HBP: Chapters 1 & 2: A Different Point of View

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

I'll leave the in-depth commentary to the professionals, but here are my impressions of the first two chapters:

- "The Other Minister", aside from being Rowling's attempt at keeping the "Previously on Harry Potter.." bits fresh, serves the necessary purpose of establishing how Things Are Different Now: Big Bad Voldie is on the loose, political "intrigue" is out of the way (taking Fudge along with it), and the breeding Dementors are a grim foreshadowing of the rampant snogging later in the book.

- Scrimgeour is also introduced as an imposing figure who later in the book ends up being rather incompetent in his recruiting maneuvers, signalling how the mighty Death Eaters, scourge of the Wizarding World, can be fought to a standstill by self-taught students. Such are the perils of being in a work of youth lit.

- And finally, since JKR doesn't need to prove the Strength of Woman any longer, she can now dispose of the ancillary female characters introduced in OotP. Thus, Amelia Bones (voted "Most Likely To Become MoM" by the Post-OotP fandom) and Emmeline Vance (classy-looking background Order member) get an off-screen death, as if having a vagina were the equivalent to wearing a red shirt in this universe.

- "Spinner's End", besides showing us Snape's swinging bachelor pad, signals the first time in the books in which Narcissa gets a speaking part. This is surprising, given how Rowling doesn't care about updating her feminist cred anymore, but since Draco's (finally) getting an important part in the storyline, it stands to reason that he would share some of his spotlight with his dear old Mum.

- Upon reading through Snape's verbose explanation about how all the stuff he did in the past five books was really on the service of the Dark Lord Voldemort, no really!, the readers who most identify with Harry wonder why JKR blew the "Snape was a bad guy all along!!!1" plot twist so early. The more discerning ones are considering the fact that he's saying all this to an insecure ('cause she's a girl!), insanely loyal Death Eater, and also ponder what he's not saying, like the time he told Dumbledore about Voldemort's impending return the moment the Mark started regaining strength, or the Occlumency lessons.

- There's also the obvious conclusion that Snape loves the sound of his own voice, but anyone who didn't already know that since PS/SS hasn't been paying attention.

- Wormtail pops up for a cameo that may or may not lead to anything in Book 7. The fact that he's been chilling with Snape for who-knows-how long: a) explains why Voldemort went with the plan for OotP and why he's sending the younger Malfoy to a suicide mission, and b) is fodder for Snape/Pettigrew fanfic.

- The Unbreakable Vow, aka The Great White Hope For All Snape Fans, aka Snarcissa fic fodder.

Yeah, it's hard to snark on Chapter 2, what with it being arguably the best chapter in the book. I suppose someone who doesn't like Snape, or always believed him to be evil ('cause he picks on Harry), might have more snark for this part, to the tune of "Thanks for saying what was obvious from the start, Jo. Now everyone can focus on the ship wars in 'peace'."

Comments

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Such are the perils of being in a work of youth lit.

LOL! Seriously. How many times are we told that the old underestimate the young in these books? Any time that kind of lesson comes up it pretty much lays to rest the idea that these books aren't being written for a younger demographic. Even the adults who are supposed to be competent are so inept your average child can see exactly what they're doing all the time (Slughorn could take lessons in subtly and persuasion from seventh graders).

as if having a vagina were the equivalent to wearing a red shirt in this universe.

Err...yeah. And I'm sure the Order was relieved to learn that Tonks had become significantly impaired at work due to problems with her boyfriend...while the boyfriend of course continues his delicate and dangerous undercover work no problem.

The more discerning ones are considering the fact that he's saying all this to an insecure ('cause she's a girl!), insanely loyal Death Eater, and also ponder what he's not saying, like the time he told Dumbledore about Voldemort's impending return the moment the Mark started regaining strength, or the Occlumency lessons.

This passage sort of reminded me of the last time I had jury duty and the person announced that anyone who wanted to could come up and ask for a deferral. She assured us that she knew that a lot of us had practiced our fake excuses in front of the mirror, but she didn't need to hear them. That's what I thought with Snape--like he'd worked so hard on this cover story he had to say the whole thing, even when Bellatrix is ready to let the matter drop.

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

I'm sure the Order was relieved to learn that Tonks had become significantly impaired at work due to problems with her boyfriend...while the boyfriend of course continues his delicate and dangerous undercover work no problem.

If we've learned nothing else from HBP, we've learned that women wither and die without love, and only the inspiration of men can turn them into sassy types.

