Curses and non-descriptions (was: DDM!Snape clue)

[h2so3f]

No: HPFGUIDX 148449

Neri  wrote: <snip a bunch of a good post>
"The most famous example of a non-description in the series is 
probably the curse that killed (or not) Sirius in OotP. Harry surely 
saw at least what color it was, but the color isn't described. Harry 
probably also saw if it was Bellatrix who shot it, or at least he'd 
know, if he thinks back about what he saw, whether it could have 
been somebody else. So if the author is going to take advantage of 
this non-description to tell me later that it was somebody else 
(like ESE!Lupin, as Pippin suggested) who shot the curse, I'll feel 
cheated."


CH3ed:
I think it is quite certain that Bellatrix was the one who shot that 
curse that sent Sirius over the veil, tho. Otherwise Harry wouldn't 
have screamed that "She killed Sirius. I'll kill her," as he ran 
after Bella toward to fountain.


Neri wrote:
"The author doesn't have to describe explicitly *everything* the 
hero sees, but I feel as if we have a tacit agreement that she has 
to describe anything *relevant* that Harry sees.

So here is my question: can anybody think of even a single non-
description in the series that JKR later used in order to spring an 
unexpected solution for a mystery? I can't think of even a single 
example. The only case I can think of is when JKR didn't describe 
Harry not putting the Felix Felicis in Ron's drink. But I think this 
example doesn't really qualify, because it's Harry in this case who 
uses the non-description to play the trick on us (and on Ron and
Hermione). But is there a case were JKR uses a non-description to 
play a trick on both Harry and us?"


CH3ed:
Not sure. I don't have my books with me. How about in GoF after 
Harry and Krum met the deranged Mr. Crouch in the forest and DD had 
the fake Moody out looking for him? Harry asked fake Moody later if 
he used the Marauder's Map, and fake Moody said he took a leaf out 
of Harry's book and summoned it from his office. I'd think had he 
really done that the map would have been spotted zooming toward the 
forest (but I think Fake Moody had it with him all the time...just 
put it in his pocket once he saw his dad entered the ground). But 
Harry and us took fake Moody's patronizing words for it. Does that 
fit the criteria? 

CH3ed not thinking very clearly after watching way too much curling 
over the weekend.   ;O)