Knockturn Alley,DADA,teacher switching,HP's Eyes, and newbie

[Carla theCrazyOne]

No: HPFGUIDX 23076

Matt:
> A drug related reference that is close to what you
> were referring to is the
> fact that you can go to places called head shops and
> buy a HUGE variety of
> pipes, water pipes, bongs, mirrors, one hitter
> pipes, etc, that ONLY are
> used for drug use.  No one REALLY smokes tobacco out
> of those things.  Or
> just wants a little gold plated mirror with a Coke
> symbol on it.

This brought another idea to mind:

In some states at least, it is illegal for underage
youth to purchase anything *pertaining* to, let's say,
smoking.  For instance, I was recently carded when I
tried to purchase lighter fluid and flints, without a
cigarette purchase being made at all.  The
overly-talkative counter worker also informed me that
had I tried to by a lighter or a box of matches, she
would have had to card me; however, there is a valid
case that such items could be purchased for
non-smoking reasons.

So along the same lines, even if the MoM couldn't do
anything to shut down Knockturn Alley completely,
could they keep younger wizards/witches out of the
area?  I know they don't, because Harry sees Draco
Malfoy there in CoS (albeit, with Mr. Malfoy, which
brings up a loophole to such laws, I'm sure).  If the
items found in Knockturn Alley are dangerous, as I
assume many are, couldn't underage w/w be kept away? 
Shouldn't they?  The Weasley kids sure weren't allowed
in, though that was probably by their parents' decree.

Then again, what good would it do to keep the young
w/w from being exposed to such things?  If their
parents are visiting Knockturn Alley, then there is a
good chance that the kids will already know about the
Dark Arts...

Oh, this is why I rarely post.  I ramble on so.

Morgan:
> each novel.  From my perspective, an elite school
> like Hogwarts' ought
> to have its pick of the best wizards and witches
> rather than scraping
> the bottom of the barrel, as they appear to have to
> do all to often. 

While I agree that Hogwarts *should* have a large
number of over-qualified applicants, I'm not sure
there is a large pot of teachers to draw from.

I'm betting many who *would* have been teachers at
Hogwarts ended up being killed during Voldemort's rise
and fall.  Of those who are left, well, Dumbledore
seemed to know that V. would rise again; he's probably
not the only wizard who thought of such things.

If there was a chance that V. would regain his power,
I'm not sure *I'd* want to be teaching at Hogwarts,
especially not DADA, and *especially* not with Harry
'Brought About V.'s Fall' Potter as a student there,
even before four years of having V. show up at every
turn, though he shouldn't have been able to.

I'm looking forward to seeing who DADA number 5 is.
*g*

Besides, as Indigo said:
> Quirrell was a Voldie-thrall.
> Lockhart was the only person Dumbledore could find
> WILLING to do the 
> job. 
> Remus was the only person Dumbledore could find
> WILLING to do the job.
> Moody was a ringer for Voldemort.

Let's see.  Quirrell was the DADA teacher before Harry
arrived; he was also part of V.'s plot.  

Lockhart seemed to be held in fairly high esteem by
most of the wizarding world, at least IMHO.  Until his
cover was blown, ie. when he started teaching, he
probably looked like a darn good option, especially
when so few seem to be interested.  

Remus had hands-on DADA experience (I can't imagine
anything being more hands on than being what he was);
besides that, Dumbledore seems to make it a habit to
give chances to those who don't normally receive one. 
Therefore, Remus, even if he wasn't the only DADA
applicant, seemed to be a likely choice.  Besides, he
was a *good* teacher.  

And Moody...well, even though he was part of V.'s
plot, before he got swept up in that, he was a *good*
Auror, and someone that Dumbledore trusted.  Since I'm
fairly sure that Dumbledore foresaw V.'s return,
having Moody as a DADA makes perfect sense, no matter
how many other applicants there were.

Indigo again:
> And of those,  I could see Trelawney being replaced
> next since her 
> ability at soothsaying and future-telling is spotty
> and unreliable at 
> best.

Oh goodness, I hope not.  I find her class a welcome
bit of comic relief from some of the other classes. 
Her wild predictions (well, those that aren't *real*
predictions) keep me laughing. :-)

and Indigo again:
> Harry and friends have had McGonnagall, Flitwick and
> Snape all along -
> - which makes sense from a writer/reader standpoint
> as an author 
> wants her readers to know, recognize and care about
> characters, but 
> doesn't make for a realistic school environment.

Oh, I don't know.  At my university, I've had the same
basic set of teachers for all the years I've been
there.  The ones I had for basic university classes
outside of my major came and went, but the main core
have been the same.  I must say, it helps build a
rapport with them that I wouldn't have otherwise, if
it switched every year.  I've also noticed that as I
have the same teachers over and over again, I learn
their style of teaching, what they expect from me in
papers and projects, and how their tests are set up,
and I'm learning more than I normally would as I
become more comfortable with them.

And if that is true for the majority, I'm really
beginning to think they need to keep a *good* DADA
teacher for more than one year; after all, with V.'s
return, what class would it be essential to be
comfortable with the professor and to learn more if
not DADA? *g*

>    From: lleecook at yahoo.com
> Many times Harry's eyes are mentioned... "You have
> your mother's 
> eyes".  JKR wouldn't repeat this comment so often if
> it wasn't very 
> significant.  Perhaps his eyes are a link to his
> power.

Perhaps I'm saying something that's already been said
before, but that makes a lot of sense, especially
since it's often said that he looks exactly like his
father, *except* for his eyes, which are like his
mother's.  And that might explain why Harry's scar is
on his forehead, above his *eyes*.  I always wondered
why it was there, and not elsewhere.

And now for the newbie part:

Hi, I'm new.  I've been lurking for a few days, and
have to offer up a heartfelt thanks to the person from
the Laurell K. Hamilton list (you know who you are)
who mentioned this one.  I've enjoyed it greatly.

And since I tend to ramble, I'm going to shut up.  I
only hope I haven't made a fool of myself with this
first post. ;-)

Carla
Of Luv and Blood
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/3673

The relief from my constant exploration of identity is
when I'm in character, cause then I know exactly who I
am. In real life, I don't know what I'm going to do,
where I'm at, how I'm perceived, who I am. - Vin 
Diesel



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