"Some won't like it"

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 129882

>>Kemper:
<snip>
>This leads me to my fear of "some won't like it".  This next bit is 
sort of a rant and may include some abreviated, base language much 
like Vernon used...
>There has got to be some closure/death ritual for Sirius.  I don't 
necessarily need to read a chapter on it, just a sentence or two to 
know that it was done.<

Betsy Hp:
I absolutely agree that there needs to be *something*, and since JKR 
herself cried when she wrote Sirius' death scene, it will be strange 
indeed if nothing is mentioned.

I loved your rant, I just had a few comments.

>>Kemper:
<major snip>
>Lupin:  Has known isolation because of who he is and has also more 
than likely witnessed deaths during the First War.  You pussy-cat 
werewolf!  There are 27 days in a lunar month that you can sit 
Harry's ass down and have a talk.  You got him through the Patronus 
lessons, but no howl to the death of Cedric?  What's up?<

Betsy Hp:
The only thing I can figure is that Lupin stepped aside for Sirius.  
He has very little interaction with Harry in OotP - a noticably small 
amount, IMO.  He hovers in the background a bit when Harry and Sirius 
are struggling to talk and he plays peacemaker when Sirius and Molly 
get into it, but Lupin has very little time with Harry himself.

My theory is that Lupin very much wanted Harry and Sirius to develop 
a good relationship for both their sakes.  He may also have been 
hyper-alert to stepping on Sirius' toes.  So I give Lupin a bit of a 
pass here.  HBP will be very telling, IMO.

>>Kemper:
<snip>
>Hagrid:  I hold no resentment towards you as you got to the party 
late and, I'm hoping, you would assume that someone has brought the 
topic up already so why beat a dead thestral.<

Betsy Hp:
I have a bit of a love/hate reaction to Hagrid.  Sometimes he annoys 
the hell out me, sometimes he melts my heart.  His conversation with 
Harry at the end of GoF was one of those heart melting times.

"When [Hagrid] had made tea and offered around a plate of doughy 
cookies, he leaned back in his chair and surveyed Harry closely 
through his beetle-black eyes.
"You all righ'?" he said gruffly.
"Yeah," said Harry.
"No, yeh're not," said Hagrid.  "'Course yeh're not.  But yeh will 
be."  (GoF scholastic hardback p.718)

I don't know why, but to me this was one of the warmest and helpful 
exchanges Harry has with any adult after Cedric's death.  I strongly 
suspect that if Hagrid had been at Hogwarts at the beginning of OotP, 
and if he'd not been so distracted by Gawp when he did finally 
arrive, he could have helped Harry through some of his more stressful 
times.  Hagrid can be pretty obtuse at times, especially when it 
comes to his creatures, but he's probably the most loving presence in 
Harry's life and he's very good to Harry.

>>Kemper: 
>Minerva:  Closest adult, physically, to Harry during most of OP. Yet 
you mention nothing except a little criticism regarding his retention 
of Dolores' hidden message in her speech.  Can you transfigure a 
heart?<
<snip>

Betsy Hp:
And how weird is that?  I mean the woman is supposed to be a head of 
house!  Maybe I'm defining the job incorrectly, but isn't McGonagall 
supposed to be a parent substitute for the children in her house?  I 
would expect she'd be the one to go to if your parents are getting a 
divorce or you're homesick or your grandfather dies.  Am I wrong 
about that?  Because I don't get the sense that Gryffindor sees 
McGonagall as a comfort source.  And she seems to take no interest in 
Harry's emotional well being.  I mean I know all about the stiff 
upper lip - but isn't this taking it a step or two too far?

Betsy Hp