[galaxianomiko.livejournal.com]

Upon reading through Snape's verbose explanation about how all the stuff he did in the past five books was really on the service of the Dark Lord Voldemort, no really!

This was the part I hated about the whole chapter and the whole rest of the book. Not the Snape-declaring-evilness part, but the exposition-style dialogue that just. wouldn't. stop. It's like we (and the characters) are all supposed to have forgotten what went on in the last five books and aren't capable of understanding indirect phrasing of any kind.

(Also, Snape talks WAY too much for someone who is supposedly playing double agent.)

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

I thought this was kind of funny--it was like reading a litany from every HP forum argument EVAH of why Snape is ESE TOLDYA!!!! Only when you read it coming from himself it's so totally obvious that he's not.

♥s Snape

[musouka-manga.livejournal.com]

Yes! YES! That was the exact same feeling I got while reading this chapter, and it really annoyed me. The only difference was that it didn't have five paragraphs on the "horrible, mind scarring abuse he's heaped upon Harry & Co throughout the years".

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

I adore Snape's swinging bachelor pad with the books and the elf-made wine. :D

...considering the fact that he's saying all this to an insecure ('cause she's a girl!), insanely loyal Death Eater...

It's also worth considering – whether one likes Harry or not – that Bellatrix has spent an inordinate amount of time away from the Wizarding World, while Snape and Narcissa have been living in the thick of it. For me, the most interesting part of Snape's chat with Bellatrix was this:

"I should remind you that when Potter first arrived at Hogwarts there
were still many stories circulating about him, rumors that he himself
was a great Dark wizard, which was how he had survived the Dark Lord's
attack. Indeed, many of the Dark Lord's old followers thought Potter
might be a standard around which we could all rally once more. I was
curious, I admit it, and not at all inclined to murder him the moment he
set foot in the castle.

Of course, it became apparent to me very quickly that he had no
extraordinary talent at all. He has fought his way out of a number of
tight corners by a simple combination of sheer luck and more talented
friends. He is mediocre to the last degree, though as obnoxious and
self-satisfied as was his father before him. I have done my utmost to
have him thrown out of Hogwarts, where I believe he scarcely belongs,
but kill him, or allow him to be killed in front of me? I would have
been a fool to risk it with Dumbledore close at hand."

– pgs 30-31, US version

At no point does Narcissa disagree concerning that first paragraph (indeed, this puts a new spin on Lucius' insistence that Draco befriend Harry that first year), which suggests Snape's not making this up. The Wizarding World's hopes for Harry Potter ran high on both sides, it seems; his blind, unthinking allegiance to Dumbledore must have been an exceeding disappointment to those Death Eaters capable (unlike Bellatrix) of independent thought. There's not much difference between Bellatrix's loyalty to Voldemort and Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore, is there?

The second paragraph's description of Harry is so true it hurts – he IS fucking mediocre, and it's always up to someone else to cover his arse and get him out of trouble. Snape may be dissing, but he's not lying.

Re: Snarcissa – I didn't perceive any passion or heat between them, personally – just a lot of Legilimency and Occlumency passing back and forth. (Not that such communications can't be sexy...! But I wasn't feeling it at first read.) I'd be interested to hear what others think of Snape & Narcissa's interaction in this chapter, and how it affects the way things turn out as the story unfolds.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Re: the part you quoted, I wondered if this wasn't JKR finally getting in the bit she wanted to put in that deleted Draco/Theo Nott scene where we learned the story of Harry Potter that the DE kids grew up with. I think this was it, that they grew up hearing that he was another Dark Wizard like Voldemort.

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

I wondered if this wasn't JKR finally getting in the bit she wanted to put in that deleted Draco/Theo Nott scene where we learned the story of Harry Potter that the DE kids grew up with.

I wonder if it might have been too much to have words like that come out of a teenager's mouth, which is why she chose to edit that scene. Like Snape, Draco and Theodore are aware of the reality behind "The Boy Who Lived" – they deal with him at school and know he's basically Dumbledore's pet. But unlike Snape, they don't know the reality of what it's like dealing with Voldemort. (Draco, of course, finds out just what that's like in HPB!) They can't effectively compare and contrast the two the way an adult who actually remembers Voldemort in his prime can.

