HBP: Chapter 6: All Draco, All the time

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

In which the terrorists Death Eaters WIN Diagon Alley.


- Hermione was dreadful and Ginny good, so they were reasonably well matched. OTP!!1 Notice how the authorial voice leaves it implied that Harry is far better at Quidditch than the bloke who's been following the game for as long as he remembers. I would start a Ron So Pathetic Count (RSPC), but it would probably hit triple digits halfway through the book.

- Say hello to Remus Lupin, bringing birthday cheer in the form of news on death and disappearances, as well as clothes so ragged and patched he probably looks more like a bum nowadays. Such a pity JKR didn't let him become the Back-up Godfather, isn't it?

- Let us all mourn the passing of Igor Karkaroff, who will be missed for his pointy beard and blatant fanboying of Krum and Snape. Know that in your death, you have brought a gratuitous Regulus mention, thus setting up his eventual revelation as TEH RAB. May you continue you fanboying from the Great Beyond, Karkaroff.

- Harry gets the brief stab in the gut from the "People I like are dying too!" icepick, thus establishing his sensitive nature. Now he can spend the rest of the book ignoring the doom and gloom in favor of ogling Malfoy Riddle Ginny with a clean conscience.

- "Talking of Diagon Alley," said Mr. Weasley, "looks like Ollivander's gone too."
"The wandmaker?" said Ginny, looking startled.
"No, the pet store owner." retorted QF sarcastically.

- Lo, Harry is now Quidditch captain, getting equal status as prefects. This: a) is Dumbledore's way of making up to Harry not getting the Prefecthood last year, b) shows Hogwarts' priorities are no different than most high schools', and c) gives Harry the chance to surprise Draco in the Prefects' bathroom! SQUEE!!!1

- Say hello to Bill. He's here to give yet another instance of Ron So Pathetic, make a mention at the Probity Probe (while Harry wonders if the Probity Probe given to him by Nature will be enough to probe Draco Ginny) and to make it up to Fleur for leaving her with those screeching harpies he calls "Mum", "Sis" and "Future Sister-in-law".

- Once again, we get an instance of Ron So Pathetic (two in the same page for those of us who bought the Scholastic edition!), as he forgets the only reason they get Ministry cars is because Arthur's bosses want to protect Harry. And judging by Arthur's undescribed tone, someone (say, Percy) must have been very clear about this to him the other day.

- Say hello to Hagrid. Yes, I know you don't want to, but you have to be polite. Watch as JKR blatantly references Chapter 5 of PS/SS in order to increase the shock of Diagon Alley's current state.

- Shockingly, Tom the landlord doesn't suddenly resemble Quasimodo, but rather remains wizened, bald and toothless. I suppose this is because JKR wrote this chapter before seeing the PoA movie.

- Seedy Merchant is the first character among many to comment on Ginny's summer-brought prettiness. In honor of such an occasion, I hereby start the Ginny So Pretty Count (GSPC: 1).

- Yet another reference to Book 1 Chapter 5 brings us the first instance of Harry noticing the handsomeness of his fellow man... in this book. Granted, the authorial voice describes the robes, and not the young man, as handsome, but it's still valid enough for starting the Handsome Count (HC: 1).

- So the big question of this scene is: to whom would Draco send those flowers? Hermione (to the joy of Draco/Hermione shippers everywhere, the freaks) or the Twins? Or maybe Harry?

- It doesn't help that Harry's wand is at attention for the duration of this scene (Ron raises it, too, but everyone forgets about it, because Ron So Pathetic).

- Props to Narcissa for calling things as they are ("Attack my son"? It was a counterattack, woman! And he deserved it!!) as well as for treating Harry's "witty" retorts the same way we all would have (Harry's anger was only matched by his surprise; why wasn't Narcissa gawping stupidly at his awesome burn?).

- The Draco Dark Mark Debate: Part 1: On the one hand, if Draco feared having his Dark Mark shown because of Madam Malkin raising his sleeve, he wouldn't have taken off his robes (thus making Harry raise his wand a bit higher); on the other hand, if he's wearing clothes under the robes, he might not have liked those needles anywhere near where his Dark Mark is.

- Apparently, the Trio believe that the Malfoys would dare make trouble in the middle of Diagon Alley. Nice to know their selective memory works on events that happened a couple of minutes ago.

- Leave it to the Twins to release all the tension of Diagon Alley with a fart joke. Also, Ron is right: the Death Eaters won't murder the Twins in their sleep, not when they can provide them with all the weaponry they need (plus, Nagini loves those Edible Dark Marks).

- Anyone betting that someone will use those Patented Daydream Charms for a different purpose than advertised in Book 7? I mean, they must be cheaper than tranq darts, for one thing.

