CoS Chapter Six

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

*Harry is hardly going to grin at all in this chapter. Just giving fair warning.

*As worried as everyone is about the Howler, they don’t think to run outside with it and open it there.

*It’s entirely Ron’s fault that his father is facing an enquiry at work. Entirely? Really? Nothing to do with Arthur at all?

*I’m sure the Slytherins, at least, appreciate the update on Arthur’s work troubles anyway.

*Perhaps the incident will make the Ministry assign Arthur to raid his own house and come up empty.

*Why am I not surprised this is the thing that makes Harry feel the most guilty in the entire series?

*Faced with Lockhart flattering him for his grand entrance, Harry forgets even further the fact that he wanted to make a grand entrance. He just *had* to take the car, for goodness sake! He was trying to sneak in under cover of darkness!

*It may be a bad sign that reading Lockhart’s exchange with Harry now I actually *can* imagine Harry being a bit like him as an adult. In his own way.

*There’s about 20 pairs of earmuffs, which is one for every student canon implies is there, and 50 or so invisible ones for all the extra students needed for things like proving Snape’s really a bad teacher because only 10 students got into Advanced Potions with an O.

*Funny how Professor Sprout keeps repeating how important it is to keep you earmuffs covering your ears, and explains exactly what will happen if you don’t and why. As opposed to just saying, "Don’t listen to ‘em or it’s the last thing you’ll do," once and then letting chaos reign.

*Ten points to Gryffindor. Harry might not know the name of the boy who’s been in class with him for a year already, but he knows him by sight. Well done, Harry!

*Is there a reason that so many Hufflepuffs talk like middle aged men from the Edwardian era? Or did Ernie and Justin just bond over that?

*Justin happily expositions about himself as they get to work. Remarkably, Harry does not have any judgmental thoughts about lines like "My name was down for Eton…" I guess because that suggests he’s a true aristocrat and not jumped-up like the Dursleys who don’t know their proper place.

*Worthy of mention: Harry goes back to Gryffindor for a quick wash.

*He then heads off to Animal Abuse 101, aka Transfiguration.

*McGonagall isn’t pleased at the trouble Ron’s broken wand causes, but for some reason takes no steps to have it replaced. I’m sure she would if it was important, like if Ron needed a racing broom to play for her Quidditch team.

*Ron’s probably right that if he asked for a new wand Molly would tell him it was his own fault he broke his. Because after all, it’s Ron.

*Hermione’s outlined Lockhart’s lessons in little hearts. Hermione: still likable.

*H/Hr shippers could make a case here. Hermione’s crushing on Lockhart the big hero.

*Colin is such a dyed-in-the-wool stalker. He just heard of Harry and he’s already fixated on him.

*It really would be hilarious to read these books from Malfoy’s pov. Signed photos, Potter?

*Crabbe and Goyle are sniggering stupidly. As opposed to the way Gryffindors snigger when Harry calls Malfoy a git, which is rather clever and sophisticated.

*I think Ron’s super defensive of Harry with Malfoy here out of guilt—when Ron and Harry have a fight Ron will kind of echo Malfoy here.

*And Colin totally does sound like he’s in love with Harry with his "jealous" line. Malfoy responds as if Colin is saying he’s jealous of Harry, but isn’t he supposed to be jealous of Colin for his signed photograph?

*Fifth year Slytherins laughing with Malfoy, ay?

*And Draco’s on a role with his, "Weasley would like a signed photograph, Potter."

*So…why does Malfoy slide smirking back into the crowd? It’s almost suggesting Malfoy knows Harry is uncomfortable with Lockhart and fame.

*Kenneth Branaugh was really great in this role, iirc.

*Neville’s swinging from a…candalabra? In the ceiling?





IITS
Ah, of course. This is why Malfoy melts back into the crowd smirking when he does.

Misdirected Answering
So by "my name was down for Eton," I assume you mean to tell us your Muggleborn, right Mr. Finch-Fletchly?

Final score: 2

Signs of things to come: The further Harry gets away from his dreams of glory, the more they never existed. Malfoy’s already catching the eye of older Slytherins. It’s Ron’s fault Arthur’s gotten caught for doing something illegal.



Btw, since I screwed up GoF the week before last, GoF Chapter six is here.

Comments

[ldybastet.livejournal.com]

*It’s entirely Ron’s fault that his father is facing an enquiry at work. Entirely? Really? Nothing to do with Arthur at all?

Nope, none at all. Blame only the person responsible for daddy being found out.

*Faced with Lockhart flattering him for his grand entrance, Harry forgets even further the fact that he wanted to make a grand entrance. He just *had* to take the car, for goodness sake! He was trying to sneak in under cover of darkness!

It was okay to make a grand entrance, being a Gryffindor and all, until someone pointed it out. Because it was Lockhart commenting, and Harry already isn't very impressed with him, so what does he know? Eww!

*It may be a bad sign that reading Lockhart’s exchange with Harry now I actually *can* imagine Harry being a bit like him as an adult. In his own way.

