Some questions/comments about OOTP (LONG)

[Barbara D. Poland-Waters]

No: HPFGUIDX 102509

What to say, what to say. . . As I just finished reading the book for only
the second time, I forgot how powerful it all was. I have tears in my eyes
from those last few paragraphs where some of the OOTP members confront the
Dursleys. And I was just on the edge of my seat from the moment Sirius was
killed, all through his palpable pain, anger at DD (and himself) and guilt,
the scene with Dumbledore explaining Harry's doomed future (as he says,
he'll either be a murderer or a victim). . . Such powerful chapters. JKR is
really brilliant.

Now some miscellaneous comments I wrote down as I was reading the book:

How does Dumbledore know exactly what is happening on Privet Drive and how
is he able to send a Howler minutes after Vernon tells Harry to get out?

I can totally understand Harry's anger and hurt at being left out of things
when he is the one that has had to endure the trauma and havoc wreaked by
VM. Not only has he handled himself well enough to be told what is going on,
but he has suffered so much and then feels like people have abandoned him
just when he needs them most.

Does Lucius Malfoy know Sirius is an Animagus? When the trio, et al, are
riding the Hogwarts Express, and Draco says he'll be "dogging" Harry's
footsteps, Harry and Hermione both wonder if Draco knows something about
Sirius.

"What if Mr. Malfoy had noticed the black dog and told Draco, what if he had
deduced that the Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks and Moody knew where Sirius was
hiding?" OOTP p. 194

Then when they see an article in the Daily Prophet about Sirius Black hiding
out in London, they are sure that Malfoy must have known. But how can he? I
thought SB was an UNREGISTERED animagus, and the only people that were
supposed to know he is one are the OOTP people (and before that, only DD and
the Trio). Is there a spy in OOTP or am I missing something (possible
again!)?

That Umbridge woman is truly evil and so is Fudge if she is getting her
orders from him.  I guess I can understand Fudge not wanting to believe
Harry because he wants his MOM to remain the same, no threat of VM. If Fudge
is not a DE, then he is a HUGE fool, because he is not just denying what DD
and HP have said about VM, but allowing the whole MOM to be corrupt, allow
Umbridge the freedom to abuse Harry like she did, almost convincing Harry of
underage magic (apparently against the written laws of the WW), etc. Maybe
you're all right about him not being the "one too cowardly to return." I
actually think it takes a lot of (misplaced) chutzpah to twist things around
and create the rumors of DD being senile and HP being nuts (sorry British
members, nutters :^) ) . . . esp. since DD is considered so powerful and
all. To doubt him, to openly attempt to cause people to distrust DD. . .boy,
if Fudge isn't a DE, he's just plan STUPID.

Back to Umbridge for a second. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees the
similarities between what she does and the McCarthy era hearings. She
certainly resembles a dictator. It's ridiculous (in our society anyway, not
necessarily in the WW) to have someone able to give themselves supreme
power, without that being voted on or approved by the people she has power
over! I was outraged reading those pages again!

I thought it was interesting that in spite of the continued division between
the houses, three of them manage to come together in the form of DA. It
would have been really cool if there had been one or two Slytherins who
overheard Hermione and Ron recruiting for DA and wanted to join, but I think
the way things are written, it couldn't have happened. Harry, his friends
and even his house, I think, don't trust the Slytherins enough not to think
that they would be spied on or "arming" a future DE.

After reading the pages after Harry dreams about Mr. Weasley being attacked,
it seems clear to me why DD wanted to keep his distance from Harry. The way
Harry's scar burned for those few seconds when DD looked at him, right
before they took the Portkey back to Sirius' house. . .I don't know whether
strong feelings of love for DD somehow make Harry's connection to VM
stronger, or perhaps because parts of VM were "left" in Harry, when he is
around DD, he feels VM's hatred for DD. Of course, I do still think DD
should have had SOMEONE explain to Harry why he, DD, was avoiding him. DD
should have knows how Harry goes off on his own and doesn't trust easily,
and here is someone he has trusted for 4 years who has seemingly abandoned
him and only seems to care for him on a superficial level now. I can
understand Harry's hurt and confusion.

