CoS Chapter Fifteen
May. 16th, 2007 11:12 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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deathtocapslockOver a day early this week, because I'm off to Phoenix Rising and will have no internet. But who can wait for the big dumb spider?
*When Harry takes his seasonal check of the lovely weather, it's all ruined by Hagrid not being there. Something tells me nobody else knows or cares that he's missing.
*Visitors are now randomly banned from the hospital wing in case the attacker comes back-don't want the Heir hiding in the pocket of a student, I guess.
*The whole school's totally freaked out at Dumbledore being gone. They're so used to him taking personal interest in every one of them, ya know.
*Funny how freaked out they are at the idea of the headmaster going away for a while when in sixth year nobody can work up a sustained interest in the attempted murders. I think somebody's projecting his own emotional level on the rest of the school again.
*Harry keeps going over Dumbledore's last words about how he'll never really go away as long as there are people loyal to him there. Unfortunately, going over the line over and over does not lead Harry to think the line is pretty damn creepy, or wonder why he's supposed to be loyal to the guy whose job it is to oversee the school lunch program and find a new teacher once a year.
*Harry does think the words mean nothing since everybody is as confused as scared as he is. Need I mention here that it might do some good to tell somebody what you know, Harry?
*Draco's the one person pleased at the atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion-boy, he must be really brave. Err…I mean, cowardly.
*Hee! Malfoy's little fanboy moment of Snape. So cute, though I can't blame Seamus for pretending to throw up a little.
*I think Malfoy's sincere in his adoration of Snape, btw. I think at this point in his life Malfoy sounds the most phony when he's being most sincere.
*Yeah, I'll bet Snape can't repress that smile. Snape is already be headmaster, Draco, and he always will be as long as there are students like you who are loyal to him!
*Malfoy says he's surprised the Muggle-borns haven't left by now. Not if you know none of their parents know what's going on.
*It's really terrible how callous Malfoy is about Hermione here. Almost like if she almost died being stuck in a Vanishing Cabinet and everybody thought that was pretty awesome.
*Heh. Can't help but think of Snape escorting the Gryffindors to Herbology because it seems to mean the Slytherins are just left on their own.
*Ernie proves himself a good guy by apologizing to Harry for doubting him. Being able to admit you're wrong is a virtue unless you're Harry himself.
*Though I do like his reasoning-he knows Harry would never attack Hermione. Random Hufflepuffs, sure, but not Hermione.
*Ernie and Hannah are now sticking close to Harry, probably drawing comfort from his mere presence.
*Ron still hasn't forgiven Ernie. He doesn't think much of people just assuming someone is guilty because he looks guilty! Any good person would have accused Malfoy first!
*Honestly, look at the way Ernie and Hannah are looking up to Harry here already. Do you think it's Malfoy Harry? No? A firm no? Okay, we'll try to think of something else Harry.
*Harry hits Ron over the head with his pruning shears to get his attention. Um, jeez, Harry. Did you take him get stitches afterwards?
*Harry had apparently never wanted to enter the Forbidden Forest again. Chicken.
*I guess we're supposed to think less of Lockhart for thinking the Ministry wouldn't have taken Hagrid away unless they were sure of his guilt, but it's a bit comforting to think that his confidence in his government is based on thinking they're competent.
*Lockhart goes on and on obviously not liking Hagrid-he's lucky he made it out of the class alive.
*The Common room is now always filled because the Gryffindors have no where else to go. What, no more socializing with the other houses? No more studying in the library? Do they ever have too many other places to go?
*Ginny sits in Hermione's usual chair, still not putting a stop to everything, even though someone has been arrested for her crimes. Courage at work!
*Hagrid's house is all sad and sorry-looking. Iow, the lights are off. Boo hoo.
*I assume somebody's feeding this dog, right? Or is it just chomping on the non-Muggleborns?
*I love that Ron congratulates Harry for having the sense to turn on his flashlight/torch, basically.
*And then Harry and Ron went into the forest and were eaten by a giant slug. The end.
*Harry takes comfort in Hagrid telling them to follow the spider. You know, you really ought to think twice about taking comfort for anything Hagrid's told you about. Especially when it's “follow the spider.”
*What does Ron mean, exactly, by the forest turning his car wild? Just that it's muddy?
*So I guess it doesn't run on gas/petrol?
