[HPforGrownups] Re: Chapter 26 - The Second Task

[Dave Hardenbrook]

No: HPFGUIDX 9501

At 07:08 AM 1/17/01 +0000, Rita Winston wrote:
> > 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...

I thought maybe Harry unconsciously veers away from anything
that reminds him of Snape, but that doesn't explain the other champions.
(Unless Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have stinkers for Potions masters
  as well.)

>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.

Whereas someone like me, rasied by left-wing New Dealer FDR-and-
JFK-should-be-canonized liberals, tends to instinctively think "Well,
regulation of caldron thickness is probably an important issue."  But when
Voldy and the Death-Eaters are running around trying to take over the
world...  It's like what I read that during the Civil Rights/Vietnam War
Era, Michael Dukakis' big passionate crusade was for no-fault auto
insurance.

I don't believe Percy will go over to the Dark Side, but I think he
will hide behind his Caudron Bottom report and other "red boxes"
(I *am* right? -- They *are* red aren't they, British Gov't experts?)
through the whole conflict.  But for the sake of comic relief, I hope
his bureaucratic feats of daring get more and more absurd.



                                                 -- Dave