OotP Chapter Twenty-Two
Mar. 20th, 2008 07:07 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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deathtocapslockI don't know if anybody here is participating in the strike. I figured since we do this on Friday and it's a re-post I might as well do it on Thursday night either way.
*I wonder exactly what maladies get you put in St. Mungo’s. Of the characters who have to go to St. Mungo’s it seems like McGonogall, Lockhart and the Longbottoms are sent here (the latter three patients seemingly incurable), while Montague stays at school—and I get the feeling the Slytherin 3 don’t wind up here despite seeming to be more badly “magically injured” than any other people we’ve seen. ETA: Katie will go there, though. I think Ron stays in the infirmary.
*I like that Harry keeps thinking of the snake as having “his” fangs.
*Harry’s understandably irritated by Dumbledore not looking at him—though somehow I suspect he probably gives off a similar air of disrespect to other people.
*So Dumbledore thinks his own “love” (blech) of Harry will be used against him, so turns off any show of interest in Harry—gee, can’t imagine how that might end badly. Could he not write Harry a note or something? Or would Voldemort see that? Can Voldemort see everything, or just stuff it’s cool for him to see? ETA: A note probably wouldn't have done it. Harry needs to know you LOVE him, dammit!
*ETA: Seriously Dumbledore, it was never your love that was the weakness. It was always your arrogance and lust for power. It amazes me that in 150 years he never figured that out.
*ETA: However, it does start to explain why Dumbledore thinks Harry has this amazing power of love. He thinks he himself loves too much when he care about basically nobody that much ever in his life. Besides which, the only love that was the problem, even in his own eyes, was his "infatuation" with Grindelwald. If he'd loved his sister more, like the way his brother did, things would probably have gone better, right?
*Do you really bleed a lot when you’re bitten by a snake? It seems more like you get a puncture that swells up. I know fangs can tear, but the way Harry’s describing the injury sounds completely wrong for a snake bite. But then, snakes can’t hear either. Or blink. So…
*McGonogall conjures up straight-backed chairs while Dumbledore makes squishy armchairs. Dumbledore’s chairs remind me of Monty Python’s “comfy chair”—which was, of course, a tool of evil. ETA: The chairs are like the purple suit.
*ETA: Ah, Dumbledore. So manipulative and creepy. "Look Harry, I make more comfy, squishy, huggable chairs. Aren't I the greatest?
*Wonder what that silver instrument’s for—I assume the “essence” that is divided is Harry and Voldemort? Or the parts of Voldemort in Harry? It’s seeming more and more clear Harry ought to be given a clue here. But if Dumbledore actually explained to him information that’s pretty obvious but Harry still hasn’t gotten we might not get another 16 chapters. Much better for him to mutter cryptically into little clouds of steam and make Harry more nervous than he already is.
*ETA: So was that supposed to be Dumbledore just starting to figure out the incredibly obvious Harry!Horcrux theory? I guess the machine was showing they were in essence divided: and here's where Harry's behavior is all Voldemort's fault (the bad stuff) and here's where it's Harry's own wonderful self.
*Dumbledore says Molly may already know what happened due to her “excellent clock,” which makes me wonder where that thing was pointing when Ginny was possessed. It’s another one of those “cute magical touches that are too powerful for their own good.”
*ETA: This would be the "excellent clock" that becomes useless when they need it most in the next book.
*ETA: So where's Fred's hand pointing now? Is there a new section for DEAD or is his hand just hanging limply like a corpse? Maybe it's stuck on "mortal danger" forever so Molly can be tortured by wondering if that's just his last moment frozen forever, or a sign he's in hell.
*And here's Phineas with his pointy pointy beard.
*And he’s about as good a drama-queen as our other Slytherins—everybody can tell he’s faking being asleep. What was that about cunning again?
*Apparently Dumbledore sent Phineas to Number 12, but where was his other portrait self there? Why did the portrait look empty? Shouldn't there be two of him?