*OMG, if there's one thing I hate in this series it's all the non-humans who have to spout off about Hagrid being a good man because he likes monsters. STFU, Aragog. I hate it when animals are turned into robots to flatter characters.
*Btw, if real animals could talk? They probably wouldn't say “You know who I love? The guy who kept me in a box for six months.”
*So the basilisk is It-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named? Magical creatures seem really into not calling things by name when there's no reason for it. If Ron can say spider, Aragog should be able to say basilisk.
*As if to prove what a good man Hagrid is, his beloved pet offers up Ron and Harry as a picnic, since Hagrid's sent them and all.
*Ron quickly grows in my estimation by considering Hagrid less than innocent.
*I know Hermione's the one with the books, but you'd think it would even occur to Harry to look up what spiders are the most afraid of.
*Instead, Ron uses the law of character conservation and decides Myrtle was killed by the Heir of Slytherin.
Designated Hero
I'm feeling so sorry for Ginny. It must be hard knowing you're totally going to kill somebody but you can't ask for help because somebody might find out you like Harry…or whatever she's afraid of.
Exploitation Filmmakers' Credo
Dudes, Hagrid tells you to follow a spider, why wouldn't you think you were going to be lunch?
Hero's Death Battle Exemption
Tough luck, army of deadly giant spiders.
IITS
We thought we had to do something to show that the stakes are higher, and banning visitors from the infirmary was the only thing we could think of. Sorry.
Informed Attributes
The whole school's in terror without Dumbledore. Really. I swear.
James Bond Exposition Rule
If you're a spider, it's not considered rude to feed guests you just delivered exposition to to your children.
Signs of things to come: Hagrid needs to be defended at all costs, because things don't look right to Harry when Hagrid isn't there. It's not courage if it might get you into trouble. Listening to Hagrid is never a good idea.
*When Harry takes his seasonal check of the lovely weather, it's all ruined by Hagrid not being there. Something tells me nobody else knows or cares that he's missing.
*Visitors are now randomly banned from the hospital wing in case the attacker comes back-don't want the Heir hiding in the pocket of a student, I guess.
*The whole school's totally freaked out at Dumbledore being gone. They're so used to him taking personal interest in every one of them, ya know.
*Funny how freaked out they are at the idea of the headmaster going away for a while when in sixth year nobody can work up a sustained interest in the attempted murders. I think somebody's projecting his own emotional level on the rest of the school again.
*Harry keeps going over Dumbledore's last words about how he'll never really go away as long as there are people loyal to him there. Unfortunately, going over the line over and over does not lead Harry to think the line is pretty damn creepy, or wonder why he's supposed to be loyal to the guy whose job it is to oversee the school lunch program and find a new teacher once a year.
*Harry does think the words mean nothing since everybody is as confused as scared as he is. Need I mention here that it might do some good to tell somebody what you know, Harry?
*Draco's the one person pleased at the atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion-boy, he must be really brave. Err…I mean, cowardly.
*Hee! Malfoy's little fanboy moment of Snape. So cute, though I can't blame Seamus for pretending to throw up a little.
*I think Malfoy's sincere in his adoration of Snape, btw. I think at this point in his life Malfoy sounds the most phony when he's being most sincere.
*Yeah, I'll bet Snape can't repress that smile. Snape is already be headmaster, Draco, and he always will be as long as there are students like you who are loyal to him!
*Malfoy says he's surprised the Muggle-borns haven't left by now. Not if you know none of their parents know what's going on.
*It's really terrible how callous Malfoy is about Hermione here. Almost like if she almost died being stuck in a Vanishing Cabinet and everybody thought that was pretty awesome.
*Heh. Can't help but think of Snape escorting the Gryffindors to Herbology because it seems to mean the Slytherins are just left on their own.
*Ernie proves himself a good guy by apologizing to Harry for doubting him. Being able to admit you're wrong is a virtue unless you're Harry himself.
*Though I do like his reasoning-he knows Harry would never attack Hermione. Random Hufflepuffs, sure, but not Hermione.
*Ernie and Hannah are now sticking close to Harry, probably drawing comfort from his mere presence.
*Ron still hasn't forgiven Ernie. He doesn't think much of people just assuming someone is guilty because he looks guilty! Any good person would have accused Malfoy first!
*Honestly, look at the way Ernie and Hannah are looking up to Harry here already. Do you think it's Malfoy Harry? No? A firm no? Okay, we'll try to think of something else Harry.
