DA (not) in HBP

[mariejgrangerpotter]

No: HPFGUIDX 163767

> Magpie:
> Sure you can disagree with us (heh-me and Harry), but that doesn't
> make it an unresolved issue in the books, which was what I was
> saying. We weren't left hanging with the DA because the stated
> reason for it existing in OotP was gone, and Harry himself says this
> makes it unnecessary. So there's nothing to resolve in the way that,
> say, we need a resolution on who RAB is.

Marie:
Oh, you're certainly right about this.  It's not unresolved like RAB
or even SPEW.

> Magpie:
> Umbridge wasn't teaching them DADA at all. Snape was, so nobody felt
> the need for Harry to teach on the side. In fifth year it was Harry
> or nothing.  In sixth year Snape was teaching things Harry himself
> didn't know (Hermione ironically says Snape sounds like Harry, which
> makes it seem like he'd be a good teacher) so the DA would probably,
> if anything, have evolved into a duelling club--one that nobody
> really seemed to want, though. It would have been a fine idea--lots
> of fanfics did that when they imagined sixth year. It just wasn't
> the way JKR was going.

Marie:
You're right about the irony of Hermione comparing Snape and Harry's
teaching styles.  (Especially since Snape was still indirectly
teaching Harry other things in the guise of the HBP.)  And interest in
the DA probably would have been down, but at least the core Department
of Mysteries group probably would have stayed in it.  Remember, Luna
said it was almost like having friends (poor girl).  And as I said
before, the plot-driven reason for dissolving it became apparent at
the end of the book.

> Magpie:
> I do get your point about your disagreement with Harry, but at least
> he does give us a reason in canon for it not continuing that all the
> characters accept.

Marie:
Very true.  I wish someone had argued with him, but alas... Perhaps
Neville, Luna, and/or Ginny will run it during DH while the trio is
off on the Horcrux Hunt.

>> Marie:
>> Someone on thread
>> recently mentioned that Jo has promised as much on her website, but
>> I've been unable to locate it.  Any help pointing me in the right
>> direction would be much appreciated.

> Magpie:
> I remember something...but now I totally can't remember. I'm sure
> somebody else in the thread will!

Marie:
Someone did, thank  you both.  It had been in Jo's diary, which isn't
archived on her site.  That's why I couldn't find it.  It was from May
10, 2006 and said:

I've been having house-elf trouble this week, though I think I've got
them sorted out now. I'm all for house-elf rights, but the author is
dictator and the sooner they accept that, the better.
(Finally found on the HP Lexicon.)