*Didn’t JKR say something about portraits just sort of saying catch-phrases from their life or something? Isn’t Phineas obviously a character living fully in the present and responding to current events? What would his real self be doing differently?
*ETA: And doesn't Dumbledore continue to give orders to Snape via his portrait? I'm not sure if that proves that Dumbledore's amazingly controlling or Snape amazingly pathetic. I think both. Somebody in the WW should write a psychology book analyzing that one relationship.
*Phineas says no, he won’t go give Sirius a message, but agrees when one of the other wizards draws a wand on him, which he eyes with “mild apprehension.” Nice to see nothing changes: the Slytherin shows fear at wand point, the others go for their wand when he doesn’t do what Dumbledore says. If the portraits are magically bound to obey the headmaster, Phineas is showing some amazing independence here.
*Also, it's a portrait. Can it do a spell? I guess Phineas is just showing of echoes of the cowardly Slytherin instinct he had when he was alive.
*I like that Phineas describes Sirius as doing away with most of the family. Phineas talks about him like the difficult adolescent relative--again, as if he totally knows him even though he didn't, so how do portraits work?
*Dumbledore says Sirius knows not to destroy Phineas (you’re working for us, therefore you may live), but I wonder what other possibly helpful portraits are gone now.
*Anyway, this is yet another instance of Gryffindors and Slytherins working together. Or perhaps more accurately, of Slytherins doing things for Gryffindors, and being threatened by them. ETA: Yes, I guess this really was all leading up to Snape.
*Dumbledore says, “You’ve all used a portkey before?” and I am shocked Harry does not look affronted and remind him the last time he used a portkey it was to go to THE SCENE OF CEDRIC’S MURDER AND HIS OWN HORRIBLE ORDEAL!!
*Upon meeting Phineas, Harry does not start thinking about Sirius’ dismissal of his great great grandfather and wonder if Sirius is entirely objective. I find the guy such a relief compared to other characters I almost expect Harry to as well. ETA: This of course means that Phineas will turn out to be just one of those "not totally evil" Slytherins, the highest height he can reach.
*Sirius has a Mundungus smell of stale drink about him when they get to the house. I’m sure Ginny will be happy to see him, then. She could use a good giggle. (Sirius is also unshaved—which is shocking given that it’s the middle of the night!)
*So are the “accusing” looks in the Weasleys eyes just Harry’s paranoia or are they in any way real?
* Sirius is correct in pointing out how the kids’ attitude makes them unfit for the Order, but one, “You’re sitting around here not risking your neck!” makes him go pale. Dude, there’s nothing shameful about a day spent not risking your life, especially when you’re living in your own private hell. Even after Sirius proves this by getting himself killed I don’t think anybody rethinks that attitude. Harry remembers Snape taunting Sirius, but not this line from a Weasley which hits him much harder because he cares what he thinks.
*Just want to point out here that Ron is my favorite in this scene. He’s not being an idiot, he’s not rushing off into anything, he’s not puffing up his own importance, he’s not arguing with anybody. He seems to just get things in ways his family members don’t. I hope that’s the way I’m supposed to see Ron’s persistently ashen face in these scenes, at least, and not a sign of cold feet and possible lack of Gryffindor fire (heaven forfend). Or…well, let’s face it, I’d love it if it was that but I’m sure it's just Ron not being able to get it together as usual. *cue Wah wah waaaaaah Ron music*
*Continuing in the study of pain in the series, Mr. Weasley is of course in danger of dying and suffering terribly. There’s nothing funny about getting slashed by the fangs of a snake if you’re Arthur Weasley. ETA: To be fair, nobody laughs when Snape gets it either. They stand there and watch him die but they don't actually laughing.
*The adults in this book really do have a knack for being as unreassuring as possible. And making it seem like any wrong-headed ideas the kids have are correct, knowing that any wrong-headed ideas the kids have they tend to act on. Essay topic: What was Dumbledore’s motive in orchestrating Sirius’ death?
