ext_6866 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
sistermagpie.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deathtocapslock2006-09-15 11:54 am
sistermagpie.livejournal.com) wrote in deathtocapslock2006-09-15 11:54 am
Entry tags:
HBP Chapter Twenty-Seven
*This is the chapter where stuff actually happens, so it’s one of the good ones.
*Harry’s pretty much mastered this Apparition thing over the last few pages. An hour ago he wasn’t sure he could get himself to the right place. Now he’s teleporting half-dead old guys with him. All you need is confidence!
*Harry knows the Apparition worked before he opens his eyes, because the smell of sea air is gone. It doesn’t occur to him that there are millions of places on earth that don’t smell of sea air, and yet are not Hogsmeade.
*Bizarrely, that concept made me suddenly imagine Harry and Dumbledore accidentally popping into the Dursleys’ bedroom as they were having sex.
*Dumbledore needs Professor Snape. I’ve nothing to say about this, but I’ve heard it repeated so often since this book came out I feel like I should mention it. This chapter will have a lot of that.
*Hmmm…I just noticed that he starts out saying he needs Professor Snape but when he fades out starts calling for Severus, his first name, the more intimate one. The name he knew him by as a student?
*Funny nobody else in town notices the honkin’ great Dark Mark or is up in arms about it. Just the saucy barmaid who of course wears high-heeled fluffy slippers. And is called Madam.
*I love the little moment for Harry to demonstrate how great he is at summoning brooms. I won’t ask why Rosemerta, who’s also a witch, had to offer to run for them.
*What would have happened if the pub door was shut with a catch? Would the brooms have broken the door and splintered themselves with it?
*One thing about Harry, he’s consistent. If something’s happened he’ll be thinking about how he caused it. He refers to getting his "friends" killed, which ironically doesn’t make Sirius come to mind.
*I really do love the moment where Dumbledore freezes Harry and gets his own wand expelled for it—which is actually a good thing in a weird way, for everyone involved I suspect.
*I’m sure many readers are wistfully thinking about how nice it would have been if other people had thought to do that to Harry in earlier scenes.
*Unfortunately, with Harry immobilized, Dumbledore must face his greatest challenge yet. A challenge he’s avoided throughout the entire series thus far. Dumbledore must…seriously converse with a student who isn’t Harry! Eeeeeeek!
*JKR’s working really hard to show signs of Draco’s inner life in his physical appearance, but telling me he’s panting is kind of weird.
*Clever little "you seem unsupported" line from Albus, suggesting that Draco can’t really depend on DE backup.
*Dumbledore’s using "Draco" right and left in the scene, but the narrator stubbornly sticks to Malfoy, thanks!
*Does Malfoy know what the Order of the Phoenix is? Not that it would be hard to figure out. Saying the Order of the Phoenix in this context would have to be like saying the League of Justice had arrived or something. They’re not likely an a cappella group.
*You really have to give up any hope of being a murderer when you have to try to convince someone verbally that you even meant the times you almost killed somebody before.
*When Malfoy seems paralyzed Dumbledore suggests he’s afraid to act until the DEs join him—that’s sure to do the trick. You can get a wizard to do anything by calling him chicken.
*Poor Draco doesn’t even really know how to play the part of a badass killer. "It’s you who should be scared!" is about as threatening as telling Dumbledore that he’s rubber and Dumbledore is glue.
*Okay, I’m going to try to keep track of Malfoy’s physical descriptions to get the change here. So far first he’s panting from the exertion of getting himself to this place. Then he’s frozen, sort of in denial. Then he goes into some childish attempts at posturing that still suggest that he sees himself as having done something significant to Katie and Ron.
*DD asks Malfoy how he got the Cabinet to work and Malfoy looks like he’s fighting the urge to shout or vomit. Was that his attempt to find the killer within? He gulps and has to take deep breaths before he can speak again, and I don’t think it’s directly in response to Dumbledore asking him about the Cabinet. That seems like a happier sort of memory.