Ah, but that explains why he's not fond of Lockhart. He flaunts the bad sides of wanting to be famous so that Harry can see them, and then it's always easier to deny them in oneself... 'Oh noes, I didn't want to make a grand entrance after missing the train and everyone had missed me, and I totally didn't think about how cool it would be and how relieved they would be to see me again...'

*Ten points to Gryffindor. Harry might not know the name of the boy who’s been in class with him for a year already, but he knows him by sight. Well done, Harry!

Well, he's not one of the Trio, so he really doesn't matter anyway, and also... not even a Gryffindor! Bah!

*Justin happily expositions about himself as they get to work. Remarkably, Harry does not have any judgmental thoughts about lines like "My name was down for Eton…" I guess because that suggests he’s a true aristocrat and not jumped-up like the Dursleys who don’t know their proper place.

Just imagine if it had been Draco Malfoy saying something similar, in a similar tone of voice. Harry would have fumed and snarled and used it as proof for how evil Draco is. *nodnods* It's different. Really.

*Ron’s probably right that if he asked for a new wand Molly would tell him it was his own fault he broke his. Because after all, it’s Ron.

Yep. And remember the inquiry at Dad's work! Ron doesn't deserve a new wand! To hell with his school work, not important at all.

*It really would be hilarious to read these books from Malfoy’s pov. Singed photos, Potter?

I think I would have preferred that.

*Crabbe and Goyle are sniggering stupidly. As opposed to the way Gryffindors snigger when Harry calls Malfoy a git, which is rather clever and sophisticated.

It's different. Really.

And I totally love Draco in this chapter.

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

It’s entirely Ron’s fault that his father is facing an enquiry at work. Entirely? Really? Nothing to do with Arthur at all?
It's just like it's the daughter's fault if daddy gets into difficulties because he molested her, because she didn't have the decency to shut up about it. The creepy thing is, I can imagine Molly exactly like that.

*I’m sure the Slytherins, at least, appreciate the update on Arthur’s work troubles anyway.
That's what boggles the mind. I mean, come on, Molly may not be bright, but she knows how a howler works and she is screaming the family's disgrace to the whole school making sure, every wizarding family with school kids will know about it? If ever anybody needed a brain transplant, she is the one...

[sarahtales.livejournal.com]

God, the books from Draco's POV... The fandom fights over whether Harry is Just Misunderstood or Evil. I can see them from here! He'll be the Next Dark Lord! I wrote a fic where he and the Gryffindors tied up Pansy and subjected her to arcane sexual rituals!

They'd be so interesting. ;)

Now, now, Magpie, it's not a crime if you don't get found out. Anyway, I'm sure that Arthur explained at the enquiry that he'd deliberately written a law that couldn't be enforced, like any good citizen would.

Molly has such class. I'm glad she'll pass it on to her daughter, Little Miss Eat Snot.

It would be brilliant if Ron was thinking exactly what Draco was. I wish, oh how I wish that Ron would show a little more of that ol' GoF spirit. I could almost wish for H/Hr, just to see Ron Leave Them Both For Good. (No, I don;t mean it, I do love the Trio, but really, Ron needs to do his own thing.)

I believe those fifth year Slytherins are part of Draco's court. *beams*

[biichan.livejournal.com]

I want to read that version of canon. Seriously.

[violaswamp.livejournal.com]

Ron’s probably right that if he asked for a new wand Molly would tell him it was his own fault he broke his. Because after all, it’s Ron.

Is there anything the Weasleys don't think is their children's own fault? It's Ron's fault that Arthur broke the law he himself wrote and left his magic car in the reach of his 12-year-old kid. It's Ginny's fault for being taken over by Riddle--after all, Arthur did tell her not to trust anything that could think for itself if you couldn't see where it kept its brain! Given that Ginny's possession by Riddle is obviously a metaphor for some kind of rape/violation, and given that Rowling drew the specific comparison between the diary and an Internet predator, that line of Arthur's is a lot like saying to a child who's been molested by someone they met over the Internet "I TOLD you not to give out info about yourself in chat rooms!"

Actually, when you consider Hagrid, this habit of kids getting blamed for adults' irresponsibility becomes almost a motif in the books.

Hermione’s outlined Lockhart’s lessons in little hearts. Hermione: still likable.

[violaswamp.livejournal.com]

Ack! Posted by accident. I meant to say that Hermione was so cute with those little hearts.

*Colin is such a dyed-in-the-wool stalker. He just heard of Harry and he’s already fixated on him.

Yeah. I find it more creepy than funny. Gilderoy Lockhart, OTOH, is hysterical. I love every moment of his.

*And Draco’s on a role with his, "Weasley would like a signed photograph, Potter."

Malfoy's really wonderfully snarky in CoS. The whole Harry-Draco dynamic in this book is funnier than it is at any other point (except maybe HBP, where Harry stomps around going all "He's UP to something, dammit!"). But in CoS, it's actually a Trio-Draco dynamic--there are some great conflicts with Draco and Ron, and Draco and Hermione as well. Whereas in HBP it's very much between Harry and Draco.

