GoF Chapter Eight

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

*Thousands of people at the Cup...what are the chances of Harry running into everyone someone he knows?

*'Bless them,' Arthur adds "fondly" after describing Muggles stupidly repelled by the charms on the stadium. Do you suppose JKR's real plan to combat bigotry in these books is just to make the entire audience feel what it's like to be thought of as an animal? You'd think Hermione would be offended on the part of her intelligent parents, but then we know how much Hermione loves being part of the Superior Select Few.

*It bears repeating: it's the top box and it's HALF taken up by Arthur's family. I'll bet the rest of the MoM is pissed off at Bagman, all right!

*Harry's sure amazed by the sight of the Pitch. You know, we've got stadiums in the Muggle world too, Harry. Have wizards discovered "the wave?"

*All house elves look alike to Harry! But he pats himself on the back for correctly identifying the species.

*Harry's indignity on the part of house elves comes and goes. You can see what a hero he is by his getting angry at Winky's master for telling her to save him a seat when she doesn't like heights. Calm down, Lone Ranger. He's not hanging her out of a plane, here.

*Of course, Harry will be inheriting a house elf in Book VI and for all his protests about not wanting it, who does he call on when he needs a service done, his friend Dobby or Kreacher, his slave?

*Ron's never even seen a house elf. His role as Explainer of Wizard Things is slipping away fast.

*Percy's glasses fall off and shatter? I think the twins replaced the lenses with candy glass.

*Ooh, the beginnings of Percy!Jealousy. Everybody likes Harry better than him. Percy for Dark Lord! Woohoo!

*Narcissa's "nasty smell" expression suddenly reminds me of Draco in HBP: perhaps she really can smell Mudbloods, or pretends to.

*Lucius and Arthur seem to each accuse each other of doing what he would do. Lucius wonders where Arthur got the money to pay for the top box, because he's used to actually paying for things. Arthur assumes Lucius donated money to the hospital for petty perks like tickets, because that's how he operates.

*Lucius looks down on people of Muggle descent...well, not exactly. The Malfoys don't seem to mind Snape. (Though they are probably very aware of the class differences.) They don't like Muggleborns, which seems a different thing.

*Draco just glares at all three of the Trio, and says not a word throughout the scene. Here's a kid taught to be seen and not heard in adult company.

*What are Veela? Harry wondered. Well Harry, "Veela" are a distilled version of the author's shockingly low opinion of women. They are beautiful on the surface (if they're lucky), manipulate men into doing things with their sexuality, and turn into shrieking harpies when crossed. I'm a woman, so I understand. *sharpens talons*

*Btw, there's not any way that using a *race* for a *mascot* could be considered somewhat bigoted, could it? Nah, Arthur thinks it's okay.

*So, this pre-game show. Gayest thing ever?

*Hermione's really embarrassing herself pretending to watch the game. A real Quidditch player would get no mention at all in this scene. Like Ginny.

*Ginny shows emotion as someone gets hurt. She's horror-struck. Who is this girl and what has she done with Ginny? Surely she'd know that Krum was just lucky he had something good up his sleeve!

*I can see why Krum just couldn't be attractive, canonically. Harry would never be able to take his eyes off him, knowing his weakness for good-looking boys. Mmmmmm. Riddle.

*It says Hermione "hadn't bothered" to put her fingers in her ears when the Veelas started singing as if this is some cool-ass power of Hermione's. Aren't women obviously not effected by Veela, except, I assume, to be as pissy and suspicious of them as they are of anything with nice breasts?

*Never go for looks alone, Harry. Make sure you get a horrid personality along with the looks!

*Hermione thinks Krum was brave ::swoon:: and Harry agrees he wanted to end the match on his terms.::swoon:: I wonder if this match wasn't fixed, given the twins' winnings...

*The Bulgarian Minister can speak English! Now if he could only learn to do a Bulgarian accent...




UnInformed Attributes
Can you spot the Quidditch star in the Top Box? Hint: It's not Harry, Ron or Malfoy...

Also, Hermione is cool for not being effected by creatures that have no affect on her sex.

Misdirected Answering
I have to admit it never stops being strange to me that Viktor is still in school and yet plays professional Quidditch.

Lets discuss the Malfoy's awful habit of looking down on Muggleborns. Then lets cheer other magical races being used as mascots. Perhaps Hermione could get a job as mascot for the Manchester Mudbloods? Has Remus considered a post growling on behalf of the Warwickshire Werewolves?

