Good Writing (was Why now?)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 110754


Alice wrote :
" I don't think that the fact that he could put his head through
*does* mean that he could put the rest of himself through, though. 
The primary reason is simply that if he could, it seems like Hogwarts
would have serious security issues: Slytherins of ill repute could be
slinking off to do evil sorts of things, and Seamus Finnegan would be
a regular at the Leaky Cauldron."

Del replies :
Well no, because all the fires the students can have access to would
obviously be monitored. DD would immediately be informed of any
student travelling by Floo powder and of their destination.

Moreover, we've never even heard of any student using the fireplaces
to just communicate with someone else (apart from Harry), even though
they can do it. It seems that if there's any unspoken agreement, it's
that students don't use Floo powder at Hogwarts.

And finally, we haven't heard of any kind of restriction on Floo
communication and travel in general. We saw that Amos Diggory chose to
only pop his head into the Weasleys' fireplace, even though this fire
was used previously to Floo travel. It could be that the Weasleys have
put some kind of protection on their fireplace, I grant you that, but
from what we know Harry has never been told about those subtleties.

Alice wrote :
"Sirius was able to put his head in Gryffindor common room's
fireplace, but if he were able to put the rest of himself through on
account of that, he would never have cut up the Fat Lady in PoA."

Del replies :
He Floo-phoned in GoF, but cut up the Fat Lady in PoA. His mental
state had greatly improved in between those two events, he was *much*
more rational in GoF than in PoA. 

Alice wrote :
" For that matter, why would anyone have bothered putting up
anti-Apparation wards?  It seems clear that there is a 'communication
only' mode to Floo, and that the wards around Hogwarts are set up to 
allow this mode only."

Del replies :
The Floo network is monitored : DD would probably be informed
immediately if anyone entered or left Hogwarts through a fireplace.
Apparition, on the other hand, is not monitored at all.

Alice wrote : 
"One could argue that the unclear presentation constitutes bad 
writing, but I expect that it's actually good writing: the book are 
given from Harry's point of view; since this is the sort of thing that
Harry would probably just pick up by immersion, it's better if we do,
too."

Del replies :
It might be good writing but it would be inconsistent with JKR's usual
style. Usually, she tells us what Harry knows that makes him take such
or such decision. If Harry knew that he could only communicate through
the fireplace but not travel, and if that is the reason he didn't try,
then I'm surprised that we're not told that.

Alice wrote :
" *Harry* never thinking of Snape seems realistic to me; Harry and Ron
both overlooking it, even -- but Harry, Ron, and *Hermione* all three
. . . well, that makes me wonder whether Hermione really didn't think
of him.  But no need to break out the conspiracy theories here.  ;)"

Del replies :
I agree, that's another convenient inconsistency. The only solution I
can see is that Harry shouting at her so violently upsetted Hermione
so much that either she lost her wits and truly didn't think of Snape,
or she did think of him but was too scared of Harry's reaction to
mention it (she probably hoped that Harry would discover that Sirius
was safely at GP, and even if he wasn't, she hadn't planned on Harry
getting caught before they could make up new plans and she could tell
him about Snape).

Del