Re OOP:Disappointing

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 66434

> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Phyllis" wrote: snip, snip
I am new to site this month but had similar questions-I can give you
answers others gave me but cannot site post numbers-her goes:
1. Why are we exposed...so it doesn't seem as if any member of the
Order other than Dumbledore could have kept a disguised Voldy out
of the prophecy room.

<Susan>They did it to buy time and prepare for the coming war.

<Phyllis> 2. The Thestrals...when he saw his Mum die as a baby. 

<Susan> JKR's answer (and posts) have said as baby he did not "know" 
death could not experience it-Mom's death was an unpleasantry to him, 
but he had no idea of meaning, consequences, etc.  But many like you 
think it is a major Flint.  

<Phyllis> I just can't help but wonder why her editors don't
pick up on stuff like this! ...having Harry transported back to
Privet Drive by another means (after all he went through at the
end of book 4, it would have been understandable that he wouldn't have
wanted to ride the carriages or the train with the other students)

<Susan> Harry has ridden carriages every year except first year.

<Phyllis> 3. Sirius' Death: Several things bothered me here. The first
was the way he died – taunting his cousin. How arrogant is that?
Couldn't he have died a more noble death – 

<Susan> Many posts seems to think that both Sirius and Harry were 
more reckless, arrogant and "dying" (every pun intended) to get out 
and assist the order without waiting around.  (Snape's memories, 
visits to firplace,Snuffles to train station all foreshadow that 
Sirius is going to do something rash, reckless, etc.  Plus we know he 
has always shown alot of bravado (arrogance).  Too the posts seem to 
think ift was a valuable life lesson for Harry-learn from Sirius' 
mistake type thing-fools rush in where angels fear to tread.  It is 
prpearing him for the war to come.

<Phyllis> 4. The Prophecy: We had already pretty much figured this 
out –the only twist for me was that it could have been Neville.

<Susan> Your comments mimic many other posts on this.

<Phyllis> 5. Inconsistencies/Unanswered Questions: The last time we 
saw the Maurader's Map in book 4, it was in Barty Crouch Jr.'s
possession

<Susan> Many think its a big FLINT, others feel Dd returned
to Harry just as he did invisibility cape in past.  

<Phyllis> Percy's prefect badge was silver in SS/PS, but Ron's is 
gold and scarlet..

<Susan> Have not seen a post on this, but please, times and
fashions change-I think its cool that it mimics house colors.  It 
also mimics the scarves in the films.

<Phyllis> Sirius mentions Harry's grandparents, but Harry doesn't ask
anything about them.

<Susan> Posts seem to think that after 5 years he is just now 
learning truth about his Mom and Dad, so we can wait a book or
two for info on other relatives.  

<Phyllis> Hagrid still can't do magic even though he was cleared in 
CoS and JKR has said in interviews that he's now allowed to do magic. 

<Susan>  Perhaps Hagrid is the person JKR has referred to who will 
learn magic late in life.  After all just because he has a wand does 
not mean he can do a lot with it-he only made it part of the way 
through school and we do not know what type of student he was.

<Phyllis> Voldemort's willingness to spare Lily when he had tried to 
kill her three previous times and was killing off everyone in the 
original Order one by one...

<Susan>We do not know that she was the target the 3 previous times-
just that she was ther when he was thrice defeated-target could have 
been other OoP people, Neville, Harry, etc. Also several posts 
speculating that V. is related to Evans family, and also that he was 
giving Lily a chance to turn away from order and sacrifice Harry.  
Most of this book was about CHOICES people make and the Antecedents 
to their choices affecting the choice and the choice itself affecting 
the consequences, yada, yada.
To some of your other comments: Travel by Knight bus included company 
of several order members, and/or order members in disguise. So, 
Halloween was missed-so was Harry's birthday, Quidditch championship, 
and House cup, but, this book was about the Order, preparing for war, 
and the realm of the MoM not really about details at Hogwarts.

<Phyllis> Harry going to the trouble of using the fire in Umbridge's 
office instead of using the 2-way mirror to talk to Sirius.

