[HPforGrownups] Things I don't understand

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 48574

Constance Vigilance writes:

> 1 - In GOF, during the Imperious Curse DADA training class, Harry 
> breaks both his kneecaps the first time he handles the curse. So how 
> does he manage to continue the class, and "hobble" out afterwards on 
> broken kneecaps? Shouldn't he have been carried directly to the 
> hospital wing?

I think the trick here is in the wording.  In GoF, Chapter 15, page 232 (Scholastic paperback ed.) it says:

"The next thing Harry felt was considerable pain.  He had both jumped and tried to prevent himself from jumping--the result was that he'd smashed headlong into the desk, knocking it over, and, by the feeling in his legs, fractured both his kneecaps."

The way I read it, it doesn't actually say he fractured his kneecaps, but that it *felt* like he'd fractured his kneecaps.  Same thing as when you drop a table on your toe (don't ask!) and say you've broken your toe.  Though it's not actually broken, it feels that way for a while.  But after a few minutes you're able to hobble around sufficiently.

If Harry's kneecaps had actually been broken and magically mended, it wasn't a very good job.  He was still hobbling.  So I don't think they were broken at all, just badly bruised.

> 2 - GOF again, during the first task, after Harry learned how to 
> Accio, why didn't he just Accio Egg and get the whole thing over with 
> without the fanfare? For that matter, why didn't he Accio Weezy and 
> Accio Cup? I know - the answer to that is: Because the story is 
> better than way, but really ....

The only thing I can think of with this one is that perhaps that wouldn't qualify as "taking on" the dragon?  They'd still get the golden egg, but not actually get past the dragon to do it.  But as you said, the story is better that way too. :)

Richelle


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