*We know Harry is possessed by Voldemort because he suddenly feels towards Dumbledore a slightly more extreme version of what he usually feels towards a host of other people. I’m almost surprised we aren’t told, “Harry didn’t think he could hate anybody more than he hated Snape/Umbridge/Malfoy/Dudley/Vernon, but that was before he looked into the twinkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore after being snubbed.”
*Tonks asks if there is any Seer blood in Harry’s family. Seer blood. Because a person’s blood determines important things about them, even if we occasionally pretend otherwise. Yes, I realize one might think that type of talent is inherited, but you'd think the non-blood side would be more about talking about talent as an individual thing. If magical talent is in the blood, why is Hermione so talented? Exactly.
*Also I love that Harry’s offended at the idea. Jeez, Tonks. He’s got Seeker’s blood, hero’s blood, and Gryffindor blood. He’s inherited a talent for flying, DADA, warding off Imperius and aversion to Dark Wizards. He was blessed with an incredible and undetectable ability to love. His Parseltongue and Seer powers come from Voldemort along with the resultant angst. Please keep Harry’s speshul powers straight, if you please.
*Excellent entrance to St. Mungos. Also, it really is convenient that Harry is Muggle-raised so even 5 books in we can be surprised along with him. Convenient, but not always consistent.
*The people in the hospital are sporting “gruesome disfigurements” like elephant trunks or extra hands sticking out of their chest. Not one of them looks as bad off as Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle will look at the end of the book.
*Ron treats us to more Weasley Wizarding Ignorant Bigotry™ by referring to doctors as “Muggle nutters who cut people up.” Harry, naturally, does not correct him. Stupid Muggle doctors.
*I love the sign directing people, especially those who can’t speak or can’t remember why they’re there.
*There’s a vicious-looking person on the wall honored for inventing an entrail-expelling curse. And it’s called a curse, so it doesn’t seem like it’s an autopsy procedure. Isn’t that kind of like having a portrait of the guy who invented the electric chair up in a hospital? Anyway, I’m sure the curse is very useful when used as a counter-hex.
*Honestly, it doesn't seem like they do any surgery, so I wonder what the entrail curse is for.
*Actually, the whole "inventing" of curses is kind of ridiculous because there's nothing really required for it. What did Snape have to do for his own made-up curses except think of something to do and attach a word to it? The entrails-expelling curse is just the bat-bogey hex with different body parts. In fact, kind of makes you wonder why somebody doesn't just "invent" whatever curse would be useful at any moment. As long as they could imagine it hard enough, with the right emotion, it seems like it should work within limits.
*I hope Harry's learned this curse since leaving Hogwarts. That would probably put those Dark Wizards in their place! (I'm just kidding of course--obviously Harry doesn't need to learn anything else past HBP.)
*Yes, the werewolf sounds like an AIDS patient. Wonder if Hagrid’s ever been in here after having been bitten by something. Nah. I’m sure that woman was annoying whatever illegal animal attacked her. Hagrid is never annoying.
*Nice little tie-in to earlier in the book with Willy Widdershins being arrested. I notice Arthur had nothing to do with catching the guy whatsoever. Damn that evil prejudice keeping him from getting the promotions he deserves.
*Luckily, as consolation, Arthur may get to gawk at some Muggles he failed at protecting. Maybe he didn’t protect them from their toilet, but he’s protected them from Muggle doctors!
*Arthur suggests darkly that Willy got off because “gold changed hands,” because gold is not his method of choice when it comes to getting off—because he has no gold. To review: He and his people get off for most things, but they're shocked when evil people can do the same thing via gold as they can do via favors. Or at least when they assume they did.
*With no adult around to keep Harry from hearing what he really should know, Harry will keep himself from hearing it. He yanks the Extendable Ear out as soon as he hears, “If Voldemort’s possessing him…” so he can get a head start on stewing about it. Harry would have done really well on Three’s Company.
IITS
Harry, you’ve spent so much time in this book trying to listen in on adult conversations. Do you really want to yank the thing out of your own ear the moment they start telling you what you want to know?
