GOF Chapter 37: The Beginning

[oryx_leucoryx]

Yes, the beginning of the second half of the series, with thick books of thin plots, attempts at 'darkness' and a lot of death that will be with us like a presence.

Mrs Diggory's attempt to convince herself Cedric died happy sounds miserable. After all, she must have realized he died while freaking in fear of the robed man holding a wand at him. The Diggories thank Harry, bid him to watch himself and exit the story. Oh, how more interesting it could have been had one of them decided to take misplaced revenge on Harry or to have Harry arrested for murdering Cedric.

The next morning Albus reportedly told the students not to talk to Harry about the events while offering no explanation himself. Are we sure Albus wasn't setting up Harry's isolation and the CAPSLOCK of Doom? Heck, am I to understand Harry didn't even tell Ron and Hermione any of the specifics? In the remaining books is there any sign they found out? Maybe Hermione never did learn that much of her campaign for elves rested on false assumptions about Winky's apparent behavior (or only learned so much belatedly). - Correction - she probably learned the truth a week from now, on the way home.

Hmm, Albus insists Harry should go to 4PD. Did he still trust the wards? Or expect Tom to trust them?

Hagrid says Harry did as much as his father would have done. No, James wouldn't have accepted the wand from Peter as a matter of principle, just so he could face Voldie unarmed.

The first time Harry goes to the Great Hall is the Leaving Feast. About a week after the Third Task. This is also the first time Albus says anything about the events. How much did the delay in the explanation contribute to the Ministry's and the public loss of trust in him?

There will be no House Cup this year. Because how can Harry and the Gryffindors compete with a dead student? The Hufflepuffs have an 'unfair disadvantage'! (See Cameron about Hawking, if you don't know what I mean.)

Harry can't read Severus' expression. Even when he can it never does him any good. So now Harry is wondering how Severus' return to Tom went. Not pleasantly, Harry, I can guarantee that, but at least he is alive.

Everyone toasts Cedric. No mention of Slytherin dissent. Maybe they really did see him as Hogwarts' champion. The students have a right to know how Cedric died, which is why Albus doesn't tell them. At least what he says isn't accurate. Because 'Cedric was killed by Peter Pettigrew on Voldemort's orders' doesn't sound as impressive? Because nobody is allowed to wonder how a Gryffindor became a DE?

"It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies" - note weasel word - generally. Giving himself permission to lie whenever. Even this very moment. Also a nice way to circumvent the possibility of people accusing Harry, by presenting the (unmentionable!) alternatives as 'it was an accident' and 'it was Cedric's own fault he died'. Maybe that's what Draco was whispering to Vince and Greg about.

Many of the Slytherins who had toasted Cedric refuse to toast Harry, so he can still feel isolated and unwelcome. Why does he assume Albus isn't aware of their non-participation? Did Harry expect Albus to admonish the Slytherins for not toasting him?

Albus makes a speech about how welcoming he is to outsiders and how unity is important in face of the coming conflict. That is the extent of 'magical understanding' in this series. The visiting students were ignored all year or treated like weirdos to be ridiculed or enemies and Albus expects them to join his fight? It almost looks like Albus wanted the Tournament at this time so he can make a speech about unity and appear inclusive. Also, he should have taken his own advice about right vs easy (hello, Master of the Elder Wand).

Fleur is hoping to get a job in Britain, to improve her mastery of the language of the true overlords. Was she in touch with Bill the entire week or did she just decide she wanted him? Or maybe she really did like the idea of working abroad, though I can't imagine why after the treatment she and her friends got at Hogwarts.

The Durmstrang students won't have trouble getting back because Igor made them steer the ship on the outward journey already. Perhaps he did not expect to be around to return with them.

So, were Viktor and Hermione making plans for her visit in the summer? Or did she tell him that now that the war was upon them she had to decline his invitation, she had a house to clean for Albus and his army?

Cedric was always polite to Viktor, despite him being from Durmstrang and therefore unworthy of good treatment.

Hermione smiles at the horseless carriages. Which are still horseless to Harry, despite his presence at Cedric's death, carrying his body to Hogwarts and thinking about little else for a week - because he hasn't processed Cedric's death yet. Or something. But to be technical, Harry didn't actually see Cedric's death - he had his hands over his closed eyes because of the pain in his scar. So does he even count as someone who has seen death? (One of Rowling's excuses is that baby Harry didn't see his mother die because he was in his cot. )

The trio have a compartment of their own, which allows them to discuss events in detail. So Hermione should be aware of all her misconceptions about Winky, among other things.

There is nothing in the news about Harry. Or Cedric. Hermione doesn't say if there is anything about Fudge accusing Albus of starting a private army or being too independent.

Hermione has been keeping Rita in a jar all week. Which means Rita must have overheard the version of events Harry told his friends. I don't know why she even needed to interview Harry in OOTP, all she needed was Hermione's 'permission' (OK, demand) to publish under her own name. Does Hermione realize the diversity of beetle species? I hope she had food suitable for the correct species of beetle. Hmm, if like the Marauders Rita learned to transform while at school, did she turn into the larval form of her beetle species in her youth?