*Montague nearly died Apparating himself out. NEARLY DIED DOING IT I SAID.
*Does anyone else find it strange that of all the would-be student murderers at Hogwarts the two Slytherins so far seem the only ones to acknowledge themselves as such? I was
*I love Draco drawing comfort and courage from Dumbledore’s praise. He’s good enough, he’s smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like him.
*Heh. I think the comfort and courage is what gives Malfoy the ability to be sulky when Dumbledore brings up his feebler murder attempts. Yeah, well. That could’ve happened to anybody!
*So following Malfoy’s stages, he’s sick, but then draws comfort from being reminded he’s not a total screw up. Enough that Dumbledore can get back to the "you are not a killer" theme with Malfoy actually able to follow him.
*When Draco says "Why didn’t you stop me?" he actually doesn’t seem to be challenging Dumbledore’s claim to have known it was him all along. I wonder what he does mean there, but it’s one of those rare times JKR keeps it ambiguous without even an adverb!
*Now we get into Draco the Sulky Teen again when he talks about Snape. Though again we don’t get the usual adverbs to tell us exactly how Draco is delivering every single line. Is he angry at Dumbledore for being taken in by Snape? Are the lines about Snape’s "wanting a bit of the action?" Draco trying to rub Dumbledore’s face in it?
*This seems to get Draco a bit carried away, crowing about how great it’s going to be—if only he could actually do the thing he’s not going to do in a million years.
*Kind of cool the way Draco’s livelier in response to role models. He draws strength from impressing DD, and is just determined to show up Snape.
*Yup, the one thing that Draco seems practically drunk on in this scene is not being a fuck up. Ha ha! I did good! I surprised you and Snape! I rock! Can I go home now?
*Filch would of course not check a bottle from Rosemerta. A nice illustration of why racial profiling doesn’t work.
*Okay, now Malfoy’s shaking again. Why, since he was boasting a moment ago? Was it hearing people downstairs that reminded him of his real position? The fact that DD is going over the mead and the necklace? Or just we need to wrap this up so start shaking, kid.
*Malfoy admits to getting the coin idea from the DA with a twisted smile. Love the twisted smile. It’s fitting but could mean so many different things.
*I always say this, but really I think Dumbledore’s telling Draco not to use the word Mudblood here is somehow important. At least I hope it is. Ironically, it’s like the only time someone’s ever seriously said something to him about the word. Usually the Gryffindors just get angry and say DON’T CALL HER THAT! Which is exactly what he’s going for in using the word.
*Awww. Now Draco’s tasting the bitterness of knowing he’s not a killer.
*I love the way Malfoy has to point out everything he’s done right ever—we put up the Dark Mark to have you come up here. And it worked! I should get house points for that part!
*Malfoy’s voice goes up an octave at the idea of a member of the Order dead. Seriously, isn’t it rather bizarre to have your bad guy so much more sensitive about the death of anyone than your good guys?
*Re-reading this I can’t believe I have spoken to people in fandom who actually think Dumbledore is trying to talk Malfoy out of the murder he’s totally about to commit in the scene, reasoning with him as if trying to calm some deadly animal. Could JKR have made it more obvious the one thing that can’t happen in this scene is that Draco will kill Dumbledore? That’s sort of the point, the reason we can be wondering what on earth will happen.
*And now we finally get to Draco’s Dilemma that he can’t consider not killing Dumbledore only because he and his family will be killed if he doesn’t.
*Still wincing at the sound of Voldemort’s name I see, Malfoy! Good to know…even if I will never really get it except in certain fanfics.
*No harm done, nobody’s been hurt. I repeat the line I quoted earlier: Yeah, you took real good care of that August kid!
*I would so love to see Lucius Malfoy’s face when he learned his kid had gotten him protection and an out of the DEs. My kid? Are you sure?
*You know, I’ve gotten used to talking to people who assume Draco’s got to have outside DE help with the whole Rosemerta caper, but does he? The book seems to suggest it might just be him.
