Worlds collide - Killing - Hangman - Puffskeins - Nationalities

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 14411

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Milz wrote:

>The thing about the Rowling Potter books is this: all the events in 
>them have already happened in "Harry time". 

Okay, my mind is now spinning, but what you seem to be saying is that 
Harry is right now, in our time, 2001, 20 years old (21 in July), 
that he does in fact share this world with us and IS 20 years old, 
and that we just haven't caught up with the narrative because JKR is 
a few years behind in her biography.  That makes sense; it's the way 
I read them (if she didn't want to place the books in real time, she 
didn't have to give us Nick's exact death date—yet she did); and it 
also means that Dumbledore and Harry are still alive at the end of 
Book 7 (1998) b/c they were involved with the publication of a 2001 
book.  

I still maintain that the checkout dates wreak havoc on this theory, 
however.  Only twenty or so students have checked out that copy of 
QTA in the past 6 1/2 years (since Wood left Hogwarts)?  OK, here's 
another solution:  Dumbledore's just kidding about Madam Pince (we 
know he does tend to invent stories out of whole cloth).  He didn't 
get it from her; he got it from Harry, who lost it way back in March 
1996, paid his fine and suffered his hex, and then found it again 
when he packed up to return to Privet Drive at the end of the year.  
(Turned out it was in Ron's stuff, under a pile of maroon sweaters, 
which Ron had not disturbed in months, naturally.)

On Rowling in the forewords: I checked too (ye olde bookstore 
technique again), and I notice that though J.K. Rowling does get a 
mention, she is not identified as the biographer of Harry Potter nor 
the author of these books (as indeed she isn't—Whisp and Scamander 
are).  Dumbledore gives no sign that he actually knows her or 
considers her significant.  So if JKR is heading towards that 
collision of worlds, she hasn't done it yet.  Harry has indeed been 
written about in his own world, but only in tomes of recent wizarding 
history, as far as we know.  JK's way is much more interesting!  She 
should be hired to teach Modern History of Magic, since Binns appears 
to be stuck in medieval goblin rebellions permanently.  (How do you 
get rid of a boring teacher if he's a ghost?  Can you declare a 
mandatory retirement age of 300 years post-birth or 100 years post-
death, whichever comes first?)

>Actually, it would be funny if we find out in book 7 that "J. K. 
>Rowling" is the pen name for one of Harry's classmates!

Ooh
Any guesses as to who? 

Heidi wrote:

>I will look through GoF tonight, but if my memory is correct on 
this, 
>Sirius is the one who said it...

In "Padfoot Returns," IIRC.  "Moody never killed unless he had to."  
Implying both that he did kill people and that some other Aurors were 
a shade too enthusiastic about their new power.

Ajpresto wrote:

>I'm sure this has been discussed, but the answer to the hangman game 
in the
>front of FBWTFT is "Acromantula." Now you know.

And Ron is very bad at hangman; check out the letters he guesses.  He 
should stick to chess.

Puffskeins must be the creatures humming in the pet shop in PoA—the 
ones that made some of us say "ooh, Tribbles!" when we got to them.  
(McCoy:  "I like them.  They're nice, they're furry, and they make a 
pleasant sound."  Spock:  "So would an ermine violin, Doctor, but 
that doesn't mean I want to own one.") 

I ached to own a Tribble when I was 10
now I'm over 30 and I want a 
Puffskein. (I don't care if they reproduce like rabbits on Viagra!  I 
don't care if they drink from the toilet!  I want them!)  The 
inaugural meeting of the Women Who Love Fictional Pets support group 
will now come to order.

Rebecca, your spoiler spaces are hilarious, but someone who hasn't 
seen Citizen Kane (I believe there are 4 or 5 left in the English-
speaking world) is going to kill you.

Amy Z

P.S.  I think Dean Thomas is Welsh.  I have absolutely no evidence, 
just a wish.  Anyone want to weigh in?  Football fans, would it be 
insane for him to be a West Ham fan then?