CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 10, THE HALLOWEEN

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 188359

Alla:
> 3. We are shown Trevor zooming around the class in Charms, does that mean that
kids' pets are allowed in the classrooms if kids so desire?

Pippin:
It certainly means that Snape isn't the only teacher who thinks its okay to
demonstrate spells on a pet. I wonder how Trevor felt about it? It seems to me
being zoomed around would be more frightening then a momentary regression to
tadpolehood.

Alla:

Oh I don't know. Now **of course** when I reread this sentence my first thought was about Snape's lesson. What I thought being interesting though are two things: one that I already mentioned that IMO kids are allowed to bring pets without facing repercussions to lessons, that was because I  seem to remember  back there one of the arguments about justifying Snape's behavior during that lesson was that Neville had no right to bring pet in classroom  and Snape could do whatever he chose anyway. Do not ask me whose argument it was, have no clue, but it stuck with me. And of course the most interesting thing to me is that while I have no idea how Trevor felt during both lessons, we hear nothing about Neville being upset at Flitwick's lesson, despite his pet zooming around that is. You can tell me that it could have happened anyway and I will say that since we do not see , I think it is much stronger assumption that it did not happen. And that tells me that Flitwick is much more caring person who took care to let Neville know that nothing dangerous is going to happen to his pet. Just a speculation, but IMO it is a reasonable one to make.


Alla:
> 4. We are told that Ron and Harry do not want to go fight the troll, but feel
that they have no other choice. What does this say about their characters or any
characters when thought like this flashes in their minds?

Pippin:
Of course they do have a choice. They, or one of them, could have gone to get a
teacher. But it's like Gryffindors to think that they, and they alone, can make
a difference.

Alla:
You really think that go get the teacher in the moment of imminent danger to somebody is a choice they should have taken into consideration? Personally, the fact that they did not is one of the main reasons why I like them so much. And I actually think that this is a very good example of why Gryffindor is my favorite house. We can talk about Slytherins thinking up a plan to fight and then fighting as long as their behinds are protected too, but the thing is sometimes there is no time, sometimes there is just no time and if one  goes away to think up a plan to save a person such person could be dead, by the time  plan is ready. I like my friend in the minute of imminent danger to myself to think about saving me first, and I like to think I will do the same thing. 
My question was more general however, because as much as I like character or person to have "saving people thing" I surely realize that selfless courage could be reckless. The thing is though, I will take this over the cowardly character any time.

And also when I read this about the character, that character feels that he has no choice but has to do it anyway, that could mean a really bad thing too, right? This phrase could mean that character is forced to do something horrible, to mug, to murder somebody for whatever reason. So I just thought that it was interesting that if this sentence was out of context it could have meant the exact opposite of what it means.


JMO,

Alla