OoP - Jenny's Big Questions - Spoilers!

[dizzylizzy182]

No: HPFGUIDX 63171

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> 1. What do you all think of House Elves now, especially with the 
> awful Kreacher being introduced?  Do they really choose their lot 
> or are they completely "trained" by their owners (as Dumbledore 
> implied)?

I think House Elves have free will to a certain extent, but there is 
certainly a lot of ancient, powerful magic that binds a house elf to 
it's master, and no matter how much they want to tell it, they can't 
(i.e. Dobby smacking himself with the nearest piece of small 
furniture and Kreacher not being able to divulge the Order's 
secrets). We still have a lot to learn (and a lot to speculate!) 
about these creatures and the magic that binds. I get the feeling 
that you have to watch what you say the elves though. Sirius yelling 
for Kreacher to "get out" was not an invitation to leave the house, I 
would not imagine.

> 2. What do you think of Harry using Crucio on Bellatrix?  

Shocked. I think I actually whispered, "No, Harry don't!" Harry was 
understandably angry, but I think the shock that Sirius was *gone* 
was still too fresh -- too fresh for him to let himself hate 
Bellatrix enough to hurt her.

> 3. Why do you think JKR chose for Sirius to be the one to die?  Was 
> she taking it too far for Harry?
 
I don't really know why Sirius. The only thing I can see was that 
Harry grew up a lot -- because authority figures failed him several 
times. The ministry was bent on sticking him in Azkaban after 
conjuring the Patronus in Little Whinging, Fudge was obviously 
sticking his head in the sand and taking most of the ministry with 
him, the Daily Prophet was printing libelous material about himself 
and Dumbledore, their (ministry controlled) DADA teacher was not 
doing practical examination at all, Molly Weasley breaks down at the 
sight of her dead children and husband (understandably so, don't get 
me wrong there), teachers who Harry thought would always be there all 
of the sudden weren't, and among other things. I suppose killing 
Sirius was just the frosting on the proverbial cake.

> 4. What do you think of the way JKR portrays the MoM - and 
> government in general?

::refrains::

> 5. Should Hagrid stay on as CoMC teacher?  Am I the only one who 
> continues to think he's a moron?

Well, my like for Professor Grubbly-Plank definitely increased during 
this book. :) I guess I wouldn't mind one way or the other, so we'll 
see what transpires.

> 6. Why did Percy turn his back on his family, especially his 
> mother? What will become of him now?

Again, shock. Percy is one of my favorite characters, so I feel the 
need to jump to his defense (and hopefully not have people jumping 
*on* me). But, really... I wanted to kick him. I think everyone saw a 
Percy-Weasley family rift coming to some degree, but I don't think 
*anyone* saw it coming quite like that. I mean, he sent back the 
*Weasley sweater*. 

All the Weasleys were hurt. Whether or not any of them want to admit 
it, they were. It is most easy to see that in Molly, as she goes to 
pieces every single time Percy is mentioned. I suppose I'll save the 
other stuff (yes, coherent thoughts, woohoo!) for another thread

> 7. Are we supposed to dislike James Potter now?

No. I think that was mostly for Harry to realize his father was 
human, and for us to sympathize with Snape. Although remember -- the 
chapter was titled "Snape's Worst Memory". Whether that means the 
worst memory that Harry's seen, or his worst memory period, I do not 
know, but in this context, I would use the latter. So, this probably 
would have been James and Sirius at their worst.

> 8. Who else dreamed about Harry last night?

Not last night, but the night before OotP came out, I dreamed that I 
had my copy of the book, and was standing in line to pay for it, when 
a little old lady comes up to me and starts beating me with her 
purse. (...Much the way Arabella Figg beat Mundungus Fletcher with 
her purse, now that I think of it...) Anyway, she wrenches the copy 
out of my hands, runs away, and all I can do is lay on the ground and 
sob. :D

Liz
Returning from an extremely long absence with nothing to do with 
OotP, and rarin' to go! :D