Exploitation Filmmakers’ Credo
Harry's already learned that he’s seeing things or feelings things because Voldemort is feeling them. So why not attempt to fit this new experience of the dream into that instead of reaching for the possession idea when, as he himself says, it’s not like he physically did anything to Arthur or Dumbledore?
McGuffin
We’ve just got to do something about that weapon everybody is pretending to be guarding.
Misdirected Answering
This is acknowleged in the book as a distraction, but I think Willy Widdershins would count, since nobody was really hanging on to find out who was blowing up those toilets.
Nut o’ Fun
What is that thing on Dumbledore’s desk? Though really it’s not a nut o’fun, because it serves a purpose. I just doubt it really has to be that Willy-Wonka-esque to serve whatever purpose that is. ETA: It serves no purpose, it turns out.
POV Shots
SnakeCam!Harry becomes even more important in this chapter. So much so that Dumbledore asks about Harry’s and Harry lies about it.
Final Jabootu score: 5.5
*I wonder exactly what maladies get you put in St. Mungo’s. Of the characters who have to go to St. Mungo’s it seems like McGonogall, Lockhart and the Longbottoms are sent here (the latter three patients seemingly incurable), while Montague stays at school—and I get the feeling the Slytherin 3 don’t wind up here despite seeming to be more badly “magically injured” than any other people we’ve seen. ETA: Katie will go there, though. I think Ron stays in the infirmary.
*I like that Harry keeps thinking of the snake as having “his” fangs.
*Harry’s understandably irritated by Dumbledore not looking at him—though somehow I suspect he probably gives off a similar air of disrespect to other people.
*So Dumbledore thinks his own “love” (blech) of Harry will be used against him, so turns off any show of interest in Harry—gee, can’t imagine how that might end badly. Could he not write Harry a note or something? Or would Voldemort see that? Can Voldemort see everything, or just stuff it’s cool for him to see? ETA: A note probably wouldn't have done it. Harry needs to know you LOVE him, dammit!
*ETA: Seriously Dumbledore, it was never your love that was the weakness. It was always your arrogance and lust for power. It amazes me that in 150 years he never figured that out.
*ETA: However, it does start to explain why Dumbledore thinks Harry has this amazing power of love. He thinks he himself loves too much when he care about basically nobody that much ever in his life. Besides which, the only love that was the problem, even in his own eyes, was his "infatuation" with Grindelwald. If he'd loved his sister more, like the way his brother did, things would probably have gone better, right?
*Do you really bleed a lot when you’re bitten by a snake? It seems more like you get a puncture that swells up. I know fangs can tear, but the way Harry’s describing the injury sounds completely wrong for a snake bite. But then, snakes can’t hear either. Or blink. So…
*McGonogall conjures up straight-backed chairs while Dumbledore makes squishy armchairs. Dumbledore’s chairs remind me of Monty Python’s “comfy chair”—which was, of course, a tool of evil. ETA: The chairs are like the purple suit.
*ETA: Ah, Dumbledore. So manipulative and creepy. "Look Harry, I make more comfy, squishy, huggable chairs. Aren't I the greatest?
*Wonder what that silver instrument’s for—I assume the “essence” that is divided is Harry and Voldemort? Or the parts of Voldemort in Harry? It’s seeming more and more clear Harry ought to be given a clue here. But if Dumbledore actually explained to him information that’s pretty obvious but Harry still hasn’t gotten we might not get another 16 chapters. Much better for him to mutter cryptically into little clouds of steam and make Harry more nervous than he already is.
*ETA: So was that supposed to be Dumbledore just starting to figure out the incredibly obvious Harry!Horcrux theory? I guess the machine was showing they were in essence divided: and here's where Harry's behavior is all Voldemort's fault (the bad stuff) and here's where it's Harry's own wonderful self.
*Dumbledore says Molly may already know what happened due to her “excellent clock,” which makes me wonder where that thing was pointing when Ginny was possessed. It’s another one of those “cute magical touches that are too powerful for their own good.”
