Harry/Henry Potter -- Ch 12 & 13 Summary Questions -- Turning to the Dark Side

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 20213

Hi --

Rita Winston wrote:

> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., Barbara Purdom <blpurdom at y...> wrote:
> > Well, that immediately got me thinking that perhaps
> > Harry isn't a Harold at all, but a Henry
>
> IIRC JKR said in an interview that Harry's name (what I call "birth
> certificate name") is Harry, not Harold or Henry or Harrison.

She did indeed say that his name is Harry.  She went on to say that
Harry is her favorite boy's name and that if her daughter had been a
boy, he would have been named Harry.  Another Penny hot-button, but
Harry is most definitely not Henry, Harold or Harrison.  He is Harry.
Harry James Potter.  :--)

Great summaries, Trina!!

> > 2.  Were Ron and Harry right to behave so abominably to Hermione in
> > the affair of the Firebolt?
>
No, they were not in the right.  But, their reaction was probably normal
13 year male behavior.  I agree completely with Catherine's excellent
response on this topic and found I have very little to add to what she
already said.  I think Ron was completely insensitive and spiteful,
while Harry's crime was simply passively going along with Ron's vendetta
even though he recognized that Hermione was merely acting out of concern
for his safety.  Amy Z makes the good point that Hermione's crime here
was not being honest about her thoughts on the Firebolt from the get-go
-- she should have stated that she thought Black sent the broom directly
to Harry and Ron, not to McGonagall.  In fact, I heartily second
everything Amy Z said on this score.

> 7.  Ron is apparantly more easily angered at Hermione than is Harry,
> even in the Firebolt Fuss.  Why is this?
>
I don't think Ron is just more easily angered at *Hermione* specifically
(other than in this instance)  -- he's more easily angered at everyone.
Hermione bears the brunt of his temper in PoA, while it's Harry who has
this role in GoF.  Wonder who will be the recipient of Ron's ire in Book
5.  Maybe *both* Harry and Hermione?  Hmmmm ....

Point of clarification -- more than one person has asked, in responding
to this question, the H/H shippers not to get worked up because they
make the point that Ron clearly has romantic interest in Hermione.
Believe me, we (the H/H types) don't have any trouble with this
concept.  We just don't think Ron's feelings are reciprocated.

Chapter 13 now ...

> 3.  Do you like the descriptions of the Quidditch matches?  Are they
> just a waste of pages?
>
Yes, I love them!  I'm not even a huge sports fan in general, but I
absolutely love the Quidditch matches.  I missed them in GoF and hope
that we will see some of them in later books (hoping the books won't be
so dark in tone that Quidditch is missing again).  Lee Jordan's
commentary is just priceless.  McGonagall's reactions are always a
hoot.  And, they are just plain exciting.


> 5.  What did the spectators see when the patronus charged down Malfoy
> and gang?
>
I agree with others that his patronus was clearly a stag given the later
comments of both Lupin and Dumbledore.  Or, perhaps it was merely a
partially-formed stag ... but probably recognizable as a stag
nonetheless I'd think.

Jenny wrote:

> <snip> but why would anyone think that someone like Percy,
> for example, would choose to go down the evil road?  How would that
> happen?  Would Percy (or Ron or Hermione, Hagrid, Pigwidgeon, or the
> Fat Lady) go looking for Voldie to say "Hey, my life sucks.  Can I
> join you?"
>
I don't think any of our "good guy" characters would *choose* to *turn*
the Dark Side.  I think any of them are susceptible to becoming a pawn
of the Dark Side.  They all have some character trait that could be used
against them.  In the case of Percy, Fred/George and Ron, their ambition
is clearly something that could bring about disastrous consequences to
the good guys if manipulated by the Voldy forces.  Others have posited
that Hermione's desire for academic success & recognition could be
manipulated (I'm a little less clear how logistically this might work
but I concede it's possible).  Ron is also more susceptible to the
Imperius Curse than the average wizard it might seem -- this could be a
red herring rather than a red flag (but my money is on it being
important in some way).  Just thought of this: maybe Ron's
susceptibility to the Imperius Curse might cause Harry and/or Hermione
to *believe* Ron was acting under the Imperius Curse, even if he wasn't.

Florence had some excellent thoughts on this question -- I really
enjoyed her post.

Penny
(who is *still* remarkably functioning on less than 3-4 hrs of
night-time sleep ....)




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