But...why didn't Harry at least try to dump out the liquid in the basin. Dumbledore tells him it must be drunk, but I would have liked to see Harry at least try to scoop it up with the goblet and dump it onto the ground or into the lake...
I'm glad to here someone say it. It just makes no sense that One of them had to drink it and that nothing else could be done. Well nothing in this book made sense to me, and this scene is no different.
So, when did Harry learn how to swim? We're told explicitly that Harry can't swim in GoF, and that it's only by way of gillyweed that he pulls off the Second Task. Maybe it was during the summer at the Weasleys' that was so important it was glossed over in a paragraph.
This is one of those times where being cryptic really doesn't pay off. Dumbledore could have taken the opportunity to teach Harry how to sense magic, how to sense what doors need offerings, what Riddle's magical signature is . . . but he decides to be cryptic instead.
I really don't get the boat thing. Voldemort hardly seems concerned with bureaucracy or the way the WW defines power -- why would he design the boat only to register qualified wizards? Or, if it does recognize power in some quantified way why doesn't Harry count? He's not weak, and I doubt that Voldemort would have decided to only make the boat recognize wizards of his own caliber (especially since it's doubtful that Voldemort admits there are other wizards on his level
( ... )
So, when did Harry learn how to swim? We're told explicitly that Harry can't swim in GoF ...
Thanks. That was my first reaction too, but I didn't remember from what previous scene I'd gotten the idea that Harry couldn't swim.
Dumbledore could have taken the opportunity to teach Harry ...
Yeah, one of my continuing whinges with this book, how relatively useless the Dumbledore's 'training' was. I personally didn't really care what colour Riddle's pyjamas were when he was ten years old, but there are heaps of people who say they 'loved' the backstory.
In any case, more opportunities where Dumbledore could have explained some things to Harry along the way ... wasted. Harry instead just goes along for the ride.
While I did find the Riddle backstory entertaining, I definitely agree that the so-called training came no where near fulfilling it's mission statement. Harry's not an incisive psychological mind, so expounding on Riddl'e personal history really doesn't arm him with any weapons. It didn't even need to be spells that were taught, but techniques of understanding the underpinings of magic would have been good, or simple lessons in detective work. Both of those would have had obvious uses in the search for and retrieval of the Horcruxes.
This is one of those times where being cryptic really doesn't pay off. Dumbledore could have taken the opportunity to teach Harry how to sense magic, how to sense what doors need offerings, what Riddle's magical signature is . . . but he decides to be cryptic instead.
Teaching Harry would have given more independance. Dumbledore doesn't want Harry to be able to do anything by himself. Everyone, and especially Harry, had to be completely dependent on Dumbledoer. He can't stand to have anything less than total control. It also lead me to thing that at this poing Dumbledore really didn't expect to die.
Did anyone else get really nauseous when they read this line? At this stage I was pretty disgusted with the book, and honestly just wanted it to be over, so perhaps my bias totally occluded the drama of the moment for me. And I've appreciated the comment, stated here by sar_sunshine, that points out the mirrored symmetry between this chapter and the Slughorn search.
However, 'symbolism' and literary cuteness to one side ... what an empty, unsupported bit of bravado this utterance was?! At least that's how it grabbed me. What has Harry done that has merited such faith? Gulped down some liquid luck and gotten a professor drunk? Helped force-feed poisonous potion to another? The Harry in HBP didn't demonstrate any outstanding ability that would have assured me that my life was safe with him
( ... )
I was too numb to be nauseous. Admittedly, that was because I was completely incapable of engaging with Dumbledore's "suffering" on a sympathetic level. I felt a bit for Harry, but really, I was just too distant to care much about anything Dumbledore said or did at that point
( ... )
When I read that line the first time, I just rolled my eyes. I thought it was a cheap line that was only used so Dumbledore could act like he had any confidence in Harry's abilities. I know Harry is supposed to be this great and powerful wizard, but this book hardly showcases his abilities. If anything, it shows that Harry is an average wizard that takes credit for other wizard's work (i.e. the Prince's potion book.) He reminds me of Lockhart in this book, which isn't a good thing.