*ETA: This would be the "excellent clock" that becomes useless when they need it most in the next book.
*ETA: So where's Fred's hand pointing now? Is there a new section for DEAD or is his hand just hanging limply like a corpse? Maybe it's stuck on "mortal danger" forever so Molly can be tortured by wondering if that's just his last moment frozen forever, or a sign he's in hell.
*And here's Phineas with his pointy pointy beard.
*And he’s about as good a drama-queen as our other Slytherins—everybody can tell he’s faking being asleep. What was that about cunning again?
*Apparently Dumbledore sent Phineas to Number 12, but where was his other portrait self there? Why did the portrait look empty? Shouldn't there be two of him?
*Didn’t JKR say something about portraits just sort of saying catch-phrases from their life or something? Isn’t Phineas obviously a character living fully in the present and responding to current events? What would his real self be doing differently?
*ETA: And doesn't Dumbledore continue to give orders to Snape via his portrait? I'm not sure if that proves that Dumbledore's amazingly controlling or Snape amazingly pathetic. I think both. Somebody in the WW should write a psychology book analyzing that one relationship.
*Phineas says no, he won’t go give Sirius a message, but agrees when one of the other wizards draws a wand on him, which he eyes with “mild apprehension.” Nice to see nothing changes: the Slytherin shows fear at wand point, the others go for their wand when he doesn’t do what Dumbledore says. If the portraits are magically bound to obey the headmaster, Phineas is showing some amazing independence here.
*Also, it's a portrait. Can it do a spell? I guess Phineas is just showing of echoes of the cowardly Slytherin instinct he had when he was alive.
*I like that Phineas describes Sirius as doing away with most of the family. Phineas talks about him like the difficult adolescent relative--again, as if he totally knows him even though he didn't, so how do portraits work?
*Dumbledore says Sirius knows not to destroy Phineas (you’re working for us, therefore you may live), but I wonder what other possibly helpful portraits are gone now.
*Anyway, this is yet another instance of Gryffindors and Slytherins working together. Or perhaps more accurately, of Slytherins doing things for Gryffindors, and being threatened by them. ETA: Yes, I guess this really was all leading up to Snape.
*Dumbledore says, “You’ve all used a portkey before?” and I am shocked Harry does not look affronted and remind him the last time he used a portkey it was to go to THE SCENE OF CEDRIC’S MURDER AND HIS OWN HORRIBLE ORDEAL!!
*Upon meeting Phineas, Harry does not start thinking about Sirius’ dismissal of his great great grandfather and wonder if Sirius is entirely objective. I find the guy such a relief compared to other characters I almost expect Harry to as well. ETA: This of course means that Phineas will turn out to be just one of those "not totally evil" Slytherins, the highest height he can reach.
*Sirius has a Mundungus smell of stale drink about him when they get to the house. I’m sure Ginny will be happy to see him, then. She could use a good giggle. (Sirius is also unshaved—which is shocking given that it’s the middle of the night!)
*So are the “accusing” looks in the Weasleys eyes just Harry’s paranoia or are they in any way real?
* Sirius is correct in pointing out how the kids’ attitude makes them unfit for the Order, but one, “You’re sitting around here not risking your neck!” makes him go pale. Dude, there’s nothing shameful about a day spent not risking your life, especially when you’re living in your own private hell. Even after Sirius proves this by getting himself killed I don’t think anybody rethinks that attitude. Harry remembers Snape taunting Sirius, but not this line from a Weasley which hits him much harder because he cares what he thinks.
*Just want to point out here that Ron is my favorite in this scene. He’s not being an idiot, he’s not rushing off into anything, he’s not puffing up his own importance, he’s not arguing with anybody. He seems to just get things in ways his family members don’t. I hope that’s the way I’m supposed to see Ron’s persistently ashen face in these scenes, at least, and not a sign of cold feet and possible lack of Gryffindor fire (heaven forfend). Or…well, let’s face it, I’d love it if it was that but I’m sure it's just Ron not being able to get it together as usual. *cue Wah wah waaaaaah Ron music*
*Continuing in the study of pain in the series, Mr. Weasley is of course in danger of dying and suffering terribly. There’s nothing funny about getting slashed by the fangs of a snake if you’re Arthur Weasley. ETA: To be fair, nobody laughs when Snape gets it either. They stand there and watch him die but they don't actually laughing.
