Some Questions = Theories Wanted

[Jennifer Piersol]

No: HPFGUIDX 47466

Hi.  I can't answer all of your questions... but I will pick out a few
and give you my own theories...

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "evenflow200214" <daniel.brent at c...> 
wrote:

> 2)The Weasley's have a clock that tells each of them where each 
> member of the family is, home, work etc... Why then, during Harry 
> and Ron's adventures with the spiders, would the clock for Ron not 
> appear on "mortal peril"? Or when Ginny was in the Chamber or 
> talking to Tom wouldn't the Weasley's be straight over to Hogwarts, 
> banging down Dumbledore's door? Or when Ron was trapped with Sirius?
> The clock doesn't know that he's innocent... And he's chained to a 
> werewolf. Why doesn't the clock tell the Weasely's that they are in
> "mortal danger"?
 
I'm thinking that the Weasleys have had this clock for so long that
really, they don't notice it much anymore unless they're actively
wondering where one of the members of the family is.  For example,
when Ginny is talking to Tom in the chamber, why would Molly get the
idea in her head to wonder how Ginny's doing?  She "knows" where she
is - where all her other kids are - at school.  If she "knows" this,
then where's the motivation to read the clock?  I like the idea that
Lord Cassandra mentioned about an alarm.  Now *that* would be
interesting.  Besides, in the vein of your next question, where's the
proof that Molly and Arthur *weren't* on their way to Hogwarts to
knock down Dumbledore's door?  I mean, Arthur does work at the
Ministry - it would take some time to locate him, and then time to get
some floo powder (they were almost out at the beginning of the book,
you know), and find a place to floo into. :)

> 3) Where is the proof that Crouch attacked the Longbottoms? Sorry
to 
> reiterate it but it has not been proven that he is guilty...

Oh, I just have to agree with this (I know, I know - you can't agree
with a question... okay, I have to *ask* this question, too).  I
understand that we're led to believe that Crouch was in on the torture
of the Longbottoms at the end of GoF by the mere fact that he *was* a
DE and acting on the instructions of V.  But if we look closely at the
actual words of the book, he doesn't deny being a DE in the trial
proceedings.  And in his ramblings at the end begin with his escape
from Azkaban, not with the events leading up to it.  There have been
too many red herrings thrown to us by JKR to be absolutely sure that
Crouch Jr. is guilty of what he's accused of.  Now, personally?  I
don't know.  He's guilty of plenty... of that I have no doubt.  But
wouldn't it be just like JKR to have someone else be guilty of it?

> 6) How do the Paintings exist? Were they people who chose to become 
> paintings? Are the in the control of the artist that drew them?

I'm thinking that it's basically like magical photography, but with
magic paints.  Someone in a position of (self-, in the case of
Lockhart) importance (or with a lot of galleons) decides to have a
portrait done "for posterity".  Wizard artist comes in and does the
painting... but instead of developing the picture with special
potions/chemicals, he/she uses special paints.  Perhaps they put a
hair in the paint to capture some of the subject's essential nature. 
I doubt any artist control plays a part, except for the payment part
of the equation.

JenP, delurking on the main for a brief moment...