*Harry hits Ron over the head with his pruning shears to get his attention. Um, jeez, Harry. Did you take him get stitches afterwards?
*Harry had apparently never wanted to enter the Forbidden Forest again. Chicken.
*I guess we're supposed to think less of Lockhart for thinking the Ministry wouldn't have taken Hagrid away unless they were sure of his guilt, but it's a bit comforting to think that his confidence in his government is based on thinking they're competent.
*Lockhart goes on and on obviously not liking Hagrid-he's lucky he made it out of the class alive.
*The Common room is now always filled because the Gryffindors have no where else to go. What, no more socializing with the other houses? No more studying in the library? Do they ever have too many other places to go?
*Ginny sits in Hermione's usual chair, still not putting a stop to everything, even though someone has been arrested for her crimes. Courage at work!
*Hagrid's house is all sad and sorry-looking. Iow, the lights are off. Boo hoo.
*I assume somebody's feeding this dog, right? Or is it just chomping on the non-Muggleborns?
*I love that Ron congratulates Harry for having the sense to turn on his flashlight/torch, basically.
*And then Harry and Ron went into the forest and were eaten by a giant slug. The end.
*Harry takes comfort in Hagrid telling them to follow the spider. You know, you really ought to think twice about taking comfort for anything Hagrid's told you about. Especially when it's “follow the spider.”
*What does Ron mean, exactly, by the forest turning his car wild? Just that it's muddy?
*So I guess it doesn't run on gas/petrol?
*OMG, if there's one thing I hate in this series it's all the non-humans who have to spout off about Hagrid being a good man because he likes monsters. STFU, Aragog. I hate it when animals are turned into robots to flatter characters.
*Btw, if real animals could talk? They probably wouldn't say “You know who I love? The guy who kept me in a box for six months.”
*So the basilisk is It-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named? Magical creatures seem really into not calling things by name when there's no reason for it. If Ron can say spider, Aragog should be able to say basilisk.
*As if to prove what a good man Hagrid is, his beloved pet offers up Ron and Harry as a picnic, since Hagrid's sent them and all.
*Ron quickly grows in my estimation by considering Hagrid less than innocent.
*I know Hermione's the one with the books, but you'd think it would even occur to Harry to look up what spiders are the most afraid of.
*Instead, Ron uses the law of character conservation and decides Myrtle was killed by the Heir of Slytherin.
Designated Hero
I'm feeling so sorry for Ginny. It must be hard knowing you're totally going to kill somebody but you can't ask for help because somebody might find out you like Harry…or whatever she's afraid of.
Exploitation Filmmakers' Credo
Dudes, Hagrid tells you to follow a spider, why wouldn't you think you were going to be lunch?
Hero's Death Battle Exemption
Tough luck, army of deadly giant spiders.
IITS
We thought we had to do something to show that the stakes are higher, and banning visitors from the infirmary was the only thing we could think of. Sorry.
Informed Attributes
The whole school's in terror without Dumbledore. Really. I swear.
James Bond Exposition Rule
If you're a spider, it's not considered rude to feed guests you just delivered exposition to to your children.
Signs of things to come: Hagrid needs to be defended at all costs, because things don't look right to Harry when Hagrid isn't there. It's not courage if it might get you into trouble. Listening to Hagrid is never a good idea.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 08:14 am (UTC)I wonder if any of their parents were informed? Or is they were, allowed to visit? Great way to foster parent-teacher relations.
*Funny how freaked out they are at the idea of the headmaster going away for a while when in sixth year nobody can work up a sustained interest in the attempted murders.
I wonder what he actually does. *ponders* it not hinted at much, is it? Just that he is the best headmaster (though, that in itself has to be biased) and how is the question. He's a powerful wizard, so... power = greatness? It's annoying, sometimes, that Harry has isolationist tendencies and so is blind to the rest of the school.
*Heh. Can't help but think of Snape escorting the Gryffindors to Herbology because it seems to mean the Slytherins are just left on their own.
Maybe because they are Purebloods? (except for Snape, so there could be other students who are half-bloods, so iffyness there.)
*Ernie proves himself a good guy by apologizing to Harry for doubting him.
Something that Harry would never do. He's the martyred hero after all.
*The Common room is now always filled because the Gryffindors have no where else to go. What, no more socializing with the other houses? No more studying in the library? Do they ever have too many other places to go?