*Btw, you'd think that a barmaid with nice tits and high heeled fuzzy slippers and all would need to be a hell of a lot better at throwing off Imperius, wouldn't you? What else has this woman had to do for people lately?
*You know, the last moment of the DD/Malfoy scene is so deliberately written (as is the later bit with Snape) I don’t get people re-writing it: Malfoy says he has no option. Dumbledore offers him one. Malfoy goes over how far he’s come, how he came close to succeeding, because he’s saying good-bye to that alternate self who was supposed to be the successful Death Eater. By going over that before lowering his wand it’s a conscious rejection from a place of strength. He’s not just running to DD because he’s completely helpless, he’s choosing.
*Once I spoke to someone who literally re-wrote the scene to be the opposite: Malfoy lowered his wand, and then said the bit about getting that far, and then raised the wand again and spent the rest of the scene trying to kill DD only he couldn’t aim because he’s a big sissy.
*Amycus and Alecto are like little Campbell soup kids gone wrong. How could anyone spend much time with the Death Eaters? They’re all total freaks except for Snape and Lucius!
*Dumbledore explains he’s practicing manners. Well, Alecto’s practicing good manners too, DD. If we go by your example at the Dursleys in chapter 3.
* Who thinks Draco’s ever been able to be in the same room with Fenrir for more than thirty seconds before needing to run away and take an herbal bath?
*Is Fenrir bleeding? Or does he keep a blood capsule in his mouth just for smiling obscenely and licking his lips?
*You know, Fenrir would have made a far better boggart for Lupin. Imagine if that guy had popped out of that wardrobe!
*Dumbledore says he’s shocked Draco would bring Fenrir to a place where his friends live. Silly, Dumbledore—Slytherins don’t have friends!
*Everyone pay attention, please! Draco Malfoy just asserted his actual personality in saying he didn’t want Fenrir to come instead of loudly proclaiming this is great by him! It’s his last line in the book, and probably the first honest one!
*Draco’s looking into Dumbledore’s face now—like he’s a person and all.
*Amycus reminds us that Death Eaters are almost all, to a man, dim-witted.
*I see no reason for Fenrir to be a Muggle. Just mentioning that as a response to many theories on this that I’ve seen, including some that claim his DE robes not fitting well means he must have borrowed them from a wizard.
*Snape enters with a large can of whoop-ass and he’s not afraid to use it.
*Snape does not enter with a look of hatred on his face. This is the other bit of the scene that keeps getting rewritten to fit how people want it to go. He walks in and looks around neutrally, and Dumbledore pleads immediately. Not in response to Snape’s look of hatred, in response to Snape’s mere appearance.
*Everyone falls back, awed by the Shaft-like coolness that is Snape. So much cooler than James Potter. Sorry, James.
*OMG Snape killed Dumbledore!!!111!!
*Yipes! Just had a flashback to a theory about how the skull by Dumbledore at the end is clearly a reference to Golgotha. As if any author in their right mind would miss having Dumbledore suspended under a glowing green snake skull at his moment of death!
The Borgnine Proviso
JKR created a lumpy Death Eater just for Ernest Borgnine!
Foley Work
Footsteps and crashes, mostly, to punctuate the right moments in the conversation.
Designated Hero
Not that Harry does anything bad here, but when any chapter where your hero is petrified is a good chapter, you might want to think about it.
Idiot World
Not a single one of these Death Eaters besides Draco and Snape seems able to understand a simple pun much less take over the world.
James Bond Exposition Rule
But turned on its head, since Draco’s exposition is explicitly a way to avoid killing. Which is probably why his victim winds up dead while Dr. No’s wind up alive.
I can’t believe I can’t give this chapter either of Ken’s Rules of High Altitude Mortality! Dumbledore doesn’t shriek and he flies backwards! There’s no rule for floating suspended in the air for a moment. Also, maybe because Harry’s frozen, there’s not much misdirected answering.