Does anyone think Hermione thought she chose 'right' over 'easy' when she engaged in kidnapping, blackmail, aiding and abetting a criminal (by blackmailing Rita she was helping keep her secret and allowing her access to unsuspecting innocents in the future), attempts to control the press and potentially endangering Albus' war efforts (by not alerting him that his impromptu war council was overheard)? And she criticizes Draco for collaborating with Rita's illegal Animagus status? Or is she just gloating that Draco didn't make the most that he could have done from the situation?

(BTW if Hermione only forbade Rita to write horrible lies about people does this mean she can get away with unpleasant truths? I doubt it. Anything Hermione doesn't like can't be the truth, can it?)

Here comes Draco, with Vince and Greg. He says scary things about the doom and gloom that await Harry, and people like Hermione and the Weasleys. Are these death threats as much of fandom claims? He wasn't threatening to do anything himself, but the fact that his father is among those who might make those scary things happen makes it worse than 'people like you are totally going to die in disaster X' or 'hey, look, Dementors!'. But in any case, Draco wasn't threatening to do anything at this point. Nor was his father around.

Harry and friends don't bother with threats. They heroically and gallantly just go and hex the three Slytherins unconscious. And the twins (who are now of age and supposed to have the responsibilities of adults) hex them from *behind*. Fortunately for them Barty got soul-sucked, so he isn't around to ferret-bounce them. And Fred goes on to step on Greg. Which is fine. But Draco stepping on Harry is a sign that he was a DE in spirit as well as in allegiance. Harry used the Furnunculus Curse. Yes, Dark Arts right there, and showing why he will like a girl who can hex well.

So now we get Fred's version of the tale of Ludo Bagman, gambling and goblins. Ministry Department Head not paying debt to bankers with history of rebellion could have been a great story line. As would have been a story about a DE who creates discord between the bank and the government. Alas, Bagman's story was just a one-book red herring wonder with neither consequences nor closure. Hey, the goblin's don't consider Harry to be the winner because he tied with Cedric. Yes, Fred, that's such a dirty move on their part. It's so nice how truth can be as flexible as needed - Harry can be a winner or a joint-winner as suits the situation.

But at least the twins' story gave Harry an idea what to do with his winnings. He'll support the twins' commercial efforts. If they don't take the money he'll just dump it. Because donating money to charity would make him like Lucius, Merlin forbid!


I will add a sporking epilogue of sorts in a few days with some of my conclusions and thoughts from this reading.

Comments

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Or did she tell him that now that the war was upon them she had to decline his invitation, she had a house to clean for Albus and his army?

Heh. :-)

Hermione smiles at the horseless carriages. Which are still horseless to Harry, despite his presence at Cedric's death, carrying his body to Hogwarts and thinking about little else for a week - because he hasn't processed Cedric's death yet. Or something.

Definitely a Rowling error. Either she didn't know about the thestrals at that time, or she wanted to save it for the start of book 5. What do you think?

Hermione has been keeping Rita in a jar all week. Which means Rita must have overheard the version of events Harry told his friends.

Well, maybe the jar had a silencing charm on it, or Rita was tucked away in a box which simply muted the outside.

[for-diddled.livejournal.com]

"Maybe Hermione never did learn that much of her campaign for elves rested on false assumptions about Winky's apparent behavior (or only learned so much belatedly). - Correction - she probably learned the truth a week from now, on the way home."

Come to think of it, that might be why she seems to have forgotten SPEW in the next novel.

"Hermione has been keeping Rita in a jar all week."

I'm surprised Rita didn't just turn back into her human shape. Surely the force of her getting bigger would have smashed the jar and freed her? Or did Hermione put some sort of charm on the glass to make it unbreakable?

"Does anyone think Hermione thought she chose 'right' over 'easy' when she engaged in kidnapping, blackmail, aiding and abetting a criminal (by blackmailing Rita she was helping keep her secret and allowing her access to unsuspecting innocents in the future), attempts to control the press and potentially endangering Albus' war efforts (by not alerting him that his impromptu war council was overheard)?"

Or when she sends Umbridge off to be raped by centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, magicks up canaries to attack Ron, hexes McLaggen to make sure he isn't chosen for the Quidditch team...

[sunnyskywalker]

Maybe Fleur is an agent of the French wizarding government, and wants a job in Britain so she can monitor Albus Dumbledore (via his Weasley followers) and the possible Voldemort situation to see if their actions might impact France somehow. Which might have something to do with Dumbledore losing his Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizard title in the next book. (In addition to a student dying in the contest his school hosted, that is.) Maybe she's keeping an eye on the British goblins, too.

[nx74defiant.livejournal.com]

The students have a right to know how Cedric died, which is why Albus doesn't tell them.

Dumbledore really does not believe that any one has the right to any information.

Great quality for a headmaster of a school. He has no interest in sharing his knowledge.