*The adults in this book really do have a knack for being as unreassuring as possible. And making it seem like any wrong-headed ideas the kids have are correct, knowing that any wrong-headed ideas the kids have they tend to act on. Essay topic: What was Dumbledore’s motive in orchestrating Sirius’ death?
*We know Harry is possessed by Voldemort because he suddenly feels towards Dumbledore a slightly more extreme version of what he usually feels towards a host of other people. I’m almost surprised we aren’t told, “Harry didn’t think he could hate anybody more than he hated Snape/Umbridge/Malfoy/Dudley/Vernon, but that was before he looked into the twinkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore after being snubbed.”
*Tonks asks if there is any Seer blood in Harry’s family. Seer blood. Because a person’s blood determines important things about them, even if we occasionally pretend otherwise. Yes, I realize one might think that type of talent is inherited, but you'd think the non-blood side would be more about talking about talent as an individual thing. If magical talent is in the blood, why is Hermione so talented? Exactly.
*Also I love that Harry’s offended at the idea. Jeez, Tonks. He’s got Seeker’s blood, hero’s blood, and Gryffindor blood. He’s inherited a talent for flying, DADA, warding off Imperius and aversion to Dark Wizards. He was blessed with an incredible and undetectable ability to love. His Parseltongue and Seer powers come from Voldemort along with the resultant angst. Please keep Harry’s speshul powers straight, if you please.
*Excellent entrance to St. Mungos. Also, it really is convenient that Harry is Muggle-raised so even 5 books in we can be surprised along with him. Convenient, but not always consistent.
*The people in the hospital are sporting “gruesome disfigurements” like elephant trunks or extra hands sticking out of their chest. Not one of them looks as bad off as Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle will look at the end of the book.
*Ron treats us to more Weasley Wizarding Ignorant Bigotry™ by referring to doctors as “Muggle nutters who cut people up.” Harry, naturally, does not correct him. Stupid Muggle doctors.
*I love the sign directing people, especially those who can’t speak or can’t remember why they’re there.
*There’s a vicious-looking person on the wall honored for inventing an entrail-expelling curse. And it’s called a curse, so it doesn’t seem like it’s an autopsy procedure. Isn’t that kind of like having a portrait of the guy who invented the electric chair up in a hospital? Anyway, I’m sure the curse is very useful when used as a counter-hex.
*Honestly, it doesn't seem like they do any surgery, so I wonder what the entrail curse is for.
*Actually, the whole "inventing" of curses is kind of ridiculous because there's nothing really required for it. What did Snape have to do for his own made-up curses except think of something to do and attach a word to it? The entrails-expelling curse is just the bat-bogey hex with different body parts. In fact, kind of makes you wonder why somebody doesn't just "invent" whatever curse would be useful at any moment. As long as they could imagine it hard enough, with the right emotion, it seems like it should work within limits.
*I hope Harry's learned this curse since leaving Hogwarts. That would probably put those Dark Wizards in their place! (I'm just kidding of course--obviously Harry doesn't need to learn anything else past HBP.)
*Yes, the werewolf sounds like an AIDS patient. Wonder if Hagrid’s ever been in here after having been bitten by something. Nah. I’m sure that woman was annoying whatever illegal animal attacked her. Hagrid is never annoying.
*Nice little tie-in to earlier in the book with Willy Widdershins being arrested. I notice Arthur had nothing to do with catching the guy whatsoever. Damn that evil prejudice keeping him from getting the promotions he deserves.
*Luckily, as consolation, Arthur may get to gawk at some Muggles he failed at protecting. Maybe he didn’t protect them from their toilet, but he’s protected them from Muggle doctors!