"Watermelon, watermelon, cantaloupe, cantaloupe"
Watermelon, watermelon, THEY’VE BLOCKED THE STAIRS cantaloupe, cantaloupe, Ack! Zap! Bang! Order of the Phoenix powers activate!
Final score: 6
Slytherin Liquid Count: No actual liquid, but drinking is referenced, as is the deadly potion.
no subject
Oh Dumbledore. I almost admire you in this scene. You've never spoken to the kid before, and you almost have him manipulated into a corner. Why weren't you in politics? Oh right - helpless little kids - easy marks - influence over all your past students - I really do think Dumbledore was an enormous asset to the side of Goodness and Truth. On a personal level, I'm happy he died. Except for poor Snape!
Who's the cat that won't cop out/When there's danger all about? SNAPE!
I really can't. Even. Draco on top of the tower. Montague almost died. The Slytherins must have felt like they were being picked off! His daddy was put in prison! He did all these things and he is all happy about being praised and he isn't a killer, God damn it! I will lie under my bed and cry for hours if he dies in book seven. I will never trust a book again.
I... am late to my going away party. Eeek. Damn you, Magpiiiie!
no subject
It works either way, really.
I think it's more likely it was him, simply because no other option was suggested, which is often a sign from JKR that she hasn't considered another option.
Plus the storyline is Draco being self-reliant; plus he and Rosmerta each have a coin, so if someone else was involved, it'd be difficult. (How often do you have to Imperius someone, anyway? Every day? Because plotwise, it's kind of hard to believe Draco could get away from the RoR regularly, and he's in detention when the actual necklace handover occurs.
Anyway, notice Rosmerta caves, unlike Crouch Sr. who fought it every step of the way. Not that I want to be teh paranoid feminist, but combined with Tonks + Merope falling apart with no reactions from the guys, is it any shock that a chick would go under like that? *snaps fingers*)
But then it works thematically if it isn't him, since having him cast it is a distraction from what we're presented with as his big sins - nearly killing Ron and Katie (mind you, there was never any follow up to Harry's attempt(s), so...) and we already had the chapter where we confront whether Draco can cast an Unforgiveable, and the question is left purposefully unanswered...
I love the little moment for Harry to demonstrate how great he is at summoning brooms. I won’t ask why Rosemerta, who’s also a witch, had to offer to run for them.
She's a witch, Magpie, not a wizard!
Couldn't even Dumbledore could do it? It's just words, right? Magic's never taken energy from someone yet - or even concentration.
The broom flying seems pretty much written for a movie. Maybe JKR was thinking 'This scene worked so well in OOTP with the Twins!'
Dumbledore gets his own wand expelled for it—which is actually a good thing in a weird way, for everyone involved I suspect.
Totally - the scene wouldn't work at all if Dumbledore is armed, both in terms of Draco making the choice not to hurt him even though he has the option (if he were armed, then there'd always be the excuse, for Draco himself, and for endless fandom wars) and obviously, Dumbledore pleading with Snape.
Everyone falls back, awed by the Shaft-like coolness that is Snape.
LOL, not Draco, who he has to shove roughly out of the way. Stop blocking my light, kid!
Amycus and Alecto are like little Campbell soup kids gone wrong.
Also, they're fat (stocky/lumpy) and ugly, like the 'heavy'-faced Death Eater Extra with them, and the huge blonde one taken with Ginny's beauty later. I'm sorry if anyone needs to sit down after that awesome shock. Remember, though, girls, looks aren't everything!
OMG Snape killed Dumbledore!!!111!!
LOL, I'm reminded of these: http://community.livejournal.com/wtf_inc/1141079.html
Not that Harry does anything bad here, but when any chapter where your hero is petrified is a good chapter, you might want to think about it.
This and Spinner's End prove indubitably that HP Structure Demands Less Harry.
I see no reason for Fenrir to be a Muggle.
I'm afraid to even ask the reasoning behind that. (Is it...'ZOMG, teh name of fluffy werewolves like Remi-chan has been tainted by Fenrir the paedo - ouch to all those theories about werewolves being representations of homosexuality/AIDs, unless Rowling has a Bible belt mentality! - so he must be a filthy Muggle?')
