OK, what is missing from OoP and Thestrals

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 69052

I'm re-reading GoF right now -- didn't get to it before OoP came out, 
but got to the other three -- and I'm finally getting a grip on what 
is missing from OoP.

Early set-ups leading to powerful twists.

PS/SS - Early on: Harry meets Quirrell and hears Hagrid talk about 
how the poor guy scared himself silly while trying to get practical 
experience.

Zing! Quirrell was the bad guy all along, and Hagrid's reference to 
practical experience is referring to when Quirrell met V-Mort.

CoS - Early on: Lucius and Arthur get into a fight and Lucius hands 
Ginny some books, sneering about how cheap they are.

Zing! He gave her a freaking diary that summoned past V-Mort!

PoA - Early on: Harry runs into a big, black dog and thinks its a 
grim. 

Zing! This vicious-looking dog is actually Snuffles, just come to 
watch Harry.

GoF - Someone shoots off a wand at the Quidditch Cup, causing the 
Dark Mark. Winky is blamed. Crouch Sr. is involved. Mad-Eye Moody is 
attacked in his home, but it's brushed off as Mad-Eye being a nutter.

Zing! Barty Jr. is on the loose!

My point is that I just don't get that early-on-later-zing feeling 
from OoP. It was obvious to me that Harry's vision of the Dept. of 
Mysteries was a trap from Voldemort.

The set-ups were just not subtle enough. Chapters were devoted to 
Harry studying, and not studying, Occlumency. D-Dore tells Harry to 
keep studying just before D-Dore escapes Hogwarts.

Sorry, just not enough zing.

On to Thestrals, I just continually find it hard to believe that 
these things were such a secret.

Harry has been at school for four years prior to OoP. Remember, 
Hogwarts is a gossipy-place. They know all about the Sorcerer's 
Stone, and the Chamber of Secrets and Riddle.

In all the time Harry has been there, and really, he has access to 
longer knowledge history because of his connections with Bill, 
Charlie, Oliver and Percy, there hasn't been one student who could 
see these things? 

Because if one could, it would seemingly get around quickly.

Darrin