[HPforGrownups] Re: Dementors/ Quidditch

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 41067

Wow, thanks to everyone for your responses to my ponderings of the
dementors!  I have read and reread all posts, as well as the dementor
portions of PoA and have put together a few working theories.

First, the dementors DO feed on happiness.  To be exact, "hope, happiness,
and the desire to survive."  I found it in PoA today (U.S. paperback edition
Chapter 12 page 237):

Professor Lupin continued, "The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a
projection of the very things that the dementor feeds upon--hope, happiness,
the desire to survive--but it cannot feel
despair, as real humans can, so the dementors can't hurt it."

Harry hasn't had much happiness--but he definitely has the desire to
survive.  Could the dementors be lured by that?

Now, on to my working theories, based on PoA and a large variety of
responses from y'all (too many to quote here!):

Could Harry be targeted by the Dementors because they know he can/will be
Voldemort's downfall, which could also be their downfall?  Therefore they
headed straight for him the first time they were near him (on the train).
Secondly, if this is true, and Dumbledore knew it, could that then have been
one of the reasons he wanted Harry kept with the Dursleys?  He was, after
all fed (usually) and clothed (sort of), just not given any of the normal
everyday happiness that children should have.  This could've at least kept
him safe from the dementors until he came to Hogwarts where he was under the
watchful eye of Dumbledore and Co.

Next, about the lack of happiness in Harry's past.  The lack of happy
memories and the presence of such horrible memories is what makes Harry
succumb to the dementors so easily.  But would more happy memories really be
a defense for him?  I don't think so.  And for the Patronus Charm, he only
needs one happy memory.  Which he does manage to find.  And on the third
try, not too bad for a 3rd year wizard in training!  Especially since Lupin
states that the Patronus charm is "ridiculously advanced" and "Many
qualified wizards have difficulty with it."

Now, on to Quidditch:

Rosie writes:

> Does anyone have any ideas on the role Quidditch is going to play in the
next few books? In
> GoF, Quidditch (not counting World Cup) was almost non-existent because of
the Triwizard
> Tournament...but Harry did use his flying skills to beat the others in the
first task with the
> dragons.

I think that Quidditch will come back pretty big in OoP.  For one thing,
they will all need something to cheer about, something good to focus on, and
Quidditch can provide that.   I'm not sure who will be put on the team.
They need a Keeper for Book 5, two Beaters for Book 6 (isn't Book 5 the
Weasley twins last year at Hogwarts?), and when do the Chasers leave?  We
haven't really heard whether the Flying lessons continued or not, but who
could it be?  Ron maybe.  Myself, I'd like to see Neville conqueor that
broom and make the team. :)  Maybe I'm just a softie.  I doubt there'll be
another first year on the team, so we must already know the new keeper at
least.

Richelle