[HPforGrownups] Re:(OoP Spoilers) I Found A FLINT!/ slytherin stereotypes

[sugarkadi at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 63386

Hi, Katey here:





gandharvika at hotmail.com writes:

> But it turns out that it was Mundungus: "'I'm going, I'm going!' And with 
> another loud crack, he vanished."  (OoP, page 23,  US hardcover)
> 
> In later chapters, when Fred and George Dis/apparate, the same cracking 
> sound is made.
> 
> But in previous books, that's not the sound Dis/apparation makes:
> 
> "Bagman swore loudly.  'Damn them," he said looking quite distracted, and 
> without another word, he Disapparated with a small pop." 
> (GoF chapter 9 p. 
> 114 UK softcover)

<snipping other exampes of popping v cracking in OOP>

This really bothered me throughout the book, too.  But I've come up with a theory that satisfies me, and maybe will help you too?  

I think when wizards first learn to apparate, there is a cracking sound, which goes away with practice.  Normally it's just a pop.  But Mundungus made the crack too.  I've decided it's because he was drunk.

Like driving a car, people who've just learned to apparate or are drunk(or on drugs or whatever) can't do it as smoothly, hence the (obvious) cracking noise, instead of a nice little pop.

I'm aware that there's no mention of Percy making a crack right after he's learned to apparate; however, I'm inclined to think Percy would've practiced until he got it perfect, because, well, he's Percy.  


Also, people have been voicing concern over JKR's portrayel of Slytherins, which I had also hoped would've been broken this book.  However, I now believe that she is making us have predjudices against Slytherin, only at the end of the series to crush that(how is up to speculation) perception.  Creating a prejudice in readers' minds, and then making them realize they've been stereotyping in a book who so obviously speaks out against it would be a very strong message indeed, methinks.


~Katey (who managed to thouroughly irritate a Snape at the midnight opening in the trivia contest, as she was dressed as a Gryffindor and he didn't phase her by throwing "trick" questions about Alan Rickman and Kenneth Branaugh)