continuing the spoiler laden discussion of OoP

[Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)]

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Once upon a time, some listies were doubting that mere fifth-year 
students could have learned the Animagus transformation. It seems to 
me that what Hermione pulled with that parchment that gave Marietta 
purple zits that Madam Pomfrey couldn't remove was just as impressive 
(Not to mention being a display of Slytherin-like personality traits, 
even more so than the Polyjuice scheme in CoS.) The communicating 
fake Galleons was probably also big magic ... I wonder how she got or 
made the fake Galleons? Wizarding money OUGHT to be ESPECIALLY 
difficult to counterfeit, considering all the resources wizards have 
to counterfeit with...

Blaise! How wonderful to see you again! Congratulations on your 
marriage.

Neil wrote:

<< I found myself largely unaffected by the death of Sirius Black. I 
hadn't made much emotional connection with that character, but, imo, 
his death was not handled to best dramatic effect. >>

I felt that JKR portrayed that death with less than her usual 
brilliance *because* it was *so* painful to her. She just needed to 
get it over with.

<< So, Neville could have been the boy who would ultimately vanquish 
Voldemort? >>

Maybe Neville IS the boy who will ultimately vanquish Voldemort. 
Voldemort *did* mark him, with clumsiness and forgetfulness and 
grief, by what Voldie's followers did to Neville's parents. Harry 
can do all the heroic fighting and then Neville can be the one who 
finally does Voldemort in.

<< I definitely agree that JKR tried to respond to fandom comments 
with some of these things. >>

Yes, but WHY didn't she tell us whether Blaise Zabini is a boy or a 
girl?! One of the kids who raised a hand when Hagrid asked who could 
see the thestrals was (from memory) "a skinny Slytherin boy". Was 
that Blaise?

<< The Room of Requirement: I liked the idea, but it was another one 
of those things that seemed to have been a secret rather too well 
kept over the last four books (I'm not sure the tie in with the 
chamberpots was planned when she wrote that). >>

It can't have been kept TOO well in book 4, as several people on the 
main list figured it out (theorized it) from the mention of the 
chamberpot room in GoF. The chamberpot room, St. Mungo's, Sirius's 
house ... I think those were three of the four top guesses for the 
new place that Harry would go in book 5, and he went to all of them.

Heidi wrote:

<< Wasn't there speculation at some point that the "new place" harry 
would be going to in ootp would be egypt? >>

Yes, I think that was the other of the four top guesses.

Barb wrote:

<< On the contrary, Ginny was wonderful and kick-ass. >>

I agree!

Barb wrote:

<< She was horrid to both Ron and Harry all through the book. >>

I strongly disagree. I think Hermione was wonderful.