The Hook that was PoA CH 1-4

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 181463

> Alla:
> 
> Mike, I am sooo with you. I loved those chapters too. I just
> wanted to say that I totally get why in the last books she would
> not portray such a lovely, yummy picture any more. Harry
> supposedly learns how grim and bleak the world he escaped too is
> and that this world is not really an escape, but on the contrary
> in need of saving, etc.

Mike:
Oh yeah, I totally get why things had to change. I was just 
reminiscing about the lovely picture she painted in my mind. When I 
used to reread the books continuously, I always reread PoA an extra 
few times just to read the first few chapters and the last few 
chapters. 

I was so happy to see Harry get a couple of Dursley free weeks in his 
true world, with all the interesting people. Harry could be himself, 
listen and learn of what it would be like to be around other 
wizarding folk all the time. JKR didn't put much thought into the 
theory of magic. But when she gave us the wizards arguing over the 
latest article in Transfiguration Today, I had fun picturing two 
academic types bantering back and forth.

"That doesn't work, Swapman. You have to concentrate on the size of 
the *wings* when you say 'Raptorus'. If you're thinking about the 
beak you can get anything from a Macaw to a Hippogriff."
"Professor Tradingplace, if I think about the wings, I invariably get 
a standard bog chicken that won't fly. There must be something we're 
not considering."

I read the last few chapters to get the Marauders' story and to 
reread Harry saying "Prongs". I also loved the letters Harry got from 
Sirius on the Hogwarts Express. 


> Alla:
> 
> Oh, oh and I know you do not dig the interviews, so I am asking if 
> you do want to know what fate awaited Fortesque in JKR's head at 
> least?

Mike:
Nah. Someone else off-listed me with her thought that Florean was a 
casualty of war and I must say she's probably right, as much as I 
didn't want it to be so. I hope he had some kids that resurrected 
the ice cream business bigger and better than before.



> Alla:
> 
> But yes, having said this, I wish we would see the glimpse of 
> Potters eating ice cream in the epilogue or something like that. I 
> LOVED it.

Mike:
In most of the other books, the last chapters left me with a good 
feeling, things were sort of returning to normal only better, and 
usually Harry got a pleasant surprise. HBP, the halfway point to the 
conclusion by JKR's own definition, being the exception of course. 

I would have loved it if JKR had put one more chapter into DH before 
the Epilogue. Maybe a few months after the Battle of Hogwarts, to 
revisit some of the places that had returned to normal. I would have 
appreciated seeing Diagon Alley thriving again, the Leaky Cauldron 
full again, and I would have even liked to see Mrs. Marsh looking 
green again as she climbed down off of the Knight Bus, with Stan 
throwing her bag after her.

Mike