Summary: CoS Chapters 5 an 6

[Laura somethingorother]

No: HPFGUIDX 23703

I saw these and started thinking about them and then realized I could 
reply. Wow! What a concept! So here is my Incredibly Indulgent Post 
in which I give My Two Cents on CoS topics and use Lots of Capital 
Letters.




Question 1:  Mrs. Weasley certainly is neither  stupid nor dull.
>    How come she doesn't notice the magical transformations the car
>    has undergone? ("Muggles *do* know more than we give them credit
>    for, don't they?")

I think it likely that someone's already mentioned this, but I think 
that Molly did know that the car had all sorts of charms and spells 
on it, and was just going along with things. You know. Why get into a 
fight/discussion/argument with Arthur in front of all the children 
and when they were already late for the station? S'pose it shows that 
Molly can compromise when the situation calls for it. 

Question 2: I'd like you to express your opinions on the couple
>    Molly&Arthur. They seem to get on  very well, but would you say
>    the have a relationship of equals?
> 
*shrug* Depends on what your definition of "equals" is. I'd say 
they're very much equals. Arthur could have been pigeonholed into the 
Walter Middy type of character by Rowling since Molly "rules the 
roost" at home, and Molly could have been reduced to the "overbearing 
wife" role, but their exchanges and compromises make them more than 
stereotypes. We've seen that Arthur has a bit of fight in him 
(*snicker* Lucius can vouch for that) and that Molly can let things 
go...so...yeah. 
> 
>    Question 3: Did anybody at this point think it had something to 
do
>    with Dobby or did you attribute the sealing of the gate to their
>    being late (it rhymes, I'm thunderstruck with my own talent!)?
> 
To tell the truth, I didn't think of it. I just kept reading. 
*embarrassed* 
> 
>    Question 4: (As the question about starting the car/underage 
magic
>    has already been sufficiently discussed, I just leave it out.
>    BUT:) Doesn't this scene tell us something about Ron? He knows
>    that Harry has already got one warning from the MoM and will face
>    expulsion if he's caught doing Underage Magic another time. Is 
Ron
>    selfishly trying to show off? Is he extremely impulsive? 
> 
Ron? Extremely impulsive? Perish the thought! *laugh* Ron is a twelve-
year-old boy when all of this happens. And from what I remember of my 
brother when he was twelve years old, foresight and intelligent 
analysis of all options before a decision is made is NOT a marked 
trait of twelve-year-old boys. And I shall not debase my answer by 
saying "Or ANY year old boys, for that matter," however sorely I am 
tempted. :D
> 
>    Question 5: Do you think the weather in general and the
>    meteorological conditions on 1 September have a symbolical value
>    in the books? Is it important that, as the books are
>    getting "darker", the weather on the day of departure is getting
>    worse with every book?
> 
Hmm. So by the seventh book, the weather conditions at the station 
will reach monsoon status? Yikes. Batten down the hatches.
> 
>    Question 6: What do you think the car is running on?  And why 
does
>    the engine die at this point?
> 
The car is running on...octiron. Yes. And of course the engine died 
because it somehow knew, just as all inanimate objects in novels 
know, that it was Very Vital to the Plot that its engine malfunction 
at that moment. Smart car. But of course, it's a Ford, so there you 
have it. How could it be otherwise?
> 
>    Question 7: Why does Snape wait for them?( It should be 
McGonagall
>    who is Head of Gryffindor. She does not necessarily have to 
survey
>    the Sorting ceremony, as we know from PoA, where she summons 
Harry
>    and Hermione into her office, while Prof. Flitwick replaces her 
at
>    the Sorting.)
> 
What, are you kidding? I'll bet Snape JUMPED (*tries to imagine Snape 
jumping and fails*) at the chance to look for his favorite Golden Boy 
and Second Banana. Snape's got a (hooked) nose for trouble, and I'm 
sure he would've paid McGonagall to let him wander around Hogwarts 
instead of watching all those nasty future students desecrate the 
honor of his House by having the nerve to be Sorted into it. 
> 
>    Question 8: What Ron and Harry did, would certainly have been
>    worth expulsion. Much as we all like the two of them, do you 
think
>    it OK McGonagall lets them get away just with detention? And why
>    do you think she made this decision?
> 
Well, what the heck would happen if Harry and Ron got expelled? 
They'd be very boring books, and no one (*coughSCHOLASTICcough*) 
would like a boring book. Besides, McGonagall's just a big softy. Bet 
