CHAPDISC: HBP21, The Unknowable Room

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 158746



Potioncat:
Great summary and questions by Kiricat! I prepared by reading the 
chapter, but I'm travelling without the book, so here's my best 
attempt.


 
> Questions:
> 
> 1. Harry increasingly turns to his Potions book when he is at a 
> loss.  Why has he come to rely on the Prince as his major source of 
> inspiration or guidance, even for things outside the field of 
> Potions?

Potioncat:
I think it's because in many ways Snape and Potter are alike. If the 
animositiy wasn't there, Harry might have learned much more willingly 
from Snape. Or, Snape might have been more encouraging.
> 
>  
> 3. Harry thinks Snape will mark him down on the Dementor essay.  
> Does Hogwarts strike you as a place that encourages thinking in 
> alternative ways?  Or do classes seem geared towards rote learning?

Potioncat:
Well, Slughorn's classes depended on rote learning. We haven't seen 
Snape reacting to any student's suggestion that a different way was 
better, although he himself had been improving on methods at an early 
age. We did see Snape teach counter to the book in Lupin's class--we 
all assume it was Snape who was wrong rather than the book. Now I'm 
beginning to wonder.

I'm reading OoP (inspired by Carol's challenge a few weeks ago.) In 
Dudley Demented (I think) Harry believes the only way to fight off a 
Dementor is by the Patronus Charm. Now we know differently. Oddly 
enough, I think if the Prince had suggested an alternate method, 
Harry would be more open to it. 

This is a good question, because you're asking about the Hogwarts 
method of teaching. I'm not sure how any of the teachers would react 
to a suggestion of a different method. Although I can almost imagine 
Snape discussing the options with a select group of students. 
McGonagall as well.

But, you know, both Snape and McGonagall have the students reading 
and reporting on the theory behind the magic. So I do think they want 
the students to "think" about what they are doing.
> 
>> 
> 6. Do you think it's likely that MWPP did not know of the Room of 
> Requirement, or is Hermione right in assuming that the room is 
> Unplottable?

Potioncat:
It would be nice for Harry to have found something his dad didn't 
know about. And if DD is certain he doesn't know all Hogwarts's 
secrets, I doubt James did.
> 
> 7.Does this tell us anything about the relative 
> strengths and weaknesses of the Trio?

Potioncat:
That Ron is the spunky comic relief? That's good news, it's better 
than being crewman 6.
> 
> 8. After 5-plus years at Hogwarts, is Ron really clueless on how to 
> use a wand to clean up spilled ink? 

Potioncat:
I don't know. But why does Filch get the job of scrubbing frog guts 
off ceilings? Doesn't seem necessary does it? Hermione seems to have 
gravitated toward practical spells all along, and she has a real 
domestic side. She's the poster child for those of us who stay at 
home even though we're well educated (may no attention to the 
mispelled words.)
> 
> 9. What do you suppose Hermione was thinking when Ron compared 
> Lavender to the Giant Squid?

Potioncat:
That boys go out with girls who do, but marry girls who don't?
> 
> 9. It's understandable that Harry dreams of Draco and Slughorn, as 
> he is spending so much time thinking about them.  But, why does 
> Snape appear in the dreams, too? Is Harry making a subconscious 
link 
> between the three, or is Snape simply the stuff of nightmares for 
> Harry?

Potioncat:
This dream is so similar to the dream the very first night Harry was 
at Hogwarts, there must be clue in it somewhere! Darned if I can find 
it.
> 
> 10. Will any of the characters that we have met and who are now 
> deceased, such as Emmeline Vance or Amelia Bones, make an 
appearance 
> as an Inferi in Book 7?  

Potioncat:
I really hope not, but that could be the grisley glory JKR was 
talking about. Here's my question, why did Snape keep pointing out 
that ghosts are transparent? And why was he speaking in italic when 
he did so?
> 
> 11. Is Ron being an insensitive dolt for picking on Myrtle?
Potioncat:
Standard teen-aged boy, if you ask me. 
> 
> 12. How much of Myrtle's description of sensitive, bullied, lonely 
> Draco is her own imagination?
Potioncat:
Just like all the other Draco-fans, she's confused him with the 
actor. Sorry, I mean, it's mostly her imagination.
> 
> 13. Is Hermione's puzzlement regarding Tonks' activities a clue 
that 
> something sinister is going on, or is this a red herring that is 
> later explained away by Tonks' love for Remus?

Potioncat:
With humble apologies, I think it was poorly written red herring.
> 


Great job, Marianne!