GoF Chapter One
Feb. 9th, 2007 10:42 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
sistermagpie.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
deathtocapslockA long time ago, during a canon far, far away, these recaps started over in a different community, that's f'locked. I've kept meaning to repost the recaps from there and not getting around to it. So I figured I would start doing an older chapter along with the new one and eventually it will all be posted.
The older ones not posted here are just GoF and OotP. I figured I'd start with GoF. So here we are with two chapter ones for the price of one!
*Do I really like this first chapter as much as I think I do, or am I just relieved it's not Dudley Demented?
*So the Riddles, too, had a manor. No wonder Tom turned out evil. Sure he was raised in a poor orphanage, but he had manor in the blood. Related to pureblood Slytherin on one side, rich, snobbish manor house Muggles on the other!
*Does AK make a look of terror magically stay on your face and freeze there?
*I like Frank.
*So does everybody have to pay Frank for gardening? Like, he comes with the house?
*I assumed Voldemort owned the house, myself. It's the type of thing he'd need to do.
*Awww, Peter moving his lord closer to the fire. There's something really comical about this. Oops--I know, scary scary in the haunted house, yes, cold voice, not funny at all.
*Milk the snake. Ew.
*Stay away from her fangs, btw, Peter. You might bleed to death.;-)
*It still always amazes me the way wizards can be "obsessed with security" to the point where Voldemort doesn't want to make a move until the cup is over, but every year they randomly invite a dozen Muggle children to attend Hogwarts. Think we've found the hole in the security system there.
*I agree with Tora that the possibility of a Muggle/witch marriage seems completely impossible. And how did she hide it, being a Pureblood? The Weasleys can't even buy a train ticket after years of study.
*"Your Lordship is still determined then?" asks Peter, meaning "determined to go through with an elaborate plan with many chances for failure when something quick and efficient would do?"
*Oh Peter. That common sense of yours is going to get you killed one of these days.
*Pouty!Voldemort is great: Admit it, Peter. You want to find me a human sacrifice because you don't like changing my nappies! That's it, isn't it! I repulse you! You don't have to say it, I see the look in your eyes when you touch me. I'll bet you have to imagine I'm Sirius Black just to make yourself do it. You want to go find yourself a younger, handsomer dark lord! I feel fat and you don't bring me flowers anymore!
*Peter really has nowhere else to go? I would think there would be plenty of places for a rat to live large in the wizarding UK.
*Note that Voldemort reminds us that Peter is cowardly, first because despite not being a Gryffindor he of course shares their disgust for cowards as we all should. Second because it's important we know not to admire anything Peter does because it's all fruit of the poisoned tree. Sure he's effective, but only out of cowardice.
*It seems like Peter's protests about not wanting to protect Harry might be covering the fact that Peter, too, sees Harry as his savior. Well, come on, he lived with Harry so had time to be won over by him. Maybe we'll get a speech from Peter's that's just like Dumbledore's in OotP: I was supposed to kill you Harry, but I just had to help you beat Malfoy at Quidditch first!
*Life debt is, imo, still the reigning champion of those ideas that seem really powerful but are inconsistently applied for plot purposes. Life debts are really important...when we say they are. Luckily, despite the fact that Harry is apparently the object of not one but two of them, he's not interested enough to learn about them.
*"I have waited thirteen years," says Voldemort. "A few more months will make no difference." Why do I suspect those "few months" will cover August-June?
*But since we're waiting around for a few months (and all the security is focused on the QWC), how about having Wormtail tuck you into a carpet bag and smuggle you into the Ministry to get that Prophecy? Sorry, that's next year's year-long plan.
*Actually, those few more months will make a slight difference. For instance, the difference of Harry learning about Imperius from the guy who's supposed to be on your side.
*Is it me, or are the Death Eaters all pissy little Queens? This "faithful servant" business is a little degrading. It's also a little naughty-it reeks of pornish possibilities! People go on and on about Muggle-rape at DE meetings. Seems more like they'd be having dangerous liaisons with each other.
**snort* Voldemort doesn't appreciate Peter because he wants someone with brains. Yeah, like that's a priority with Voldemort.
*Again, why does everyone continue to insist that Peter is stupid and useless? Isn't he, in fact, the most successful Death Eater ever? But then, he was successful through use of simple, effective plans. If he'd had a more elaborate plan to get Sirius put in jail that failed spectacularly due to some meddling kids, now THAT would show some real brilliance. No truly intelligent plan takes less than 9 months to execute.
*Memory charms can be broken by a powerful wizard. Excellent loophole. That will come in handy--or not, depending on the plot. (See: Life Debt)
*Voldemort knows, he always knows...anyone think Voldemort drew inspiration for his villainous identity from old Muggle radio programs he loved as a child?
*Oh Peter, surely you know that when somebody like Voldemort makes a "give their right hand" joke it's going to turn out to be literal! Mwahahaha!
*This chapter is pretty damned cool. I love the gossiping villagers (especially the one suggesting everybody have some compassion for Frank--you know, the one who gets ignored), and Frank, and the creepy old house. It's really quite fab. And I agree with nymph, it does have a wonderful Agatha Christie feel to it.
*You know, sometimes I find myself wishing Muggles would wind up being the heroes of the story? They get no respect from anyone, but the way they stand up to wizards appeals to me more than the way the heroes do. They all wind up beaten, of course, but I could really seriously imagine a lot of the Muggles we meet in canon beating the wizards by being their ornery selves. Muggle pride!
*The Grangers probably wouldn't be much help.
IITS
Voldemort pretty much announces this in this chapter: everything that seems stupid about my plan is going in anyway, so you might as well accept it!
Informed Attributes
Peter's not the smart one? Err, okay.
