More flashback fun!

[jollityfarm.livejournal.com]

I'm off to see GoF later tonight. In the meantime, here's more Harry Potter, with flashbacks and whatnot!

*More about how Harry et al are the only people to know what's right and what's wrong when it comes to rumours. They never truly get it wrong, and when they do, all that happens is that they're a bit surprised. Since there's only one book left, I despair of any of the three fucking up so royally that it has disastrous consequences. Except possibly Ron, but it's far more likely that anything that happens to him will be the result of some outside evil.

*Hermione and Ron continue not to listen to Harry re. Draco. We know Harry is RIGHT, as we've already read the book, but even his friends wish he'd shut the fuck up and stop grasping for attention.

*New Dumbledore lesson! Our beloved headmaster has been off doing something supa-clever, but is now back and "looking unusually tired" with his hand looking "as black and burned as ever". The klaxon horn of foreshadowing sounds in the distance.

*Why did Professor Snape, Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, have anything to do with an horrible accident involving the Dark Arts? I don't know, Harry. It is a mystery!

*The triumphant return of Phineas Nigellus Black (the last name appears in the book, honest), bitchy painting of doom! Here, he scolds Harry for questioning how Hogwarts is run. This is an obvious sign of his ridiculous Slytherin nature - since when was Harry anything less than the most important person alive?

*He also reveals that Mundungus Fletcher is a half-blood. *strokes tiny plot-bunnies*

*Harry has a little inner whine about Draco and why Dumbledore DOESN'T CARE, but memories are more important right now.

*Dumbledore suggests it is possible that despair sapped Merope of her powers. Has this ever happened to a man? Inquiring minds need to scoff and make loud snorty noises know. Although this might explain the presence of emoTonks, but I still find Tonks utterly surplus to requirements.

*"She wouldn't even stay alive for her own son!" No, Harry, no mother was as wonderful as yours. And she had a choice, oh yes! Not like your mum, who wasn't offered the chance to step aside or anything. Let me see, what's that choice again? Live in misery and poverty with a small child and nobody on earth to help you care for the little beast, or suffer the pain of dying? Do you think you'd choose so easily, under the circumstances?

*Dumbledore says, yes, Lily was offered a choice. However, she was OMG SO BRAVE and took the correct path in order that her son might grow up to be a sexy hero, rather than a psychopath. Woo-hoo.

*Albus takes time to describe his own memory as "rich in detail and satisfyingly accurate". Oh shut up.

*His younger-self suit does sound the business, mind. Probably looked pretty peculiar in 1930s London, but still. Plum velvet, eh? I'm imagining a Vivian Stanshall look-alike now. It's just a shame such a cool get-up had to be a Dumbledore one, really.

*Oh yes, brainwash the orphanage staff to get your plum velvet mittens on Tom Riddle. Very brave there, Albus. Okay, so I know you can't let people know about Hogwarts, but even so...it's all a bit iffy, really. Especially with the gin as well.

*Tom Riddle was born on New Year's Eve, apparently. Was it snowing in London on 31st of December, 1927? Mrs. Cole says it was. Hmm.

*Also, baby!Tom was supposedly "funny" in that he rarely cried. Even from birth etc. Not that he was born that way or anything *cough*. And then he got older and started hanging rabbits from rafters and doing odd things to his peers.

*Oh dear. There've been suggestions that young Tom ought to be in the asylum, but we're going to ignore that and instead give him a place in our fabulous school, with every resource he could wish for. And we're going to prove that it's a magical school by setting fire to his wardrobe. Well, there's good child management for you.

*"Oh yes and, while we do not tolerate bad use of magic here at Hogwarts, I'm still going to let you wander off and do what you like on your own, even though you are clearly barking mad and ought to be accompanied everywhere by some big men and a pint of sedative". Well done, Albus.

*Tom doesn't like his name anyway, even though he doesn't know if it's a Muggle name or not. He wants to be special and different and exciting. Well, don't we all? Doesn't Harry, for that matter?

*Interesting to note that "there are parselmouths amongst the great and good too". I hope Albus isn't just talking about Harry, and that we really aren't putting any value judgement onto snakes. I don't hold out much hope here, though.

*"Do you hear me, Harry? Tom Riddle liked to COLLECT TROPHIES!!!!!" Why not just tell him about horcruxes right off the bat? Does he need all the extraneous guff that goes with it. Blah. Still, at least Harry notices about the ring. Soon, he may make the connection between rings that go on hands and Dumbledore's manky...hand. But what could the connection be???

Also, how dumb am I for not realising that this was actually chapter thirteen until ten days later? Really? :([/9th December edit]