[HPforGrownups] Red Flags, Red Herrings

[dragonsbloodmoon at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 19076

In a message dated 5/18/2001 12:47:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
absinthe at mad.scientist.com writes:


> Rowling leaves a number of clues in her books that foreshadow events 
> (red flags) in the upcoming ones, for example Mrs. Figg.

I'm sorry if I missed something, but what's the significance of Mrs. Figg, 
other than being Harry's baby-sitter when they Dursley's went somewhere?

> 
> CREATURES:
> PIGWIDGEON(PoA)
> Sirius doubts Pig's reliability and noted that Pig was eager for the 
> job of delivering to Harry. Is Pig a double agent?

I don't think so. I think he was eager to deliver to Harry just to meet him. 
Pig just seems like a young owl who needs some practice.

> 
> CENTAURS: RONAN, BANE, FIRENZE
> 'One book wonders' or shall we meet again?

Oh, I hope we see them again! The FF holds a lot of possibilities. 

> 
> ARAGOG
> In a way, Aragog has an issue with Voldy. Voldy exposed Aragog and 
> framed Hagrid.

Does Aragog know that TR is Voldie? Is he aware of what really happened 
during the original CS episode? I think the only way he would come back is if 
Hagrid needed him very badly. And then I think Hagrid would have to be in the 
FF. I don't see Aragog leaving the forrest.

> 
> LETHIFOLD
> Mentioned in "Fantastic Beasts". It kills wizards and witches. The 
> only thing that can stop it is the Patronus. Will one be sent to Ron 
> or Hermione (since they haven't mastered the Patronus yet?) Will one 
> be sent to Harry?

I admit that I don't have the school books, but from your description, it 
sounds very likely. 

> 
> BUCKBEAK
> Will he have a greater role than Sirius' mode of transportation?

Doubtful. He's wanted by the MOM. 

> 
> PEOPLE:
> BILL WEASLEY (GoF)
> Bill states that the last time he was at Hogwarts was 5 years ago.
> Is the purpose of that visit somehow important?

I think Bill and Charlie are both significant. The whole Weasley family has 
taken Harry in as an honorary member, and think they will all do what ever is 
necessary to help and protect him in the coming "darkness."

> 
> VIKTOR KRUM
> Good-guy? Bad-guy? Somewhere in-between?

I think there's a lot to Viktor that hasn't been discussed. The fact that JKR 
keeps comparing and contrasting Viktor's physical traits isn't something that 
should be ignore. For example, she talks about how skinny he is, how his 
shoulders slump, and how he walks with his feat turned out. But she then 
talks about how gracefully he flies, and how he jumps into freezing water 
(which takes some nerve and endurance, not to mention fortitude).

> 
> THE MCKINNONS
> Wizard family mentioned by Hagrid in SS/PS and killed during the 
> Voldy years. 

Just Hagrid chit-chat, IMHO.

> 
> DURSLEYS: PHYSICAL FEATURES AND MAGICAL INCIDENTS
> SS/PS The Dursleys are given almost animal-like physical 
> descriptions. Dudley is pig-like. Petunia with her long neck, blonde 
> hair, and horse-like face, is giraffe-like. Vernon is description is 
> reminiscent of a bull, IMO. SS, PoA, and GoF, some magical incident 
> physically affected a Dursley. Aunt Marge inflated. Dudley has had a 
> piggy-tail and a ton-tongue. Are the animal-like physical 
> descriptions a clue to further Dursley related magical incidents? 

I don't think so. I think the animal descriptions are used because they paint 
such a vivid picture of one's looks and mannerisms. It's easy to picture 
Dudley being pig-like, and Petunia having a horse-esque face. 

> 
> BERTHA JORKIN
> Who did Bertha see kissing Florence behind the greenhouse?

I like the Sirius theories!

> 
> HOGWARTS STUDENTS: MUGGLE-BORNS, HALF-MUGGLES, PURE-BLOODS
> The Muggle-borns seem to get most of the Slytherin-minded attention. 
> But, Ginny Weasley's possession by Tom Riddle's Diary showed that the 
> pure-bloods aren't really "safe" (Cedric seemed to come from a 
> wizarding family too). When all is said and done, are the Pure-bloods 
> more high-risk than the Muggle-borns or half-Muggles?

I don't think anyone is really safe!

> 
> DAEDULUS DIGGLE
> Diggle was mentioned twice in SS (akin to Mungdungus Fletcher who was 
> mentioned in CoS and GoF). Red flag? Red herring?

I think JKR just likes to say "Daedalus Diggle."   :-)

> 
> OBJECTS:
> OPAL NECKLACE (CoS, GoF)
> In Borgin and Burke's shop, there was a cursed opal necklace. Madame 
> Maxime wears an opal necklace in GoF. Assuming that they are the same 
> necklace, is the opal necklace a red flag or red herring?

There is a lot of lore about opals. Many superstitious types won't even wear 
them. They are known to bring back luck to some, and there are many known to 
be "cursed." Perhaps JKR is fascinated with gem lore, and put opals on Maxime 
to show her courage?

> 
> "THE MONSTER BOOK OF MONSTERS"
> Will the biting book that can only be calmed by tickling its spine 
> play an important role?

