CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 8: Flight of the Fat Lady

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 189612

  
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> 1) Do you think, considering that Harry is usually wrong about Professor Snape, that the 'Neville's boggart' story is why Snape seems so tense and angry these days?

Pippin:
I'd guess that Snape is worried about Sirius going after Harry, just like everyone else. Considering that Snape hates Lupin just as much as he hates Harry (and with far more cause), the really remarkable thing is how civilly Snape behaves towards him despite his obvious dislike. It is one way  JKR shows  us that Snape could have treated Harry better if he'd wanted to. 
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> 2) Do you think Hagrid could have sought or accepted advice about teaching, and who from? 

Pippin:
Myself, I'd have asked Flitwick or Sprout. But they are heads of what Hagrid probably still thinks of as rival Houses, and perhaps he thought McGonagall's feelings would be hurt if he didn't ask her. But she can be pretty rough on anyone she considers incompetent, so he might not have wanted to.


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> 3)How do you imagine Hermione survived all those years in the girls' dorms?

Pippin:
I've always thought it was fortunate for Hermione that Hogwarts doesn't grade on the curve. At least no one except Draco had to feel she was making them look bad.

Lavender's known Hermione for two years  at this point -- she'd hardly be shocked to discover that Hermione is an insufferable know-it-all,  who sometimes displays the emotional sensitivity of a teaspoon. But she'd also know that Hermione is a good person to have on your side, and as a dorm mate she definitely could save you a lot of slogging down to the library to look things up. 

I'd guess the atmosphere was pretty chilly during the Won-Won affair. But by that time Hermione was a prefect and well able to deal with anyone who decided to mess with her. 

Hermione doesn't hang out in the dorm so much anyway. 
She's the sort of kid who relates to adults better than to most other kids. Her friendships with McGonagall and Hagrid are steady all through the books, in contrast to the ups and downs she has with Harry and Ron. 

> 4) What did you make of the interactions between Lupin and Snape?

Pippin:
I certainly didn't see romantic tension. But there's no accounting for ships. I thought there was obviously some history and in due course we'd find out what it was. 
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> 5) Is Lupin's idea that Harry's boggart might be Lord Voldemort reasonable, considering Harry was just over a year old when he saw him?

Pippin:
I doubt that Seamus remembers any banshee or Parvati any mummies. The fears don't have to come from actual experience. However, what Harry experiences through the dementors is actually his experience of Voldemort, Harry just doesn't know that yet. 

 
> 6) Do you think Peeves might have had an amicable relationship with the Marauders, as later it's apparent he has with the Weasley twins, and might he have been present when Sirius was in the castle?

Pippin:
Peeves probably showed up when the Fat Lady was attacked, since he's drawn to trouble, and in the Marauder days admired Sirius as a fellow-trouble maker. But I can't see him helping Sirius to commit murder, and everyone thinks that's what Sirius is there to do.

Thanks for the intriguing questions.

Pippin