An intro, and a long letter...

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 81599

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Iggy McSnurd"
<coyoteschild at p...> wrote:
>
> ...edited...
> There's a question about why Harry couldn't see the Thestrals from 
>his first visit to Hogwarts if he witnessed the death of his parents.
> 

bboy_mn:

Excellent post, a lot of interesting points. However, there are a few
I must comment on.

JKR knew how Thestrals worked when she wrote 'Goblet of Fire' in
which, to some extent, Harry witnessed Cedric's death, but she said
she couldn't let Harry see the Thestrals at the end of that book
because she would have had to leave the whole issue of where they
suddenly came from hanging until the next book. 

Since she gets to invent the world she creates, her solution was to
say the people need time to process death. Different times for
different people. Harry was still processing Cedric's death at the 
end of that book. That conviniently allowed her to wait until the next
book to introduce Therstrals and explain them.

We don't know that Harry witnessed his parents death or that he ever
saw them dead. It seems reasonable that an 18 month old baby might
have been in a cradle or a bassinet, although I only speculate, these
seem more common in Europe, and by extension in the somewhat behind
the times wizard world. Cradles and bassinets have closed sides on
them so you can't see out. Unless Harry was sitting up, he wouldn't
have been able to see his parents death or see them dead, and he
certainly wouldn't have had a mind mature enough to process the
implication of death.


> Iggy, the Prankster continues:

> Snapes is VERY competent as both a teacher and as a Potions Master.
> Of course, as a person, he leaves a bit to be desired.  
> 

bboy_mn:

Snape is a competent teacher???? What are you smoking? (just a joke)

Snape is a horrible teacher; he bullies and intimidates his sutudents,
and is consistently unfair and unreasonable.

But I will concede that he is truly a Master Portions Master.


> earlier poster:
>
> ... JKR threw in Uranus for some reason. >>> 


> now Iggy again: 
> 
> ... it could have just been a silly reference ..., Ron asked 
> Lavender "Hey Lavender, can we see Uranus?"  As silly a mood as he 
> was in, the joke may have just come to his mind again.
> 

bboy_mn:

I'm with you on this one Iggy. I think people are looking a little to
deep here for significants. I'm not say there is no significants, but
I don't think it is deeply profound.

It was a BUTT joke by a kid who was dazed and confused, physically and
mentally stunned, and in a state approximating intoxication;
befuddled. I think the 'intoxication' was a result of being stunned,
and not a primary characteristic of the mystery charm he was hit with.

>
> ...edited... 
> 

> Iggy continues:
> 
> 
> About the Apparating / Disapparating on Hogwart's grounds thing:  
> ... if you could Apparate onto the grounds, that people would just
> pop into the Gryffindor Tower, ...
> 
> People are missing something important that would allow them to do 
> that anyhow.  The fireplaces are connected with the Floo network.  
> How else would Harry have been able to talk with Sirius in the 
> fireplace?  
> 

bboy_mn:

People (Lupin for example) have used the fireplaces to travel within
the boundaries of the castle, but we have never seen anyone enter or
exit the castle by floo network.

You are right, we have seen 'fire talking' occur between someone
inside and someone outside the castle, but the ability to 'fire talk'
does not guarantee the ability to transport whole bodies.

It would seem a reasonable and moderately safe concession to allow
communication by Floo Network, but also seems very likely that there
would be enchantments limiting the Floo capability, and thereby
preventing the tranport of persons.


>
> ...edited..
> 
> Your friend in Humor,
> 
> Iggy McSnurd,
> the Prankster

Just a thought.

bboy_mn