Another thing I thought of, was maybe Dumbledore used that line on Harry becaue he tought it would would make Harry feel better. If thats the case, its an even cheaper line.
I thought it was a cheap line that was only used so Dumbledore could act like he had any confidence in Harry's abilities.Why did it have to be confidence in his abilities, specifically? I admit that I found the line rather cute, but have been really surrpised to see almost everyone online taking it as a vote of confidence in Harry's abilities and power -- "Oh look, he's passing the torch, Harry is the next Dumbledore you know, because he's just that powerful"; like you guys, I don't see the basis for this
( ... )
OK, the second, third and this time I read it - knowing that Ron would be OK (damn, future chapter information, shhhh!) - I could spend time worrying about Harry and stuff, but the first time through I was turning the pages and fretting horrible about my boy.
I think Harry is going to be finding Horcruxes in Grimmauld Place, Godric's Hollow, and maybe Hogwarts, because he doesn't know how to do what it took to find this Horcrux
( ... )
Comments 69
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I'm glad to here someone say it. It just makes no sense that One of them had to drink it and that nothing else could be done. Well nothing in this book made sense to me, and this scene is no different.
Reply
This is one of those times where being cryptic really doesn't pay off. Dumbledore could have taken the opportunity to teach Harry how to sense magic, how to sense what doors need offerings, what Riddle's magical signature is . . . but he decides to be cryptic instead.
I really don't get the boat thing. Voldemort hardly seems concerned with bureaucracy or the way the WW defines power -- why would he design the boat only to register qualified wizards? Or, if it does recognize power in some quantified way why doesn't Harry count? He's not weak, and I doubt that Voldemort would have decided to only make the boat recognize wizards of his own caliber (especially since it's doubtful that Voldemort admits there are other wizards on his level ( ... )
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Thanks. That was my first reaction too, but I didn't remember from what previous scene I'd gotten the idea that Harry couldn't swim.
Dumbledore could have taken the opportunity to teach Harry ...
Yeah, one of my continuing whinges with this book, how relatively useless the Dumbledore's 'training' was. I personally didn't really care what colour Riddle's pyjamas were when he was ten years old, but there are heaps of people who say they 'loved' the backstory.
In any case, more opportunities where Dumbledore could have explained some things to Harry along the way ... wasted. Harry instead just goes along for the ride.
Reply
Reply
This is one of those times where being cryptic really doesn't pay off. Dumbledore could have taken the opportunity to teach Harry how to sense magic, how to sense what doors need offerings, what Riddle's magical signature is . . . but he decides to be cryptic instead.
Teaching Harry would have given more independance. Dumbledore doesn't want Harry to be able to do anything by himself. Everyone, and especially Harry, had to be completely dependent on Dumbledoer. He can't stand to have anything less than total control. It also lead me to thing that at this poing Dumbledore really didn't expect to die.
Reply
Did anyone else get really nauseous when they read this line? At this stage I was pretty disgusted with the book, and honestly just wanted it to be over, so perhaps my bias totally occluded the drama of the moment for me. And I've appreciated the comment, stated here by sar_sunshine, that points out the mirrored symmetry between this chapter and the Slughorn search.
However, 'symbolism' and literary cuteness to one side ... what an empty, unsupported bit of bravado this utterance was?! At least that's how it grabbed me. What has Harry done that has merited such faith? Gulped down some liquid luck and gotten a professor drunk? Helped force-feed poisonous potion to another? The Harry in HBP didn't demonstrate any outstanding ability that would have assured me that my life was safe with him ( ... )
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Another thing I thought of, was maybe Dumbledore used that line on Harry becaue he tought it would would make Harry feel better. If thats the case, its an even cheaper line.
I think I just repeated what you said. Oh well.
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Ron is at the castle, fighting Death Eaters - and she tells us nothing!!!
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*hugs*
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OK, the second, third and this time I read it - knowing that Ron would be OK (damn, future chapter information, shhhh!) - I could spend time worrying about Harry and stuff, but the first time through I was turning the pages and fretting horrible about my boy.
Beautiful icon, btw.
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