she loves sappy movies and babies. Just like Snape's really a very 
honorable and trustworthy guy, and has a heart of gold under all the 
grease and muck. *snicker*
> 
>    Question 9: If Hermione had been with them at King's Cross, do 
you
>    think the two boys would have convinced her to fly to Hogwarts
>    with them by car? ( Later on in the book (Polyjuice Potion) we 
see
>    that Hermione is as capable of rule- breaking as the other two,
>    which she has already demonstrated in the Norbert-  episode in
>    PS/SS)
> 
Of course not. Herm likes rules. And she dislikes flying. 
> 
>    Question 10: It has never been made really clear how Mr. Weasley
>    managed to keep his job at the MoM, given that the charge against
>    him was quite serious (Rita Skeeter's article in GoF only 
mentions
>    that he was charged with the illegal possession of an enchanted
>    car) . How do you think he got himself out?
> 
I think perhaps Arthur is seen as an eccentric but harmless fool at 
the Ministry, and they keep him around for entertainment. Of course, 
he'll surprise them all with his heroics in later books. 
> 
>    Question 11: I cannot get rid of the thought that some of the 
less
>    important characters, and especially Lockhart, are caricatures of
>    very real and unpleasant persons JKR met and couldn't resist to
>    have her little revenge on. What do you think?
> 
*growl* I think so too. Lockhart, not so much, I actually love 
Lockhart to pieces. He's hilarious and great and if he hadn't already 
been cast, I would've loved to see someone like John Lithgow take 
that role in HP Movie 2. (Is that considered off-topic? Should I put 
a disclaimer?)
Rowling's portrayal of Rita made me a bit mad. Though she resorted to 
devious means to stay at Hogwarts, while she was there lawfully she 
was actually a pretty good reporter. She asked leading questions, 
though, which good reporters would never do (unless the interviewee 
is just being REALLY quiet and can't think of anything to say and is 
being generally uncooperative)...but you have to admit, her style of 
writing had a certain je ne sais quoi. And she DID report the news to 
her readers. She got stories, and except for that one with Harry and 
Herm and Krum, they were stories that the public had a right to know 
(Hagrid's connection with the giants, etc). If only she hadn't put 
her own opinions in them....  
Sure, she was a bad reporter in most respects. But dang. It just 
makes the whole profession look bad. I think perhaps that was Rowling 
being bitter. But anyway, enough ranting.
> 
>    Question 12: Do you think that Lockhart's way of presenting
>    himself as The- One- Who- Always- Knows- Best is a result of
>    stupidity combined with selfishness and conceit, or is it simply 
a
>    calculated strategy, trying how far people will let him go
>    (following Hitler's famous: The bigger the lie, the more people
>    will believe it)? Is he a Slytherin?
> 
Oh, bite your tongue. Slytherins have a much better grasp of subtlety 
than Lockhart (with the exceptions of Crabbe and Goyle). Lockhart is 
just....stupid.
> 
>    Question 13: Which part of the plant is used for potion- making?
>    Do they chop up the leaves or the "roots" (eurgh!!)? And if it's
>    the leaves, what happens to the "roots"? Sorry, but this has been
>    tormenting me since I first read the book.
> 
*malicious grin* I think perhaps the roots are the magical parts of 
the plant. Kinda makes you wonder how lovely little Professor Sprout 
could be so bloodthirsty, eh?
> 
>    Question 14: The general opinion about Colin Creevey isn't too
>    positive but what about his behaviour during this scene? Standing
>    up to Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, on his first day at Hogwarts and
>    furthermore being Muggle- born, indicates that he has a lot of
>    courage. And what do you think about his surprising psychological
>    insight? Is Malfoy really jealous of Harry?
> 
Well, of course Malfoy's jealous of Harry. As for 
Colin...erm...heh...I'll plead a case of severe bias on this issue. 
Writing "Colin Creepy" completely destroyed any belief I might've had 
in his innocence.
> 
>    Question 15: How come that Hermione who as far as we know her, is
>    not a person to judge people because of their looks, is so easily
>    fooled by Lockhart? If not his tactless behaviour to Prof. 
Sprout,
>    at least the Pixie incident should have cast some light upon who
>    and what he really is.

Well. She's only HUMAN. And I suppose he was frightfully 
handsome...besides, she might've just been having fun egging Ron and 
Harry on as well. If Hermione wanted to, she could derive lots of 
satisfaction of playing mind games with Ron and Harry. But of course 
then she'd be in Slytherin.....hmm.