CHAPDISC: hbp12, Silver and Opals

[KathyK]

No: HPFGUIDX 149599

Hey All,

Great summary, Lyra!

Lyra wrote:

> 1)	In GoF, it says something to the effect of "four years in 
> the magical world had taught Harry it wasn't a good idea to stick 
> his hand into some unknown magical substance." But by 6th year, 
> Harry is willing to try incantations without a clue of what their 
> effect will be. Does this change of attitude tell us something about 
> Harry? Is he becoming reckless?

KathyK:

While I'm not sure I agree with Betsy that Harry has gotten less
reckless, he certainly isn't any more reckless in HBP than he's been
in the past.  That quote about Harry not sticking his hand into an
unknown substance is from "The Pensieve" in GoF.  And while Harry
might have learned he ought to prod the unknown substance with his
wand instead of his hand, he certainly didn't learn to control his
curiosity and ended up shoving his nose into the Pensieve instead of
his hand.  He was curious about the door in OoP, which, IMO, is the
main reason he could not master Occlumency.  He uses the spells in the
book for the same reason.  He may know (or be warned by others) he
ought to be cautious in this magical world of his, but curiosity
always wins over caution.   


Lyra:
 
> 5)	Some of the Prince's early jinxes included one to make 
> toenails grow fast, one to make the tongue stick to the roof of the 
> mouth, and Muffliato. Ron thinks they are the sort of spells Fred 
> and George might create; Hermione says they are the work of someone 
> who is not a nice person.  Do you think these are typical schoolyard 
> hexes, not much different from the bat bogey hex or Ron's 
> eat slugs curse, or do they hint at something darker? 

KathyK:

They're the typical schoolyard hexes.  Depending on your feelings
about typical schoolyard hexes, they *could* hint at something darker.
   But it may just say more about Harry that he chooses to use some of
these hexes on someone defenseless like Filch.  ;-)

 
> 7)	Most of JKR's characters, even those with walk-on parts, 
> have a complete name (Mark Evans, Piers Polkiss, and dozens of 
> students who have been sorted in the last few years and happily 
> taken their place in the Charms Society, Gobstones Club, or whatever 
> they do that keeps them from crossing paths with Harry ever again).  
> But Katie Bell's friend Leanne gets six pages of center stage, yet 
> no last name. Did this bother anyone? Was JKR simply signaling that 
> Leanne wasn't really worth bothering with?

KathyK:

Poor Leanne.  Used and cast aside.  She's a student unknown to Harry.
 She didn't even have a name until Katie conveniently shouted it
during their argument.  No room for introductions in the scene.  The
only place I could see where a last name could be inserted was when
McGonagall ordered Leanne up to the hospital wing.  She called her
"Leanne."  She could have called the girl by her surname, as I *think*
(can't remember a lot of specifics--memory's getting rusty) she
typically calls each student.  Either JKR didn't have a last name at
all or McGonagall just felt so sorry for the girl, she just had to
call her Leanne.  Maybe both?  
 
 
> 11) Hermione warns about using "unknown, handwritten spells" that 
> aren't "Ministry approved." But just a few chapters ago, she was 
> admiring the products at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, which are most 
> likely not all Ministry approved.  And after her experiences with 
> Umbridge and Fudge, it seems Hermione would have suspicions about 
> the value of Ministry approval. Is this just a lame excuse she comes 
> up with, or is there some validity to her concern about using spells 
> that don't bear the MOM stamp of approval? 

KathyK:

It is a lame excuse for her suspicion the Half-Blood Prince is "a bit
dodgy."  Hermione needs reasons for Harry to get rid of the book.  
Even if she actually believed that Ministry approval for spells was 
important, she would be very foolish to believe *Harry* would find a 
lack of Ministry approval a compelling reason to stop doing anything.  
Very lame, indeed. 



KathyK