PoA Chapter Summary: Chapter 7

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 18767

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., pbnesbit at m... wrote:
> QUESTIONS
> 
> 1.  Why was Remus on the train?

Lots of thoughts abound on this one:

a) He's known to be of modest means, possibly even to the point of 
being destitute. Maybe he can't afford a broomstick.

b) He may have eschewed broomstick riding altogether since he's a 
werewolf. How terrible mightn't it be for him to be in the middle of 
the ride across the sky when the moon comes out?
> 
> 2.  What do you think Ginny experiences when the Dementors get 
near?  

Probably Tom Riddle/Voldemort succeeding and killing her family, her 
friends, and of course, Harry.
> 
> 3.  What do you think Neville experiences when the Dementors get 
near?
> 
My guess: he fears being exposed as a squib rather than a real 
wizard, and laughed out of Hogwarts, thus being the shame of his 
family [which has already suffered great travail].

> 4.  Just how badly was Malfoy hurt?

Badly enough to account for how long he was gone, and for Madame 
Pomfrey to work her magic on him.  She can re-knit bones, shrink 
teeth, banish boils, blisters, warts, and re-grow bones. I don't 
think Malfoy's injury was beyond her abilities under the 
circumstances.  I believe he was just playing for sympathy.
> 
> 5.  Why wasn't Remus applauded by everyone when he was introduced 
as the new DADA teacher?

Malfoy's clique thought him some shabby nobody.
The rest of the teaching staff probably had their reservations given 
the history of the previous few DADA teachers.

Quirrell was a Voldemort-host.
Lockhart was a quack.
Lupin's a werewolf -- which is a viable reason to be concerned. 
> 
> 6.  Why is Neville so terrified of Snape?

Neville is a nervous kid to begin with.  Slytherin has the reputation 
of being a house full of cunning, sneaky people, as well as the house 
that has produced the most dark wizards.  Snape is leader of the 
house, does *not* get on his students for their bullying or teasing, 
and seems to make Neville a preferred target.  I'd be scared of Snape 
too if Neville's shoes.  

In my own shoes, I'd have told him off and probably turned into a 
little brown mouse right before Snape told Malfoy to summon a snake.
> 
> 7.  Why do you think Hermione feels she must take all those classes?

Overachiever syndrome.  Plus, she's probably already memorised most 
of the material in the other classes since she had been reading ahead 
since before her admission to Hogwarts. 

> 8.  Why does JKR refer to Remus as Lupin?  (She does this with 
Snape   and Dumbledore as well)

That one I always wondered about too. I thought it was a distinct 
indication of a character's feelings for the person they were 
referring to [since Harry calls Dumbledore and Lupin _Professor_ 
Dumbledore and Lupin; and in Dumbledore's case, adds 'sir']. But 
other teachers do the last-name thing as well.
> 
> 9.  Is there more to Remus than meets the eye (other than being a 
>     werewolf)? 
> 
[avoids Transformers reference, however punny and apropos] I'm 
inclined to think so. He knows his magic, for certain.  And Pomfrey 
believes in his knowledge. She said that there was "finally" someone 
who "knows his remedies!" when she learned he had foisted chocolate 
upon the kids who were shaken up by the Dementors. 


Indigo
Who has made it through 8 rounds of Quidditch Practice. Man, those 
Weasley Twins must have arms like tree trunks!