Chapter 26 - The Second Task

[Rita Winston]

No: HPFGUIDX 9444

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, heidi <heidi.h.tandy.c92 at a...> 
wrote:
 
> the judges (all but Karkaroff) give Harry enough points to have him
> tie with Cedric.

I read Karkarff's biased scoring as a parody of Soviet judges in 
the Olympics. The USSR dissolved 10 years ago, so JKR is old enough 
to have intended the joke even if the teen-age readers aren't old 
enough to remember the reality.
> 
> Why didn't Harry look for any potions or plants to help with the
> task? Does he automatically veer towards charms and transfiguration

IIRC, both Fleur and Cedric used the Bubblehead Charm, while Krum 
Transfigured himself into a shark, but badly. I get the impression 
that almost all wizarding folk incline more to charms and 
transfiguration ('foolish wand-waving') than to potions, herbology, 
arithmancy...

> 3. Does Percy's protectiveness of Ron in this chapter change how 
> you think of him?

I think the only time I disliked Percy was with his stupid report on 
the thickness of cauldrons -- enough to turn me into a 
Libertarian: too much gov't regulation! But his concern over Ron did 
give me a warm feeling. 

> 4. What about Hermione & Krum's relationship?
I cite this event (that she was more important to him than his 
parents, siblings, school friends, Quidditch coach, etc) as PROOF
that he was sincere about her, not just messing around. I don't think 
she's serious about him.