Malfoy admits to getting the coin idea from the DA with a twisted smile. Love the twisted smile. It’s fitting but could mean so many different things.
The DA were awfully useful towards a Dumbledore killing plan here, here, weren't they? Coins, potions in bottles, Montague, the Darkness powder in the next chapter. Draco couldn't find room for mutilating someone's face, but otherwise a stellar job!
Dumbledore needs Professor Snape.
Harry's sort of breezing over this ('I'll get Pomfrey', 'Nope, Snape, please.' 'Mme. Pomfrey will be here any minute!') made me LOL.
no subject
Interesting there's not so much focus on fighting off Cruciatus. I guess it then gives an excuse for a bit of hurt/comfort and Harry bravely standing straight-backed and all. Still, I can't imagine Lily, James or Harry ever going crazy from it, either.
I wonder if JKR is purposefuly having the WW underestimate and look down on Muggles to portray their elitism, or if she simply thinks all these "LOLZ, MUggles!!1" jokes are cute.
The way she portrays disliking Muggleborns as racism but not Muggles; as well as the Dursleys and the Muggle-baiting they end up hilariously enduring (from the epitome of goodness among others!); and the fact she apparently said somewhere that the two worlds will never join would indicate (oh, and that Harry would get revenge on Dudley. Because it would be just unbearable if Harry moved on and left them and lived Teh Happiest Life Ever!11 with Ginny Sue and nine million babies and a career as a successful Auror/Quidditch player/unicorn, while they rotted in their own middle-class mediocrity. Nope, getting revenge will really show how much he's grown and matured! Use the Sectumsempra, Harry, the only side effect is a twinge afterwards!) that maybe she's not going to focus on it, but I guess never say never and all that.
Re: Draco, Fenrir, Harry & D
Harry seems quite reluctant to call for Snape's help (D had to ask him twice, while Harry was insisting on calling the nurse). I pity D here: he knows he is dying, only Snape (who is relatively far away) can help him & Harry is a stubborn dumbass , intending to bring utterly useless Madam Pomphey due to old prejudice, wasting precious time. It's questionable whether even at the hospital they would save D, let alone the simple nurse.
* /He refers to getting his "friends" killed, which ironically doesn’t make Sirius come to mind./
But … sistermagpie, it isn't ironic, since we can not afford concentrating on Harry's stubbornness, past tragical mistakes or (heaven forbid!) stupidity, can we? Then we would be liable to get 8 books instead of 7.
*/I really do love the moment where Dumbledore freezes Harry and gets his own wand expelled for it/
It shows the true amount of trust D has in H's intelligence and abilities. Probably the previous chapter's adventure opened D's eyes a bit.
*/Dumbledore’s using "Draco" right and left in the scene, but the narrator stubbornly sticks to Malfoy, thanks!/
It subtly(!) shows the difference between D's & JKR's feelings about Draco. D views him as a person in difficult position, forced for the first time in his life to understand the seriousness of the situation and the true meaning/cost of bringing to life the ideas, which he absorbed with his mother's milk. On the other hand, JKR views him as a weak, bad, despicable person, who probably (we will see in the next book, I fear) hasn't been punished enough. Well, may be it is NOT as black& white as I told, but D seems to have more sympathy for Draco than Rowing. Since she is the writer, don't ask me how it is possible. Oh! I got it! D is the epitome of goodness & as such pities even the not deserving people, succumbing to his greatest fault to believe in the best of people.
*/Is Fenrir bleeding? /
He has just attacked Bill, so it's Bill's blood. Ouch…
*/You know, Fenrir would have made a far better boggart for Lupin. Imagine if that guy had popped out of that wardrobe!/
But then we wouldn't have this hint to Lupin's disease, which enabled Hermione to figure out his being a werewolf, and most importantly Lupin would seem contemptuously weak- only such cowards as Peter are afraid of their enemies, heroes are only afraid of the fear itself (with Harry as our shining example). Btw, I have never understood Lupin's line about the fright of the fear alone about Harry's boggat dementor. To me it seemed that Harry was just more afraid of the dementors since they were closer than Voldemort at the time.
