[HPforGrownups] COS Chapter 4 - At Flourish and Blotts

[- Joy -]

No: HPFGUIDX 23332

Another great summary, Amber.  Here's my feeble attempt at answering your
questions...

> Questions:
>
> 1) How do you think Dumbledore already knew that Harry was at the
Weasleys?

I think it has something to do with the magic that protects him when he's on
Privet Drive.  I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of "alarm" that
goes off when he leaves the house.  I guess it's logical to assume he went
to his best friend's house.

> 2) Why are all the letters from Hogwarts addressed in green ink? Any
> significance or just coincidence? Maybe it's Dumbledore's favorite color?

I'm not sure of the significance, but I have noticed that there's a lot of
emerald green used (Harry's eyes, people's cloaks, the ink, floo flames, and
a lot of just miscellaneous descriptions.  I wouldn't be surprised if we
found out the color had some sort of protective properties.

> 3) How do you think the Weasley's were able to afford all the Lockhart
> books? Perhaps Flourish and Blotts runs a tab?

Maybe Hogwarts has some sort of a financial aid program for poorer wizarding
families.  It seems like the sort of thing Dumbledore would create.
Although, I do like the image of Mrs. Weasley cozying up to Lockhart to get
free books.  LOL!

> 4) When floo powder is thrown into the fire, the flames turn green.
Another
> coincidence or something deeper there?

See #2.

> 5) Do you think it was wise of the Weasleys to let Harry travel by floo
> powder by himself when he had never done so before? Why can't two people
> travel by floo powder at the same time?

I guess when you're really used to doing something, you forget how difficult
it can be.  It probably wasn't smart, but I bet they were a little harried
with trying to keep track of everyone, and floo powder was easiest.  As for
the two people thing, maybe there's a higher risk of getting lost if two
people are giving directions?  Easier to mispronounce things and confuse the
grate.

> 6) Were you surprised to hear that Malfoy's grades needed improvement? Do
> you think it's because Mr. Malfoy has unreasonable expectations of his son
> or that Malfoy's grades just aren't up to par?

I agree with what everyone else has said.  Draco's grades probably aren't
that bad, he seems pretty cunning.  It just probably grates on Lucius that
his pureblood Death-Eater-to-be got beaten by a filthy M*dblood.

> 7) Percy is found reading a book called "Prefects Who Gained Power: A
study
> of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers". Do you think this is an
> indication that Percy could be seduced to Voldemort's side?

I can't see Percy going over to the Dark Side intentionally... he's too
bound up in rules and doing the right thing.  Plus, his family has a
staunchly anti-DE heritage, and they're so close-knit I doubt that he would
break with the tribe.  I do think he likes to be "in charge".  IMHO, that's
the kind of power he's craving while reading the book.

> 8) What did you first think of Lockhart when you read his description?
What
> was your opinion of him at the end of the chapter?

He's the kind of person I love to hate... vain, arrogant, beautiful, and
pompous.  I was hoping he would amount to nothing and get his in the end,
and I guess I was right there.  I just wonder if anyone ever apologized to
all of those valiant wizards and witches he Obliviated.  They should at
least get credit in the footnotes of new printings of his books....

> 9) Did you make the connection that Lockhart was to be the new DADA
> professor before he made his announcement?

I did, but only because every single one of his books was on the reading
list.

> 10) Obligatory Silly Question: Woohoo! It's Harry's birthday! (Or was
> Harry's birthday, depending where you are in the world) How did you
> celebrate it?

Unfortunately, I can't do any sort of Harry-celebrating in my real life...
no other Potter fans in sight.  I'll "celebrate" by going to check out my
new dorm room and fighting the university bureaucracy <sighs>  To the Boy
who Lived! <raises her butterbeer>  Mmmm... that really does make everything
seem better.

NB: Please forgive any incoherence, grammatical errors, stupidity, or
general rambling in this post.  Cold medicine does strange things to the
brain.


~Joy~

http://www.geocities.com/joy0823
Last Movie Seen: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
Now Reading: "HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling