Bungy the budgie

[sirensfall]

No: HPFGUIDX 71735

LUCILA:
I was wondering if any of you thought that Bungy, the water-skiing 
budgie, could actually be an animagus.

I don't know what this could mean in future books, but I'll tell you 
what made me suspicious:

1- it first comes up on page 9 OoP (UK edition) when Harry listens the 
newsreader's voice:
<snip>

2- The fact is stressed by Harry's thoughts:
<snip>

3- We are reminded of it later, on page 15 (OoP - UK ed):
<snip>

I also think it might have something to do with Benjy Fenwick; Moody, 
while showing Harry the photo, says: "he copped it too, we only ever 
found bits of him" (p.158 OoP UK ed.) <snip>

I'd like to know what you think about it.


REPLY:
I never really thought much about Bungy being anything more than a 
budgie someone had strapped to a pair of skis. That bit always seemed 
to me more of a witty parody of news reporting. I don't know about 
Argentina but in the US and, I guess, in the UK, every once in awhile 
news shows will run funny little stories about animals or people doing 
silly things; they're called human interest stories. 

I think there was a squirrel who water-skied once. Or maybe it was 
downhill skiing. Annually in the US, a bunch of guys dress up as Santa 
and water-ski. 

The fact that Rowling told us where budgie lives seems more to be 
keeping in the spirit of the news. An anchor would say where Bungy 
does his skiing. And the reporter's last name, Dorking, makes me think 
even more that it's a parody. Dork? Sounds like a playful jab. 

They're just silly little stories to wrap up the news with. Though if 
Bungy turned up again, I would definitely be suspicious.

SILVER STAG:
I'm sorry. What's a budgerigar?

REPLY:
It's the actual name of a budgie, a little bird.


Cate.