There was always the Astronomy Tower. The Heir of Slytherin is really making some teenage boys ready for revenge.
*So I guess it doesn't run on gas/petrol?
Huh. A cure for all the oil problems. Well, the Wizarding population has been known for slight selfishness.
Have fun at the convention! :)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 04:33 pm (UTC)Tapping someone on the shoulder isn't brave enough.
Ginny sits in Hermione's usual chair, still not putting a stop to everything, even though someone has been arrested for her crimes. Courage at work!
She's an inspiration to us all! :D I wonder, has she started writing in it again yet?
Btw, if real animals could talk? They probably wouldn't say “You know who I love? The guy who kept me in a box for six months.”
Well I've always said that I highly doubt hamsters chew on the cage bars because they're having a fun life in there.
As if to prove what a good man Hagrid is, his beloved pet offers up Ron and Harry as a picnic, since Hagrid's sent them and all.
Wouldn't surprise me if Hagrid intentionally sent random people into Aragog's lair to be consumed. I do feel sorry for the poor centaurs, actually - it's like when your neighbour dumps crap in his back garden and you're the one who ends up with the rats.
The whole school's in terror without Dumbledore. Really. I swear.
Because no one was getting hurt before he left!
Have fun at Phoenix! :)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 07:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 08:30 pm (UTC)Wouldn't surprise me.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-18 02:05 am (UTC)-_-
Too much?
no subject
Date: 2007-05-18 01:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-18 02:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 11:25 pm (UTC)Totally. Kid may be naive but he knows a competent teacher from a moron. Snape's reaction clinches it – he wouldn't be so pleased if he thought Malfoy was only angling for better grades. Anyone who thinks Snape is faking it 'cause his ascetic soul wouldn't tolerate such shameless flattery has been reading some other set of books. Wizards love flattery, and with Snape you can lay it on with a trowel. Part of him is still the scruffy lad who wanted to impress wealthy, influential purebloods.
At first I thought "I'll tell Father you're the best" was Malfoy pretending he can influence Lucius. But maybe it's rather that Snape's and Lucius' shared past has been kept from him.
What does Ron mean, exactly, by the forest turning his car wild? Just that it's muddy?
I don't really get it, but the car seems to be alive and somewhat intelligent, which it wasn't when they last saw it. Maybe Arthur's illegal charms interacted with the Forest's magic and gave birth to Frankencar. Or maybe it's just an obscure in-joke.
*OMG, if there's one thing I hate in this series it's all the non-humans who have to spout off about Hagrid being a good man because he likes monsters.
Yes. JKR probably intended Hagrid to be good with animals (isn't he the only Thestral tamer in the game?), but she put exactly the wrong slant on his love of dangerous creatures. A professional animal handler would care for predators on their own terms. Hagrid comes across as one of those besotted pet owners who can only see the animal through the lens of his own self-indulgent sentimentality.
*As if to prove what a good man Hagrid is, his beloved pet offers up Ron and Harry as a picnic, since Hagrid's sent them and all.
On the one hand, I like this as objective proof that Hagrid's judgment is as poor as that. On the other hand, nobody learns anything from the experience except Ron, whose insights rarely count. It took the kids until sixth year to start steering clear of Hagrid, and it'll take them more years to wise up and stop feeling bad about it.
-L
no subject
Date: 2007-05-18 04:47 am (UTC)No one said it had to be purely *altruistic* service to the school after all...
no subject
Date: 2007-05-18 01:32 pm (UTC)Kinda makes you hope there's a Giant Stingray in the lake, don't it?
no subject
Date: 2009-01-28 03:15 am (UTC)No, all of him is a 9-year-old who wuvs Wiwwy.
I don't really get it, but the car seems to be alive and somewhat intelligent, which it wasn't when they last saw it. Maybe Arthur's illegal charms interacted with the Forest's magic and gave birth to Frankencar. Or maybe it's just an obscure in-joke.
It's some bizarre Discworld-alike ambient magic that doesn't occur anywhere else in the series.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-22 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-10 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-11 11:49 am (UTC)Glad you're still around -- I'm rereading all your HP sporks. It's 2022, and I'm still baffled and bitter about the way the HP series went and what it could have been. Thanks to you and the rest of the community for all the commentary and comments.
no subject
Date: 2022-05-23 03:04 am (UTC)