[HPforGrownups] The Seven Harrys (was Re: Dumbledore and other leaders WAS: Moody's death)

[Lee Kaiwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 181972

Carol earlier:
> They're counting on the element of surprise

Lee responded:
> The DEs knew, the Order knew they knew....

> Carol again:
> I think I see where you're confused. The Order did *not* know that LV
> knew.

I'll stand corrected here. But I'm not sure it saves the plan; if 
anything, I think it just tightens the noose around DD's neck. Snape 
leaked the info under DD's orders, so DD had to know Privet Drive would 
be surrounded by an army of DEs (and almost certainly LV himself) the 
night they moved Harry. And he let Harry and the Order walk into that 
trap unwarned? DD deliberately created a highly dangerous situation and 
then just let his generals fend for themselves? And it cost Moody his life.

> They were, in Snape's words, "eschewing any form of transport 
 > that is controlled or regulated by the Ministry,"

It still doesn't explain why. According to Moody, the MoM had merely 
declared apparating out of Privet Drive illegal, they weren't blocking 
it. But since when did Moody (or any of the Order) give a flying fig 
about the MoM?

> They expect to encounter a few stray DEs, but not the 
 > thirty or so they actually encounter, or LV himself.

That DD would deliberately create a dangerous situation and then not 
prepare his own people for it is inexcusable, as far as I can see. OK, 
we learned that DD has a penchant for secrecy, but this cuts straight to 
his competence and qualifications as a leader. Being cautious with your 
secrets is one thing; but DD's inability to trust nearly got Harry 
killed (it DID kill Moody) and nearly lost the war.

> I think I've figured out why Harry didn't just Apparate ... 
 > He needed his trunk and Hedwig's cage

Hmm ... but that means the six decoys -- Harry's best friends among them 
-- and half the Order directly risked their lives for an old suitcase 
and a bird cage. Hang the luggage and apparate out. Send it via parcel 
post if you like. Moody, for one, would've been better off :-)

> Regarding the supposedly nude Harrys--I'm sure they wore their own
> underwear, sufficiently large that it would fit them when they turned
> into Harry if they were smaller than he was.

Would the girls have Harry-sized underwear of their own? I understand 
this scene was JKR's private joke to Daniel Radcliffe, so we probably 
shouldn't examine it too closely. But I feel as if the women stripped 
off a little too readily. It was still strictly speaking their own 
bodies they were displaying; their sense of modesty would still be 
objecting, "Hey, I'm standing in a roomful of men in my skivvies (or 
less?)."

> is "King's Cross," and even then the directors will 
 > probably keep him clothed.

I'm sure they will. And at most we'll see seven Harrys in boxers in the 
Seven Harrys scene; even putting Daniel in bra and panties would be a 
bit much for a children's movie (or a movie with a large underage 
viewing audience). You could, in fact, I think, just skip the 
clothes-changing entirely without serious damage to the story line; 
perhaps just having the decoys show up in Harry-like attire.

 > I think that JKR wanted an exciting scene in which Moody and
 > Hedwig would be killed

Yes, I'm sure you're right. I'm afraid I just don't think it was set up 
very well.

> Someone commented that anyone would Apparate if LV 
 > tried to kill them, but the Harrys (including Mundungus)
 > weren't supposed to be in danger

Certainly they weren't expecting the level of danger they encountered, 
but it doesn't explain why they didn't apparate out the minute they 
discovered it. In fact, I would expect Moody should have given a 
standing order to that effect before they left. In fact, again, I think 
the plan *should have* been (assuming they were heedful of the MoM's 
rule against apparating out of Privet Drive) to get Harry clear just far 
enough to apparate. The longer Harry (and the others) are in their air, 
the greater their exposure and the greater the risk. If you can't 
apparate out of the Dursleys' (and Moody didn't say they couldn't, only 
that it was illegal), then get out of their and apparate at the earliest 
possible moment.

CJ