[romeoambiences.livejournal.com]

rumors that he himself
was a great Dark wizard, which was how he had survived the Dark Lord's

So a baby can be a Dark wizard?? Are Dark wizards born, not made? *brain explodes*

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

Interesting comment which may mean DD's assertion about choices may be put to the test.

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

Only if it's a pre-Slytherin baby.

[jollityfarm.livejournal.com]

and the breeding Dementors are a grim foreshadowing of the rampant snogging later in the book.

Hahaha. It's all part of the atmosphere of gloom sweeping the country, as millions of readers realise they'll have to slog through another 389574393748457 pages of wanky UST. But! Dementor/Dementor = OTP! There's a ship I think we can all get behind :)

as if having a vagina were the equivalent to wearing a red shirt in this universe.

Unless the vagina is the mighty muff of Ginny Weasley, of course. But it is curious that female characters get killed off so easily, and that no female characters were capable of becoming MoM. Rowling, once again, seems to think that it is quite enough to mention female names while all the time granting the most power and page-time to males.

the first time in the books in which Narcissa gets a speaking part.

I think we all expected she'd get one eventually (especially since Rowling said she would). Curiously, Crabbe and Goyle remain mute. But anyway, she rather had to, as you say, under the circumstances.

The more discerning ones are considering the fact that he's saying all this to an insecure ('cause she's a girl!), insanely loyal Death Eater, and also ponder what he's not saying, like the time he told Dumbledore about Voldemort's impending return the moment the Mark started regaining strength, or the Occlumency lessons.

I do think that quite a lot of the people in this fandom, despite necessarily expecting plot-twists as a matter of course, still assume that everything we see is the truth. That means that there are still a lot of people saying "Well, he said to Narcissa about all that stuff, why would he say it if it wasn't true?" Well...duh? You think Professor Snape is the epitome of mystery and all that, yet you don't get why he'd lie to Narcissa about stuff? Wait a minute, I have to re-insert my brain, it appears to have come loose.

Personally, as I have said before, I think he's got his own situation going on, and would as soon betray either side. Now that's Slytherin values for you :0

Dementor/Dementor = Love In A Mist.

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

...there are still a lot of people saying "Well, he said to Narcissa about all that stuff, why would he say it if it wasn't true?" Well...duh? You think Professor Snape is the epitome of mystery and all that, yet you don't get why he'd lie to Narcissa...?

I totally see your point, and I generally agree. But there's a difference between lying and being economical with the truth, and I think in this case Snape's doing the latter. As I mentioned above, I don't think he's lying when he suggests that many Voldemort supporters were hoping Harry would take his place, and that it was a crushing blow to find out that Harry doesn't have what it takes/has no desire to do so. Also, note that Snape informs both of them of Dumbledore's injury, and suggests he's not as powerful as he once was. We later find this to be the case.

He's slipped enough wee bits of truth into his story that (IMO) he can get away with bullshitting Bella using snarky comments like "My information has been conveyed directly to the Dark Lord – If he chooses not to share it with you..." without being seriously questioned. Clever fucking bastard. :D

Of course, Narcissa rebounds with the Unbreakable Vow...

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

Unless the vagina is the mighty muff of Ginny Weasley, of course.

I was gonna say! Don't forget our feminist role model Ginny! No-one opens doors/portrait entrances for her! OMG TEH GIRL POWER *faints*

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

- "Spinner's End", besides showing us Snape's swinging bachelor pad, signals the first time in the books in which Narcissa gets a speaking part. This is surprising, given how Rowling doesn't care about updating her feminist cred anymore, but since Draco's (finally) getting an important part in the storyline, it stands to reason that he would share some of his spotlight with his dear old Mum.

It must have been physically painful for Jo to have write this scene. After all, she has just been forced to depict the ESE Malfoys--caricature villains of the piece--as a normal family driven by, if not love, certainly devotion to each other, to make difficult sacrifices that could very well result in the deaths of one or more of them.

Narcissa wants her husband back and fears the death of her son who has been driven to an impetuous act by the desire to protect his father. HOW AWFUL! What horrible people! Whatever their philosophy in life--not discounting the DE thing, don't get me wrong--they're real people with real, valid emotions. Poor Jo!

I find it very difficult to visualize Harry doing submitting to an unbreakable vow--and certainly can't see Hermione considering it without revealing 14 chapters later that she'd prepared a countercharm which makes the unbreakable vow not only breakable but assures a painful and gruesome (and comical!) death to the OTHER party if (oh let's just say it, WHEN) Hermione blithely skips out of it.