<Susan> Lots of post on this-they feel that in typical Harry fashion
he threw it in his trunk and did not give it another thought-he has
done this before with gifts (Sirius' knife would have come in handy in
Triwizard task #2, and pocket sneakoscope Ron got for him in Egypt 
(PoA) has been growing mold in old sock) Also lot of posts on 
foreshadowing that James and Sirius used similar mirrors to talk 
during detention-Did James have his on him when he died?  Can Harry 
locate Sirius' mirror and use it now that his is broken?  Will we be 
hearing from the dead maurauders again? 

<Phyllis> No explanation of why the Order is called "The Order of the
Phoenix.

<Susan>The posts seem to think because of Dd involvement (that Order 
is the "true" Dd's army)and he is easily associated with Phoenix, 
also symbolism in Phoenix characteristics unwavering loyalty, 
unusually strong carry heavy burdens); healing powers, etc.  These 
qualities describe Order, too (well, except for Mundungus?)

<Phyllis> 6. Harry's temper...but I thought his temperament change 
was a bit too abrupt to be believable.

<Susan>  Posts seem to think adolescent angst, frustration, mimics 
Sirius, sets ground for "emotion" to be key to V.'s destruction and 
Occlumency to be invaluable, etc.

<Phyllis> 7. Dumbledore-Harry relationship: 

<Susan> The posts have had a field day with this one ranging 
from "pure love" references as early as SS to maybe Dd is related to 
Harry by blood, ie Great Grandfather or something.  Also, Dd hails 
from Gryffindor so he could be related to Godric himself, etc.

<Phyllis>No Tricks:

<Susan> The posts feel new characters were introduced, old characters 
were developed (ie Ginny and Neville); basic skill development and 
continued training was emphasized, etc.  After all V. is the most 
powerful Dark wizard who does not hesitate to do things Dd will not 
(ie use Unforgiveable curses, kill others (if he can avoid it), 
etc.)  So why use tricks-look ahead, prepare for War.

<Phyllis> That being said, there actually were some things I liked:
> 1. I was happy to see Ron get a bit of glory for once. 

<Susan> ME too!
<Phyllis>2. There's hope for a Harry-Hermione SHIP – Hermione seems to
have been monitoring Harry's Cho crush, and Harry exclaims that
Hermione isn't ugly. I just hope JKR comes up with someone for
Ron...

<Susan> Most posts think Harry and Ginny are more compatible given
shared V. experience and Ginny's growth into a little spitfire, her 
flair for DADA (batwing hexes, etc., and her love of Quidditch-she 
and Harry have so much in common.

<Phyllis> 3. I guessed correctly on the Room of Requirement!

<Susan>  Looks like most of the detectives out there did, too.  

<Phyllis> 4. Neville's improvement under Harry's defense against the 
dark arts teaching.

<Susan>  The posts are going wild on subject of Neville and loved his 
increasing skill and loyalty.  Many speculate he may still be 
involved either solo or with Harry in the vanquishment of V.  A lot 
of posts also think he sufferred from some of the "spillover" from 
the charms Bellatrix cast on his folks-and prior confusion, bumbling, 
clutz problems etc. were the after effects but he is coming out of 
those.  They also seem to think that the numerous gum wrappers passed 
to him from his mother are some major clue to V. downfall.

<Phyllis> 5. Finding out that Arabella Figg is a squib, and that 
squibs can communicate with their cats.
6. Wondering what Dudley heard when attacked by the dementors.

<Susan>  Lots of posts hoping Dudley and/or Petunia will play bigger 
roles and have knowledge or talents which have been hidden, after all 
why attack Dudley?

<Phyllis> 7. Hermione's patronus is an otter! 

<Susan>  JKR said in an interview that she loved otters!  Plus, 
otters have big teeth-maybe a reminder of H.'s unique facial 
feature.  Plus H.'s parents are both dentists!
Hope this helps you out somewhat and allows you to wade through a 
thousand or so posts quickly.

Susan (Atropos)