* /James Bond Exposition Rule-But turned on its head, since Draco’s exposition is explicitly a way to avoid killing. Which is probably why his victim winds up dead while Dr. No’s wind up alive. /
Props to JKR for giving such ironic twist to the old idea. Of course, it was entirely accidental, but anyway…
Re: Draco, Voldie, Lucius, 2 questions and 2 PRESENTS as tribute to the dead
Only in this way we will be able to have the TINIEST drop of pity mingled with contempt (of course) & not deem Draco as irredeemable evil. However, some people in fandom aren't still impressed about the irredeemable evil part, having stricter moral codes than JKR herself (!).
*I would so love to see Lucius Malfoy’s face when he learned his kid had gotten him protection and an out of the DEs. My kid? Are you sure?
I honestly think that deep inside Lucius would be happy & proud in his son's accomplishments, since V decided to kill off all Malfoy's family (even Bella is out of honor). Don't you, sistermagpie?
*/By going over that before lowering his wand it’s a conscious rejection from a place of strength. He’s not just running to DD because he’s completely helpless, he’s choosing./
Still not enough for many people in the fandom.
I wonder whether D thought that Draco WOULD kill him at some point.
*/Amycus and Alecto are like little Campbell soup kids gone wrong. How could anyone spend much time with the Death Eaters? They’re all total freaks except for Snape and Lucius!/
I got a wonderful idea: associating with lower people (f.e. less intelligent) ( & NOT creating Horcruxes or indulging in other forms of DA) transformed Voldemort from the bright student to nervous, already-not-so-bright villain, whose followers got on his nerves so much (after decades(!) with them ONLY) that he is extremely Crucio-happy sadist, suffering from mood swings and chronic irritation. For somebody with his intelligence communicating with such people is torturous.
JKR said : "immense brainpower does not protect you from emotional mistakes and I think Dumbledore really exemplifies that. In fact, I would tend to think that being very, very intelligent might create some problems and it has done for Dumbledore, because his wisdom has isolated him, and I think you can see that in the books, because where is his equal, where is his confidante, where is his partner? He has none of those things. He’s always the one who gives, he’s always the one who has the insight and has the knowledge."
While it's true for D, this paradoxically even more true for Voldemort. The Hogwarts teachers, D's acquaintances like Amelia Bones or the minister, Slughorn (who is on the run from his previously favorite student TR, but isn't unhappy to chat with D & return to his school), etc. are much more intelligent than V's Grabbe& Goyle, Amycus &Alecto, Fenrir and the likes of them. No wonder, V lost touch with reality, assuming himself to be genius (in comparison to his followers,and even …. Harry, he IS & Snape is smart enough to keep his mouth shut without any connections to his real side, btw). To be fair, without the author intervention Harry wouldn't get out alive from the GoF graveyard excursion.
2 QUESTIONS:
1) */Does anyone else find it strange that of all the would-be student murderers at Hogwarts the two Slytherins so far seem the only ones to acknowledge themselves as such? /
Draco is the first, but I am not sure about the second. Do you mean Voldemort or Snape?
2)How can I use the rich editor while posting a comment? When I push 'add comment' I don't see this version. However, other people somehow use slanted writing & other rich editor features.
SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE… so there is a need for consolation (or not) prizes and of course paying tribute to the dead:
2 PRESENTS:
1) 4 truly wonderful fics dealing with (in that order): D's favoritism toward HP (as viewed by people except Snape), the nature of redemption and the human soul (wonderful characterizations of Draco& Snape), killing HP & Kreacher. Enjoy!
http://elanor-x.livejournal.com/2813.html#cutid1
2) a summery execution with (hopefully) humorous pictures:
http://elanor-x.livejournal.com/2406.html#cutid1
Re: Draco, Voldie, Lucius, 2 questions and 2 PRESENTS as tribute to the dead
There's a section in the FAQs here on how to do italics, bolding, and that sort of thing. Hope that helps!
