Chapter 24 - Sectumsempra

[cheeringcharm]

Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the horcruxes during charms. Ron is so astounded that he makes it snow which leads to the first time JKR uses a non-aggressive adverb in describing Hermione talking to Ron. SCORE! Of course, Lavender can tell that Hermione is talking "patiently" instead of snapping, berating, or otherwise belittling Ron and she

Comments

[pilly2009]

You know, Harry wouldn't have to rely on the Prince's spell to prevent eavesdropping if the Order had decided to train him up on some spells that might be helpful to a Chosen One.

Maybe this was Dumbledore's instructing the Order not to treat Harry like a Chosen One? There is still a lot of attention paid to the fact that Harry is still a student.

too busy defending himself and gushing over Ginny

Defending the HBP, actually; he acknowledges that he doesn't deserve Ginny's defense.

But Ginny's comments were interesting, to say the least. They were completely true, Hermione was playing the Quidditch card to win at her own personal vendetta, and knows squat about Quidditch -- Wonky Faints and all that -- but they were still a little out of line. Hermione's been to nearly every Quidditch event we've seen in the books, has supported (and even aided in) every Quidditch endeavor and/or success that her friends have been involved in, despite not understanding either the game or the importance that is placed on it. Which is why Ginny came off as cruel rather than kick-ass in this scene.

[cadesama]

Well, it if was part of Dumbledore's orders, that just proves once again how useless and hypocritical his orders are. What's the use of giving Harry special knowledge about Voldemort and his role in the war, if you aren't going to give him the means to keep it secret? Dumbledore himself treats Harry like the Chosen One, but never gives him the tools to succeed.

he acknowledges that he doesn't deserve Ginny's defense.

Yeah, but he's all glowy inside.

Hermione's been to nearly every Quidditch event we've seen in the books, has supported (and even aided in) every Quidditch endeavor and/or success that her friends have been involved in, despite not understanding either the game or the importance that is placed on it. Which is why Ginny came off as cruel rather than kick-ass in this scene.

I think Ginny's comment was out of line and below the belt, but I don't think Hermione had been very consistent about Quidditch since OotP. Before, yes, she was very supportive of the boys and seemed to enjoy each game. In OotP, though, she make a stupid comment about how Quidditch is just divisive and bad for the school anyway -- a comment which is in direct opposition to all of her comments about the Triwizard Tournament. Why is one sporting event divisive and the other unifying? And, of course, it goes deeper with her own competitive nature about academics. She certainly loves getting House Points as much as anyone, but that contributes to the division between all of the Houses. Soooo, yeah, I was happy that Hermione got smacked down about Quidditch, but I didn't like the messenger or the context.

[pilly2009]

What's the use of giving Harry special knowledge about Voldemort and his role in the war, if you aren't going to give him the means to keep it secret? Dumbledore himself treats Harry like the Chosen One, but never gives him the tools to succeed.

This I can't explain. At all. Unless I prematurely assume that Dumbledore died before he was completely finished with Harry. I can't understand why Dumbledore did not have Harry pick up Occlumency again in HBP, either -- perhaps he was placing too much hope on the assumption that Voldemort would keep his mind locked to Harry for fear of the boy seeing his future plans or whatever. But this is a dangerous assumption; Voldemort wouldn't even need a two minute trip into Harry's mind before he realizes that Harry is after the Horcruxes.

But Dumbledore places so much emphasis on not believing the 'Chosen One' rumours and the prophecies, so I just assumed he told the Order to do the same.

Yeah, but he's all glowy inside.

Well, I think it's possible to feel touched that someone thinks you worth defending, even while acknowledging that you don't deserve the justification. And I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with feeling that way.

In OotP, though, she make a stupid comment about how Quidditch is just divisive and bad for the school anyway -- a comment which is in direct opposition to all of her comments about the Triwizard Tournament. Why is one sporting event divisive and the other unifying? And, of course, it goes deeper with her own competitive nature about academics. She certainly loves getting House Points as much as anyone, but that contributes to the division between all of the Houses

There's the issue that made the scene a bit weird for me. Hermione's being totally hypocritical, but she isn't being hypocritical about the game of Quidditch itself -- this is Hermione being Hermione "It's only okay if I approve" Granger, as usual. She doesn't like Quidditch, therefore the rivalry it spawns makes it a useless, destructive event. Ginny's line has a very "Oh, don't pretend you actually care about Quidditch now?!" vibe to it, which calls Hermione on this hypocrisy (because she doesn't care about Quidditch, she's only using it to win her argument), and you'd think I'd cheer for Ginny. But the way it was phrased in canon just made me cringe, because it's a horrible thing to say to someone who loathes the sport, but has dealt with it for years for the sake of her friends.

[cadesama]

But this is a dangerous assumption; Voldemort wouldn't even need a two minute trip into Harry's mind before he realizes that Harry is after the Horcruxes.

Yup, but let's assume that Voldemort is so turned off of entering Harry's mind that he never does it again. Dumbledore has known since Christmas that Bellatrix is a Legilimens, and there's no reason to think that she would have any qualms about entering Harry's mind.

Well, I think it's possible to feel touched that someone thinks you worth defending, even while acknowledging that you don't deserve the justification. And I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with feeling that way.

I think it depends on the degree of the crime. It's certainly very touching to know that your friends are with you when you get detention for mouthing off to the teacher -- in fact, I've always disliked how Hermione would rather upbraid her friends than stand by them for such obviously minor infractions. If your friends stand by you for an attempted murder, over which you feel very guilty, and justify your behavior? I think that's not so healthy. Especially since in this case Ginny isn't just standing by Harry, she's standing by his actions.

But the way it was phrased in canon just made me cringe, because it's a horrible thing to say to someone who loathes the sport, but has dealt with it for years for the sake of her friends.

Exactly. It's quite amazing that JKR has managed to take something I always wanted to see, but do it in such a way that I hate it. (Huh, actually, the H/Ger on my flist actually said just about he same thing about HBP.)