chapter discussions, SS/PS, chapter 5, Diagon Alley

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 187887

> Potioncat:
> Ollivander also makes his "great things---terrible, yes, but great" comment about LV.  It made Harry think he didn't like Ollivander too much and it caused many of us to distrust him. This time, reading it in context, his real emphasis seems to be on Harry's potential. If these brother wands choose powerful wizards, and if Harry already has a reputation, then Ollivander would be right in expecting some powerful magic from Harry. Still, I can't imagine using the word "great" for anything LV did.

Zara:
And this general feeling about Ollivander and Voldemort's "great" accomplishments is echoed in DH, as well. Ollivander states that "the idea of the Dark Lord in possession of the Deathstick is, I must admit...formidable". And Harry recalls this scene of PS/SS we are discussing, and how even after all Ollivander has suffered from Voldmeort in the dungeon of Malfoy Manor, he is still torn between admiration and repulsion at Voldemort's power.

> Potioncat:
> My favorite is Arsenius Jigger and I'm ashamed to say I didn't catch it the first time.

Zara:
I never caught it until I read the Lithuanian translation of SS, personally, but it is also my favorite. This was after I bought the full set in that language, about a year after DH came out in English. The translator chose the wrong meaning of "Jigger" when s/he translated the name. (One of many complaints I have about that translation...)

> Potioncat:
>  I was wondering what would have happened if the boy being fitted had been someone else, who said nothing about "our" kind but still made those comments about Hagrid.

Zara:
Harry would still not have warmed to such a child. I think he already felt loyalty to Hagrid.

> Potioncat:
> I clung to the theory of the Good Slytherin up to the last page of DH. I was sure we had been set up to form our own bit of prejudice just to have it knocked down. I think JKR did intend Slytherin to be the bad guys. Did anyone feel differently about Slytherin House at the end of DH with both Snape and Slughorn coming through for Hogwarts?

Zara:
I did, in answer to Sherry's question, assume when reading PS/SS for the first time that Snape would be the villain and Slytherin would be the bad guys. This statement contributed to that feeling, but I think it took the additionl scenes of the unfriendly encounter with Draco on the train, the look Harry and Snape exchanged at the Welcoming feast, and Harry's dream about Draco and Snape and the high cold laugh to cement it for me. I remember reading "The Potions Master" and thinking to myself, "'tis a pity this guy is the Bad Guy of this kids' book, he's pretty cool". But I thought the end of PS/SS itself was sufficient refutation of Harry's prejudice. The Slytherin villain set up for us through his association with Slytherin, unpleasant manner, and implied fondness for the Dark Arts, was a good guy who protected both Harry and the Stone. End of story, and fair warning to readers about Harry's prejudice.

In answer to your question, Potoincat, I was absolutely convinced by DH that Slytherins as a group were not "bad guys". It's not just Slughorn and Snape and their roles in the final battle, to me anyway. Phineas, helping Snape by spying on the Trio so Snape could bring them help. Regulus, like Harry himself willing to die in the hope that as a result, when Voldemort meets his match, he will be mortal once more. Andromeda (Black) Tonks, opening her home to Harry/the Order as a refuge form the Death Eaters. Draco, failing to identify the Trio for the Death Eayters (and showing himself a brave and loyal friend to Goyle). Narcissa, hiding Harry's survival from Voldemort out of love for her son. To me, DH was an avalanche of revelations about Slytherins, capped off, of course, by the quotes from the Epilogue posted by Pippin in her response to your question.