*Arthur suggests darkly that Willy got off because “gold changed hands,” because gold is not his method of choice when it comes to getting off—because he has no gold. To review: He and his people get off for most things, but they're shocked when evil people can do the same thing via gold as they can do via favors. Or at least when they assume they did.
*With no adult around to keep Harry from hearing what he really should know, Harry will keep himself from hearing it. He yanks the Extendable Ear out as soon as he hears, “If Voldemort’s possessing him…” so he can get a head start on stewing about it. Harry would have done really well on Three’s Company.
IITS
Harry, you’ve spent so much time in this book trying to listen in on adult conversations. Do you really want to yank the thing out of your own ear the moment they start telling you what you want to know?
Exploitation Filmmakers’ Credo
Harry's already learned that he’s seeing things or feelings things because Voldemort is feeling them. So why not attempt to fit this new experience of the dream into that instead of reaching for the possession idea when, as he himself says, it’s not like he physically did anything to Arthur or Dumbledore?
McGuffin
We’ve just got to do something about that weapon everybody is pretending to be guarding.
Misdirected Answering
This is acknowleged in the book as a distraction, but I think Willy Widdershins would count, since nobody was really hanging on to find out who was blowing up those toilets.
Nut o’ Fun
What is that thing on Dumbledore’s desk? Though really it’s not a nut o’fun, because it serves a purpose. I just doubt it really has to be that Willy-Wonka-esque to serve whatever purpose that is. ETA: It serves no purpose, it turns out.
POV Shots
SnakeCam!Harry becomes even more important in this chapter. So much so that Dumbledore asks about Harry’s and Harry lies about it.
Final Jabootu score: 5.5
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-22 08:07 pm (UTC)I've been kicking around the theory that the Headmaster's portraits are generated by the castle; as in off-loading the castle's own memories of the person into a form that can be accessed by his successors. Kind of like the castle off-loading its memories into a Pensieve.
I mean it's obvious that the castle is almost sentient on its own account, and that it recognizes its Headmaster. But even a castle has limited memory storage, so when it is finished with the memories of that person, it off-loads them where they may still be of use, but won't be in its way.
Portraits created by other people are more hit-or-miss as to what degree of personality or independence they end up containing depending on the charm work of the person who animated them, and if they are animated by charm work alone the charms may wear off over time. (In which case the charms on the portrait of Madam Black were pretty shoddy. She'd only been dead a decade.)
I also suppose that any Headmaster portrait can send its consiousness into that of any other extant portrait of the same subject, however shoddily produced.
I also theorize that the Healers' portraits in St Mungos are a related issue, since from its description, St Mungos Hospital in its current locality isn't likely to have existed much before the mid-19th century. Yet we are told that it was originally founded in the late 16th century by Mungo Bonham. I've been proposing for years that before it moved to London in search of larger quarters, the hospital had shared the castle with Hogwarts School.
After all, as the *only* hospital, it would be, perforce, a *teaching* hospital. And that would also explain minor oddities such as Dyllis Derwent promoting directly from being a Healer at St Mungos to being Headmistress of Hogwarts (in mid 18th century).
In which case, the older Healer portraits in St Mungos are also castle "pensieve" portraits, although more recent ones are generated by charmwork, and some such as Dyllis's are probably charmwork duplicates, since the castle only generated one portrait of the person, and that one is is the Headmaster's office.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-23 09:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-24 12:52 am (UTC)Literal institutional memory; very useful if the current occupants pay any attention to the voices of the past. Also, the portraits give the buildings mouths through which to speak (probably filtered through the personality of the portrait's original, as in Sir Cadogan or Phineas).
After all, as the *only* hospital, it would be, perforce, a *teaching* hospital.
Augustus Pye is a "Trainee Healer"; this could be the equivalent of an intern or resident, but if Hogwarts is the only educational institution St Mungo's probably is responsible for Healers' and Mediwizards's complete training.