[HPforGrownups] Chapter 13 - Mad Eye Moody

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 3010

I tried real hard to answer these from the point of someone who has only
read this far, as I think is the point of this analysis, right?

stevekimmel at yahoo.com wrote:

> Question 1. Why is Harry taking the same courses year after year when
> clearly other students at the same level are taking different
> courses? (Lack of imagination on the part of Miss Rowling?)

Didn't they have to decide their specialties at the start of their third
year? Hermione had the option of giving up Divination because she was
more than filling her requirements for specialties. By this time,
changing choices may not be an option for Harry or Ron.

> Moody transforms Draco into a white
> ferret.

Did anyone else wonder why this particular animal? Does Moody specify, or
did the spell select an animal whose nature was close to the castee? I
presume it was white because Draco is so buffy-blond.

> Question 2 : Why did we believe Moody is Harry's friend and
> benefactor?

Because we have thus far been treated to Draco always getting away with
"it," and it was so nice to see him toasted for once that we assumed the
toaster was a friend. Who is against our enemies is our friend. Plus he
bothered to ask if Harry was all right.

> Question 3: Why do we accept Moody's casual cruelty toward a student
> even if it's a slimeball like Malfoy?

Because of Moody's past history/career and known eccentricity. It seems
entirely in character for him to ignore the school's strictures and do
what he himself thought appropriate. And as I said before, it was so
*nice* to see Draco getting some back for a change. Also, Moody pretty
clearly knew Lucius and didn't think much of him, which explains his
apparent pre-judgement of Lucius' son.

--Amanda