- And here are some love potions, for those among us who believe Ginny was spiking Harry's pumpkin juice at Hogwarts. Notice also how the Twins seem to be doing the brotherly tease while Ginny reacts as though they were calling her a filthy, red-headed whore. Honestly, Gin, who pissed on your cornflakes?

- The Draco Dark Mark Debate: Part 2: Either Draco showed Borgin his Dark Mark, or he pressed an Edible Dark Mark on his arm until it left a mark, if you will.

- Also, it's very obvious on hindsight that Draco is asking to keep the black cabinet safe: not only is the thing on plain sight (and actually blocking the Trio's line of sight), it's also probably the only thing in the store Draco couldn't simply put in a bag.

- Hermione didn't have a clear idea on how to get information out of Borgin, did she? Cleverest witch of her age, my arse.

- Also, now we know why Rowling revealed Draco's birthday before the book's release: so we could know what gave Hermione away (besides the complete lack of subtlety, that is).


Next week: Someone gets hexed and stomped on at the Hogwarts Express, and for once, it isn't Draco.

Comments

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

Say hello to Remus Lupin, bringing birthday cheer in the form of news on death and disappearances, as well as clothes so ragged and patched he probably looks more like a bum nowadays. Such a pity JKR didn't let him become the Back-up Godfather, isn't it?

Rather a pity, since Remus brings Harry gifts he can actually use – information & awareness. His mention of the dementor attacks open up a conversation where we learn more about the World Outside Harry. A "bad" man (Karkaroff), a "good" man (Fortescue) and one whose allegiances are unknown/ambivalent (Ollivander) have been forcefully taken out of the picture, either by death or disappearance.

Ollivander's skills are considered important (as per Lupin) but he was never seen to take sides, providing his services to all equally. (As a merchant, perhaps he saw the world not in black & white – as Harry does – but as gold & silver?) This continues the process of moving past Harry's simplistic "Good Guys = People-I-Like vs. Bad Guys = People-I-Don't-Like" mentality, which started with his meeting Slughorn.

I would start a Ron So Pathetic Count (RSPC), but it would probably hit triple digits halfway through the book.

What really sucks about all the dissing he gets in this book is that he's probably the most normal one in his family:

"Then you just buck up your ideas, young man, before I decide you're too immature to come with us!" said Ms. Weasley angrily..." (pg 107 Yank version)

Your. Husband. Collects. Plugs.
Your. Twin. Sons. Run. A. Fucking. Joke. Shop.
You. Are. Having. A. Tantrum.
SHUT. UP. MOLLY.

Interesting that she gives Ron a verbal slap with regard to his "ideas"; in other words, she's admonishing him for independent thinking...something all too common in dysfunctional families where there's a "party line" everyone must adhere to.

Meanwhile, Narcissa keeps her goddamn cool even when Harry talks trash about her husband and threatens her son. She flat-out tells him to stop attacking her kid, that he only gets away with being an arrogant shit because he's Dumbledore's pet, and once Dumbles is gone, Harry's "false sense of security" will die with him.

[gillieweed.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, Narcissa keeps her goddamn cool even when Harry talks trash about her husband and threatens her son. She flat-out tells him to stop attacking her kid, that he only gets away with being an arrogant shit because he's Dumbledore's pet, and once Dumbles is gone, Harry's "false sense of security" will die with him.

I absolutely fangirled Narcissa in this book. At last! Someone who's been paying attention!

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

Interesting that she gives Ron a verbal slap with regard to his "ideas"; in other words, she's admonishing him for independent thinking...something all too common in dysfunctional families where there's a "party line" everyone must adhere to.

Like Arthur Weasley being a competent Ministry official. Poor, poor Percy. When he finally began to see what a doofur his dad was, of course he did not wantto follow the family with Dumbledore.

Ollivander's skills are considered important (as per Lupin) but he was never seen to take sides, providing his services to all equally.Ollivander's skills are considered important (as per Lupin) but he was never seen to take sides, providing his services to all equally.

Because maybe both sides had very real faults? Yes, the DEs are dangerous and very stupid, but you know, so are the Order. I don'yt think that it was money- according to Remus, Ollivander was the best- but because people in this society need wands, he could have a wand choose them, but they had to choose what to do with it.

Such a pity JKR didn't let him become the Back-up Godfather, isn't it?

Remus is more aware of things on a holistic level, and had he money and moral responsibility, he could have been a better godfather than Sirius.

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

I don't think that it was money - according to Remus, Ollivander was the best - but because people in this society need wands, he could have a wand choose them, but they had to choose what to do with it.

I can definitely see your point. For artisans and craftspeople who have reached a certain level of excellence in their chosen field, the work is its own reward – any effects or situations that offshoot from the work is of secondary importance to them. He makes the wands; what the buyers choose to do with the wands that choose them, as you say, is up to them.