POV Shots
Harry and his Omnoculars.

"Watermelon, watermelon, cantaloupe, cantaloupe"
You got a crowd, you got murmuring.

Final score: 5.5

Comments

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

*What are Veela? Harry wondered. Well Harry, "Veela" are a distilled version of the author's shockingly low opinion of women. They are beautiful on the surface (if they're lucky), manipulate men into doing things with their sexuality, and turn into shrieking harpies when crossed. I'm a woman, so I understand. *sharpens talons*

I know when I'm not leading men into certain doom with my "false" shmexiness, I am in awe of tough but compassionate girls who have an obsession with snot.

*It says Hermione "hadn't bothered" to put her fingers in her ears when the Veelas started singing as if this is some cool-ass power of Hermione's. Aren't women obviously not effected by Veela, except, I assume, to be as pissy and suspicious of them as they are of anything with nice breasts?

There is no gayness in the WW. It is perfect! It is tough but compassionate. It believes in mind-screwing innocent non-magical people. But there is no gayness at all! *eyeroll*

Actually the Veela would be much, much cooler if they did affect women as well. It just shows that the notion of the Veela, Willi or Siren was created by men for men. Rowling wasn't quick enough to subvert it, she buys into it.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I know when I'm not leading men into certain doom with my "false" shmexiness, I am in awe of tough but compassionate girls who have an obsession with snot.

Me too. You know what we're like!

Actually the Veela would be much, much cooler if they did affect women as well. It just shows that the notion of the Veela, Willi or Siren was created by men for men. Rowling wasn't quick enough to subvert it, she buys into it.

Yes, I admit I agree with the poster below wondering if anyone doesn't ever get outed by Veela?

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

*What are Veela? Harry wondered. Well Harry, "Veela" are a distilled version of the author's shockingly low opinion of women. They are beautiful on the surface (if they're lucky), manipulate men into doing things with their sexuality, and turn into shrieking harpies when crossed. I'm a woman, so I understand. *sharpens talons*

I know when I'm not leading men into certain doom with my "false" shmexiness, I am in awe of tough but compassionate girls who have an obsession with snot.
When reading your connection between the Veela and Ginny, it hit me: HBP-Ginny is exactly like the Veela are described: overall pretty, especially striking hair, manipulating men with their sexuality (e.g. Harry's strangely altered attitude towards Fleur, demeaning her in order to please wonderful Ginny - to say nothing of her using of Michael Corner and Dean Thomas...)and the shrieking harpy-like quality Zacharias Smith was favoured with on at least two occasions. If there is one thing I would like to see, it's Ginny unleashing these harpy-powers onto Harry himself. Might be some sort of eye-opener for him...

[papier.livejournal.com]

It bears repeating: it's the top box and it's HALF taken up by Arthur's family. I'll bet the rest of the MoM is pissed off at Bagman, all right!

I imagine everyone groaning and saying 'God, here come the Weasleys, budge up'. And then Ginny arrives last and suddenly everyone goes 'Aww', and gives her the best seat.

Arthur assumes Lucius donated money to the hospital for petty perks like tickets, because that's how he operates.

I dunno Arthur, I'd much rather get myself tickets for a game by donating to a hospital, a place which saves lives, rather than doing a gambling crook a favour.
I mean, does it matter why people give to charity?

What are Veela? Harry wondered. Well Harry, "Veela" are a distilled version of the author's shockingly low opinion of women. They are beautiful on the surface (if they're lucky), manipulate men into doing things with their sexuality, and turn into shrieking harpies when crossed. I'm a woman, so I understand. *sharpens talons*

Who do they remind you of, Harry? Except of course that when your girlfriend shrieks she does it compassionately, so I can understand you not joining the dots on the first try.

It says Hermione "hadn't bothered" to put her fingers in her ears when the Veelas started singing as if this is some cool-ass power of Hermione's. Aren't women obviously not effected by Veela, except, I assume, to be as pissy and suspicious of them as they are of anything with nice breasts?

LOL. Imagine being outed at the game. 'Why are you trying to reach for the Veela, Emily?'

I can see why Krum just couldn't be attractive, canonically. Harry would never be able to take his eyes off him, knowing his weakness for good-looking boys. Mmmmmm. Riddle.

Harry does seem to like the slightly emo men. I mean, he became obsessed with Draco when he was at his most angsty. It's quite adorable.

Never go for looks alone, Harry. Make sure you get a horrid personality along with the looks!

