something fun to talk about

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 16097

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Dave Hardenbrook <DaveH47 at m...> wrote:
> At 11:22 AM 4/8/01 -0700, Magda Grantwich wrote:
> >I agree with your mom.  I was quite surprised at that part because 
it
> >really shows George and Fred in a most unfavourable light and makes
> >Dudley a sympathetic character.
> 
> How does getting a miniscule bit of commupance make him
> sympathetic?  Did Malfoy getting turned into a ferret make
> *him* sympathetic??  I hate to say it, but maybe JKR needs
> to have Dudley bully and beat up on Harry a bit(*), lest we start
> *liking* the rotten little git.
> 
>                                 -- Dave
> 
> * Harry needn't actually get hurt -- Just before Dudley throws
> his first punch, we hear a gruff voice bellow, "I don't think so, 
laddie!"
> and Harry meets Dudley, the Amazing Bouncing Aardvark.


I'm with the majority.

I think one magical prank that caused Dudley no permanent physical 
damage (and he was already emotionally scarred by Hagrid's having 
given him a pig tail) as compared to 11 (and perhaps less infrequent 
over 12, 13 and 14th) years of bullying and meanness from spoiled 
Dudley is just evening the score a little bit.

However, one of the funniest scenes. Let me think. My favourites 
change often too.

Ah, I know.

Ron made a cough that sounded suspiciously like "Lockhart!" 

and 

Myrtle being a peeping Tomette (Thomasina?) for the Hogwarts 
Champions in the Prefects' Bathroom.