Once the wand chooses a buyer, the situation is out of his hands and he simply carries on doing what he does best.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Hermione was dreadful and Ginny good, so they were reasonably well matched. OTP!!1 Notice how the authorial voice leaves it implied that Harry is far better at Quidditch than the bloke who's been following the game for as long as he remembers. I would start a Ron So Pathetic Count (RSPC), but it would probably hit triple digits halfway through the book.

Yes, let's think about how this works out. Doesn't that seem to imply that Ron is about as bad as Hermione? Because if it's even, isn't it even because Ginny and Harry are super fantastic and Ron and Hermione suck?

Say hello to Remus Lupin, bringing birthday cheer in the form of news on death and disappearances, as well as clothes so ragged and patched he probably looks more like a bum nowadays.

Remus' clothing situation is just hilarious. How often does he rip his clothes that they always need to be patched? Does he have two sets of clothes and wash them often? Here's a thought, maybe the Order could give him a goddamn paycheck for spying on werewolves. Spies do usually get paid, you know, especially when they're risking their lives. (But then, lovers soulmates friends often leave broke friends some money and you don't see Sirius doing that. I think everybody just likes Remus' look.

Lo, Harry is now Quidditch captain, getting equal status as prefects.

It's all about the bathroom, apparently. I'm a little disappointed Harry doesn't think back on his ridiculous sulk about not being Prefect in OotP and feel really really dumb.

I love the Pretty and Handsome tally!

Personally, I assumed Draco pulled his arm away for the same reason he said he did: that he got stuck with a pin.

Also, now we know why Rowling revealed Draco's birthday before the book's release: so we could know what gave Hermione away (besides the complete lack of subtlety, that is).

And so we know why Draco's in the baby Potions class where only the Icklest sixth years haven't turned 17. Does that mean Pansy's older than Draco too?

I love Narcissa being Real Big Bad Mother. Attack her son, yes!

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

Remus' clothing situation is just hilarious. How often does he rip his clothes that they always need to be patched? Does he have two sets of clothes and wash them often?

I think that Remus, without benefit of the Wolfsbane potion, rips his clothes during transformation. It's like having your period: You know it's coming, but you always get a few spots on your drawers anyway.

Here's a thought, maybe the Order could give him a goddamn paycheck for spying on werewolves.

No. That's like acknowledging that money is important to someone who can't get a job. See, money only matters if you are born to it, like Harry, or can sell stuff for it, like the Weasley Twins. For everyone else, like Snape who has to earn it, or like Remus, who has to scrape for it, money is not important at all. See, for them to acknowledge money for these people would be too crass, too mundane. Too, shall we say it, Muggle?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I think that Remus, without benefit of the Wolfsbane potion, rips his clothes during transformation. It's like having your period: You know it's coming, but you always get a few spots on your drawers anyway.

LOL!

No. That's like acknowledging that money is important to someone who can't get a job. See, money only matters if you are born to it, like Harry, or can sell stuff for it, like the Weasley Twins. For everyone else, like Snape who has to earn it, or like Remus, who has to scrape for it, money is not important at all. See, for them to acknowledge money for these people would be too crass, too mundane. Too, shall we say it, Muggle?

Oh god, this is exactly what it is. These are the people who would insist on going to expensive restaurants and splitting the bill with you when you're broke and they're rolling in it.

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

Oh god, this is exactly what it is. These are the people who would insist on going to expensive restaurants and splitting the bill with you when you're broke and they're rolling in it.

This is exactly it-Harry, Draco and a few others are entitled to vaults of gold, to good family names, to nice, expensive brooms and good robes. Everyone else, oh well, they do have to buck up. Youarea good person if you do not dare impose your material needs on anyone ( Remus) and you are bad if you are ambitious in sastisfying them in a non-amuising way ( Snape, Percy). I remember a year back that some fans could not understand why Snape would be so angry for all these year. I would always think, "How could he not be?"

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

Harry, Draco and a few others are entitled to vaults of gold, to good family names, to nice, expensive brooms and good robes.

Really? I could totally buy the whole 'Malfoys lose all their money' fanon prediction, since money, despite JKR's apparent intentions usually ends up connected to one's moral value in some way. I always found it amusing that the wealthier Slytherins are considered so tacky and spoilt for having nice possessions, whereas say, Harry's Firebolt is considered indicative of his personal worth or something - aw, lookit, he deserves it. Um, why?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

ETA: I realized my Quidditch scoring thing is really off. Obviously Harry is much better than Ginny, and so the person who doesn't have Harry in their team is wildly handicapped, almost as handicapped as the person who has to play with Hermione, even if they are a champion when Harry isn't around.

