deathtocapslock | OotP Chapter Two and Three (Reply)

This was the first one of these I ever did, and I hadn't figured out just how I was supposed to go about it, so this recap is a little different from later ones. It's really more of a mini-one that was c&p'd from a comment. I would up putting two together because they're weird.

This is the chapter when I started feeling harassed, the way I do throughout the book--as Harry does as well. Everybody keeps YELLING and not listening to each other, and Vernon's vein is swelling and why can't he just say Dementors? It's a relief when finally Petunia says something that gets somebody listening. I know it's probably just in their characters, but it seems like if people were just calmer they could clear things up like Dudley's mistaken impression that Harry caused him to feel so badly, etc.

* Couldn't help but notice in Harry's version of why he pointed his wand at Dudley, it was because Dudley "tried to be smart with me," when in fact that was because Harry was already provoking him and Dudley shot back. Somehow I imagine that's probably how Malfoy's stories go too: "Well, Potter tried to be smart to me, and that's why I did whatever I did-the part where I antagonized him first couldn't be relevent." Come to think of it, Harry sounds a bit like Dudley on the mysterious Mark Evans, "He gave me cheek."

* Harry does have a point in no one even mentioning the Dementors and that it's a good thing he got rid of them. Patronus Charms are so third year. But also there again is Harry lurching back and forth between wanting to be an adult and wanting to be a kid. Adults don't get points when they take care of these things, you're expected to do what you did when you were 13 and the only thing at stake was Quidditch. So it's kind of funny he seems to want points and praise for it. Welcome to being an adult, Harry!

* It annoys me JKR said there was nothing more to Dudley than meets the eye, particularly when he's given this violent reaction to Dementors that makes Harry curious about what "spoiled, pampered Dudley" could be made to remember. Here I thought he might learn spoiled, pampered people are people too, but I guess not. Presumably it was nothing so cool as hearing his parents killed, and Dudley's just a wuss for getting sick, unlike Harry who faints heroically.

* And btw, I get why Harry's worse memory is what it is, but it still seems weird since he doesn't remember it. I mean, presumably Dudley would remember something that actually happened to him that upset him. Harry remembers something that happened to two people he doesn't know. I just feel like surely that's not the same as, for instance, Malfoy remembering some time when Lucius made him feel worthless or when he was being bounced around like a ferret. That seems more personal.

* I had originally thought it was Dumbledore in that letter, but now I see it was just "a horrible voice."

* This may be petty, but it's something that's struck me more than once. When Harry identifies V as the man who killed his parents Vernon says something like, "But he's gone." And the narrator/Harry makes a point about Vernon not acting like this could be a painful subject-shame on you, Vernon. It reminds me of in Madam Malkin's when Harry, who's been rather chilly to Draco, answers his query about where his parents are with, "They're dead." Draco says, "Oh, sorry," but the narrator/Harry says he didn't "sound sorry at all." This just always sort of tweaks me because exactly how are they supposed to sound in these scenes? If I were in Harry's place I'd think both Draco and Vernon's reactions were good ones. Draco gives a polite acknowlegement, and doesn't get into, "Oh, you poor thing!" Who would want that? And Harry's parents being dead has been a mundane fact at the Dursleys for years. Why wouldn't Vernon respond to the practical point at hand in a matter-of-fact way? It seems like Harry wants some sort of proper reaction every time his parents come up, but unfortunately I don't think I'd give it to him either. There was a boy in my school who seemed to like to bring up his dead father as a way of ending discussions, and he got the same reaction as Harry.

*This is also the beginning of one of the biggest problems in the book for me: where the good guys do elaborate things to avoid just telling Harry what he needs to know. It's like spending a book in Voldemort's camp-and I already know the explanations for this won't work for me.

CHAPTER THREE - The Advance Guard

* I almost hate to admit it, but the main thing I kept focusing on in this chapter was how filthy Harry sounded! Maybe it's that article about how Harry never seemed to bathe in the books, but when the Order showed up and he said he was suddenly uncomfortably aware that he hadn't brushed his hair in 4 days I thought, "Yeah, or taken a shower, it seems!" At fifteen, that's pretty bad. Add to that that his room smelled like bird droppings...not a squeaky clean hero.

* Tonks still annoys me. That moment when she shows off her hair-changing skillz just irritates me. Made me think she probably does that all the time. We get it, you can change your hair color.

* Was it really necessary to send the Dursleys out of the house? I mean, it's been established they'd love it if Harry left, so why not just send them a message that says, "We're coming to get the kid. Have him showered packed and ready and in the backyard and we'll come get him." Was it just they wanted the added fun of sending them off on a fake competition?

* Of course, in general this chapter also made me wonder why Harry hadn't just been sent with these guys to begin with. Why isn't he with Ron and Hermione? The place is obviously safer.

*ETA: These guys never got any better than this, did they? The entire OotP only exists to occasionally ferry Harry from the Dursleys to the Weasleys. They ought to call themselves The Taxi Service of the Phoenix.

It will still be a few chapters before Jabootu shows up again!