Re: Draco, Voldie, Lucius, 2 questions and 2 PRESENTS as tribute to the dead
Only in this way we will be able to have the TINIEST drop of pity mingled with contempt (of course) & not deem Draco as irredeemable evil.
He has to still feel contempt--Draco's obsessed with the Dark Arts! Unlike Harry, who's able to use them freely while remaining pu
I honestly think that deep inside Lucius would be happy & proud in his son's accomplishments, since V decided to kill off all Malfoy's family (even Bella is out of honor). Don't you, sistermagpie?
Oh, absolutely! I imagine him really surprised after two years in a row of, "We brought Draco home from the train station unconscious." :-)
While it's true for D, this paradoxically even more true for Voldemort.
They both definitely seem to see themselves that way as well. As the conversation recently in my lj has pointed out, it's not like it's just DD and the mentally deficient. He loves being the guy who knows everything and has to make all the decisions alone.
Draco is the first, but I am not sure about the second. Do you mean Voldemort or Snape?
Oops--forgot about Voldemort. I meant Snape feeling remorse about the Prophecy and becoming a spy.
How can I use the rich editor while posting a comment? When I push 'add comment' I don't see this version. However, other people somehow use slanted writing & other rich editor features.
I put that stuff in using codes, many of which are listed under the lj faq. Like, if you want to do italics you do < i > (remove spaces < / i >
no subject
ME: Do you believe that Snape is evil?
LUMP OF MATTER: Well, of course
ME: Why do you believe that?
LUMP OF MATTER: Because he killed DD, of course ::looks at me crazily, like I'm about to lick their eyeball::
ME: ... You're one of those people who vote for Bush because he's against guys screwing guys, right?
LUMP OF MATTER: Yay Republicans! Yay life, yay hetero sex, yay war for gas!
no subject
Also, there's always a higher price to pay for someone to kill off an ickle Gryffindor. That issue has been brought up in this community before. Harassing and harming Slytherins is a-ok! But it's completely wrong to harm a Gryffindor, let alone kill him.
So while Snape killing Dumbledore isn't the only reason as to why he's evil, it could certainly stand as a factor.
Incidentally, I've heard things from the other side of the fence. With people spouting "Oh, he's good because he's like ME!!!" or "He's good because if he isn't, how could he be with Lupin/Dumbledore/any of the good guys I try to pair him with?" or "He loved Lily so he just had to kill Dumbledore! He was bawling really when he left the tower!"
I'm not sure which will be more sickening if it turns out to be true. The Snape/Lily thing or the idea that Snape is good just because he knows it's the right thing to be.
no subject
Ditto. God, especially if she was all Benevolent St. Lily Potter to him and we're supposed to like her for that. Memo to Gryffindor: stringing people along makes you just as much a jackass (if not more of one) then just telling them to piss off right off the bat.
Although, as to murder, Harry also almost killed Dumbledore and Draco and yet we're not supposed to see him as evil for it. At least, in a sane, rational sense, which is I think the sense JKR would look at it, even if her fans would go crosseyed at seeing the pure logic of it.
no subject
Harry's a Gryffindor. He didn't mean to nearly kill Dumbledore and he didn't know what he was doing with Draco. Both times would have been accidents had he succeeded. What Snape did was no accident.
All the same, Harry gets a free pass because he's a Gryffindor and the hero of the books. If this is what JKR wants to portray, then she's sending major mixed signals. On the one hand, there's all the crap about horcruxes and killing someone splits your soul and it's OMG So BAD!
Then on the other hand, eviscerating people is just fine and dandy.
no subject
no subject
why would he want her?
