Ch. 37 - Hagrid - Squibs - UnFunny - Ron

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 16161

Great summary, Pippin!  Is anyone else sad that we've reached the 
last chapter, like I am?

Ebony wrote:

>Rita Skeeter is certainly nasty, but when I learned that she was 
>supposed to be the "evil female character", I was disappointed.  

Once again I'm grateful that I didn't know anything about the advance 
press on GoF before I read it.  Maybe I should observe an HP media 
fast between now and OoP...sure, right.

I didn't know there was going to be an "evil female character" so I 
just took Rita as she came.  I like her form of evil for the same 
reason I like Fudge's; it's more realistic and challenging than the 
foaming-at-the-mouth-sadist variety.  She's just a reporter looking 
for a story, just as Fudge is just a Minister trying to keep things 
going smoothly.  I can relate to these motives; their failings are the 
failings of ordinary sinning mortals, not Evil Overlords.  

Ebony:

>2)  One wonders if Voldemort or any of his Death Eaters are 
>                 doing something (spell from afar (but how?), lacing 
his drinks 
>                 via Crouch-as-Moody, etc.) to weaken Dumbledore.
>4)  Maybe it has something to do with Dumbledore's sock 
>                 fetish... 

<irony marker on> I suspect a connection.  The Death Eaters are 
putting a Stupidifying Powder in Dumbledore's socks, which he absorbs 
through the soles of his feet. <irony marker off>

Pippin, I think you are really onto something with the hints about 
Dumbledore's failing strength/perceptions.  I have no idea where it's 
headed; I don't think a falling-out is at all likely.  We barely know 
what D's powers are yet...I hope they don't wane before we get to see 
them in action.

I think Harry ought to tell him what he observed about the Slytherin 
table, but I bet he won't--it would sound too self-serving.  But I 
don't think Dumbledore needs a magical eye or an informant to know 
that he has a lot of junior DEs running around the school.

Andrea II wrote:

> Although I *do* join in on the earlier question - what
> on earth was Dumbledore thinking when he hired
> Lockhart?!

"He was the =on'y= man for the job.  An' I mean the =on'y= one."  (Cos 
7)  Not to suggest that we should ever take Hagrid's words literally, 
but Dumbledore was scraping the bottom of the barrel.  (Lupin must've 
been enjoying some R&R on the Aegean all spring and couldn't be 
tapped.)

Mecki wrote:

>I hope this hasn't been discussed too often before, but why  does 
> Hagrid not be able to buy himself a new wand?

I don't think this has been brought up since I joined the list 
(Christmas).  He shouldn't need OWLs to get one, either, wouldn't you 
say?  His name was publicly cleared after CoS, which should be good 
enough for Mr. Ollivander.

Doreen wrote:

>If wizards can make cars and motorcycles fly, why not pink umbrellas? 
You *do*
>see him folding it up right after he storms into the hut. *hint* 
*hint*

Dingdingdingding canon infiltration alert!  This is from the movie, 
not from PS/SS.

Milz wrote:

>We know Voldy is against Muggle-borns and Muggles, but what are his 
>possible feelings toward Squibbs? Do you think he regards them as the 
>same as Muggles?

Young Voldy speaks:  "Haven't you guessed yet, Harry Potter?  Ginny 
Weasley opened the Chamber of Secrets.  She strangled the school 
roosters and daubed threatening messages on the walls.  She set the 
Serpent of Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the Squib's cat."  (CoS 
17)

I think he hates them.

Heidi, yes, even Draco-loving Heidi, wrote of the ferret scene:

>I have to admit, on my first read, I did. But the second time, 
>knowing who "Moody" was, oh, I did *not* laugh.

I might have laughed--I don't recall--but I dislike that scene more 
each time I read it.  If Moody repeatedly slammed a student against 
the stone floor in his (the student's) human form, the humor would 
dissipate.  This is plain abuse.  Transfiguration as a punishment:  
=that's= funny.  Bruising and beating:  that's not.  JMMO (Just My 
Minority Opinion).

Ebony asked:

>1)  What happened to Ron Week?  I'm really disappointed that 
>we didn't have a chance to discuss that character more.

Me too.  Can we have some more time on Ron, please, Mister and Madam 
Moderators?  Not because he's Poor Neglected Ron ::smiles angelically 
over the water towards H/H ship::, but because he's interesting and 
controversial.

I thought Susan's post on Ron suggested that it was just part I.  If 
Susan isn't up to posting more conversation starters, we could dig 
into yesterday's chat and throw out some Ronthoughts from there.

Amy Z

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   "Don't you call me an idiot!" said Neville.  "I don't think
 you should be breaking any more rules!  And you were the one
 who told me to stand up to people!"
   "Yes, but not to =us=," said Ron in exasperation.
                             -HP and the Philosopher's Stone 
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