But only go for the compassionately horrid, Harry.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I imagine everyone groaning and saying 'God, here come the Weasleys, budge up'. And then Ginny arrives last and suddenly everyone goes 'Aww', and gives her the best seat.

LOL!

I dunno Arthur, I'd much rather get myself tickets for a game by donating to a hospital, a place which saves lives, rather than doing a gambling crook a favour.
I mean, does it matter why people give to charity?

If I were in St. Mungo's and dying, I still wouldn't want Malfoy's money! I'd rather get my medicine the honest way, by trading illegal favors for it.

Harry does seem to like the slightly emo men. I mean, he became obsessed with Draco when he was at his most angsty. It's quite adorable.

He so totally does. I guess because he's got trouble expressing feelings besides anger. He needs a guy not afraid to show his feelings and cry.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

One does have to wonder exactly where Dobby got his love of Harry from, you're right. Who did he talk to? I can see if hated the Malfoys he might just like him as the enemy of his enemy, but he sounds totally up on all the Order business.

[(Anonymous)]

Percy's glasses fall off and shatter? I think the twins replaced the lenses with candy glass.

Well, presumably the glasses were made by a Wizard oculist, since I doubt Arthur could find a Muggle oculist with both hands and a flashlight. In which case he's lucky it is glasses and not a polished emerald on a stick.

Lucius looks down on people of Muggle descent...well, not exactly. The Malfoys don't seem to mind Snape. (Though they are probably very aware of the class differences.) They don't like Muggleborns, which seems a different thing.

I'm convinced that for a Pureblood bigot the dividing line isn't between Purebloods and everyone else, but between wizards and Muggleborns. Halfbloods may be a trailer trash kind of wizard but they're still wizards; Muggleborns are mutant Muggles.

-L

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Well, presumably the glasses were made by a Wizard oculist, since I doubt Arthur could find a Muggle oculist with both hands and a flashlight. In which case he's lucky it is glasses and not a polished emerald on a stick.

LOL! It just occurs to me how it's kind of interesting the way only Percy wears glasses out of the whole family, with everybody else having perfect sight. Arthur doesn't wear them, does he? I hope it's not symbolic of Percy not seeing as clearly as the others.

I'm convinced that for a Pureblood bigot the dividing line isn't between Purebloods and everyone else, but between wizards and Muggleborns. Halfbloods may be a trailer trash kind of wizard but they're still wizards; Muggleborns are mutant Muggles.

That makes sense to me. It's like when that person sends Hermione the letter in GoF that calls her a Muggle.

[saylee.livejournal.com]

*Harry's sure amazed by the sight of the Pitch. You know, we've got stadiums in the Muggle world too, Harry. Have wizards discovered "the wave?"

To be fair to Harry, I doubt he's seen a stadium in the Muggle world either. I can't see the Dursley's taking him to a game. Still, stadiums in general aren't all that interesting.

*Ooh, the beginnings of Percy!Jealousy. Everybody likes Harry better than him. Percy for Dark Lord! Woohoo!

Sign me up as one of his minions. He could hardly do worse than what's already there.

*It says Hermione "hadn't bothered" to put her fingers in her ears when the Veelas started singing as if this is some cool-ass power of Hermione's. Aren't women obviously not effected by Veela, except, I assume, to be as pissy and suspicious of them as they are of anything with nice breasts?

I wonder if Veela affect gay men regardless of sexuality? Also, what are male Veela like? Regardless of the silliness of how they're often written in fic, they must exist, right?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

To be fair to Harry, I doubt he's seen a stadium in the Muggle world either. I can't see the Dursley's taking him to a game. Still, stadiums in general aren't all that interesting.

Right. I mean, I can't imagine he's ever been to one, but then, perhaps neither have Hermione or Ron.

I wonder if Veela affect gay men regardless of sexuality? Also, what are male Veela like? Regardless of the silliness of how they're often written in fic, they must exist, right?

This is why people always want to know what Draco was doing in this scene.:-)

JKR misogyny

[urbanman1984.livejournal.com]

>>*What are Veela? Harry wondered. Well Harry, "Veela" are a distilled version of the author's shockingly low opinion of women. They are beautiful on the surface (if they're lucky), manipulate men into doing things with their sexuality, and turn into shrieking harpies when crossed. I'm a woman, so I understand. *sharpens talons*<<

Well at least JKR didn't get started about the female anatomy in this depiction. I suspect she would come across like Jonathan Swift.

Re: JKR misogyny

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

LOL!