PoA Chapters 21-22 Summary (even better format)

[Zarleycat at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22199

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., naama_gat at h... wrote:


[Q: Had Black really meant to 
> kill him then? It was a very dangerous prank, but was it 
> cruelty on Black's part or thoughtlessness?]

I don't think it was attempted murder. That strikes me as too 
planned.  Sirius, "What will I do tonight?  Arithmancy homework, kill 
Snape, turn Remus into a murderer, sneak into the kitchen for 
food..."  Just doesn't work for me.  However, it could certainly have 
been attempted "frighten the pants off Snape."  It certainly was 
extremely reckless and thoughtless.  

[Q: 
> Why tell it in clues? Great for the story and suspense 
> building, but was it really reasonable when so much is at 
> stake? What if they hadn't understood?]

I think you got it in one - great for story and suspense.


[Q: What's wrong with a 
> broomstick? Why did they need Buckbeak?] 
> 
If you can save one life, why not try to save two?



> [Q: Is there some rule as to what shape a Patronus takes? If 
> so, what is the rule? What can we conclude about it from 
> Harry's Patronus? Did anybody read this bit without tears in 
> her/his eyes?]

I'm not convinced it necessarily takes an identifiable shape.  IIRC, 
Lupin drove away the Dementor on the train with an amorphous silvery 
cloud.  Perhaps it will take an identifiable shape when the person 
using it has strong associations associated with Dementors, as Harry 
does.
> 
[Q: Why, though? This point has always rather 
> confused me. A "single, very happy memory" is not the same 
> as self-confidence, is it?] 

True, but maybe there are more nuances to using a Patronus.  If 
you're trying to teach a relatively young person how to do this, it 
might be easier for the child to focus on a vibrant, exciting, 
ecstatic memory.  Someone Harry's age may not have the life 
experience to have full confidence in his wizard strenght, whereas an 
adult might.  Harry doesn't need to try to come up with a happy 
memory at this point because he now knows he can do this.

 

> [Q: Why?? How can he hate him so much as to want him to 
> receive the Kiss? Is it reasonable for a boy's grudge to be 
> taken to such an extreme?] 

I don't think we're seeing Severus at his most rational.  Plus, he 
has no evidence that Sirius is innocent.  When he had the upper hand 
in the Shrieking Shack he could have agreed to bringing everyone to 
the castle.  If they couldn't provide proof, then he'd have been able 
to hand over the escaped murderer (to much applause from the MOM), he 
could have made a good case against the untrustworthy werewolf, and 
he'd have the Trio in deep trouble for being where they were. 

 It does seem to me to be a bit extreme to still be at this fever 
pitch of hatred after almost 13 years.  There has got to be more to 
this Sirius/Severus feud to explain it.


> 
[Q: If werewolves are 
> only dangerous at the time of the full moon, why are people 
> afraid of them all the time? I can understand the fear when 
> you don't know who the werewolf is, but when you know 
> who he is, it should be easy to take precautions against him, 
> no? Doesn't it remind you of another prejudice against a 
> different disease?]

People are stupendously irrational.  You'd think they'd also 
recognize that the Wolfsbane potion would keep a werewolf under 
control.  I think this is a deep-seated societal prejudice, and the 
fact that Remus was running around for a night would be enough to 
make a majority of the parents want his dismissal.  

[C: how is he feeling now, returning to a life where 
> no one is willing to hire him? Where no one will trust him? 
> Does he have a family? Friends who can help?]

Maybe he found a way to join Sirius in the tropics.


Marianne