Chapter 37 Summary

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 16150

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Andrea <ra_1013 at y...> wrote:
> > Draco and his group don't even have their wands out
> > when they are 
> > surrounded and attacked. Are we  to approve of Fred
> > and George 
> > attacking from behind?  Was the reaction of Harry >
> andhis friends 
> > justified? Will they be receiving owls from the
> > Improper Use of Magic 
> > Office? Or will they be fined by the Department of
> > Magical 
> > Transportation for cursing while on a public
> > conveyance? :)
> 
> Yes, yes, no, and no. :)  Harry, Ron, and Hermione
> were acting under extreme provocation, and Fred and
> George were gallantly protecting their little brother.
>  And Malfoy deserved it, so there. [g]

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle are constantly antagonizing the Hogwarts 
Trio, always trying to start non-magickal fights (because Crabbe and 
Goyle are both big bullyboys, and none of the Trio are stunning 
physical specimens).  

Fred and George have displayed protective (if a touch over-the-top) 
tendencies before. It's how they show they care, other than by 
joking.  They were the first to rib Harry about being the Heir of 
Slytherin, but they also 'dropped' that Ton-Tongue Toffee for 
Dudley.  And they gave Harry the Marauders Map.  And they know very 
well that Draco and his henchmen have been thorns in Harry & co.'s 
sides all this time. 

Besides which, it is probably a good idea to remember, they're all 
_kids_.  Fred and George at this time are maybe 16 or 17 at best.  
Adding the above animosity plus the twins' ages and the fact that 
they were disgruntled about Bagman -- well, *shrug* it just doesn't 
seem they'd be inclined to stand idly by and let Malfoy & co. 
continue to give Harry a hard time (especially so soon after having 
fought Voldemort and seen Cedric die). 
 
> As for improper use of magic, I seem to recall the use
> of magic on the Hogwarts Express before.  

It's my guess that the train is considered Neutral Ground.

[CoS] "Since we weren't actually *at* Hogwarts yet, the term hadn't 
started, so there shouldn't be any points taken from Gryffindor..." 
[phrased from memory, Harry to McGonnagal]

While I know that Harry and Ron technically were in the Weasley 
Flying Car, I can't see why it wouldn't apply for the train as well.

I daresay they let the kids magic their hearts out on their ride home 
to get it out of their systems; because it'll be *months* before 
they're allowed to do so again (unless, like Ron, they come from a 
huge all-wizard family). 

I don't have
> my books on hand, so I can't check to be sure, but
> there was at least Ron's abortive attempt to turn
> Scabbers yellow. (And wouldn't Peter just be
> *thrilled* to turn back to human form and be bright
> yellow!)  

The yellow spell for sure. 

Perhaps the magic restriction only takes
> effect after they leave the train?
>   
> > Emphasis is laid on Dumbledore's fallibility in this
> > chapter. [snip snip] Is the stage being set 
> > for a falling out between Harry and Dumbledore, or
> > between Harry and Hagrid, whose confidence in >
> Dumbledore is unwavering?
> 
> Well, Harry has *never* understood why Dumbledore
> supports Snape so much, dating back from the end of
> PS/SS where Dumbledore gently corrects Harry to call
> Snape *Professor* Snape.  I don't think that will
> necessarily lead to any sort of falling out.  I *do*
> think that something's going to have to happen with
> the Slytherins, who clearly don't have much respect
> for Dumbledore and have connections to various
> practicing Death Eaters.  If Dumbledore continues to
> remain blind to that possibility, there is a definite
> chance of some uncharitable feelings on Harry's part,
> but I don't think it'll go as far as an actual
> falling-out.  Harry respects Dumbledore too much, and
> thusfar even Dumbledore's failings have ended
> positively.

Plus which, Dumbledore has in no small measure been Harry's guardian 
angel. 

It was Dumbledore who came and got Harry and Quirrell separated in 
the first book.  And also keep in mind that Dumbledore has showed no 
small amount of trust to Harry as well -- given that he let Harry in 
on the secrets of the Mirror of Erised.

It was the Sorting Hat, Sword, and Fawkes the Phoenix (all whose 
homes are Dumbledore's office) that allowed Harry the victory in the 
second book.

I think it will take something of vast scope to shake Harry's faith 
in Dumbledore to the point where they will come to "a parting of the 
ways." 
> 
> Although I *do* join in on the earlier question - what
> on earth was Dumbledore thinking when he hired
> Lockhart?! :)
> 
That was me. *chee* 
Maybe he lost a bet. 
> 

And as for Hermione: 

I think Hermione either doesn't care or thinks "an eye for an eye" is 
fair.  After Skeeter's nasty article about her, Hermione suffered 
being made a pariah for the most part -- even Mrs. Weasley was cool 
to Hermione until Harry spoke up and said, "You don't believe that 
rubbish, do you?" 

Plus, Rita Skeeter was still on the Hogwarts grounds after having 
been *ordered off* them.  Technically, she could've turned Skeeter in 
to Dumbledore and McGonnagall, and it is doubtful they would've been 
as kind to Skeeter as Hermione is by asking her not to say anything 
for a year. Not to mention the fact that Rita is also quite probably 
an _unregistered_ animagus...which makes her in violation of wizard 
law.  So  Hermione has got Skeeter over a barrel here, in my 
opinion.