Doubtful. I think that one was comic relief.

> 
> THE SNEAKOSCOPE
> When last we heard of it, it was in Harry's trunk (GoF)

Again, I think it was comic relief.

> 
> WIZARD CANDY
> BERTIE BOTT'S EVERY FLAVOR BEANS
> Don't know exactly why, but for some reason I don't trust their 
> presence in the books. There's something mildly sinister about them.
> CHOCOLATE FROGS
> Ditto for the frogs.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the candy. While they may seem 
eccentric, I don't think that candy is evil.

> 
> THE PHOTO ALBUM
> Hagrid sent owls to James and Lily's school friends for photos. Harry 
> notices Sirius in the wedding photos. Any other friends/foes lurking 
> about in them? Will Harry met these school friends?

I wondered about that myself. Another thing I wonder about are Harry's 
grandparents and godmother. Are these people still alive (or in the case of a 
godmother, does he have one?). I would hope that Harry would learn a little 
bit more about his mother's days at Hogwarts. Who her friends were, how she 
spent her time. 

> 
> UNFOGGING THE FUTURE:
> CENTAURS' PROPHECIES (SS/PS)
> "Mars is unusually bright tonight" (Fulfilled in SS/PS, but does it 
> still apply?)
> "Always the innocent are the first victims. So it has been for ages 
> past, so it is now."
> "The forest [Forbidden Forest] hides many secrets."
> 
> DIVINATION/FORTUNE-TELLING CREDIBILITY
> In SS/PS, Harry tells Hermione of the Centaur's prophecies. Hermione 
> replies the prophecies sounded like fortune-telling, which McGonagall 
> says is an inaccurate magical art. In PoA, we are introduced to 
> Professor Trelawney and exposed to more of McGonagall's opinion of 
> divination. Are we being set up to believe that divination is 
> inaccurate, when it really isn't? Or is Rowling being honest with us 
> about the inaccuracy of divination?
> 
> TRELAWNEY'S PREDICTIONS
> This is a sub-group of divination credibility. But Trelawney's 
> Christmas Lunch prediction in PoA was that whoever rose from the 
> table first would be the first to die. Harry and Ron rose 
> simultaneously. Most of Trelawney's predictions are partially correct 
> (Parvati's "beware of a red-haired man", when Padma was Ron's date 
> for the Yule Ball). Is the Christmas Dinner prediction a red flag or 
> a red herring? Will Ron and Harry be the only survivors of those 
> seated at the table? Will Ron and Harry cause a death?

I've been someone disappointed with JKR's use of divination in the books. I 
think she trivializes the importance it has in some religions and practices. 
Sure, there are kooks like Trelawney, but they are exceptions, not rules. I 
hope in future books, Harry finds someone who treats divination with some 
respect, and shows him the way it could be.

> 
> PLACES:
> GODRIC'S HOLLOW
> Site of the first Voldy-Harry battle. Could it be the final 
> battleground?

I find it interesting that they lived in Godric's Hollow. Any relation to 
Godric Gryffindor?

> 
> FORBIDDEN FOREST
> Aragog's domicile, the Flying Ford Anglia's sylvan garage. The 
> Centaurs said it held many secrets. Have we learned all of them?

I hope not! I like to see it again!

> 
> HOGWARTS CASTLE
> Magical castle with plenty of magical rooms, including one that Harry 
> hasn't found yet. Is Hogwarts the site of the final battle?

That would be kind of cheesy, IMHO. 

> 
> DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE
> It houses the penseive, Godric Gryffindor's sword, the Sorting Hat 
> and Fawkes. Will Harry find anymore useful things in there (with the 
> exception of Dumbledore of course) 

I hope Harry pokes around in there some more. I think there are some 
interesting things to be found. As an aside, I'd like to see Harry use the 
pensieve to see what his mom and dad were like at Hogwarts.

> 
> SNAPE'S OFFICE
> In PoA, Harry noticed Snape had more jars of potion materials than in 
> CoS. Are these routine supplies or is Snape stocking up for something 
> else?

My guess, stocking up. I think the teachers are more aware of what's coming 
than they let on.

> 
> MALFOY HOUSE
> The secret room in which Malfoy hides Dark magic items. 

I would *so* love to know what's in there! I wouldn't be surprised if Arthur 
doesn't lead a raid.  :-)

> 
> KNOCKTURN ALLEY
> Was Harry's visit a one-time thing?

He'll be back. I have a feeling he's going to need something from there in 
order to beat Voldie.

> 
> CURSES/SPELLS/CHARMS/POTIONS/ETC.
> UNFORGIVABLE CURSES
> Will Harry use one or all of them? Will Ron and or Hermione?

I've tossed this around a lot. I think that eventually they'll have to. I 
don't see the next couple of years being very good for the kids.

> 
> THE 12 USES OF DRAGONS BLOOD
> Will they come in handy?

They can't hurt.

> 
> POLYJUICE POTION
> PJP has been used twice in the series. Will it rear its ugly head 
> again?

Ugh, I hope not. It's kind of cheesy, IMHO. I like to see other kinds of 
potions.


Toby



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