COS musings/questions (long)

[leb2323]

No: HPFGUIDX 105300

When all of the hooplah about the HBP and the supposed links between 
COS and book 6 started I decided to have yet another leisurely reread 
through COS to see what jumped out at me this time (it's always 
something different it seems).  These are the things that stood out 
to me the most or presented the most questions.

In ch 11 The Dueling Club -- 
After the duel that night back in his dorm there is a short interlude
(just 6 very short paragraphs) where Harry is worrying over being a 
parselmouth and having been placed in Gryffindor instead of 
Slytherin.  This brief scene is sandwiched between the long duel 
scene and a long scene starting in morning classes and stretching all 
the way through the next attack.  The short little snippet of his 
ponderings doesn't seem to fit or flow and because of that it makes 
me think that this is just the recap that JKR came up with to 
replace the detailed back information that she is saving out for book 
6.  I know that several posters have already speculated that the back 
story on the Potter side of the family will be fleshed out in book 6 
and this teaser as it were seems to prove it to me.  

In ch 14 Cornelius Fudge -- 
The students are trying to decide on the classes to take the next 
year and Percy is counseling Harry when he tells him "Play to your 
strengths, Harry."  This is exactly word for word what Crouch!Moody 
tells Harry in GOF when talking about fighting the dragons.  Isn't 
Harry given this same exact advice (except in different contexts) in 
every single book?  I can't recall specifics off the top of my head 
but it seems like it happened.  Maybe this is going to be his secret 
in defeating LV -- playing to his strengths.  

Later in the same chapter, McGonagall has just addressed the 
Gryffindors after the attack on Hermione and Penelope Clearwater.  
Once she walks out it is a near lynch mob scene with Lee Jordan 
stirring everyone up yelling "Haven't any of the teachers noticed 
that the Slytherins are all safe?  Isn't it objious all this stuff's 
coming from Slytherin?  The Heir of Slytherin, the monster of 
Slytherin -- why don't they just chuck all the Slytherins out?"  I 
think that this attitude may be the prevailing mood of the whole 
school in book 6 further dividing the school despite the sorting 
hat's warning.  

In ch 15 Aragog --
Harry is reminding himself of Dumbledore's advice:  "I will only 
truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me . . . . 
Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."  Now, 
I know and will readily admit right off the bat that this is 
farfetched, but how widespread is the 'help will be given' part of 
this advice.  When I read this part I immediately thought of the 
scene in OOtP where Harry is desperately trying to remember something 
in one of his OWLs, silently asks for help, and ends up reading 
either Lavender or Parvati's mind to get his answer.  Could this be 
some sort of charm over the school (kind of like what makes the room 
of requirement work!) where if you sincerely ask for help it comes to 
you.  Of course the anti-cheating charms would probably counteract 
something like that during OWLs. Like I said - farfetched but a 
thought nonetheless.

In ch 17 The Heir of Slytherin --
Harry is fighting the basilisk and the fang pierces him just above 
the elbow.  Isn't this the exact same spot that Wormtail cuts him to 
get the blood for the ritual in GoF?  I wonder if there is any 
significance to that.

Also, I had posted this question long ago but no interest was 
sparked.  However, I am still curious and so am trying here again.  
In a later book the sword of Gryffindor is displayed in a glass case 
in DD's office.  Was the sword always on display there or did Harry 
summon it out of thin air when he literally pulled it out of the hat 
in CoS and now DD has it encased as an heirloom keepsake. Since the 
hat and the sword both belonged to Godric then it could be plausible 
that it materialized from nowhere instead of being summoned from DD's 
office.

In ch 18 Dobby's Reward --
Harry gives the diary back to Lucius.  Even though all the ink 
drained out of it when it was pierced by the fang and it is 
supposedly empty wasn't it a dangerous thing to return?  DD also 
warns Lucius "not to go giving out any more of LV's  old school 
things."  Does this mean that TR and LM were at school together?  Why 
does Lucius have them and what else can we expect to see?

And lastly from the same chapter . . . does anyone else get a chill 
that Harry tells Dobby "Just promise never to try and save my life 
again."  Knowing how literal house elves can be this could turn out 
to be Harry's downfall in the end!

Just some musings.  Any comments will be appreciated!
leb