Chapter Discussion: Chapter Fifteen, Goblet of Fire: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 192231


Questions:
>1. To jump on the question from the previous chapter about >Dumbledore wanting
>Fake!Moody to demonstrate Unforgivables in all their glory – in this >one Moody
>claims Dumbledore wanted him to put the Imperio on the students. I >believed him
>without any hesitation, but you all know how I feel about >Dumbledore, so could
>somebody please convince me that this was Fake!Moody's own desire and
>Dumbledore had nothing to do with it?

Nikkalmati

I believe DD must have approved it because he would be sure to hear about it.  That means he also had heard about the other curses and probably approved.  I think he did want the students (especially the Trio) to be aware of all the Unforgivables.  The fact that Harry could resist the Imperio would delight him.  REAL Moody would probably approve too and Fake Moody would do what DD wanted.  

Nikkalmati

2.>. My attitude about the kids' potential love interests was always >along the
>lines of "I really really do not give a flying fig whom they end up >with, as
>long
>as the Trio survives". I was too busy imagining Sirius and Snape >ending up
>together ;) But at the same time I also thought that Ron and >Hermione were
>bound to end up together, and their banter in this chapter was a classic example
>why, to me anyway. I guess my question is not why anybody thought >differently, I
>am sure people have many reasons, but more along the lines what else >did their
>banter signify for you, if not the comedical chemistry of two >sidekicks of the
>main character which heavily foreshadows a love story for them?

Nikkalmati

Well, I really didn't think they were right for each other.  They seemed more like quarreling brother and sister to me and this was compatable with the way Molly treted Hermione like a member of the family (mostly), as did Fred and George.  I thought it showed how little Hermione cared about "boys".  She was interisted in other things, at least at this stage in life.

Nikkalmati

3.> According to narrator Snape "hinted" that he might be poisoning >one of the
>kids before Christmas, even I Snape "fan" I am found this assumption very funny
>on this reread. What about you?


Nikkalmati

JKR has a real sense of humor - a laugh on every page.

Nikkalmati


4.> What did you think of Hagrid's attempt to control Malfoy's >behavior during
>his lesson?

Nikkalmati

Well, he was taking advantage of what he knew to embarass Malfoy.  He was taking Malfoy down a peg and I don't blame him after Malfoy's behavior the previous year.  But, Hagrid doesn't have the gumption or the meanness to do something like that to Malfoy himself.Hagrid is just too nice for his own good.

Nikkalmati

5.> How do you think the Durmstrang ship arrived in the lake? Was this
>apparition? Something else? Why do you think this mode of >transportation was
>not more widely used in the Potterverse?

Nikkalmati

I thought aty the time it had sailed over the sea (perhaps at magical speed and disillusioned) from the North Sea.  It then had entered the loch by some hidden underground connection with the sea.  After all, we had just seen the horses and coach fly through the air from France. I suppose if you had a magical ship and needed to go somewhere by sea . . . 

Nikkalmati


>6. Karkaroff's smile "did not extend to his eyes, which remain cold >and shrewd"
>when he greeted Dumbledore. Usually when a new character is >introduced like that
>– his smile did not reach his eyes – it often raises my suspicions >about the
>character's intentions. I of course do not remember what was my >first reaction
>to meeting Karkaroff, but if you do, was this a warning for you or >not? Where
>there other hints you felt laid suspicion on Karkaroff?

Nikkalmati

Yes, I thought immediately he was trouble.  I didn't give enough weight to the weak chin, however.  He turned out to be a coward. I have always wondered - How did Igor get to be head of Durmstrang?  
He went to Hogwarts and was a DE in the first war.  He spent time in Azkaban. Barty knows him too.  How did he get permission to return?  His comment about "dear old Hogwarts" implies he has not ever been back. If he is English why is he called Igor?  Was his family from whatever country Durmstrang is in?

Nikkalmati

  
  
>7. In this chapter we hear about increased amount of work kids have >to do on
>multiple subjects, but we do not see those lessons in details except >Moody's
>DADA lesson. Did you find interesting whatever you did hear abou >those lessons?
>Did you wish for more details? What other magic did you enjoy seeing >the kids
>study? What magic do you wish we had seen more of them studying?

Nikkalmati

I always thought the lessons were very interesting.  I wanted to know more in particular about Arithmancy.  Is it used for divination?  Why did Hermione like it?  I would also like to have seen more of the castle.  We always seem to be in the same rooms.

Nikkalmati


>Thank you Alla and Zara.   

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