Bones, and Diggory

Geoff Bannister gbannister10 at aol.com
Wed Oct 22 09:36:26 UTC 2003


No: HPFGUIDX 83314

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "evil_sushi2003" 
<evil_sushi2003 at h...> wrote:

> > Geoff:
> > To be counter-pedantic, I said that we were introduced to Susan 
> Bones 
> > at the Sorting Ceremony which is correct. She is not specifically 
> > mentioned by Hagrid. He only refers to "the Bones'" in the list 
of 
> > those killed; no mention of Susan who is still alive.....
> > Geoff
> 


evil_sushi:
> yeah sorry about this, but I was simply wondering whether anyone 
had 
> any ideas on WHY and HOW the Bones were, if indeed they are, 
> significant, I didnt have the book with me, and all this has 
brought 
> up is a childish squabble about how and when they were introduced, 
> and suchforth. 
> 
> Would it not be better to say, they have been brought up in most of 
> the books, and have had loses of their family at Voldy's doing. 
> 
> Question: any thoughts on how they could be significant?? One 
theory 
> was that they are the descendants of Hufflepuff. Any other ideas???


Geoff:
I don't think it's been a particularly "childish squabble". It's just 
differentiating Susan as an individual family member from the family 
in toto. I must admit that, until Lara mentioned it, I han't noticed 
the link between Hagrid's mention of the "Bones'" in PS and the girl. 
One virtue I have found with re-reading books (which I found 
especially reading LOTR about 30 times over the years) is that you 
tend to find something new each time. I am now working through HP for 
I think the 7th time, about to begin POA again, and I am still 
noticing little things, the odd phrase or nuance that I hadn't 
actively noticed previously.

What of the Bones? Perhaps Susan is just there so that Harry at some 
point realises that he knows someone who has a link to a person in 
high authority. I'm not always sure that Jo Rowling has a plan for 
every person named at the sorting ceremony - there are a few anmes 
there which I don't recall seeing again. They may be there just to 
give the impression that Harry was half listening to the roll call. 
Put yourself in a similar situation; I went to my eldest son's 
graduation at London Bible College in June when about 100 students 
were presented with their degrees. I picked up on some names, perhaps 
because the name was unusual or they had an interesting dissertation 
sunject but many just went in through one ear and out of the other.

It also adds to the feel of the place. When I was at school, there 
were other students around whom I did not know or just recognised by 
sight.






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