CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 13 (Detention with Dolores)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 91896

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pennylin" <pennylin at s...> 
wrote:
x> 
> 5.  Is it possible that Harry was really there for 7 *hours* 
writing lines
> that cut into his own hand, or is this another case of Rowling not 
being
> very good with time details?

Every now and then I have to remind myself that these are fiction 
books, not real people and that these stories are written for 
children.  With that in mind, I don't think the numbers are 
accidental errors as much as Kidspeak.  While those of us who love to 
dig through every word for hidden clues and meanings (and there are 
lots of them) will calculate every number to the nth degree, I think 
kids see this as "Boy, what a mean lady!  Seven hours of detention!"  
And of course, in a book about magic you have to suspend disbelief.  
If I can believe a boy can fly on a broom and fall from great hights 
with only a broken arm, then I guess I can believe someone can be in 
detention inflicting pain for 7 hours. 
> 
> 6.  Was Harry wrong to fail to alert even one Hogwarts professor 
about what
> was going on with Umbridge's detentions? 

When he was 11 he was sent into the Forbidden forest from midnight 
till dawn.  Neville spent an afternoon cutting up frogs, Ron had to 
scrub bedpans.  Does Harry understand how much worse this is?  Does 
he think anyone will do anything about it?  He's already had a 
discussion with his Head of House who pretty much told him to behave 
himself.  So, I can see why he did't complain.  

No genuine Hogwarts teacher uses magic or pain as a punishment. And 
McGonagall stopped Crouch/Moody when he transfigured Malfoy into a 
ferret.  Would she have been able to take action this time? 

Potioncat