It’s almost suggesting Malfoy knows Harry is uncomfortable with Lockhart and fame.

So true. OMG they're so meant to be! Theirloveissosensitive.

[mmmarcusz.livejournal.com]

Ack! Posted by accident. I meant to say that Hermione was so cute with those little hearts.

Agreed. Pity they took her away and replaced her with a clockwork plot device.

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

> Arthur did tell her not to trust anything that could think for itself if you couldn't see where it kept its brain!<

Where does the car keep its brain?

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

Weeeell, the clock is merely a passive tracking system. It doesn't take any kind of independent action, so you can hardly say it thinks for itself.

But I'll bet there are some other dicy artifacts lying around that we may have not had sufficiently called to our attention.

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right. Molly's clock in CoS was a different one.

I'll bet she got the one that tracks everyone after Ginny's close escape.

[mmmarcusz.livejournal.com]

But not one that tracks them in any useful way. Just in an obsessively controlling (read: loving) way.

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

There is that.

The clock is a reasonably funny joke the first time you see it. But as with most of Rowling's jokes, they don't hold up once you try to extrapolate any way in which they function inside any kind of livable world. Kind of like Mrs Piggle-Wiggle's upside down house which never serves any purpose in any of the stories.

[sunnyskywalker]

When Harry first got the Map, he felt "compelled" to roll it up and go check out that statue, didn't he? That really creeped me out on a re-read, especially given Lupin's comment that the mapmakers would have wanted to lure Harry off the grounds. How much influence does that map have, exactly?

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced that the map was not originally the Marauders. Their map defaced or at least meshed with what was already on it or in it.

All the kids in the WW mess with deep voodoo with nary a care in the world because their adults won't take responsibility for their own actions.

[(Anonymous)]

It may be a bad sign that reading Lockhart’s exchange with Harry now I actually *can* imagine Harry being a bit like him as an adult. In his own way.

Could it be the part where Lockhart, however modest he thinks he is, clearly doesn't fancy the idea of someone else being more famous than him? I'd kill for a postwar fic where TBWL meets the new wizarding child celebrity, who defeated two Dark Lords while still in the womb.

McGonagall isn’t pleased at the trouble Ron’s broken wand causes, but for some reason takes no steps to have it replaced. I’m sure she would if it was important, like if Ron needed a racing broom to play for her Quidditch team.

That's Hogwarts for you. "Unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him." Of course ultimately wands and books are the parents' responsibility, but yeah. No spare wands? Even saying "Weasley, get a new wand" is too much trouble?

H/Hr shippers could make a case here. Hermione’s crushing on Lockhart the big hero.

Now you mention it Hermione does have a thing for heroes, doesn't she? I kept wondering why she falls hard for a guy who's presented as such a phony that twelve-year-old boys are wise to him, and indirectly as having the kind of cheap, obvious good looks that only shallow or tasteless women like Molly would go for. (From all the harping on golden curls and bared teeth I visualize a young Danny Kaye after a dose of Joker venom.)

-L

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

*H/Hr shippers could make a case here. Hermione’s crushing on Lockhart the big hero.

LOL, but I really think Rowling was drawing more parallels between Hermione and Molly. At this late stage in the game, I think they are two peas in a pod. Help us all, when we see the big triple wedding in the last book. Arrrrgh.

*Colin is such a dyed-in-the-wool stalker. He just heard of Harry and he’s already fixated on him.

What I would like to ask Rowling is why Colin is such a big loser for crushing on Harry while Ginny, acting in the same fashion, is his true equal? Didn't Colin get attacked in COS too? Please JKR throw me some insight into your twisted psyche. Then again, hold that thought, don't.

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

What I would like to ask Rowling is why Colin is such a big loser for crushing on Harry while Ginny, acting in the same fashion, is his true equal?
Now, kaskait, this is easy: men/ boys are not meant to crush but to be crushed upon, showing they are NOT the ones who need a relationship.True equality for a girl means to be attractive enough to be allowed to fangirl from physical proximity (like Ginny) and not from afar (like Romilda who breached the code of conduct by coming near out of her own volition).

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

True equality for a girl means to be attractive enough to be allowed to fangirl from physical proximity (like Ginny) and not from afar (like Romilda who breached the code of conduct by coming near out of her own volition).

Of course! How silly of me to forget such an important point in the love game. No wonder I can't find a true equal.

The sequel to HP will be "Ginny's Bogey-a-rific Dating Tips: Nose Mucus not included" :D

[paradox01.livejournal.com]

*H/Hr shippers could make a case here. Hermione’s crushing on Lockhart the big hero.

Just browsing through here, and they have. I read an essay to the effect that Hermione crushed on Lockhart for his bravery, just as she later admired/crushed on Krum because of his bravery in the face of whatever injury he had during the cup, so Harry with his hero thing would be the obvious next LI.