin 3rd year student would go with Greg if he only asked.)
Viktor shows up with Mystery Girl. Minerva is in red tartan. Wasn't green her color? Anyway, like Hagrid, she fails at aesthetics. Suddenly Harry recognizes Mystery Girl as Hermione-with-a-makeover. The final blow to Harry/Hermione - Harry only likes the way Hermione looks when she doesn't resemble her normal self at all. (Which doesn't rule out Hermione/Harry - as I already said, one reason all trio ships are problematic is that they all appear one-sided.)
Hermione is the object of envy/jealousy for all the girls and Ron (Ron/Hermione or Ron/Viktor?).
Igor isn't happy about this pairing either. So was Viktor rebelling against his headmaster? Was he seeking an exotic girl?
Parvati enjoys the attention awarded the date of a champion, even though it does require her to babysit her partner.
Oops, Crouch isn't here, but Percy is. Since Percy has an income he can afford new dress robes. And he is so proud to have become Crouch's personal assistant! Of course this can't be because he was doing an effective job in his previous position, right? I'm guessing Voldemort feared Crouch would do or say something at work that might give the game away? And Percy as the youngest and most earnest person around was the most convenient dupe? (Also, Tom has Peter, who had spent 10 years as Percy's pet. I'm sure Peter knows exactly how to manipulate Percy.)
Despite the fact that Durmstrang serves a larger geographical area its castle is smaller than Hogwarts. At least the grounds are more enjoyable. But only in summer. When school is out. OK, I suppose spring too. (And when does Viktor do his professional Quidditch playing? Also, if he is out so much why was he sallow-skinned in August?)
Igor doesn't want Viktor to reveal Durmstrang's location. So I guess hosting the Tournament at Durmstrang is out. Albus uses this opportunity to hint to Harry about the existence of a very secret room somewhere near his office. I'm supposed to believe the headmaster doesn't have any facilities accessible directly from his working and living space. (We know his office is adjacent to his sleeping area from OOTP and HBP.) And I'm supposed to believe a grown man who needed the bathroom urgently, upon finding himself in a corridor with no evidence for a bathroom nearby paced back and forth rather than proceeded to the correct place. Right. I think the story was just an excuse. Albus decided it was time Harry found the ROR and used this way of telling him. Especially as Albus winked at Harry. (Perhaps Harry was supposed to get the hint and take the golden egg to the 7th floor corridor and start pacing.)
I believe Fleur that Beauxbatons is a more pleasant place to attend than Hogwarts.
Albus redecorates the room with a wave of his wand. Remind me, why does Hogwarts employ a non-magical janitor?
As Wizarding Britain's only known band begins to play Parvati backleads Harry into a dance of sorts. But others (especially Neville) are doing worse so Harry can relax a bit. 'Moody' notices Harry's socks and learns Harry is special to Dobby. (Insert pervy thoughts about Barty looking under students' clothes.) Hermione gets to enjoy both the dancing and Ron's jealousy. 2 years from now this trick won't work as well. Ah, but Ron isn't at all jealous that the girl he suddenly realized he wanted was dancing with someone else, no. He is mad that she is with *Harry's* Tournament rival. Whom Ron fanboyed until recently. Denial much?
The twins want to talk business with Ludo. Though not really about marketing fake wands. Percy is so proud the tournament is going well despite Harry's selection - nobody died so far nor were there any other disasters. It seems Crouch has been absent for at least a few days already if Percy is already doing his work. (Actually according to Sirius' Prophet clippings in chapter 27 Crouch has been absent for a month already.) There's an International Ban on Dueling? Is that a new development of the last 2 years? Because I recall a Dueling Club that met for one session back then. Also, shouldn't Draco and Harry have been expelled for illegal dueling if so?
Harry and Ron go for a walk because they need more opportunities to overhear other people's conversations for the sake of exposition. Igor is concerned about something that has been getting clearer and clearer for months. Does this mean that when Igor arrived at Albus' school he already knew the Dark Mark was returning? (Later this night Albus will learn of Igor's concern and insult Severus with his 'sometimes we Sort too soon' remark. Does knowledge of Igor's fears rule him out in Albus' eyes as the one who plotted to get Harry into the contest? Unless his expression of fear is seen as an act intended at finding where Severus stands?) Harry is observant enough to notice the familiarity of their interaction.
Hagrid gives us a couple of pages of exposition about his mother until Olympe outright denies any of it is in any way relevant to her. Meanwhile Harry attempts to distract himself by watching a beetle. Ron is shocked with the news of Hagrid's ancestry, but this is by no means an indication of racism on his part. Nor on the part of his parents, from whom he learned about giants. If it's true it's not a prejudice, see. (Compare discussion of race and educational attainment or race and crime.)
The boys return to find Hermione dancing with Viktor. She really liked him, she wasn't only trying to get at Ron. Padma and Parvati are surrounded by Beauxbatons' boys. (Somewhere in the crowd the newly-formed-Ginny V2.0 is dancing with Michael Corner, but we will only learn about it next year.)
When did giants leave (or die out) in Britain? If Hagrid's mother was among the last of them does this mean the giants left/died in the 1940s or did she stick around in Britain after leaving her family? Was Grawp born in Britain or in the Urals?
Cedric catches Harry and tells him to take a bath. Perhaps if he smelled less he'd have a better chance with Cho. Oh sorry, it was a hint about the egg. But Harry doesn't get it and suspects Cedric's motives. Because he doesn't remember Cedric's display of sportsmanship last year. Also, Harry has a chance of hearing Hermione berating Ron for not asking her out to the ball. But he values Ron's friendship too much to tell him Hermione's criticism was justified. Like Remus Harry isn't in the business of helping his friends see their faults and grow.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-06 06:01 pm (UTC)And wouldn't Pomfrey at least mention the potential psychological benefits of a hot bath, even if Harry rejected it for being too tired or something? A lot of people would instinctively want to scrub the area where Voldemort touched them raw, and Harry not even being up to that could be a sign of just how bad a state he's in.