POV Shots
I enjoy being in Frank's pov shot.
Spring-Loaded Cat
None, but doesn't it seem like there should have been?
Final score: 3.5
The older ones not posted here are just GoF and OotP. I figured I'd start with GoF. So here we are with two chapter ones for the price of one!
*Do I really like this first chapter as much as I think I do, or am I just relieved it's not Dudley Demented?
*So the Riddles, too, had a manor. No wonder Tom turned out evil. Sure he was raised in a poor orphanage, but he had manor in the blood. Related to pureblood Slytherin on one side, rich, snobbish manor house Muggles on the other!
*Does AK make a look of terror magically stay on your face and freeze there?
*I like Frank.
*So does everybody have to pay Frank for gardening? Like, he comes with the house?
*I assumed Voldemort owned the house, myself. It's the type of thing he'd need to do.
*Awww, Peter moving his lord closer to the fire. There's something really comical about this. Oops--I know, scary scary in the haunted house, yes, cold voice, not funny at all.
*Milk the snake. Ew.
*Stay away from her fangs, btw, Peter. You might bleed to death.;-)
*It still always amazes me the way wizards can be "obsessed with security" to the point where Voldemort doesn't want to make a move until the cup is over, but every year they randomly invite a dozen Muggle children to attend Hogwarts. Think we've found the hole in the security system there.
*I agree with Tora that the possibility of a Muggle/witch marriage seems completely impossible. And how did she hide it, being a Pureblood? The Weasleys can't even buy a train ticket after years of study.
*"Your Lordship is still determined then?" asks Peter, meaning "determined to go through with an elaborate plan with many chances for failure when something quick and efficient would do?"
*Oh Peter. That common sense of yours is going to get you killed one of these days.
*Pouty!Voldemort is great: Admit it, Peter. You want to find me a human sacrifice because you don't like changing my nappies! That's it, isn't it! I repulse you! You don't have to say it, I see the look in your eyes when you touch me. I'll bet you have to imagine I'm Sirius Black just to make yourself do it. You want to go find yourself a younger, handsomer dark lord! I feel fat and you don't bring me flowers anymore!
*Peter really has nowhere else to go? I would think there would be plenty of places for a rat to live large in the wizarding UK.
*Note that Voldemort reminds us that Peter is cowardly, first because despite not being a Gryffindor he of course shares their disgust for cowards as we all should. Second because it's important we know not to admire anything Peter does because it's all fruit of the poisoned tree. Sure he's effective, but only out of cowardice.
*It seems like Peter's protests about not wanting to protect Harry might be covering the fact that Peter, too, sees Harry as his savior. Well, come on, he lived with Harry so had time to be won over by him. Maybe we'll get a speech from Peter's that's just like Dumbledore's in OotP: I was supposed to kill you Harry, but I just had to help you beat Malfoy at Quidditch first!
*Life debt is, imo, still the reigning champion of those ideas that seem really powerful but are inconsistently applied for plot purposes. Life debts are really important...when we say they are. Luckily, despite the fact that Harry is apparently the object of not one but two of them, he's not interested enough to learn about them.
*"I have waited thirteen years," says Voldemort. "A few more months will make no difference." Why do I suspect those "few months" will cover August-June?
*But since we're waiting around for a few months (and all the security is focused on the QWC), how about having Wormtail tuck you into a carpet bag and smuggle you into the Ministry to get that Prophecy? Sorry, that's next year's year-long plan.
*Actually, those few more months will make a slight difference. For instance, the difference of Harry learning about Imperius from the guy who's supposed to be on your side.
*Is it me, or are the Death Eaters all pissy little Queens? This "faithful servant" business is a little degrading. It's also a little naughty-it reeks of pornish possibilities! People go on and on about Muggle-rape at DE meetings. Seems more like they'd be having dangerous liaisons with each other.
**snort* Voldemort doesn't appreciate Peter because he wants someone with brains. Yeah, like that's a priority with Voldemort.
*Again, why does everyone continue to insist that Peter is stupid and useless? Isn't he, in fact, the most successful Death Eater ever? But then, he was successful through use of simple, effective plans. If he'd had a more elaborate plan to get Sirius put in jail that failed spectacularly due to some meddling kids, now THAT would show some real brilliance. No truly intelligent plan takes less than 9 months to execute.
*Memory charms can be broken by a powerful wizard. Excellent loophole. That will come in handy--or not, depending on the plot. (See: Life Debt)
*Voldemort knows, he always knows...anyone think Voldemort drew inspiration for his villainous identity from old Muggle radio programs he loved as a child?
*Oh Peter, surely you know that when somebody like Voldemort makes a "give their right hand" joke it's going to turn out to be literal! Mwahahaha!
*This chapter is pretty damned cool. I love the gossiping villagers (especially the one suggesting everybody have some compassion for Frank--you know, the one who gets ignored), and Frank, and the creepy old house. It's really quite fab. And I agree with nymph, it does have a wonderful Agatha Christie feel to it.
*You know, sometimes I find myself wishing Muggles would wind up being the heroes of the story? They get no respect from anyone, but the way they stand up to wizards appeals to me more than the way the heroes do. They all wind up beaten, of course, but I could really seriously imagine a lot of the Muggles we meet in canon beating the wizards by being their ornery selves. Muggle pride!
*The Grangers probably wouldn't be much help.
IITS
Voldemort pretty much announces this in this chapter: everything that seems stupid about my plan is going in anyway, so you might as well accept it!
Informed Attributes
Peter's not the smart one? Err, okay.
POV Shots
I enjoy being in Frank's pov shot.
Spring-Loaded Cat
None, but doesn't it seem like there should have been?
Final score: 3.5
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Date: 2010-10-12 02:33 am (UTC)