Pondering the details of Goblet (contents vary)

mcandrew at bigpond.com mcandrew at bigpond.com
Thu Aug 2 04:44:19 UTC 2001


No: HPFGUIDX 23427



A few queries about the events in GoF have bubbled to the surface of 
my pensieve.  None of these impact on the future of the plot or 
characters much, some are pretty trivial actually, but I'd be 
interested in your views on any or all of them just the same.  Humble 
apologies if any of these have been dealt with before...  I can't 
remember seeing them, have just examined the brand new & wonderful 
FAQs without finding mention, [Ebony AKA, please see note below] and 
also find that the search engine on our site doesn't handle the huge 
volume of archived queries too well. (Longing for such searching 
conveniences as boolean logic and date fields..)


1) Chap 30, The Pensieve.  (p. 524 UK ed) Harry, discussing the 
trials he has just been visiting, asks Dumbledore whether Crouch Jr 
was really involved in torturing the Longbottoms.  Dumble says 'As to 
that, I have no idea.'  Why?  Dumbledore sat as a member of the 
Council of Magical Law which passed a guilty verdict on Crouch Jr for 
exactly that crime.  Is Dumbledore saying he didn't agree with his 
own verdict as a member of that panel of judges?  If he wasn't sure 
of Crouch's guilt, why didn't he cast a dissenting vote?  Or has he 
changed his mind since?


2) Chap 36, Parting of the Ways. (p. 617-8 UK) At Harry's hospital 
bedside after the third task, Sirius and Snape are introduced to each 
other by Dumbledore - but not until Madam Pomfrey has left the room 
and is out of hearing.  Obviously he doesn't trust her as he does 
Snape or Molly Weasley, who is still present.  Yet Pomfrey is a 
highly respected member of Dumbledore's handpicked staff. So why is 
she regarded as so much less trustworthy than some of the others? 


3) Chap 33, The Death Eaters. The graveyard scene, Voldemort has just 
emerged from cauldron. On first addressing Harry, he calls 
him 'Potter', but almost straight away switches to 'Harry', which is 
how he addresses Harry for the rest of the evening.  Why does he use 
Harry's first name?  Normally this would be a mark of affection or 
familiarity - e.g. it's used by Dumbledore as well as Harry's 
friends, whereas the more distant teachers (e.g. McGonagall), enemies 
like Malfoy, and notably Snape, call him 'Potter'.  Actually, given 
the relationship between Harry and Voldemort, I would expect V. 
perhaps to be very formal and pronounce Harry's full name 'Harry 
Potter' in addressing him.  So why the familiar 'Harry'?  Not that I 
don't like the effect - I love it.  The fatherly affection for Harry 
which it implies, contrasts with his actual treatment of Harry in 
this scene so beautifully.


4) (Trivia alert 'on')  Voldemort presumably emerges from the 
cauldron naked - and thankfully cloaked in steam!  Wormtail then puts 
a robe on him.  But what does he do about footwear?  It must be 
uncomfortable chasing Harry around a stony graveyard in bare feet... 
or is he weightless and therefore able to get by without shoes?  Or, 
perhaps, unable to feel pain or discomfort in his new reincarnation?  
(Must be chilly without undergarments either.)


5) Pronunciation: I don't find this much of a problem generally, but 
the name 'Nagini' usually causes a hiccup when reading aloud to my 
son.  I've settled on pronouncing it with an elongated 'a', a 
soft 'g' and the accent on the second syllable.  Would you agree?


I could go on, but maybe that's enough disjointed topics for one 
message.


 - Lama -



Note to Ebony AKA:  Please keep on writing to the list. I, like 
many others I'm sure, really enjoy your thoughtful posts, whether in 
agreement or not.  OK, the rules, while understandable, can be 
intimidating and some of us have to muster our courage to hit 
that 'send' button... (I have made Harry my role model in that 
regard)

- Lama





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