LOL. You're going by the assumption that Snape would be put off by her annoying personality when she was Teh Pretty! Girls want guys for personality traits, mainly bravery (right down to Fleur, who never sorted Gryffindor) or non-physical qualities like fame; but really, has anyone had a crush on a girl and given more than a passing thought to her personality in these books?
no subject
Snape was no angel in that scene either, but at least he was human. What sort of kid would want to be 'protected' by a girl against a group of obnoxious bullies. James' crush was painfully evident and I'm sure Snape saw it as well, which doesn't help matters for him either.
She's tiresome to me. A dull lacklustre character who would need more dimensions before JKR decided to heft her up on a pedestal.
no subject
I'm glad somebody else noticed that. And I am so sick of everyone holding Lily up as some saint who defends everyone. I don't have my copy of OotP handy, but wasn't she trying not to laugh at Snape before he called her "Mudblood"? She thought it was funny. I maintain my belief that if Sirius or Peter or Random Gryffindor had been on the other end of that wand, Lily would have been cheering and laughing openly with the rest of the crowd.
Re: sassafras root- Lily post
no subject
Well, if you ask the right half of the fandom, he did.
*Does anyone else find it strange that of all the would-be student murderers at Hogwarts the two Slytherins so far seem the only ones to acknowledge themselves as such? I was arguing to the death discussing this with someone and they were convinced that Malfoy skips through the year totally unfazed by the near-deaths of a few blood traitors and Gryffindors, because he’s got no reason to care about them. But he seems far more aware of what he did to them than the twins or anyone ever did about Montague, or Sirius does about Snape, or even Harry will admit to about Malfoy.
But they’re GRYFFINDORS! Defenders of all that is right and good in the world, why should they care about a little collateral damage?
*I love Draco drawing comfort and courage from Dumbledore’s praise. He’s good enough, he’s smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like him.
And people say that Dumbledore’s not a manipulative old bastard. *loves on the manipulative old bastard*
*I love the way Malfoy has to point out everything he’s done right ever—we put up the Dark Mark to have you come up here. And it worked! I should get house points for that part!
WELL, TECHNICALLY HE SHOULD!! I mean, if Harry can win the cup for his extra-extra-curriculars, it’s really only fair...
*Malfoy’s voice goes up an octave at the idea of a member of the Order dead. Seriously, isn’t it rather bizarre to have your bad guy so much more sensitive about the death of anyone than your good guys?
Well, but it’s not insensitivity on Harry’s part; it’s manly courage.
*Once I spoke to someone who literally re-wrote the scene to be the opposite: Malfoy lowered his wand, and then said the bit about getting that far, and then raised the wand again and spent the rest of the scene trying to kill DD only he couldn’t aim because he’s a big sissy.
Sounds like this person was just as special as Our Hero, so it sort of makes sense.
*Amycus and Alecto are like little Campbell soup kids gone wrong. How could anyone spend much time with the Death Eaters? They’re all total freaks except for Snape and Lucius!
Dude, I’d stay just to watch Bellatrix feed her first born to the Dark Lord.
*Everyone pay attention, please! Draco Malfoy just asserted his actual personality in saying he didn’t want Fenrir to come instead of loudly proclaiming this is great by him! It’s his last line in the book, and probably the first honest one!
Strangely enough, this line seems to have been ignored/overlooked/reconstructed by most of fandom. Wonder why.
*Everyone falls back, awed by the Shaft-like coolness that is Snape. So much cooler than James Potter. Sorry, James.
Well, but James got Oh-So-Pure Lily Evans, so that automatically makes him ten times better.
*Montague nearly died Apparating himself out. NEARLY DIED DOING IT I SAID.
And people wonder why Draco, as a Slytherin, wasn't comfortable just going to Dumbledore and asking him for help right off the bat. I mean, the guy not only shows the entire school that he cares more for the happiness of some than the others by giving Gryffindor the House Cup first year, he covers up the near-murders of students from any house NOT Gryffindor. Like...honestly, if I were Not-Harry, I wouldn't trust this guy with my pet marble, even less my parents lives.
no subject
no subject
I really don't think he is a wizard.