CHAPTER DISCUSSION PS/SS 9, THE MIDNIGHT DUEL

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 188290

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "powerbabe7" <powerbabe7 at ...> wrote:

> 1. Why do you think the Gryffindors are forced to do flying lessons with the Slytherins? and why is this the only time flying lessons are even mentioned?

Geoff:
I think its a timetable thing. The two houses do have potions together 
and one assumes that Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw possibly do so also.

There's not much to say about flying lessons except that they have them.
As someone has said, it may just to point up the fact that Harry is a 
natural flyer.

> 4. Malfoy chooses Crabbe as his second. If Crabbe and Goyle are both his friends, why do you think he picks Crabbe over Goyle?

Geoff:
Well, he's got to choose one or the other. How did you choose 
between friends when you were at school?

> 5. Duels are written into many books and stories. More often than not, they are
between a good and a bad person and they do not end on a happy note. What were
your thoughts as soon as the duel was scheduled to happen? Did you think Ron,
Harry, Malfoy, or even Crabbe might have died or gotten hurt?

Geoff:
Frankly no. I didn't think their spell skill was sufficient to kill and I 
don't think that their motivation stretched that far in the First Year. 
I think it's a bit of boy wizard muscle-flexing. I don't even think that 
anyone would have got hurt - canon suggests otherwise.

'Catching the look on Harry's face, he (Ron) added quickly, "but people 
only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you 
and Malfoy'll be able to do is to send sparks at each other. Neither of 
you knows enough magic to do any real damage."'
(PS "The Midnight Duel" p.114 UK edition)