The Gryffindor Quidditch Team

[nobodysrib]

No: HPFGUIDX 53408

> Edward Post <mr_ed20854 at h...> wrote:
> (ABRIDGED)
> 
> What if Quidditch is an idea that overlays the entirety of the 
> series?
> 
> The seeker in the overall story is presumed to be, and probably is, 
> Harry.  But who knows?
> 
> SeventhSqueal  responds:
> 
> I think this is a fabulous theory! 
> I'm not completely comfortable with Pettigrew as the Snitch, since 
> Harry let the Snitch go in GoF.
>
> Kathryn added: 
> Well, Harry doesn't really let Pettigrew go in GoF.  I think you 
> might have meant PoA when Harry told Sirius and Lupin not to kill 
> Pettigrew.  But, that is interesting because PoA is the first time 
> Harry fails to capture the snitch;)  

My turn:

I find this idea intriguing.  Are we saying that quidditch as a 
concept mirrors the plotline, that the plotline itself could be 
portrayed as a quidditch game, that the quidditch games in the books 
mirror the plot, or a combination of the above?  (Very subtle 
difference, I know...)  The first and third are the easiest to 
theorize - every parallel found between quidditch, the matches, and 
the HP books (such as Harry not catching the snitch and not killing 
Pettigrew in PoA) could be used as evidence.  The second is more 
difficult, as we would have to "cast" two quidditch teams - one for 
good, one for evil, as well as potentially having people play the 
roles of the balls, snitch, etc.  (Captains Dumbledore and 
Voldemort?)  Thus, Harry could be the seeker, but there would also be 
a seeker for the evil team.  I'm not currently familiar enough with 
quidditch to expound much further on these possibilities.

How do you think Krum and his quidditch abilities might play into 
this?  Bagman's and James' talents may also be worth pondering.  And 
what should we make of the Hogwarts quidditch season being cancelled 
in GoF?  

Here's something else that might be interesting to consider:  in the 
aforementioned PoA quidditch match, Hufflepuff Cedric (captain and 
seeker) is the one who captures the snitch.  PoA also shows Harry 
exemplifying Hufflepuff qualities when he doesn't advocate killing 
Pettigrew.  In fact, much of PoA is about friendship and loyalty 
issues - MWPP, Buckbeak, and especially Black.  (The WW took 
Pettigrew's accusation as fact, ignoring Black's previous and lengthy 
loyalty to the Potter family, Black travels back to Hogwarts to 
protect Harry but doesn't specifically have revenge in mind, etc.)

Then, in GoF, Cedric is killed by Voldemort.  According to 
Dumbledore, "Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the 
qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal 
friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play" (US Hardcover GoF, page 
721-2.)  Voldemort's return marks a shaky future for the WW, one in 
which the first casualties may be people's Hufflepuff qualities.

Later Dumbledore says "in light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are 
only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.  LV's 
gift for spreading dischord and enmity is very great.  We can fight 
it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust" 
(723).  He might as well be saying 'the only way to fight LV is to 
get in touch with your inner-Hufflepuff.'

So I guess I'm saying that Voldemort killing Cedric was not part of 
LV's master plan - an unintended consequence.  And similarly, LV's 
rise to power unintentionally drains the WW of its Hufflepuff 
qualities.   

Besides the similarities I point out, I'm not sure how this applies 
to the mix, but I thought it would make an interesting addition.

- Nobody's Rib