Two-way Mirror and other frustrations! (OotP Spoilers!)

[shelaghcol]

No: HPFGUIDX 62950

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "falcongk81" <falcongk81 at y...> 
wrote:
> In respect for those who haven't finished OotP, spoiler break...
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> Ok, was anyone else extremely frustrated that Harry didn't remember 
> the package that Sirius had given him so that they could 
> communicate?  I was practically yelling at the book when he broke 
> into Umbridge's office I was so upset.  I mean, they had 
specifically 
> discussed that it was gonna be difficult for them to get messages 
> back and forth, and Sirius had openly told him "Here is a way for 
us 
> to communicate."  ARGH!  I was so frustrated.
 <snip


I may be in the minority here, but hasn't anyone else realized that 
*Sirius* never asked Harry why he didn't use the mirror? The two of 
them were having a nice clandestine chat via fireplace in Umbridge's 
office with the twins providing a distraction and the subject never 
came up once.

While Harry *should* have remembered the mirror, he can be somewhat 
forgiven since he was concerned for Sirius' safety should he do 
something rash and, therefore, had put the communications present out 
of his mind intentionally. (Ironically, of course, it was actually 
Harry's rash actions that put Sirius in jeopardy.)

However, Sirius absolutely should have said something to Harry about 
the mirror during their conversation. At the very least a simple 
interjection after finding out that Snape had thrown him out of the 
Occlumency lessons such as "Why didn't you contact me with the 
mirror immediately?" would have sufficed.

Frankly, I'm of the opinion that the mirror was something JKR added 
in later on then forgot to account for in Harry and Sirius' fireplace 
talk.

Someone mentioned in another post that JKR should use a beta reader. 
I concur. I think a number of things that she misses, such as this, 
might be caught by second set of eyes. (I have my doubts that many 
people at Bloomsbury are even permitted to read the books in advance.)

There is a degree of paranoia, I think, about anyone else having the 
opportunity to reveal the "secrets" in this series that is becoming 
just a bit detrimental on the whole.

Shelagh
member of SIDL at FAP