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

[cheeringcharm]

This is probably the worst chapter in the entire book and it has nothing at all to do with the shipping, which I'm sure everyone knows I object to. Does no one else see it? Am I the only one with a problem? What exactly is my problem? Okay, I'll tell you: this chapter, kinda like this entire book, has an identity crisis. In fact, this chapter is a microcosm of what is wrong with the entire book. JKR has no idea what she wants this chapter to be. Is it a fluffy romance with her two destined ships finally setting sail? Or is it a dark tale of good versus evil?

The chapter starts out as a fluffy little romance, spending the first pages focused on the many loves and loses of Gryffindor House. We get the first decent scene between Ron and Hermione, illustrating the couple they could have been if Hermione wasn't such a blazine b*&^h and Ron wasn't such an idiot for the last three books. And, we get Ginny Sue and Harry's chest monster. Then, we switch quickly to Harry almost murdering Draco and the consequences of that, which IMO were too

[cadesama]

I agree. On the re-read, I looked at the chapter title, got excited about the fight between Harry and Draco, having totally forgotten that most of the chapter is actually taken up by the Quidditch stuff.

Harry treats his attempted murder of Draco with the same nonchalance that he treated Sirius's death: initial concern followed by a shrug. Then, he puts it out of his mind completely. To say that I was disappointed in Harry's behavior in this chapter is putting it mildly. To justify Harry's actions by saying "Well, Draco's evil and he was about to Crucio him anyway! He's defending himself" is being a Harry apologist.

Well, I am a Harry apologist (except, uh, that I would love to see him turn evil), but I apologize for it in a totally different way. Harry has no moral superiority over anyone, and is in severe danger of ending up just as evil as Voldemort. I think how quickly he goes to these spells demonstrates that. But, Harry did have remorse over his actions. He was so stunned that he didn't think to leave the scene even when

[madderbrad]

... which does make me wonder if it has a special hold over Harry. Is it because Harry finally feels equal to his task, with these spells under his belt? Is it because he's finally doing really well in a class, and he covets that more than we expected? Is it something stupid and magical?

Along the lines of the middle reason, I think, but even more. While Harry runs to the common room he thinks:

Would he confiscate or destroy the book that had taught Harry so much ... the book that had become a kind of guide and friend?

Maybe this is the reason Hermione was written to abandon Harry in HBP, and to be so condemning of the tome in question; so Harry would feel that it was a better companion than his previous best friends? Perhaps Hermione was sidelined for this reason as well as JKR's looking up her fifteen-year-old Grand Plan and reminding herself "aha, this is where the couples get together, better do it post-haste, pronto"?

[cheeringcharm]

I would prefer Harry abandoning his friends despite the fact that they are sticking by his side. That would be more interesting that him abandoning them because they are acting like prats and not supporting him.

But, maybe that's just me. :)

[madderbrad]

No, safe to say, there are others who feel that way as well, as I think you know! :-)

[cadesama]

Heh, my usually form of apologizing for Harry's behavior is explaining that he's skirting evil and I love that about him. If you don't like the flaws, you don't like the character. ;)

By my lights, it's those reactions which show that *Harry* at least, understands there was something problematic about what he'd done. Which is probably why it makes me twitchy when people try to argue that there *wasn't* anything problematic about it

Mm, yes, definitely. It's a very interesting character moment for Harry, but it sort of gets lost in the flood since he seems to be caught between two people in the midst of that sort of fannish argument. Hermione isn't arguing against Harry's actions, but against the book -- and really, just in favor of her own righteousness. Ginny isn't arguing for his actions (although she certainly couches it that way), but for Harry -- and really, just against Hermione. So that seems to leave two clear sides for the fans to be on, neither of which really have much to do with what actually happened.

[pilly2009]

the consequences of that, which IMO were too light by half.

The consequences were dealt out by Snape, whom fanon has voted the most objective teacher (with regards to Harry) at Hogwarts, if objective reads as "to a radical extreme in the opposite direction". But anyway. That he was the one who issed said punishment speaks either of his own guilt for having created the spell in the first place, or of the wizarding world's lax reaction to things the Muggle world would throw fits over. I don't really know which way I see it.

Harry treats his attempted murder of Draco with the same nonchalance that he treated Sirius's death: initial concern followed by a shrug. Then, he puts it out of his mind completely.Wait, Harry's tantrum at the end of OotP (along with his actions prior to this tantrum) was "initial concern"? I can't help but disagree. And I certainly don't think that Harry merely shrugged off Sirius's death, either. He didn't angst on for hours during HBP, maybe because he actually was trying to do what he thinks Sirius would have