HBP: Chapter 4: Welcome to the Harry & Dumbledore Show!

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

In Which Dumbledore shows how good he is at manipulating people while putting an eccentric front.


- Right off the bat, the link between Harry and Voldemort is severed, as V is tired of listening so much teen angst and is therefore applying Occlumency against him. Harry, for one, is not missing the flashes of insight into Voldemort's mind, which a)proves that he gives higher priority to his needs than the needs of others, and b)serves as ironic foreshadowing.

- Harry's impression of Apparition sounds a bit like being forced back into the womb. When Dumbledore asks him how it was, Harry replies, and I quote, "I'm fine. But I think I might prefer brooms..." Meanwhile, HP slashers file this as Evidence #183.

- Harry: "Professor, why couldn't we just Apparate directly into your old colleague's house?"
Dumbledore: "Because it would be quite as rude as kicking down the front door. Courtesy dictates that we offer fellow wizards the opportunity of denying us entry."

Given that there have been a couple of GoF re-reads elsewhere lately, surely we're all wondering, "and what about when the Weasleys used the Dursleys' fireplace without permission?" Of course, Dumbledore covered that part already with the "fellow wizards" bit. Or maybe the Weasleys are just that rude.

- Dumbledore gives Harry (and us) the definition for Inferi. While it might sound a bit like zombies, remember that saying Inferi are just zombies will cause Snape to Apparate on the spot, verbally bitchslap you and go on a 10-minute diatribe on just how Inferi are different from zombies.

- "There was no need to stick the wand in that hard," he said gruffly, clambering to his feet. "It hurt." I hereby declare this to be the single dirtiest line in HP canon.

- Let me get on the record that I like Slughorn as a character. Yes, he's a bit creepy in that pedo kind of way, and yes, the constant harping on his weight gets old faster than on nearly anyone else (probably because Vernon and Dudley, our resident fat stereotypes, only appear a couple chapters per book on average), but he's probably the only character on the series who treats Dumbledore as an equal and not as some sort of father figure to worship or to rebel against. Plus, he's living proof that Harry is prejudiced against the Slytherins.

- Harry and Dumbledore have a heart-to-heart inside the Weasley broom-shed (this is where I point out how dirty that sounds) regarding the tragic parting of Sirius Black. Here we learn that after moping his way through the last chapter of OotP and the two interim weeks, Harry has decided to choose life and live. Dumbledore commends him on his choice, noting that Sirius is dead but their love lives on. H/D shippers ponder whether love can bloom, even on the battlefield. [/extended MGS reference]

- Harry mentions how Sirius wouldn't have wanted him to mourn his loss for long; he would have wanted Harry to find someone with whom to vicariously relive their loving relationship of sending each other mail and making Angst competitions.

Comments

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

For some reason, on re-read Slughorn reminds me of Withnail & I's Uncle Monty, though not as pathetic. I can still see Stephen Fry portraying him in the film, however (although he won't do the movies and that's probably really smart of him!), especially when I read lines like "It's quite easy once you know how, one simple Freezing Charm on these absurd burglar alarms they use instead of Sneakoscopes and make sure the neighbors don't spot you bringing in the piano."

Dumbledore gives Harry (and us) the definition for Inferi. While it might sound a bit like zombies, remember that saying Inferi are just zombies will cause Snape to Apparate on the spot, verbally bitchslap you and go on a 10-minute diatribe on just how Inferi are different from zombies.

Oh that sounds exciting. I could use a bit of that this morning, since the coffee isn't kicking in. "Please note, Miss Q_Spade, that Inferi DO NOT eat brains. Certainly not HUMAN brains, the majority being of inferior nutritional quality these days and would barely satisfy a tick."

[jollityfarm.livejournal.com]

Stephen Fry is too young to play Slughorn. Clearly, Brian Blessed is the only correct choice. The Sluggy "Oho!" must be done in the Brian Blessed voice :)

If only Richard Griffiths wasn't already playing Vernon Dursley. I can see what everyone means about Uncle Monty. Should have looked ahead, eh?

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

Clearly, Brian Blessed is the only correct choice. The Sluggy "Oho!" must be done in the Brian Blessed voice :)

I remember you mentioned Blessed last time – I really do have to agree that he'd be a great choice. :D

As Richard Griffiths would have...ah well. I'll have to refrain from reading the upcoming scenes between Slughorn and Harry and thinking of Monty's pursuit of Marwood..."I mean to have you, boy – even if it must be burglary!"