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of that drawing someone did. *digs*
http://www.livejournal.com/users/tetherhooks/5204.html#cutid1
The Gradual Deterioration of Lupin.

Personally, I assumed Draco pulled his arm away for the same reason he said he did: that he got stuck with a pin.

Kinda makes sense considering how Madam Malkin is also screwing up with the trio (giving them the wrong wrobes, etc.) I guess some people in the WW just aren't as brave as the Gryffindors, and actually find it shocking that even buying robes has to have a dramatic scene and threats of violence.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

That's *exactly* the Lupin I was thinking of. Poor guy.

The thing with the pin that amazes me is how seldom people even consider it a possibility when...why wouldn't you? The woman is described as nervous, and if Draco wasn't really stuck with a pin would he really be able to cover that way? And why take the robes off? In fact, if you've probably had your sleeves measured a dozen times and so know that's part of getting a fitting, why not be prepared for it? The whole scene just makes more sense to me with the straightforward reading, that Draco wasn't even paying attention to his sleeve until he was stuck with a pin, and then he was a baby about it.

Also, JKR's quote, to me, does not indicate there's a mark there ("How else would you become a DE?" seems to apply to CoS!Draco as much as HBP!Draco). He could have a mark, sure, but I don't see why people feel like there *must* be something sore about his arm in the scene. It makes a lot of assumptions that aren't there in the text: Harry doesn't say Draco's arm is sore, does he? I thought he just thought he jerked it away so she wouldn't see the mark. Like maybe he doesn't even remember he said "Ow." And who says a fresh Dark Mark hurts? I thought they only hurt when Voldemort was calling? We've never been shown they're sensitive right after, have we? I don't remember a lot of pain attached to getting a tattoo after it was done.

Hee. That last line suddenly makes me imagine Draco coming home with a tube of Bacitracin and a set of instructions: Care of Your Dark Mark.
(Reply to this)(Parent)

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

Personally, I assumed Draco pulled his arm away for the same reason he said he did: that he got stuck with a pin.

Yeah, I totally agree. It makes more sense that Draco would have to follow through with this job before getting a Dark Mark; he'd have to prove his worth. Another possibility is that Voldemort may consider this a suicide mission – Draco is not meant to succeed, and the punishment for Lucius' previous failure would be the loss of his heir. So why bother giving Draco a Dark Mark?

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

- Say hello to Remus Lupin, bringing birthday cheer in the form of news on death and disappearances, as well as clothes so ragged and patched he probably looks more like a bum nowadays. Such a pity JKR didn't let him become the Back-up Godfather, isn't it?

You know, for all that these people say that they are Muggle liberal, why doesn't anyone take Remus to Asda/Walmart? surely he can get nice clothes at low, low prices.

Hermione didn't have a clear idea on how to get information out of Borgin, did she? Cleverest witch of her age, my arse.

Oh, but that was Remus talking, and he's liable to call anythig clever that breathes. This was a nice window into seeing that Hermione certainly is not the smartest person at Hogwarts, and that she really is rather clumsy in her own way.

Let us all mourn the passing of Igor Karkaroff, who will be missed for his pointy beard and blatant fanboying of Krum and Snape.

Poor Igor.

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

Hermione didn't have a clear idea on how to get information out of Borgin, did she? Cleverest witch of her age, my arse.

Oh, but that was Remus talking, and he's liable to call anythig clever that breathes.

I was more bashing the PoA movie (in which Sirius too mentions the CWohA thing), but you have to admit that for most of the previous five books, Hermione was treated as though she were the non plus ultra of cleverness.

[anaid-rabbit.livejournal.com]

Props to Narcissa for calling things as they are ("Attack my son"? It was a counterattack, woman! And he deserved it!!) as well as for treating Harry's "witty" retorts the same way we all would have
My Narcissa love knows no limits everytime I re-read this chapter. Honestly, this woman rocks! Finally a grown woman in JK`s world who`s neither a Saint (Lily, Alice), a Banshee (Bella, Umbridge) or an overbearing Nurse/Mother (Molly, McGonagall) type figure. Oops... she`s supposed to be evil, right? My bad.

Honestly, Gin, who pissed on your cornflakes?
Probably her pink unicorn named Sparklypoo. Or HellzHottie because she`s such a badass.

[shadefell.livejournal.com]

The thing with Lupin... I can understand him dressing all crappily while he's acting as a werewolf spy. I mean, if werewolves can't get jobs and are outcasts, wouldn't it be hard to explain that he's suddenly all nice-clothes-wearing, well-shod, and clean-shaven?

But at the same time, couldn't he change into less artisticly patched garments when with friends?

Or use magic to mend his clothing?

[pacoman.livejournal.com]

Presumably, the werewolf spy thing is recent. I think his attire is more for the woe factor; that, or he really likes his clothes.