First potions lesson/Stand aside girl and the end

[irene_mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 145857

dumbledore11214 wrote:

> Yes, IMO it was, because IMO no homework was given to the first
years prior to coming to Hogwarts. I would find it incredibly strange
that especially muggleborns who had no exposure to magic would have
been asked to do anything prior to listening to the initial
instructions of the teachers.


And I found it incredibly strange that a muggle-born child didn't try
to find out as much as possible about that new world he's coming to.
Including reading all his schoolbooks, yes.

> Alla:
>
> Not because Harry lives with Muggles, although as I said sure I
would expected a bit nicer welcome to the new world, but because I
think that they were not given any homework yet, so there was no way
that Harry COULD have known the answers, IMO of course.


What do you mean "there was no way he could"? Right next to him sits a
muggleborn student that demonstrated that there is a way.

> So I think I could identify with Harry in a sense that he faces the
new world and new educational system. I have not gotten such a vicious
"welcome" as Harry gets from Snape from ANY law school professor.


I started a university in a new country, being exposed to a new
language for 6 months. I've got a very vicious "welcome" from one of
the professors. "Just get on with it" approach had served me well in
this instance, as in many others. I think Harry can use some (possibly
he starts to develop it anyway, his attitude to Dementors essay is
healthier than what he exhibited before year 6.

> I would EXPECT law school professors to be tough, since they are
dealing with adults and future lawyers


They can't be too tough, or they'll be sued, no? :-)


> As to Hermione - yes, I don't think it is fair to take her as an
example, because she reads everything. If you could show me that ANY
other student knew the answer, it would have been a different story to me.


Any example is good enough to demonstrate that it was *possible*.

>
> Besides, are you SURE that Snape wants students like Hermione in his
class? It seems to me that he tells her to shut up all the time.


That's probably the only case I can point where Rowling makes a
character inconsistent for plot reasons. Not Snape, but Hermione.
The girl that's described under Hermione's name elsewhere in the books
would have got the point after about 2 Potions lessons. That Rowling
keeps Hermione banging her head against the wall must be necessary for
plot reasons, otherwise it does not make any sense.

Irene