[HPforGrownups] Wand question/Comments on AOL chat

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 4150

Catlady wrote:

>Remember when list members quarrelled over whether Hagrid's wand 
>REALLY was snapped? I suppose no one still cares, or it would have 
>been suggested as a ? for JKR chat.

Since you mention that furore, we haven't heard from young Nicholas for ages
(are you lurking here Nicholas?).  He was a fervent, if not the only,
supporter of the 'Hagrid's wand was not snapped' theory and tried to enlist
me to support his argument. I sort of agreed with him, after a fashion, I think.

General points on the chat interviews:

When I looked at those AOL chat answers, I noticed that JKR didn't really
answer anything much about the future books, apart from the one about the
female DADA teacher.  Anything that might have given away a big secret got
one of those "wait and see" or "not answering that" responses, but she felt
guilty enough to respond on the DADA question, so an onslaught of really
probing questions might come up trumps once at least!

I was laughing all the way through at the people in the chat room, most of
whom appeared to be kids (it's hard to tell really, as evidenced by our own
chat room).  They came across like a gaggle of inquisitive gnomes, chuckling
and nodding away to themselves between each Q&A, exchanging inane comments
and prodding JKR (cybernetically speaking) with their bony little fingers.
*Sincere* apologies if any of you were part of this, but I think you know
what I mean. I was rolling on the floor...almost (reserved Englishman, don't
forget).  I'm assuming JKR didn't see all that prattle?  

I'm torn with these things.  On the one hand, I don't want to know too many
secrets about future HP books, but on the other hand (and knowing she's not
likely to reveal anything too major), I'm curious and I like to see how she
responds to questions. We can learn things from non-answers as well as
answers.  It would be great to have an adult session with her - I notice
that someone framed that as a question: really good idea. 

Penny/Melanie - an admin point: Shouldn't we have spoilers on discussion of
chat responses posted here?  I don't know how you feel about this, but
giving away information in message titles (as someone did on the DADA
teacher) doesn't allow those who don't want to know to screen them out.
Perhaps spoilers will be too annoying though...?

Neil






            Flying-Ford-Anglia

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   "Then, dented, scratched and steaming, 
   the car rumbled off into the darkness, 
   its rear lights blazing angrily"

 [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]

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