HBP, Chapter 3: And now, back to Our Hero

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

In Which Dumbledore Reveals His Secret Alias As Pot Black.


- The chapter's first sentence states that "Harry Potter was snoring loudly." I suppose this is JKR's way of saying that her darling boy isn't a Gary Stu. Hopefully, Draco Ginny sleeps like an angel, awakable only by a chaste kiss.

- The way he's described in the opening parragraph, he kinda sounds like Johnny Depp. Just something I noticed.

- Our first Prophet excerpt marks the first time in the book that Harry is referred to by his new moniker, that of the Chosen One. He alone will stand against the Vampires, the Demons and the Forces of Darkness. Or he'll turn to the Dark Side. Whichever.

- The Ministry leaflet about "Protecting your home and family against terrorists dark forces", aside from giving advice obvious to anyone with a speck of common sense (Oh, wait), gives first mention to the headache-inducing Side-Along Apparition and to the Inferi. Just how you're expected to contact the Ministry once you've encountered an Inferius, however, is never clarified.

- I've recently watched the first Batman movie, and Dumbledore's treatment of the Dursleys in this chapter strikes me as eerily similar to how the Joker treats everyone in that movie: as showing a jovial surface that hides unspeakable danger. Even Harry seems to notice this, not that he cares what his Hero does to a bunch of people he doesn't care for.

- In a truly touching display, Sirius left something in his will for his gay lover completely platonic friend, Remus Lupin, as he, unlike Harry, actually has need of some money. Oh. Wait.

- Dumbledore takes a turn at playing the part of Authorial Voice, by mentioning how Dudley was mistreated. Dudley doesn't remember any such instance, and I hope "from his parents" is implied, because he was definitely mistreated by wizards (and probably by Smeltings upperclassmen). Not that Dumbledore referred to it in such a way.

- "And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." And in one sentence, Dumbledore shows more about his view of his mentorship of Harry than anyone wanted to know.

Comments

[guza.livejournal.com]

And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.

LOL! That has to be one of the funniest/most hopeless lines in the book.

[mooselord.livejournal.com]

- I've recently watched the first Batman movie, and Dumbledore's treatment of the Dursleys in this chapter strikes me as eerily similar to how the Joker treats everyone in that movie: as showing a jovial surface that hides unspeakable danger. Even Harry seems to notice this, not that he cares what his Hero does to a bunch of people he doesn't care for.

LOL and it explains a lot about the allergic Reaction of the Dursleys to everything wizard-related. Let's see: they've known James Potter (and his cronies), Hagrid and now Dumbledore and Harry Potter of course. I'm not amazed at all that they prejudiced plus afraid.

[lilith-morgana.livejournal.com]

Let's see: they've known James Potter (and his cronies), Hagrid and now Dumbledore and Harry Potter of course.

LOL! Exactly what I was thinking. Also - they've met the beloved Weasley clan, who crashed their living room and broke their fireplace AND hexed their son. Gee, I wonder why they hate wizards?

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that, were anyone to ask Rowling, she would say that the Dursleys are just squares. Or smack the questioner upside the head and go all "DURRR!!!"; it's not like any of her characters wouldn't do that.

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

I suppose this is JKR's way of saying that her darling boy isn't a Gary Stu. Hopefully, Draco Ginny sleeps like an angel, awakable only by a chaste kiss.

Heh. OotP was Harry's turn, now it's Ginny's time to take on the mantle of Aggressive Prick who everyone inexplicably adores. I'd hope that Book Seven would mean they'd both behave with some kind of likeability, but why change the habit of a lifetime? I anticipate that instead there'll be a meeting of minds (so to speak) and they can be jerks together forever.

He alone will stand against the Vampires, the Demons and the Forces of Darkness.

It's so perfect, since Buffy was an selfish, self-pitying martyr, too! *ships* I suppose Harry also has a superiority complex masking an inferiority complex, or whatever it was.
I still really hate that nickname, though.

Even Harry seems to notice this, not that he cares what his Hero does to a bunch of people he doesn't care for.

No, I will not hear this! Harry's ability to show love and compassion is renowned! ;)

In a truly touching display, Sirius left something in his will for his gay lover completely platonic friend, Remus Lupin, as he, unlike Harry, actually has need of some money. Oh. Wait.

Smack down, R/S shippers! I have nothing against them, but it did cause a bit of a LOL after the constant 'We're so canon!' ravings.
I've never gotten that ship personally. Is it not clear from the books that no-one with a stronger relationship to Harry than acquaintances could possibly have priorities or emotional ties stronger than their's to him? Even Molly appears to prefer him to her own children - does Remus really have a chance?

I hope "from his parents" is implied, because he was definitely mistreated by wizards.

Thank you! But in the HPverse, I suppose that wasn't mistreatment, but just what he deserved, whereas his inner evil means that spoiling him was wrong. Spoiling nice kids like Harry, ala Dumbledore, is perfectly okay. And of course, better off emotionally crippled than pampered!
And yeah, trenchant insights there, Mr. Pot Black. Since the Dursleys raised a fat (HORRORS!) minor league bully and St. Harry, while Dumbledore was in charge of the biggest psycho the wizarding world ever saw, I'm gonna say round one to them.

"And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." And in one sentence, Dumbledore shows more about his view of his mentorship of Harry than anyone wanted to know.

You know, I had my doubts, but with a line like that, he really must have been a Gryffindor. Might as well be that Sirius line about the fun of fighting for your life against Dementors.

[biting-moopie.livejournal.com]

and Dumbledore's treatment of the Dursleys in this chapter strikes me as eerily similar to how the Joker treats everyone in that movie: as showing a jovial surface that hides unspeakable danger.

This is a very concise and accurate description of Dumbledore.

In a truly touching display, Sirius left something in his will for his gay lover completely platonic friend, Remus Lupin, as he, unlike Harry, actually has need of some money. Oh. Wait.

You know, I'm not a Remus/Sirius shipper (in that I don't read fics with those two but I love the subtext between them in canon) but this bothered me a lot too. Leaving some money to Harry would be understandable, but couldn't he spare just a little for Remus? Poor guy certainly could use it.