Chapter 18: Dumbledore's Army

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 99400

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Amy Z" <lupinesque at y...> wrote:
> I'm sorry it's so late . . . 
> 
> Chapter 18   Dumbledore's Army
> 
> ...Summary removed....
> 
> Bits of interesting information revealed in this chapter:
> 
> -Apparently, it's generally required that students go outside at 
> break.  Did anyone else feel a touch of school memory at the 
> line "They were allowed to remain inside over break due to the 
> downpour outside"?  Remember being required to spend recess 
> outside?  Even when it was below freezing and wet out?  
> 

bboy_mn:

When I was in grade school, I used to hide in my locker rather than go
out in the freezing cold or pouring rain. I had a pretty good system
where I would wait until I heard the kid at the locker next to mine
hang up his coat. Then when it got quiet again, I would rejoin the
rest of the kids in the classroom. Worked great until one day when the
kid with the next locker was absent from school and I stayed in the
locker 20 minutes past the beginning of class. Had a heck of a time
talking my way out of that one.

Actually, upon reflection it seems a little sad, as well as a little
sick. But I assure you that I turned out to be a perfectly normal axe
murde... er... electronics techincian... yes, that's it... electronics
techician. (Just kidding)


> Amy Z:
> 
> Questions to kick off discussion:
> 
> 1.  Proposition: Hermione, by fretting about the restlessness and 
> recklessness that will in fact do Sirius in, is shaping up into an 
> insufferable know-it-all and JKR had better bring her down a peg or 
> two or we'll really hate her (Hermione, not JKR) before the series 
> is over.  Discuss.
> 

bboy_mn:

Everyone seems to be having a go at Hermione. Personally, I find her
character perfectly believable, and she makes plenty of mistakes.
Example: knitting hats and socks for the house-elves; she couldn't
possibly have been more misquided. 

Some people critisized her comments about relationships (Harry & Cho),
 but I thought they fit very well for an intelligent level-headed girl
her age. 

It's very easy to see and understand the relationships of the people
around you, much more so than your own relationships, because you have
no emotional investment to cloud your thinking. I think any
intelligent mature outside observer (especially a girl) could have
given Harry the same advise. It's also very easy to come up with the
answers after the fact. Harry had to function under the pressure of
the moment, whereas Hermione has the luxury of time and hindsight.

More to the main issue of the book itself and its author, I think JKR
has done an outstanding job of capturing the internal thought
processes and emotions of young teens, especially boys. I'm really
amazed that she, JKR, understands them so well.

> Amy Z:
>
> 2.  Harry reads about a potion that creates confusion, recklessness 
> and hotheadedness.  ... Is Snape (or someone) actually giving 
> Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts to Sirius, or to Harry himself?
> 

bboy_mn:

Well, you are not the only person to read that into this scene, but
personally I don't see it. Harry is very tired and having trouble
concentrating as he reads, so when he reaches certian keywords, those
words trigger thoughts, thoughts about things that are troubling him,
thoughts that are on his mind, and he drifts of into these new
unrelated thoughts until his concentration returns and he continues on
reading. Then he reaches a new keyword, and his thoughts drift off again.

That happens all the time to me when I read; my mind drifts off on
tangents. We are simply seeing an intersection of the words on the
page of the book Harry is reading with thoughts that are percolating
in the back of Harry's mind.

I think any hotheadedness or recklessness by either Harry or Sirius
have other perfectly logical explanations; explanation that are either
stated or implied in the overal storyline.


> Amy Z:
>
> 3.  Harry says Dark detectors can be fooled.  What do you suppose he 
> means?
>

bboy_mn:

I think this comes from the time when Harry is having tea with Moody
in Moody's office. Moody explain why some of his Dark Detectors had to
be disabled, and other can't be trusted. It's very hard to determine
when Dark Deceptive Wizards are lurking about when the place is
saturated with minor deception like kids playing pranks and lying
about their homework. 

In a way, it's not so much that the detectors can be fool as it is
that the readings they give can't always be trusted or interpreted
properly. So, it's not the dark detectors that can be fool, but the
wizard who is relying on them that can be fooled.

> Amy Z:
>
> 4.  So, what do you think about Harry as a teacher?  And, given that 
> he already has a beaut of a curse on him, should he go for the DADA 
> job?
> 

bboy_mn:

I think Harry does a good job, and would likely improve greatly with
experience. But I don't think we will see him in the role of a
professional teacher; in other words, he won't take the DADA position. 

However, I'm a firm believer that the DA Club will continue as a
school-wide (Slytherins included) club. In a school-wide club which
would logically have many many more members, Harry now has the 24
original members of the DA Club with a year of training and experience
to act as his assistant teachers. Plus, he has that great set of books
Remus and Sirius gave him for Christmas. 

Not to restart an old discusison, but the continuation of the DA Club
ties into my blief in the appearance of one or more Good Slytherins. 

One thing to consider, in the OotP DA Club, Harry had members who were
eager, friendly, and cooperative. It will be interesting when he has
to teach kids who are a little less loyal and a little less enamoured
with him.


> Amy Z ends with:
:
> 5. And one to take to OTChatter: If you found the Room of 
> Requirement, what need would take you there and what would you find 
> in the room?
> 
> 
> Amy Z
> 

bboy_mn:

How about a box full of winning lottery tickets? Heaven knows I could
use the money.

bboy_mn