Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts

potioncat willsonkmom at msn.com
Tue Mar 16 14:42:05 UTC 2004


No: HPFGUIDX 93122


> Alshain wrote:
> I disagree with the theory that Kreacher is slipping Sirius 
> Befuddlement Draughts.
>snip< 

anne (Silverthorne) wrote: I have to agree with Alshain here. We 
tend to forget that Sirius had a few very predominant traits (ones 
that proved out in the past as well as the present--and I doubt he 
was being 'poisoned' at school.

>snip<

Potioncat:
I snipped a lot of text with some very good points. I apologise if I 
took out too much.

 Actually, this is one of those issues that I could probably argue 
either way (I have a cushioning spell permantly set on the fence.)
I am not a Sirius fan.  In fact, I didn't like him at all in OoP and 
wasn't upset that he was the one who died.  (After being in shock 
having seen the boggart deaths of the Weasleys and when I thought it 
was going to be Arthur or Minerva.) 

So it is very surprising to me to re-discover the friendly, likable 
Sirius from GoF. In fact one of the differences that I see is that 
he frequently warns Harry to be careful and scolds him for taking 
risks in GoF.  In OoP as I recall, he actually taunts him for not 
taking risks! I'll be re-reading OoP with an eye for other 
differences after I finish GoF.

Another point is that we read often about potion making.  We, Harry, 
and Neville hear in painful detail what was done wrong in class or 
what a potion could do.  

In GoF, Snape goes to great lengths to determine if Harry is 
stealing potion supplies from his office. It seemed odd to us as 
readers at the time because the polyjuice episode had happened so 
long ago. It becomes very important later in GoF when we find out 
that Crouch/Moody was stealing polyjuice ingredients. It would make 
sense, as a previous post said, that if so much was written about 
befuddlement draughts in OoP, we would see them used in the plot.

On the other hand, I find it difficult to work out how Kreacher 
could be the one poisoning Sirius unless he is taking instructions 
from someone he considers a more rightful master.  Which leaves us, 
if this is correct, with  the question "Who poisoned Sirius?"

Potioncat





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