O O O It's Magic (More Wombat Love)

[Annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 159415

Talisman: 
> Bam. Anne gave me 5 sets of  "O" answers from the Leaky that blew 
> everything out of the cauldron.

Annemehr:
I'm just pissy that way.

Now let's talk about the giants. 'Kay?

<snip>

Talisman:
> 6. Ah, the giants. 
> 
> I believe that answers a, b, and c are all negated by reasonable 
> inference from canon. Answers a and b are nixed by the fact that 
> both Gurgs represented are male and of the largest of their kind. 
> Answer c is negated by Olympe's use of the Conjunctivitis Curse, 
> when she and Hagrid are trying to escape hostile giants.
>
> The Conjunctivitus Curse itself goes specifically to quality of 
> eyesight.  If a wizard who is capable enough to be Headmistress of 
> one of the three largest schools in the WW uses a spell tailored 
to 
> impair eyesight, the clear inference is that the eyesight was good 
> to begin with, not "very poor compared to humans." 

Annemehr:
But...how good does a giant's eyesight have to be to see two twelve-
foot tall half-giants right in front of their noses?

There are real reasons to use the Conjunctivitis Curse, none of 
which assume anything approaching 20/20 vision:

1. A single witch has no choice but to hit them in the eye, as can 
be inferred by the way the Aurors' stunners bounced right off Hagrid 
in OoP -- and he's part human.

2. If you're on a diplomatic mission to giants, and suddenly have to 
defend yourself, it's probably best to use a curse specifically made 
for eyes.  The conjuctivitis will clear up soon enough, no doubt.  
No real harm done to the giants.  Some other curse might cause 
permanent injury -- and a permanent grudge.

3. And as I said, a couple of half-giants are hard to miss.  
Temporary blindness would still come in handy.

So, to me, Olympe's use of Conjuctivitis against giants does not 
imply that they have eagle-eyes -- or human ones, for that matter.

The canon that I dimly remembered while taking the test, that made 
me choose the eyesight answer, was that in Grawp's two scenes in OoP 
he really does seem to be nearsighted.  He can spot a little bird's 
nest in a treetop he's holding in his hand, but he has to stoop down 
to look at Harry, Hermione, and the Centaurs.  

I know it doesn't prove anything, and Grawp might not be 
representative of his race, but I still think all this together 
makes the "poor eyesight" answer at least as good as the "nocturnal" 
one.

Speaking of which --

Talisman: 
> When Hagrid and Olympe reach the giant's reservation, it is 
already 
> night.  They decide to watch and wait until morning.  It is noted 
> that the giants don't fall asleep until about 3AM, at which point 
> they pass out where they sit.

Annemehr:
There, see?  That, to me, does not say "nocturnal," or even "nearly 
nocturnal."  No, it says "diurnal party animals who stayed up waaay 
past their bedtimes."

Okay, it says no such thing.  Still: 

Talisman:
> While we don't know the exact date or location of this experience, 
> 3AM is the lion's share of the night in most locales.  I'll bet 
they 
> aren't in a hurry to get up in the morning, either.

Annemehr:
Well, the next thing Hagrid says is that "once it was light we wen' 
down ter see 'em." (427) That's morning.  Shortly past the crack of 
dawn, even, if they only waited for full daylight.  And the Gurg was 
awake, waiting to be fed at the time.


Talisman:
> Grawp was certainly snoozing when Harry and Hermione went to meet 
> him in the middle of the day.
> 
> I'm prepared to say that giants are up "most of the night and some 
> of the day," and that "nocturnal" isn't a bad answer.

Annemehr:
Hmmmm, maybe half points.  And who's to say Grawpy wasn't just 
having a nice, post-luncheon snooze?  All nice and civilized.


Talisman: 
> However,  I think the even better answer is cannibals.

Now this one, I agree with.

I still think the poor eyesight answer is good -- probably second 
best.  But then again, what do I know; I got EE -- twice. :P

Annemehr
who dearly wishes there had been a Magical History question about 
what *really* happened at Godric's Hollow (presumably written by ol' 
DD before that trip to the seashore)