Teachers WAS:Re: SPOILERS: School Books

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 184252

> 
> Carol responds:
> . And she doesn't check the facts in her own books, by her own
confession,

Pippin:


She  said she doesn't  like re-reading her books once they are
published because of the temptation to re-edit them. However...

http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/fansite_view.cfm?id=14

[The Lexicon] is such a great site that I have been known to sneak
into an internet café while out writing and check a fact rather than 
go into a bookshop and buy a copy of Harry Potter (which is embarrassing).

---
I don't, of course, know how thoroughly JKR read up on kappas, but
bowing  does not belong originally to the hippogriff legend. It does
seem to have been borrowed from the kappa, which might be one reason
JKR mentioned them in the first place. 

The site I looked at  says that though the kappa  creature has many
evil ways, it will keep its word and serve faithfully the one who
captures it and makes it promise not to harm anyone again. Sound like
anyone we know? <g>

Potioncat asked:
Pippin, or anyone else, are there other zingers, nods or winks in
FBAWTFT or QTTA? I've seen copies, but don't own either.

Pippin:
The entry on the hippogriff states "It can be tamed, though this
should be attempted only by experts." The sentence is underlined and
Harry's comment in the margin reads, "has Hagrid read this book?"

Also, on page xix "The 1965 Ban on Experimental Breeding has made the
creation of new species illegal." To which Harry adds, "but no one's
told Hagrid"

The introduction (written by Dumbledore) states that wizards seeking
to make donations to Comic Relief should do so "through Gringotts
Wizarding Bank (ask for Griphook.)" which shows that Dumbledore
trusted him, IMO, though Carol will probably argue that this is JKR
being inconsistent again.

Creatures making an appearance in FB prior to their appearance in the
books include the thestral, "black, possessed of the power of
invisibility, and considered unlucky by many wizards" and the moke. FB
explains that moke skin bags have the ability to shrink at the
approach of a stranger, and therefore moke skin moneybags are very
difficult for thieves to locate. 

FB  allows one to identify the creatures that Harry sees in the
magical creatures shop in PoA. The "gigantic tortoise with a
jewel-encrusted shell" is a Fire Crab, the poisonous orange snails are
Streelers and the "funny custard-colored furballs" are Puffskeins.

Pippin
who thinks future generations of wizarding children will write "has
Harry read this book?" beside the thestral entry