And to come back to VM for a minute, I wonder if we'll hear more about his
loathing of DD. I mean, I wonder if it is only because DD challenged him,
when he became LV, or if there is some back history we don't know about
between Riddle and DD. Maybe some father-like rejection just fueled his
already psychopathic personality.

I found some parts of the book very funny (although I can't quote them at
the moment). That was a nice contrast to all the stuff that Umbridge was
putting them through. I think the funniest parts (although they were more
touching than funny) were the parts with Cho (when she wasn't crying!).
Harry discovering how it feels when a girl likes him, getting kissed,
holding hands, etc. I think those were the best parts of his whole year.

And as far as Harry not practicing Occlumency or doing his best, I have to
give the kid a break. The way I see it, his year was practically doomed from
the minute VM tried to kill him. He gets attacked by dementors, (feels)
abandoned by his friends and DD, gets called a liar over and over again by
students and Umbridge (who then proceeds to abuse him in the most horrible
way), doesn't get to play Quidditch for most of the year, has to spend
occasional evenings having his mind probed by someone he dislikes and
mistrusts, and has continuing dreams that connect him to VM. How the heck is
he supposed to "clear his mind" or do any of the things Snape demands of
him? Nobody gives him any information as to why it's so important, and of
course he thinks the dreams are real! His dream of Frank Bryce being killed
turned out to be true. His dream of Mr. Weasley being attacked turned out to
be true. Why shouldn't he believe that Sirius was hurt and that the dreams
he has of the Dept. of Mysteries is true? Give the boy some info! Geez, I
totally agree with him in his thoughts that he's faced so much alone but
they won't tell him what's going on. I understand in principle wanting to
protect him, but he's not a normal kid. He's been traumatized over and over
by VM, trusted to do what's right (and he has) by DD and now they keep him
in the dark. And all this happens when he's dealing with raging hormones and
his attraction to Cho! I can't help but feel for him!

In the "Beyond the Veil" chapter. . .Hermione says "Accio Wand!" How does
the spell know which wand? And if wands in the WW are like weapons, why not
break the wands of the DE whenever they fall or let go of their wand?
Destroy the wand, destroy some of the concentrated power. Although I realize
the more powerful DEs will not need their wands to continue.

I didn't really get that Harry blames Snape for Sirius's death as much as he
blames himself for not keeping up with the Occlumency or practicing. Yes, he
hates Snape and threw some blame his way when Dumbledore mentioned Snape's
part in things, but I felt that Harry was blaming himself more than
anything. And oh my God, if he had just opened Sirius's package sooner, even
if he intended not to use it, if he had seen what it was, he could have
confirmed Sirius wasn't in the DOM before going off half-cocked with his
friends!

I vaguely recall some discussion about Neville showing some powerful
abilities, but I didn't really see that. What I did see is proof that he is
rightfully in Gryffindor! He showed such bravery to be by Harry's side the
whole time! I was very impressed with that. And what the heck was that
brain-thing doing to Ron? Actually there was so much happening in those
couple chapters, I might have to read them again to absorb it all.

Was thrilled that DU finally got what's coming to her. Anyone wonder what
EXACTLY happened to her with the centaurs?

Boy I want those DEs to get what they deserve! Especially Bellatrix who is
such a sadistic b*tch!

This was an excellent book. Very long but well worth it. I think the only
parts that might have been a bit extraneous were the parts with Grawp. But
who knows if he'll play a larger role in the next 2 books. Maybe JKR had to
set him up a bit in this book for the future.

Ultimately I am just so sad for Harry. What a life he's had! How much
sadness he has had to endure! What a year! It was probably the only year
he's ever been at Hogwarts that he was miserable or unhappy most of the
time. And yet, he still didn't want to go back to the Dursleys, so that
tells you how awful it is there!

Barbara, still stunned from the last few chapters!
bd-bear