More fifth book thoughts, chapters 23 -25
'You know,' said Phineas Nigellus, even more loudly than Harry 'this is precisely why I loathed being a teacher! Young people are so infernally convinced that they are absolutely right about everything. Has it not occurred to you, my poor puffed-up popinjay, that there might be an excellent reason why the Headmaster of Hogwarts is not confiding every tiny detail of his plans to you? Have you never paused, while feeling hard-done-by, to note that following Dumbledores orders has never yet led you into harm? No. No, like all young people, you are quite sure that you alone feel and think, you alone recognise danger, you alone are the only one clever enough to realise what the Dark Lord may be planning -"
Phineas Nigellus is still the greatest thing ever.
'Well, that was a bit stupid of you,' said Ginny angrily, 'seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels.'
Harry remained quite still as the impact of these words hit him. Then he wheeled round.
'I forgot,' he said.
'Lucky you,' said Ginny coolly.
'I'm sorry' Harry said, and he meant it.
I knew Ginny hadn't forgotten at all. How could she?
Moving on to Christmas morning - this is Hermione speaking first, now:
"...And that perfume's really unusual, Ron.'
'No problem,' said Ron.
Wow. No subtlety there. And I don't mean Hermione's polite way of complimenting Ron's perfume (which I can only imagine what the scent is). Ron doesn't seem to be bothered, though. But isn't it interesting that intuitive Hermione is clearly behind in figuring out and acting upon her feelings?
"But the unsightly blemishes on your visage, young master -"
That could compete for Best Line of the Book.
...She did not seem to want to speak, or perhaps she was not able to, but she made timid motions towards Neville, holding something in her outstretched hand.
'Again?' said Mrs Longbottom, sounding slightly weary. 'Very well, Alice dear, very well - Neville, take it, whatever it is.'
But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper.
'Very nice, dear,' said Neville's grandmother in a falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the shoulder.
But Neville said quietly, 'Thanks, Mum.'
His mother tottered away, back up the ward, humming to herself. Neville looked around at the others, his expression defiant, as though daring them to laugh, but Harry did not think he'd ever found anything less funny in his life.
'Well, we'd better get back,' sighed Mrs Longbottom, drawing on long green gloves. 'Very nice to have met you all. Neville, put that wrapper in the bin, she must have given you enough of them to paper your bedroom by now….'
But as they left, Harry was sure he saw Neville slip the wrapper into his pocket.
...Picture that scene. Every detail. Especially the parts I bolded.
Isn't it one of the saddest things you've seen in your life?
As I've said before - despite the fifth book's good points, there are a few things scattered throughout that depreciate its value, in my opinion anyway. Along with the few days at Grimmauld Place over Christmas break that Harry thought he was possessed, there's a much bigger issue: the Occlumency lessons. I'll go into full detail about them once I've finished reading everything there is about them, but for now some quotes:
'Yes,' said Harry. 'Who's going to be teaching me?'
Snape raised an eyebrow.
'I am,' he said.
Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting.
Extra lessons with Snape - what on earth had he done to deserve this?
That scene is so amusing. This also:
For some reason, she was looking rather embarrassed. 'Erm… there's another Hogsmeade trip next month, did you see the notice?'
'What? Oh, no, I haven't checked the noticeboard since I got back.'
'Yes, it's on Valentine's Day…'
'Right,' said Harry, wondering why she was telling him this. 'Well, I suppose you want to -?'
'Only if you do,' she said eagerly.
Harry stared. He had been about to say, 'I suppose you want to know when the next DA meeting is?' but her response did not seem to fit.
'I - er -' he said.
'Oh, it's okay if you don't,' she said, looking mortified. 'Don't worry. I - I'll see you around.'
She walked away. Harry stood staring after her, his brain working frantically. Then something clunked into place.
'Cho! Hey - CHO!'
He ran after her, catching her halfway up the marble staircase.
'Er - d'you want to come into Hogsmeade with me on Valentine's Day?'
*dies laughing* Oh, my. Boys.
Back to Occlumency - the discussion Severus and Harry have before Severus begins breaking into his mind is extremely interesting. I find it surprising how much information Harry got out of him, in spite of their relationship. It wasn't only Harry being persistent, but Severus was surprisingly helpful. Perhaps he had orders to explain some stuff to Harry...Dumbledore's wise enough to know if Harry isn't told something, he'll implode.
Have I mentioned that I love Severus's humor? To backtrack a little bit:
'Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?' asked Sirius aggressively. 'Why you?"
"I suppose because it's a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks," said Snape silkily. "I assure you I did not beg for the job."
"...The evidence suggests that at times, when your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable - when you are asleep, for instance - you are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue."
After the first attack of Legilimens:
"Well, for a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have been," said Snape, raising his wand once more.
Wow. That's probably one of the highest compliments Severus has ever given.
… Cedric Diggory was lying on the ground with blank eyes staring at him…
'NOOOOOOO!'
Harry was on his knees again, his face buried in his hands, his brain aching as though someone had been trying to pull it from his skull.
'Get up!' said Snape sharply. 'Get up! You are not trying, you are making no effort. You are allowing me access to memories you fear, handing me weapons!'
Harry stood up again, his heart thumping wildly as though he had really just seen Cedric dead in the graveyard. Snape looked paler than usual, and angrier....
Well, of course Severus's angry. He likes to despise Harry with a clean conscience, and when Harry shows signs of clear trauma, or being vulnerable - it isn't as fun.
Harry felt shivery; his scar was still aching, he felt almost feverish.
When he sat down opposite Ron and Hermione, he caught sight of himself in the window opposite; he was very white and his scar seemed to be showing up more clearly than usual.
That's just a note for when I do my essay on the Occlumency lessons.
And then, right when he's going to bed, he collapses in Voldemort's hysterical laughter...Ron has to hit him around the face.
Because, of course, Voldemort's best Death Eaters are out of Azkaban.
But Harry's eyes were drawn to the picture of the witch. Her face had leapt out at him the moment he had seen the page. She had long, dark hair that looked unkempt and straggly in the picture, though he had seen it sleek, thick and shining. She glared up at him through heavily lidded eyes, an arrogant, disdainful smile playing around her thin mouth. Like Sirius, she retained vestiges of great good looks, but something - perhaps Azkaban - had taken most of her beauty.
Bellatrix Lestrange, convicted of the torture and permanent inca-pacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom.
That's a profound paragraph. I'm having trouble seeing Bellatrix with some of her beauty wasted away...does anyone think these two are legitimate attempts?
BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS
Teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information •" that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-six.
Signed: Dolores jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor
I wonder what brought that one on.